Meet the Winner! Sophie Newman
Read Sophie Newman’s story, “Shanda”
“My initial reaction is disbelief,” said Newman when notified her story “Shanda” had won first place, print and online publication, and a prize of $1,000. “It’s so strange to send a story out into the world, after working on it for so long in isolation, and hoping but not really knowing if it will connect with anyone on the other side. And to have the story connect strongly with editors at The Saturday Evening Post, where so many writers I admire have been published over the years, is truly exciting. I’m touched.”
Newman’s story was inspired by her personal experiences, including what it means to be Jewish. She says, “Because I’m Jewish but didn’t grow up practicing Judaism or really leaning into this identity, I’ve always struggled with what it means for me (or others like me) to be Jewish, and I find that fiction is a really fruitful avenue to explore these questions.”
Familial history also played an important role. Newman says, “I was interested in looking at several generations of a Jewish family because I think so much of identity is informed by historical context.”
Born in Berkeley, California, Newman holds a B.A. in English from Rice University and an MFA in fiction from The Ohio State University, where she was a Distinguished University Fellow and taught undergraduate creative writing. Newman’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, Writer’s Digest, The American Scholar, and elsewhere. By day, she’s a ghostwriter, editor, and educator. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and rescue pup, and she’s also at work on a novel.
Writing itself is obviously a critical part of Newman’s identity. She says, “By day, I’m a ghostwriter and editor, and the research I do for that certainly informs my fiction. Although I try to write (or at least think about my writing) every day, I also can’t stand sitting at a desk all the time, so I like to break up my schedule by working with horses a few days a week.”
Meet the Runners-Up
Each runner-up receives $200 and publication of their work on our website. We salute these fine writers and the more than 250 others who entered our 2024 contest. —The Editors
Neko Catanzaro
TITLE: Old Growth
STORYLINE: In a moving coming-of-age story, young Marcus struggles with feelings of love and loss beyond his few years.
BIO: Catanzaro earned a B.A. in literary arts from Brown University. This is her first story to be published by a national magazine.
Joyce Donovan
TITLE: White Horse Running
STORYLINE: As the white horse runs, a girl realizes some things should be free — including her grandfather.
BIO: Donovan attended St. Louis University on a creative writing scholarship. She graduated from St. Cloud State University and earned her master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. She has taught English and worked with incarcerated youth in Colorado. “White Horse Running” is her first story ever to be published.
Joyce Finn
TITLE: The Pinch-Eyed Dog
STORYLINE: Ignatius Jones unearths a mystery in the strange mounds he finds in his yard.
BIO: Finn attended Northeastern University. Her background includes journalism, biochemistry, and geology. She has written for The Robb Report, Poets & Writers, and Inc. magazine.
Gary Wadley
TITLE: V.J. Day
Storyline: The simple act of repairing broken bowls reveals hidden truths to a pair of neighbors.
BIO: A playwright, photographer, graphic designer, and actor, Wadley holds a BFA from Florida Atlantic University. He has self-published three books on Amazon. This is his first short story published by a national magazine.
Ethan Cunningham
TITLE: Earle Elaborates on Electrodynamics (and Other Such Ecstatic Evangelisms)
STORYLINE: Scientist Earle Bauer grapples with his past while crafting his manifesto.
BIO: Cunningham holds an MFA in screenwriting from Boston University. His stories have been published in Beatnik Cowboy, Cobra Milk, and others. He advocates for the well-being of both humans and animals.
This article appears in the January/February 2024 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Subscribe to the magazine for more art, inspiring stories, fiction, humor, and features from our archives.
Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Subscribe now
Comments
I enjoy reading the short stories contributed to the Post’s Great American Fiction Contest each year. However, I always find those stories submitted by the writers that receive Honorable Mention to be far more interesting and better written than the writings of the contest winners. I find the winners’ writings to be very formulaic, uninspiring, and, frankly, boring. This year, the same is true. It makes me question the Editor’s selection criteria. Moreover, a work of fiction based on your life story is not fictional simply because you change the character’s names. These “life stories” have won the contest for the past few years. If the trend continues, we will read another life story from the winner next year. Kudos to the Honorable Mention writers.
Congratulations Ms. Newman, at winning first place in the Post’s 2024 Great American Fiction Contest. It’s a very big deal in itself, and even more so because The Saturday Evening Post is such a prestigious publication. You’ve definitely “arrived”, and I look forward to reading your story this weekend.
On a personal note, I love working with horses a few times a week too! I live in Northwest L.A. close to Chatsworth where I have the opportunity to visit horses, assist in grooming, sometimes riding, but mainly just being with them, having that bag of carrots handy. 45 minutes to an hour really lifts me up. After making that eye contact, the spiritual energy connection is like nothing else as you know, and definitely needs to be continued!