Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Richmond magazine Entry Title: Code Red; Permission to be Ridiculous; Down to Earth Entry Credit: Harry Kollatz Jr. Judge Comment: Readers want to know what the story is about without too much information, and these ledes do just that. "Astronaut" and Santa story ledes were excellent examples.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Ashburn Magazine Entry Title: Body of Work Entry Credit: Chris Wadsworth Judge Comment: These ledes make the reader want to stay and spend some time with the stories. I particularly liked the 'brain surgeon' lede. Good ledes are hard to write, but these work well.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Richmond magazine Entry Title: Swingin' to the Oldies; Music Roots; Forward Momentum Entry Credit: Peter McElhinney Judge Comment: "Like a well-spun stone.." is an example of a good lede that pulls the reader into story. I do prefer shorter ledes, but these 3 work well.
Competition Comment: Some submitted full story with ledes. some just the ledes. But Rules for W35 and what were printed atop each entry submitted online contradicted each other...
Tough one to choose 1-4. Changed mind a couple of times...
