The winners of the 2024 Shooter Poetry Competition share a sense of political and social injustice – one on a global scale, one at the personal level.

Maryah Converse won the competition with “Web of Resistance”, a compelling lyric palimpsest of activism that questions attitudes towards the ongoing war in the Middle East. The runner-up, “MS Multiple Choice” by Anna Mindel Crawford, adopts an innovative form to suggest the frustration and difficulty of living with chronic illness in the family.

Three other poets submitted strong entries to the contest: Megan Cartwright, Jet McDonald, and Suzi Mezei received honourable mentions for their poetry.

Both of the winning poems are available to read at the Competition Winners page. “Web of Resistance” will also appear in print in Shooter’s forthcoming “Nightlife” issue, which can be ordered at the Subscriptions page.

Prose writers get their turn during the second half of the year: the 2024 Shooter Short Story Competition will open to entries within the next few weeks.

*

Featured photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona