Writing
	September 19, 2025

NYC Midnight 1k Story Round 2 Fantasy

WON FIRST PLACE 🥇

Judge 1: I found that there was a lot of good tension and suspense in this piece, which gradually built up at a steady pace and was clearly felt by Kolg, Grunka, and Bilty. There was a sense of pressure and desperation for the characters to stop Smokevale, which would draw the readers in more. I also appreciated the repetition of whether trolls make everything worse or better, and how it creates a full-circle effect for how the other characters feel about Grunka, as well as giving her a moment to prove herself. This repetition would also give readers insight into Grunka’s sense-of-self, which appears to be influenced by others’ perceptions.

Judge 2: Your story presents a well-thought-out and consistent narrative. Your structure and pacing are both strong. Your concept itself is fun and engaging. Your characters feel natural to the world around them, and their interactions and dialogue are realistic and enjoyable. The tension throughout works nicely and keeps the reader interested.

Judge 3:  I love a Goblin story, especially one that paints them in a positive light that captures the fun of writing them. The writer put together a truly motley crew of goblins and trolls and I would love to hear more about their service to the runeway. Altogether a great submission!