Uplifting tale takes first place
Story shines light on the struggles of motherhood
Dawn Miller, a writer from Picton, Ont., has been named the winner of the 46th annual Toronto Star Short Story Contest, with a tale delving into the challenges of motherhood and the yearning for personal fulfilment beyond the confines of routine.
Miller says her story, “The Good Mother,” was inspired by her experience as a single mom. She wanted to tell a story that could help women navigate societal pressures to be perfect.
“I wanted to shine a light on the struggle of motherhood,” she said, “to show a mother who feels like she’s failing, but in reality is doing the very best she can, that that’s enough.”
She won $5,000 cash and tuition to attend the Humber School for Writers. The Star will print her story on May 11.
Miller, who has written professionally for five years, has published work in Room magazine and the Cincinnati Review, where she wrote about the intricacies of human connection and the unexpected intersections of everyday life. She says her favourite type of storytelling is flash fiction: very short stories, usually fewer than 1,000 words.
For Miller, writing represents a freedom of expression where one can get lost in time. She likens it to ikigai, the Japanese word for “a reason to live.”
“If you can find something you really love, that you feel so immersed in, the time changes; you’ve found your ikigai,” she said.
Michael Buhler, from Timmins, Ont., came in second place with “Betrayal at Yellow Falls,” a story about four teenagers facing obstacles on a wilderness adventure, where feelings of fear and uncertainty test the strength of their friendship.
When he’s not writing, Buhler, originally from Cochrane, Alta., says he too enjoys “the great outdoors” and has travelled throughout Canada.
“Betrayal at Yellow Falls” earned Buhler a $2,000 prize and will be published in the Star on May 4.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the lives of young people, in terms of how they grow or the kinds of limitations they might face,” he said. “One of the things I wanted to focus on in the story was the idea of faith to help guide you through the challenges of life.”
Working as a chaplain by day, Buhler has been writing for most of his life. He is also the author of the short-story collection “The Burden of Light,” which explores characters grappling with spirituality.
Vigorous book reader and bigdog lover Sydney Gilchrist placed third with “The Music Room,” a coming-of-age tale that follows a child transitioning into adolescence as they battle the pressures of identity, body image and emotional instability.
Throughout the narrative, the unnamed protagonist is referred to only as “the child,” a choice the Toronto-based Gilchrist made to stress that this could be any child.
“I started writing this in September (of 2023) when there was such a rise in anti-trans hate happening nationwide,” she said.
“When I was thinking about writing this, I was thinking about what’s at stake for the youth.”
The story earned Gilchrist $1,000 and will be published in the Star on April 27.