Summertime is finally here! If you need a break from those last few assignments--or better yet, if you're already done!--then find a nice cool spot and settle in for some leisure reading. Not only do we have a spectacular assortment of staff picks to share with you, but we at *WordCount have a special surprise for this Feature #11.

In lieu of a Published Works section we are pleased to present the two First Place Winners of *ThornyEnglishRose and *batousaijin's Tots and Teens Contest. The winning pieces in the two prose categories, 12 and Under and Teen Fiction, both exhibit a balance of charming appeal and refreshing creativity; both are certain to impress you, readers, as much as they have the judges and staff at *WordCount.

Therefore, without further ado, we bring you the winners: *ElectroBaby and ~RockerLane1110!

Tots and Teens Contest Winners!

Magic by *ElectroBaby (2,623 words)

12 and Under Fiction: The line between fantasy and reality gets increasingly sharper as we grow up. In this story, *ElectroBaby beautifully explores that timeless theme.


Because... by ~RockerLane1110 (1,161 words)

Teen Fiction: Did you ever really think about who else might have sat at your desk at school? In only a little over 1,500 words, ~RockerLane1110 develops so many three-dimensional characters and captures so many aspects of teenage life.

_{Psst! If you haven't read the entire article and seen all the winners, you're missing out!}

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100 words or less

Drabble by *IfrozenspiritI

Contest Fiction: Is it an allegorical tale about the state of the world and the people who try to escape, or...?


Manfred by ~IndigoJane

Fictional Life Stories: Manfred dreams of having intimate relations. Too bad he's all fluff.



101-300 words

hunger by ~ladygekko

Humor: Bringing new meaning to false pregnancy.


DarkNight Audition Monologue by ~ivyautumn

Theatre & Scripts: This monologue is the perfect example of a piece that does not waste words.



301-500 words

Mister monster by *Archaeismus

Horror: An atypical perspective piece that heightens childhood fears to deep cerebral analysis.


Scared by ~piratesecho

Fictional Perspectives: Sometimes we'd rather not make our stop.


The Taming by ~littleboylogic

Erotic Fiction: A short, yet touchingly erotic tale with a clever twist.



501-1,000 words

This Is My Body by =ghostlove

General Non-Fiction: A piece about cherising and respecting the real holy vessel.


I.Am.The.Storm by ~drop-asd

Spiritual: This tale about Slavic ancient gods will surely raise your interest in mythology.


Broken Record by ~Jurobei

Fictional Perspectives: Imagine a pianist able to melt away the hardest of emotions.



1,001 - 3,000 Words

illuminaughty text by =iamabee

Non-Fiction Biographies: Follow this stream-of-consciousness reflection on life and see where it leads you.


shooting the muse by ~00SpaceOddity00

General Fiction: In this powerful piece, ~00SpaceOddity00 tackles a touch subject: what happens when your muse is a chemical?



3,001 - 5,000 Words

Helen and the Hours of Death by ~jack-cade

Fantasy: This story can only be described an archaeological find pulled from the archive of a great writer.


A Most Inconvenient Occurance by ~RoseEyedPariah

Science Fiction:
This story leaves enough to the imagination to keep the reader curious, while giving enough information to keep the reader engaged.


5,001+ words

History of the World by ~CharlieAG

Historical Fiction: This roll-on-the-floor laughing parody of the history of the world is more than worth the time it takes to get to the end.


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Looking Back: May's Prose DDs

With free time on the horizon, what better way to spend it than to revisit all the prose DD's you missed?

Wooden Crates by *LeonieSainteVire (514 words)
Death of Charity by ~BlueDannyLew (559 words)
TWo Paths: Prologue by *Memnalar (1,641 words)
I Found One by *raspil (2,348 words)
The Court of Life by =mormonchick1005 (1,066 words)
Break by ~frankieofthehills (275 words)
Uncle Danny by ~Skyen (574 words)
Panties and Pistols by ~NLY (1,292 words)
My Lion by ~tricksyriver (2,003 words) _{Previously featured!}
LOOK, FOOL by ~wrenwatcher (228 words)
Murdering Mary Sue by ~Cei-Ellem (2,753 words)
Crayons by *Boxymoron (194 words)
The Writing Process by ~LaMonaca (2,311 words) _{Highly Recommended by *WordCount}
Coping with OCD by =TerrorCookie (1,356 words)
memento mori by =livingcomforteagle (9,131 words)
Decayed Earth: The First Days by *distortified (4,769 words)
Hell's Kitchen by *Zhinggibiis (853 words)
Run drabble by ~365-leap (100 words)
Not a Typical Morning by =DarcKnyt (2,031 words)

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Meet Our Contributors: ~oneangstychick

~oneangstychick is one of our oldest and most dependable *WordCount staff members. She has been our go-to girl for General Fiction since this project first set sail in May 2007, and even though she may have parted ways from our project for a short time, we're happy to have ~oneangstychick back on our staff.

Trekking through the General Fiction gallery for prose is no easy task, but ~oneangstychick manages time and again to locate outstanding pieces (like the one in this month's feature) and turn out some great work of her own:


Dreams of Mint (1,072 words)

General Fiction: Explore the sibling dynamic and what it means to love.


Faust (155 words)

Fictional Perspectives: This piece of flash fiction is certain to leave you in smoke.


Magpie and Robin (3,683 words)

Teen Romance: Magpie and Robin: probably the most interesting pair you'll ever meet.





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This month's article included features suggested by:




And a special thanks to *fallenidle for donating a 3-month subscription to the account. We you for your dedication and support.





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