Promote Me! Forum Picking Finalists

Well. I'll tell you.

I start by reading them again. Really reading them. Sometimes stories make it to the short list because I knew after reading the first few paragraphs and the last line that it is a good story. Now is the time to read every word.

I also take notes. Nothing review worthy, but reminders to myself on where the piece succeeds and fails.

At this point I usually still have twice as many as I can award. When this happens I group pieces by type and pick the best of each type. For example, I frequently divide poetry into topic. It is highly unlikely that two poems of the same topic are both going to make it to the finalists.

And that's how it happens. Thanks for participating!