December 1, 2009 In this issue: Deadlines and results: The Fiction Open closes January 2. Carrie Brown: Skirting a Dark Shore Andrew Kass: Two Epiphanies Josh Henkin: Risk It’s not too late. Upcoming deadlines and results: The December Fiction Open closes January 2. Word count range: 2,000 - 20,000. First-place wins $2,000 and publication in Issue 78 of Glimmer Train Stories. Second- and third-place winners win $1,000/$600 (or, if chosen for publication, $700). Winners and finalists of the September Fiction Open have been notified, and the Top-25 list is posted. Our thanks to all of you for letting us read your work!       1st place: "Bomb" by Carrie Brown       2nd place: "Life Underwater" by Ken Barris       3rd place: "Ellijay" by Lydia Fitzpatrick We’ve just wrapped up our second and our final Best Start competition. It was a unique challenge and honor to judge this competition, and we thank you for sending in an amazing array of work! Although there were many more entries of obvious merit, we managed to whittle the list down to the 50 Best Starts!

It's not too late to reaffirm a fellow writer's commitment to the writing life. One year of Writers Ask is just $20; one year of Glimmer Train Stories is $36. Your gift will mean a lot.

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Wishing you close times with family and friends, and quiet stretches to yourself. Co-editors and sisters