Grist, a snappy, intelligent journal out of Seattle reporting on climate justice issues, puts on an annual writer’s competition called Imagine 2200.

I was drawn to this 5,000-word competition by its vision.

Grist challenges authors to imagine a world set 180 years in the future where disenfranchised communities most affected by climate change thrive. Afrofuturism, solarpunk, LGBTQI, and indigenous storytelling inform the contest.

I will tell you that - as a writer - telling a grizzly apocalyptic story about climate future is easy.

What’s hard - very hard - is imagining a hopeful, inspiring story that emphasizes justice and abundance for people most impacted by the greed of today’s colonizing nations.

It was an intensely exciting problem, and I thoroughly enjoyed the effort. I submitted my story Benevolencia to the contest; I’m still waiting to hear back on the results.

So, mum’s the word right now, but more to come!

Update October 18, 2023 - Grist responded. Although I didn’t win the contest, my story was in the top five percent for consideration.