At Carrie Blake Community Park, before a Sequim Middle School Band concert, Sequim sixth-grader Anderson Williams reflects upon winning first prize in a local writing contest: “It felt pretty cool. I wasn’t really expecting it; I finished it last minute.”

The Sequim Library in April hosted a “write-in,” a writing workshop and contest for local middle and high schoolers. The genre was micro-fiction, or micro creative-nonfiction. Students were required to write a very short piece (300 words or less) which included a creative reference or theme of ‘shoes’ — the theme was chosen by the library’s Teen Advisory Board.

Students were judged on command of grammar and language conventions, personal voice, creative integration of shoes and use of writing techniques (metaphors, sensory description, character development, etc.).

Williams’ prize was a gift certificate for frozen yogurt from Sweet Spot Sequim.

Sequim Gazette photo by Elijah Sussman / Writer Anderson Williams looks at his story ‘Ruthless’ at Carrie Blake Park on June 6.

When asked about the main character in his story, Williams smiled, shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know, I just came up with her.”

Williams has been wordsmithing for a while. He recalled writing a book in first grade about all of the planets in the solar system, printed at Office Depot.

Williams said he plans on continuing to write, and says that fiction is his favorite.

When asked if he was excited to have his work published in the Sequim Gazette, Williams said, “Yeah, I was not expecting that!”

Below is his winning story:

‘Ruthless’

Ruth collapsed on the ground, dropping her heavy bag. She didn’t know why she collapsed; it obviously wasn’t intentional. Maybe it was out of anger towards her father, who had forced her to come out here into the woods just to see some lights in the sky or whatever. Although, falling down could’ve been from the huge bag on her shoulders too.

“Come on dad,” Ruth croaked, “how on Earth do you expect me to carry this, I mean, it basically weighs as much as Earth.” Her dad seemed to not care about her struggles.

“Trust me Ru, it’ll be worth it.”

“Yeah, I bet it will be,” Ruth replied. She removed her leopard print shoes to dump the sand out of them, then put them back on and kept moving. Not having any Wi-Fi was bad enough for her, being fourteen and all, but the bugs buzzing around, it was driving her crazy.

“Dad, are we there yet?” Ruth asked.

Sequim Gazette photo by Elijah Sussman / Writer Anderson Williams holds trumpet in tree before concert in bandshell at Carrie Blake Park on June 6.

Her father chuckled a bit, “Not yet,” he replied. Ruth let out a sigh. “Trust me, when we get there, you’ll know it.”

“Whatever you say dad,” said Ruth. “Okay but seriously dad I’m getting tired and-” Ruth could see the night sky breaking through the trees. It was brighter than normal, but nothing special. Everyone was cheering and holding their phone screens up to the sky. They were all snapping pictures and genuinely having a good time.

She was so confused until her dad handed her his phone. She glanced through the camera and finally saw it. All the pinks, blues and greens were painted across the sky, like a Van Gogh piece.

“Happy birthday Ruth,” her dad whispered through her ear, giving her a smile across her face.

The End

Editor’s note: Gazette reporter Elijah Sussman led this writing workshop/contest for the library.— MD