All the essays on the short list revealed an intimacy that frequently got caught in my throat. Well done to all of you for writing your stories with so much vulnerable truth-telling.
As a student of somatics my process to select a winner included how my body was reacting as I read each essay. Did an essay make me gasp for breath? Was my chest tight? Was I bracing my legs? As I began reading some of the essays, the winning essay included, I had to close the laptop and step away because my nervous system was vibrating! It’s hard to pin down the exact emotions, and it’s less about naming the feelings and more about noticing my somatic responses. Each of these essays turned out to be brilliant, as my body already knew.
As a writer, I also kept an eye out for craft: an economy of words, pacing, unexpected braids, a surprising turn of phrase, and content that lingered with me long after I’d finished reading. “Clawed Back” spoke to both my body and the craft of writing.
“Clawed Back” is a story that relies on a well-crafted braid and a spaciousness reminiscent of its setting in Northen Canada. The pacing allows the more difficult experiences within the story to be revealed little by little without overwhelming the reader. Patti-Kay Hamilton’s skillful writing pulled me in and pulled me along, and at times of revelation, didn’t give everything away. By the end of the story, I felt complete and wanting more.
— Brian Braganza
Contest Judge
