Caleb Adkins Wins Story Contest

by Aaron Macke

Caleb Adkins, a sophomore at Parkersburg South High School, won the Wood County Young Authors Contest. Caleb wrote the original story “Adriel” which was about a brother recalling the day this his sibling was killed. Caleb had written this story awhile ago

“I wrote this story for my freshman year Honors English class. The assignment was to write a multiple scene narrative for Mrs. Smith’s class. She encouraged me to submit it to Wood Whispers but I never had the confidence to do it.” he said when asked what inspired him to write the story.

It took Caleb about two days in class to write the story. He was surprised that he won because in his own words “I had little to no confidence with the contents of the story. I still believe that it’s basic and lackluster but I’m gaining more trust within myself that my abilities are better than I perceive.”

Caleb has many personal connections with this story like when he says “I often think about time and if I could’ve changed or stopped certain events in my life. The character ponders these wonders of life and feels guilt for not changing fate.” Caleb says that he plans on continuing with his writing and that actually winning really gave him the boost he needs to continue writing.

“I absolutely love to write. It always offers something new to me when I sit down to write. I am able to just take my thoughts and make them physically out there for others to take in.” Caleb is unsure about his future he does want writing to be a part of it.

“An issue I have I have is I’m not sure of the way I want my future to play out. I enjoy video editing and photoshop, but I love to write... to become someone who can write things and have others who will want to read it, like an author. My dream would be to become a successful author or [at least] some form of writer.” Caleb said. So even though Caleb isn’t quite sure of his future with writing are boud to see some more amazing stories from him.