2025 Shortlist

Congratulations to our shortlisted writers! Our adjudicators were really impressed with how these entries clearly embraced both the main theme, Connections, and the Stage 2, Unexpected Gift, prompts.

All of these entries will be forwarded to our contest judge, Amy Jones, who will determine the final winner and two runners up. Stay tuned to discover which of these will be the winning stories and sign up for a live reading of the winners during gritLIT 2025!

Here is the 2025 gritLIT Short Story Writing Contest shortlist:

CJ Frederick, “Lela's Confession”
Hani Moon, “Forget Me Not”
Tanya Lottridge, “Watermelon Slices”
Stephanie Lafleur, “The Elusionist”
Rose Divecha, “Swiss Miss No More”
Laura Rock Gaughan, “The East Endia Trading Company”
Marin James, “The Visitor”
Connie Boland, “Baby Girl”
Andrea McDowell, “Briar Coven Board Expulsion Proceedings”
Connie Boland, “Chaperones with Deep Lacerations”