January is winding down, and we are now four weeks into our 2024 writing contest! If you’ve missed it — well, I don’t know how you’ve managed, but if you have — the rules are here. There are still over two weeks left to join the fun, so get those stories posted. :)

Jill, Joanne and I have been completely blown away by the quantity and quality of stories and comments that have come in. Here are some of the numbers, as of this afternoon in my time zone (“EST,” or “Emma Standard Time,” which tends to run a bit ahead of most clocks, except on cold mornings when it feels too warm under the blankets to propel myself out of bed):

Total number of contest-eligible stories: 80
Total number of hits: over 83,000
Total number of comments: over 850

Here’s another couple eye-popping numbers: the main blog entry with the contest rules has had nearly 5000 hits, over 80 “likes, loves, or thanks,” and 158 comments. As Rachel Moore might say, “Can You Believe We Did That?” And the “we,” in this instance, is all of us. Our whole wonderful, crazy, funny, supportive community. Which, at the end of the day, is what this whole contest has been about.

If you haven’t had a chance, you should read these stories. We have many genres, including real-world drama, high fantasy, science fiction, and humor; we also have stories of heroism, heartache, redemption and romance.

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Jill and I, who are judging the stories, have been posting our thoughts about each of them in groups of fifteen. Jill’s first two tranches of comments are here and here. My intitial group of fifteen is here. My second set of fifteen is below. Again, you should not read anything into my choice of these fifteen stories, because I selected them randomly (if you must know, I used a handy random number generator!) and then mixed them up. My hope is that these write-ups will encourage you to check out some of the fine contest stories that have been posted.

A Scrummy New Year. SuziAuchentiber cuts loose with a fun short story about an inclusive rugby club. When action on the field pauses for the traditional holiday break, there's time for a different kind of action. What's not to like about a story of studly players, cute cheerleaders, gender surprises and enough rugby jargon to wholly baffle and delight even people who know nothing of the game!

Can You Believe We Did That? Brandy is inconsolable when she has a miscarriage, and resists all efforts to try again. Her trans wife Megan, feeling guilty for not having preserved her own sperm prior to transitioning, fearful that she can't pierce her wife's terrible grief, hatches a plan . . . . Rachel Moore brings us a story of how partners in a remarkable marriage process grief and find a way to transcend it. Gripping, realistic, and emotionally powerful.

Living Your Life. LadyDragon tells the story of Constance, a young transwoman who has been rejected by her family, harassed by her landlord, and endured hostile workplaces and crappy bosses. Undaunted, she finds a new community and begins the process of stitching together a life that is worth living. This is a story of hope for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by an unaccepting world.

The Gray Knight. An inaugural posting by The Court of Consciousness takes the reader inside a world of dissociative identity, with "alters" who inhabit radically different worlds with their own rules, customs and norms. Amazing and eye-opening moments exist side-by-side and intertwined with the quotidian demands of a more recognizable world. Buckle your seatbelts and prepare for a wild ride!

Crossroads. The set up seems familiar — "caught with consequences" is its own category, after all. Yet Jamie Lee takes a road less traveled, asking what might happen if a young trans girl is caught by parents who are decent, loving, and fiercely committed to their child's health and well-being. It's a refreshing look at the way the world should be.

Highs and Lows. Jamie Simpson dressed up with his older sisters until the parents put a stop to it, but time away at University, and some persuasive roommates, rekindle Jamie's feminine leanings. Gillian Chambers explores the harder question of whether Jamie can keep her new identity when she returns to her parents' house, and the small rural village where she was raised.

First Flight. Tilly and her husband Nick try to grapple with their child's suicide attempt and subsequent coming out as trans. Steph C's dialogue is a great example of the maxim, "show, don't tell," bringing us incredibly close to the pain and bewilderment of the parents, and their desire to do right by their child no matter what.

Someone I Can Believe In. An act of heroism propels a young transwoman to notoriety she doesn't want. But are Kiara's fears justified? Will her fears blind her to opportunities that could change her life for the better? This story showcases Rachel Moore's ability to pull readers into her character's heads, to feel their anxieties and touch their hopes.

A New Year’s Promise. Sunflowerchan paints a vivid picture of a transwoman taking her big step and going out into "society" -- even if it is only the society of her hometown of Benton. Katherine Joanne Johnston's mental, emotional and physical preparation for the big event is the heart of this story of transformation.

Do Constructs Dream of Electric Sheep? Commander Elliott, in charge of an observation ship in deep space, leaves a robot to finish up while he gets "sanded" -- reduced to sand for the long periods when nothing is happening. What could possibly go wrong? With a nod to Phillip K. Dick, Melanie Brown explores this precise question with her signature mix of internal reflection and intriguing dialogue.

Out With the Old. A gripping story of two EMTs on New Year's Eve, dealing with anti-trans bigotry . . . and its consequences. The dialogue is crisp and believable, carrying the story, and Steph C has a few twists in the plot to keep everyone guessing!

Happenstance. Dylan resolved to explore his feminine side, but that was almost a year ago and time's running out. Fortunately, Dylan has friends -- heaps of them! But a little fun dressing up gets out of control, and soon Dylan finds himself . . . or, is it herself? . . . out for the world to see. Can he cope? Can she? Mona Lisa's story explores what can be accomplished with a little makeup and a lot of friends!

The Boat that Frocked. Shiraz Turvey presents the story of John, a seemingly quiet man "hiding in plain sight," whose life is a tangle of secrets. Unbeknownst to neighbors or potentially interested government agencies, he's also a popular DJ on a pirate radio station broadcasting from international waters in the cold of a North Sea winter. But "Captain Risko" is not, as it turns out, John's only alias — or his only secret! A runaway fan-favorite from one of BC's most beloved authors.

Prodigal Son. The Prodigal Son meets the Good Samaritan in Steph C's riveting story. Ken has been rejected by his parents, assaulted, and robbed of all of his possessions. Weak, cold and hungry, he resolves to walk through a hundred miles of winter to die "under his own skies." But standing between Stan and his stubborn desperation is one of the most powerful and unpredictable forces in the world -- the compassion of strangers.

Catching Up. A group of entrepreneurial friends do quirky videos as the "Dynamic Four," chasing clicks and living the life. Three guys and a girl . . . or, maybe not? Marissa Lynn's story explores what happens when one of the four comes out as trans. Will the group survive? Will friendships change? What will her colleagues feel? Will it be acceptance? Love? Or, maybe . . . jealousy?

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Final thought: Remember that there is also a $50 prize for the best comment posted in the contest, with the incomparable Joanne Barbarella acting as the sole Judge. She has published two leaderboards with comments that are in the running, here and here. See what is tickling her fancy!