Announcing the Results of Another Chicago Magazine’s 2024 Nonfiction Contest
Theresa Dietrich has won the Another Chicago Magazine nonfiction prize. Her braided
narrative, “Porches,” was chosen by author and editor S.L. Wisenberg. The first-place prize is
publication in ACM and a residency at Shannaghe in Maine.
Here are the full results, and comments from our readers:
FIRST PLACE: Theresa Dietrich, “Porches”
“Theresa Dietrich’s study of the broken and unbroken is an engaging braided narrative
about her father’s alcoholism and love for broken things, and her own journey. Porches
drive the narrative as she explores how they can be a place of beauty and danger while
also being spaces of transition and transformation.”
SECOND PLACE: Brandon Toh, “Two Pieces”
“Curious, understated, and earnest, the speaker in these two short essays—”A Letter to
Mr 余” and “The Way Time Passes”—draws the reader in as he slowly unwinds a series
of increasingly complex reflections about growing up, grief, understanding the adults we
become and those that came before us, and coming to accept life as we are living it.
Filled with graceful moments of insight about being a student and then teacher in
Singapore, a grandson and son, Brandon Toh’s work has a surprising freshness that is a
balm to read.”
THIRD PLACE: Nancy Erhard, “Find the Sky”
“Nancy Erhard’s essay is about healing, about choices, and about values. I was
especially drawn to this line about her own mother: ‘I would do anything for my kids had
been her refrain. But she wouldn’t do this.’ An absorbing account of abortion in the US
in the 70’s and the invaluable support Erhard received from women.”
Our readers:
Ellen Blum Barish is an author, essayist and flash nonfiction writer in Chicago whose work can be found at ellenblumbarish.com.
Paula Carter is the author of No Relation and the winner of ACM’s 2023 nonfiction contest. She teaches Creative Writing at Northwestern University and you can find out more about her at paulaccarter.com.
Cory Fosco is a writer whose work can be found in Bright Flash Literary Review, In Parenthesis, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, Hippocampus, and others.
Caitlin Garvey is the author of Mourning Report, and a professor of English. You can learn more at caitlinhogangarvey.com.
Michael Lenehan is a writer and editor.
Lee Reilly is the founder of the Shannaghe residency and an author and essayist, whose work can be found at leereilly.com.
Sarah Twombly is a Maine-based writer; you can learn more about her work
at sarahtwombly.com.
Thanks to all who submitted.
Another Chicago Magazine 