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Pen 2 Paper

a disability-focused creative writing contest

Our deepest thanks to everyone who submitted work to the Pen 2 Paper Creative Writing Contest (P2P) in 2020. We are pleased to present finalists in each division below.

Please note that 2020 will be our last year of the contest for now. P2P has grown so much since we started it back in 2009, and we simply don’t have the capacity to administer it anymore. However, we are going to use 2021 to re-envision a more sustainable version of the contest that still achieves its original goals. We hope to be back one day!

Linked entries are posted with permission; authors retain all rights. Entry will open as a PDF in a new window or prompt you to download a PDF file, depending on your browser. Please note that starred entries contain strong language or adult content (sex, violence, suicide, etc.).

Non-Fiction Finalists

First Place: How Sad, How Lovely * Jasmine Ledesma
Second Place: Watch Closely Pat Hulsebosch
Third Place: Without Words Meghan Beaudry (previously published in Al Jazeera, May 10, 2020)
Finalists:

Can I Remember to Forget? * Monica Viera
Capturing Hope from a Deep Cavern of Shame * Miriam Edelson
Dreams, Limitations, and Santa Claus River Kozhar
Homecoming Michael Cannistraci
More Than Just a Walk Wendy Kennar
Nancy Morgan Smith
Richard * Kim Horner (previously published in Ten Spurs, 2019)

Fiction Finalists

First Place: Johnson the Terror Meghan Beaudry
Second Place: The Caregiver Lucia Gagliese
Third Place: Fair Flowers of Paradise * Curt Alderson
Finalists:

ABCs Michael Geisser
Blindsided Brooke Coleman
Iron Goddess of Mercy * Davida Kellogg
Letter to the Dead * Sophie Trist
Medals Sally Derringer
No Easy Game Elaine Barnard
One Day to Blossom Sandra Fischer

Poetry Finalists

First Place: DX: Autoiummune Disease * Larina Warnock
Second Place: Hopscotch Pitamber Kaushik
Third Place: Grappling with Dissociative Identity Disorder Edie Bakker
Finalists:

And thinking is like this: Alyson Osborn
The Anxiety ("A") Alicia Turner
Attention Daydreams Disorder Elizabeth Gracy
Demonic Play Time * Kathrine Bergen
Out of Reach kathleen klassen
Stock * Jeanne Kay
When the Levees Break James Redfern

About Pen 2 Paper

CTD's annual Pen 2 Paper (P2P) creative writing contest seeks pieces of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry that treat the topic of disability. Whether or not you have experience as a creative writer; whether or not you have a disability, we want to hear your voice!

P2P is the ONLY disability-focused creative writing contest in Texas (correct us if we're wrong!). Our goals are to:

give writers with disabilities a forum where they can share their work.
bring awareness to disability issues through the arts.
challenge all people of all ages to think, rethink, and express their stories, perspectives, fears, and discoveries about disability.

While P2P is based in Texas, people from other states or countries are welcome to enter.

Each year, entries are evaluated by a panel of volunteer judges, and prizes are awarded to the top entries in each division. Winners and finalists will be posted on P2P's website and given opportunities to share their work in public settings.

Local and state sponsors and volunteers help make the competition possible by contributing their time, expertise, energy, and funds.