2025 Teen Short Fiction Competition Winners
Write On The River and NCW Libraries are happy to announce and to congratulate the winners of the 14th annual Teen Short Fiction Competition. Librarians from around the region and members of the Teen Library Council judged the competitive entries and chose these three students to share the $200 cash award for their original fiction writing.
New York Times best-selling author Chelsea Cain, who visited Wenatchee as a 2011 Write On The River conference keynote speaker, initiated and continues to sponsor the annual competition.
First Place:
Sunlight
by Grace Hodges
“I’ve loved storytelling since before I could read. Though my passion has always been tied to fantasy, as I get older I’ve started to gravitate more towards realistic fiction. Writing has become an outlet for me, a way to take my own feelings and observations and put them into words. My parents have always been my greatest supporters. Some of my favorite authors include Donna Tartt, Maggie Stiefvater, and Fredrik Backman, all for their beautifully intricate understanding of the human experience. I also enjoy filmmaking, soccer, and coding. I plan on sticking with writing for as long as I can.”
Grace is a sophomore at Cashmere High School. Grace also won first place in this competition in 2024.
Honorable Mention:
A Bag of Oranges
by Rowan Kelley
“I've been writing since I was little, and as my skills refined I took classes and did all the writing clubs offered by my school. Both my mom and my grandma have a passion for writing, so there's no questioning where that came from. Through writing and reading, I am able to experience things I otherwise wouldn't be able to, one of my favorite things about the craft. When I write, I can process my emotions and express them to others. Outside of writing, I am a dedicated actor and performer, and sometimes I even dabble in writing screenplays.”
Rowan is a Freshman at Liberty Bell High School. Rowan won a silver medal in the 2024 Teen Scholastic Art and Writing Contest.
Honorable Mention:
Free Clothes
by Eva Phillippi
“I wrote short stories starting in kindergarten, and I’ve written and edited an unpublished fantasy duology. I was the president of Wenatchee High School creative writing club for two years before I merged the club with English Honor Society. I love spending time outdoors, which is where I get a lot of literary inspiration. And as president of WHS Earth Club, I value protecting the planet and combating climate change. Through writing, I would like to spend my life educating people about the greater impact of human decisions, which is my intention with this short story.”
Eva is a senior at Wenatchee High School. Eva also won first place in this competition in 2022.