Jacob M. Appel has collected more than 100 rejection letters. He first submitted work to be considered for The Missouri Review Editors’ Prize at age 15. It wasn’t until he was 34 that he finally won it. “You only see successful writers once they’re successful—not the struggle to get there,” Appel says.

Now, he has another award to place on his shelf.

Appel’s stage play “The Mistress of Wholesome” won the grand prize in the 77th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. The piece, which focuses on a mistress confronting her lover’s wife within a pristine condo, beat out more than 17,000 entries (read it at writersdigest.com/article/themistressofwholesome). “Great stories take place in confined places, and from people not being able to say what they want to say,” Appel says. “Comedy comes from tension.”

In addition to being a writer, Appel is a lawyer and teacher who is currently in medical school. Long days at the hospital leave him with no other option than to wake up at 3:30 a.m. to write for an hour before reporting to his 5 a.m. shift. But he still makes time because being a writer is an important part of his daily life.

SHORT FICTION TO STAGE PLAYS

Writing stage plays hasn’t always been Appel’s genre of choice. He has published short fiction in more than 70 journals and has won many contests and awards, including the Boston Review short story competition and the North American Review Kurt Vonnegut Fiction Prize. He stumbled into writing stage plays in true gauntlet fashion. Six years ago, a playwright friend challenged him to switch genres with her. Appel took up the offer.

Since then, he’s had plays performed at numerous theaters, including the Manhattan Repertory Theatre and the Detroit Repertory Theatre. He found not only a new passion, but also a whole community of playwrights. “When writing fiction, you’re alone. Plays are very communal,” Appel says. “There’s nothing more magical than seeing your play come to life.”

One of the biggest hurdles in going from short fiction to stage plays was the fear of writing convincing dialogue. After taking a weekly workshop, Appel picked up some helpful advice from the instructor, who simply told him to listen to his work read out loud. Suddenly, friends and family members transformed into actors as they read—and sometimes performed—his work.

“I think stage plays are much harder to write than fiction,” Appel says. “All you have is dialogue—you can’t spare a word. One bad line can ruin a play. At the same time, one great line can make a play.”

To read Jacob M. Appel's grand-prize winning entry visit:
"The Mistress of Wholesome"

Click on the category name below to see the top 100 winners in each area:

Children's/YA Fiction
Feature Article
Genre Short Story
Inspirational
Mainstream Fiction
Nonrhyming Poetry
Memoir/Personal Essay
Rhyming Poetry
Stageplay
Screenplay

ABOUT THE CONTEST

Jacob M. Appel’s “The Mistress of Wholesome” was chosen out of 17,056 manuscripts in 10 categories. The top 10 winners from each are listed on the following pages.
As the grand-prize winner, Appel receives $3,000, a trip to New York City with a WD editor to meet with four editors or agents, and a Diamond Publishing Package from Outskirts Press.

To receive a collection featuring all 10 first-place winners, send a $10 check or money order to the 77th Annual WD Competition Collection, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990.
For more winners, information about next year’s contest or to order a collection online, visit writersdigest.com/competitions.