89 stories, 91 authors, 30 schools—and 158,199 words of imagination
EUGENE, Ore.–Lane County kids have a lot to say—158,199 words’ worth, to be exact. From homeschool tables to charter school classrooms, 91 young writers from 30 schools across the county sat down this winter and did just that: they wrote.
Now in its 13th year, Wordcrafters’ Fiction Fantastic is a free annual short story competition open to all K–12 students in Lane County, and this year’s response was one for the record books.
The 2026 contest received 89 stories by 91 authors from 30 different schools, totaling a remarkable 158,199 words.
“Every year, Fiction Fantastic reminds us of the incredible young writers we have in Lane County,” said Daryll Lynne Evans, Wordcrafters Executive Director. “These students have poured their creativity, courage, and voice into their work. We’re so happy to celebrate them.”
The 2026 Fiction Fantastic finalists are:
K–2 Spotlight
“The Flying Cats” by Fiona Stacey, Fairfield Elementary School
(The K–2 Spotlight category celebrates the work of our youngest writers and is not competitively judged.)
Elementary School
“Through My Eyes” by Emma Juul, Gilham Elementary School
“All Mixed Up” by Emmalee Naylor, Gilham Elementary School
“The Tale of Two Bunnies and Their Pet Human” by Hazel Rallen and Autumn Mooney, Ridgeline Montessori School
“The House That Watched” by Julia Thompson-Mueller, Ridgeline Montessori School
Middle School
“Red Brick House” by Sala Crabtree, Homeschool
“Sinking” by Cora Fortenbach, Cal Young Middle School
“A Splash of Shadows in a Field of Light” by Lily Maierhoffer, Thurston Middle School
“Cœur du Clocher” by David Sammons, Spencer Butte Middle School
“Rose and the Fairy” by Edmund Titus, Bridge Charter Academy
High School
“Autopilot” by Isaac Chou, South Eugene High School
“The Girl Who Learned the Names of Light” by Arya Metz-Hogan, Willamette Leadership Academy
“Myself, Truly” by Kendall Moeller, Elmira High School
“In Living Memory” by Keiko Weible, South Eugene High School
Stories entered into the contest were evaluated by Wordcrafters’ dedicated volunteer judges through up to two rounds of blind judging, with final placements determined from the top-scoring stories in each category.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday, May 21, from 6–8 p.m. at Wordcrafters Studio, 436 Charnelton St., Eugene. All winning stories will be published in the annual Fiction Fantastic anthology.
Fiction Fantastic is free for all students to enter and is made possible through the generous support of donors and community volunteers. This year’s judging process involved dozens of dedicated community volunteers—authors, teachers, and arts-oriented community members—who read submissions.
For more information about Fiction Fantastic, including past winning stories and how to support the contest, visit wordcrafters.org/youth/fiction-fantastic.
About Wordcrafters in Eugene
Wordcrafters in Eugene is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literary arts organization serving writers and readers of every age across Lane County. Founded in 2013, Wordcrafters has reached more than 19,000 adults and youth through over 1,150 events, providing access to community, craft, and inspiration. Programs include Writers in the Schools (WITS) residencies, adult workshops and retreats, the Be Writing Festival, and the Fiction Fantastic youth short story contest.
Media Contact: Jeaux Bartlett, jo@wordcrafters.org 541-359-1212 wordcrafters.org
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