Third Place: Manufactured Hero by Sara George
Sara George (@sara_tells_stories) is a lifelong writer working to become a first-time author. In addition to reading all genres (yes, she reads everything), Sara also loves rollercoasters, cookies, movies, board games, random trivia, and anything that makes her laugh. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, four kids, and three cats..
What the Judges said:
“Your creative twist on the superhero genre was a delight to read, and I was fascinated by the complex history of your characters–I would read an entire novel about them! Thank you for sharing this wonderful story!”
“You have a wonderful voice that balances comedy with whip-smart writing. I loved your genre bend of the typical superhero story. I hope we see more from you!”
“A brilliant genre deconstruction! This doesn’t just tell a superhero story - it actively dismantles and critiques the whole genre. The idea that both heroes and villains are artificially created by corrupt institutions is fresh, thought-provoking, and incredibly relevant. (If this ever becomes a novel, please query me!!)”
“So imaginative and creative - I wanted more! Fantastic story and incredible writing - loved it!”
A Chat with the Author:
Tell us a little about your writing background. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to start? What challenges have you faced along the way?
Reading and writing for me have always gone hand in hand. I have been writing since I could read a whole book. Though I have always written for fun, it wasn’t until last year that I found the courage to pursue publication. I was inspired by the indie author community on Instagram to put aside my crippling self-doubt and just go for it. The support I have gotten from this community has literally worked miracles in my life!
How did you come up with the idea for this story?
I grew up reading comic books and I love the idea of a world where superheroes are real. But my favorite thing to do as a writer is to take fictional concepts and imagine what they would look like in the world we live in right now. It just seemed natural to me that if people really possessed these kinds of powers, they would be exploited in some way.
What is your writing process like?
Not as organized as you would think. I come up with a concept and basically let the story unfold as I write. It isn’t until I have a first draft that I start outlining and figuring out how to make it all flow and make sense, which, weirdly, is my favorite part of the process.
Where can readers find more of your work?
My debut novel (another story that mixes fictional concepts with the real world-this time with a genie!) will be published in May! You can get updates by following my IG or signing up for my newsletter, which you can do on my website, www.authorsarageorge.com. Now that I’ve found the courage to make my writing public I don’t plan to stop!
What advice would you give writers on writing a great short story?
This is the kind of stuff I feel very unqualified to answer, but since I’ve written way more short stories than novels, I’ll take a stab. Don’t be afraid to cut! Short stories should be sharing information with every sentence, so if a sentence isn’t doing that, throw it out!
