Judge Carol Guess has selected “The Girl Next Door to the Girl Next Door,” by Amy Woolard, as the winner of Indiana Review‘s 2014 1/2K Prize! Woolard’s poem will appear in a forthcoming issue of Indiana Review. We received more than 500 submissions, a record number of excellent quality and variety. All work was read anonymously and closely by our editors. Thanks to all who submitted their work for consideration and made this year’s Prize possible.

2014 Indiana Review 1/2K Prize Winner:

“The Girl Next Door to the Girl Next Door”

Amy Woolard

Guess has this to say about the winning piece: “The sounds in this poem lured me into the story–repetition and rhyme in service to character and scene. I love the juxtaposition between sweet and staccato, and the way the tone shifts from delicate details to harsh colloquialisms. The narrator’s a mystery to me, which I like, but the girl isn’t a mystery at all– she’s true to this town and time. It’s nice to start with a girl who’s alive, for a change, and to let the girl’s escape be the truth of the story.”

Runners-Up:

“Weekend” by Shane Kowalski

“The Alexandria Story” by Corinne Schneider

“The Golden Rule” by Lo Kwa Mei-en

“How to Walk Backwards Into a Black & White House” by Amy Woolard

Finalists:

“The Fable” by Gary Leising

“Untitled” by Don Judson

“Killing Time” by A.B. Francis

“Instructions for Womanhood” & “Conspiracy to Commit Larceny” by Jennifer Militello

“The Stone Cold Rule” by Lo Kwa Mei-en