Tall Tail Challenge Winners

This Challenge was a fun little twofer! Write a story about a talking animal but make it quick! 1,000 words or less was all you had to make an animal talk. We are particularly fond of Challenges with shorter word limits because we often see in them some of the most creative entries. There's something about limitation that makes humans sharper, more creative, especially when it comes to art.

As far as making an animal speak, we read everything from a cat complaining how they needed attention to a mouse warning of impending doom to the wisest whale we've ever had the pleasure of listening to. We want to thank all of you for imbuing pets, rodents, farm and wild animals with something that mimics humanity — though it is deeper than humanity, isn't it? It is natural wisdom, a thing that cannot be fully understood by us, but a hugely valuable and often overlooked part of this planet, and especially important to tap into as we sit at the top of the food chain. We're always happy to be reacquainted with the quiet beauty of this world and in this Challenge so many of you gave us that gift.

Here are the winners of the Tall Tail Challenge and spotlight on two of the Runners-Up. You can check out the full list of winners HERE.

$1,500 Grand Prize Winner

Lilia for When They Became Silent

“Harder,” his father said, but Hao’s hands froze once he felt the squirming chicken’s neck bones. Feathers swarmed around him like a cloud of gnats, as the bird’s chaotic fluttering quickened the pace of his heart.

When They Became Silent is a superb example of an iceberg story. Hemingway popularized the term, which refers to the type of writing that seems simple on the surface but has immense depth. This story is about a boy's trauma as well as a family's gift. It is about patriarchy and a lack of time or desire to nurture a child's fantasy or even a child's gift. The chicken must be killed because the family must eat, yes, but the father could have slowed down and listened to his son, the way Hao listens to his son in a parallel narrative, where a lesson is learned, a moment fixed, a new generation of father and child move toward openness, acceptance, nourishment.

With poverty comes hardship and a loss of time. It is a privilege to be able to listen closely to a child, to have the time to indulge their thoughts, to sit and think and hear. At least that's what we took from this story. And so much more. Congratulations, Lilia!

$250 Second Place Winner

Ethan Town for Year of the Whale

He did not know how to swim, and he began to sink. How do I swim? He thought. How do I swim?!

This classic tale of good fortune leading to man's downfall is elevated by the magical realism of a whale's good advice. What really drew us into Year of the Whale was its structure as well as its heart. The paintings of this whale were what made the protagonist famous but he no longer respected the origins of his artistic gift, the whale and his advice, and so while he received the fame and fortune, he was left empty. As far as heart, there was so much in this story it's hard not to see. A man who wants a good life, is given that life, loses his way, comes back to seek the truth from the very thing that set him on his path. His touchstone at sea. Beautifully rendered and subtle, this story proves that you can build immense heart in very little space. Congratulations, Ethan Town!

Honorable Mention

Katie Kelly Koppenhofer for Stalk

Mama made it seem easy. Even with paws so big they could swallow five of mine, she would stalk silently through trees. No river hog has ever known she was coming ‘til her teeth were already inside their gurgling throat.

In this heartrending story, we receive the full spectrum of love between a child and their mother. A tiger learns to stalk, a tiger learns that he is not in control. A tiger learns the ever enduring cruelty of humans. Simple in its scope yet deep in its emotion, this story is something to behold. Well done, Katie Kelly Koppenhofer!

Honorable Mention

Andrew Forrest Baker for A Song Of Night

We noticed the sow had disappeared long before we heard the whispers, but, looking back, we figure they may have been there all along.

End on an image and don't explain is a classic piece of short story advice. In this shadowy, beautifully sinister tale, we are given image after image and finally left without much of an explanation. This story felt close enough to reality that it seemed more like local lore than anything magical, people swearing they heard the wolves speak, everyone in their homes, awake at night, lying in bed, listening. We had chills.

Also, you know a story is going to be good with an opening line like that. This was an exceptionally beautiful piece of writing. Well done, Andrew Forrest Baker!

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