BY JOANNE F. VILLENEUVE

The story of a 12-year-old gang initiate took first place in the 2009 edition of Fast Fiction, the short story contest sponsored by the Brandon Book Festival Association.

The author, Aneta Kenny of Brandon, was one of 30 or so who submitted an entry for the annual 24-hour writing contest.

“I’ve been writing for years. I’ve had poetry published, but never a short story,” she said. “It was a challenge, but I like a challenge once in a while.”
The inspiration for her work entitled “Mikey Makes Blood” was news stories about gangs that she often sees on television.

“Night after night, some kids have gotten into trouble,” Kenny said. “My message is for the young people who are in gangs or contemplating joining gangs and how wrong things can go in just a few seconds, and then their lives are ruined.” 

Despite the short turn-around — literally 24 hours from the moment she and the other competitors heard the details of the imposed element to the deadline — this contest was one that she enjoyed.

“I think it’s pretty good. It pushes a person to accomplish something in a specific amount of time and I found it concentrated my thinking,” she said.
For her efforts, Kenny will receive the four latest novels by the guest authors — Des Kennedy, Christine Penner, Margaret Sweatman and Joel Thomas Hynes — this evening during Words Alive, downtown Brandon’s book festival, to which Fast Fiction is associated.

Nine-year-old Justin Heaman’s illustrated story entitled “The Amazing Captain Clog” also garnered the attention of the judges, who felt that it deserved an honorable mention.

About 50 aspiring writers took part in the first 24-hour event. The entries had to integrate a required element suggested by the organizers, namely a character who did not sleep. Lengths varied as did topics. Local writer, Andy Schroeder’s tale about a toy robot’s intellectual awakening took the top prize – a copy of the four most recent novels by the authors who appeared at Words Alive, Brandon’s premiere downtown book festival a few weeks later. As well, his story was published in the Brandon Sun and the Words Alive programme.

“Our goal was to encourage hopeful writers. The interest was astounding
for the contest’s first year,” said T. Keith Edmunds, the BBFA’s board president. “The writers were all eager, whether they were six or 60 years
old. The feedback was very positive, with most people glad to have had a
chance to participate.”

The 2009 edition of Fast Fiction will kick off at 5 p.m., on September 26,
at Pennywise Books. At that time, the new required element will be divulged. Writers will then have 24 hours to write their submission and deliver it to Pennywise Books by 4:59 p.m. on September 27. E-copies will be accepted for the first time.

Admission to the contest is free and it is open to all interested writers.

The 2009 Words Alive, showcasing authors from coast to coast, will take
place Oct. 23 and 24, at The Music Studio. Admission is free.