First Place: Dysfunction Junction by Karen Casale
Karen Casale (@versecurious) is a writer and avid reader. She works in a middle school library where she gets juicy story ideas. She has published a picture book, Never Let a Ghost Borrow Your Library Book, and numerous poems and children's stories in magazines. She is the mom of three boys and two dogs.
“The first time I kissed my husband, I sneezed in his mouth. He said, ‘Bless you,’ and kissed me again.”
Karen Casale, Dysfunction Junction
Judge Feedback:
“While these sentences are deceptively simple, they communicate so much in so few words. To me, that is the epitome of talented writing. How can I already love the husband in just two lines? Without a bunch of flowery words, you made me feel, and the cleverness and rhythm of these two sentences prompted me to grant them first prize."
Tell us a little about your writing background. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to start?
I have been writing since I was a kid. I still have my diaries and stories from my teenage years. I started writing for children - I still do - but I am currently reworking a novel into an adult thriller. I've attended numerous writers' conferences and love being part of a writing community.
Tell us about the larger work where these sentences are from.
These sentences are from a YA novel about first love and heartache, which I'm rewriting and switching focus for an adult audience.
What advice would you give writers on writing a great sentence?
My advice for writing a great sentence is to keep it simple, say what you mean, and capture the reader's attention. Be bold. Put yourself out there.
A Chat with the Author: