Comedy. It’s so hard and so subjective. The judges of this competition–a team from six countries and various cultural backgrounds–have spent the last few weeks discussing the over 1000 entries to the SmokeLong Quarterly Comedy Prize 2021. With the rare exception, our opinions about what’s funny and what’s really really not funny have varied widely. What a challenge and a privilege these conversations continue to be. Comedy, I guess, is a lot like wine: it tastes a little different to every palate.
Congratulations to all the writers on the following list. You have created something memorable. Blind judging is still in progress, so please do not associate your name with a title. Feel free, however, to share your achievement on social media uproariously. We’ll be announcing the shortlist in about a week.
The Long List
1973 by Frances Gapper
Age I Was At My Whitest: A Comprehensive Study by Robert Criss
Archie’s Last Day by Karen Jones
Based on a True Story by Epiphany Ferrell
Bienvenue à La Petite Bespoke Bibliothèque! by Elizabeth Turner
Dear Mum by Alex Ho
Femininity for Sale by Lynn Schmeidler
Flight 782 by Tanner Armatis
For Sure, He Knows by Mandira Pattnaik
Get Out of Here by Alana Reynolds
I’m the Henchman from Witness Who Was Buried in Grain, Here to Warn You About the Dangers of Silos by Dorian Fox
Letter drafts to the child born of my egg donation by Kathryn Phelan
My Money-Making Scheme by Anthony Varallo
New Study Suggests “Celtic Punk” Not a Thing: Implications Could Affect as Many as 32 People Globally by Kathleen Flann
No Permittance by Jude Bridge
Not a Budgie by Michelle Christophorou
Pet Names by David Cook
Punk BC by Gordon Brown
Re: Your Short-Story Collection by Camille Verzal
Send Us Your Stories by Paul Riker
Sex Facts from Animal Science by Aimee Parkison and Meg Pokrass
So Emotional by Genevieve Abravanel
Sometimes genies are real jerks by Lucas Di Quinzio
Tell Billy to Do His Homework by Eliot Li
The Genesis of Coffee by Audrey Burges
The Reason Wolverine and Deadpool Are Flambéing on the Barbecue by Jo Withers
The Theoretician’s Bedtime by Maddy Raskulinecz
The Writing Assignment by Shira Musicant
There’s Only Room For One on a High Horse by EL Appleby
WELCOME BACK TO NEW YORK CITY POST-COVID WHERE YOU’LL FIND YOUR APARTMENT EXACTLY AS YOU LEFT IT, ONLY A LOT WORSE, LIKE ATROCIOUS
What’s Dad Gonna Do? by Meghan Wagner
Will You Rate Your Recent Exchange with a Redhead? by Kathleen Flann
The core workshop of SmokeLong Fitness is all in writing, so you can take part from anywhere at anytime. We are excited about creating a supportive, consistent and structured environment for flash writers to work on their craft in a community. We are thrilled and proud to say that our workshop participants have won, placed, or been listed in every major flash competition. Community works.