Rise Up! Regional Writers Rise Short Story Competition
Honourable and Special Mentions
Welcome to this special issue dedicated to the Honourable and Special Mention Prize Winners of the 2025 Rise Up! Regional Writers Rise Short Story Competition. This competition celebrates the richness and creativity of diverse voices, serving as a beacon for storytellers with powerful perspectives who have layered their work in a complex tapestry of kindness, empathy, connection, and compassion.
The 2025 competition revolved around the theme of compassion and we are proud to share the following entries in this special issue: ‘A Place Like This’ by Karen Howie Casey, ‘Compression’ by Mitchell Kelly, ‘Stale Biscuits’ by Charmaine Reader, ‘Another Hello’ by Connor Sabre, ‘The Bells’ by Cindy Tomamichel, ‘Dreams Don’t Come to Life’ by Jack Wu, and ‘Be Gentle’ by Lucinda Young.
We invite you to read, reflect, and rise with these voices.
A Place Like This
Karen Howie Casey — Honourable Mention
‘She’d always preferred Lily’s company to mine. Those two bickered, but they also laughed. They were the fundraisers around here. The bakers. The tea makers. The big hearts. But Morag had hardened without Lily.’
Compression
Mitchell Kelly — Honourable Mention
‘The sole of my brand-new green and black Nike pressed hard against my cheek, and I felt the pressure on my face rise and fall like the foot of a rally driver, accelerating on the straights, easing up on the bends, and slamming down out of the corners.’
Stale Biscuits
Charmaine Reader — Honourable Mention
‘Maurice had nothing in common with these people. If not for The Ultimatum he’d be out of here before they dunked their biscuits.’
Another Hello
Connor Sabre — Honourable Mention
Content warning: Content concerns self-harm/suicide.
‘We talk through screens and the tapping of keyboards. We talk across the distance of the entire world.’
The Bells
Cindy Tomamichel — Honourable Mention
‘The bells, the bells. They hammer in my head without mercy while people walk past me to go to the church and listen to stories of rebirth.’
Dreams Don’t Come to Life
Jack Wu — Honourable Mention
‘The empty chat beckons to me, daring me to spill all my feelings. All my fears. So, I do.’
Be Gentle
Lucinda Yong — Special Mention
‘I’m failing again, she thought. She stood in the kitchen, her back pressed hard against the metal sink. The tap dripped steadily in the background. She tapped her fingers along with the rhythm, trying to remember what she needed to do.’
Paper Road Magazine 