Writing Contest
In Memory of Dennis Avery It was a hot Saturday afternoon in 1984. I’d been on the chopper for several days straight and I reeked worse than skunk roadkill. But I didn’t think the old …
When I was nine years old, just a year after my dad died, I choked on a sharp fish bone. The bone became lodged in the back of my throat, stuck behind one of my …
Author’s note: This story is non-fiction, but certain elements are romanticized. Think Hunter S. Thompson. The sun cut flat over the city, and as it departed, it took with it the last of my time …
The smell of blood and fear and death hangs in the air like the toxic smoke of a chemical fire. The sound of alarms ring in my ears, drowning out the voices of my teammates. …
I’ve heard about these turning points in people’s lives, little moments when someone could maybe stop their future from happening. I like the idea of those moments, I’ve missed a few myself. I always wonder …
First Place Winner CHANGING OF THE GUARD Unexpected violence at the San Diego Zoo When people found out I worked security at the world famous San Diego Zoo, they asked: “What’s the craziest thing you’ve …
The Reader’s editorial staff was gratified and frequently delighted by the response we got to our writing contest: 347 non-fiction stories, 31 pieces of fiction, and no less than 199 poems. It’s good to know …