The Dreamer’s Hand

Written By Danielle Dahl

Some dreams don’t disappear. They’re silenced, slowly, by practicality, fear, and the quiet decision to stop trying. Dreams are the whispers of our deepest desires, and in a world that rewards stability over passion, it’s easy to “grow up” and call it maturity. Sometimes it’s just neglect.

This first contest is our opening ritual at Quill—House of Ink. It’s for anyone who has ever felt the ache of a dream slipping away… and for anyone ready to return.

Theme

“Dreams can only die at the hands of the dreamer.” — Danielle Dahl, Quill Co-Founder

The Prompt

Write about a dream you “killed” through neglect, practicality, fear, or silence, and the moment you realized it.

End your piece with one of the following:

  • (A) the first small step you took (or will take) to resurrect it, or

  • (B) the sentence you wish someone had told you sooner.

Formats Accepted

  • Personal essay

  • Narrative nonfiction

  • Poetry

Entry Fee

  • $30 (non-members)
    Members receive discounted entry.

Prizes & Publication

1st Place

  • $250 cash prize

  • Publication on the Quill website

  • Inclusion in the Quill Anthology

  • Participation in a live reading event

2nd Place

  • $50 cash prize

  • Publication on Resilient Stories

  • Participation in a live reading event

  • Possible inclusion in the Resilient Stories Anthology

3rd Place

  • Participation in a live reading event

  • Publication in Medium’s “Voices of Resiliency” publication

Why This Contest

Quill exists for the return arc. For that moment when you find the courage to reclaim your voice. Not everyone who writes is trying to become famous. Many of us write to survive, to heal, and to give our inner life somewhere to go.

This theme is an invitation to do exactly that: name the dream, name the ending, and, if you choose, write the first line of the beginning again.

How to Enter

Submit your piece: Click here to enter. The submission form will be emailed to you.
Deadline: April 20th 2026
Word count/length: 150-1000
Eligibility: Open to all Montana writers

Judging

Entries will be judged on:

  • emotional resonance

  • originality and voice

  • craft (structure, clarity, imagery)

  • alignment with the theme

Winners will be announced on this page and on our social channels.

Past Winners

As Quill grows, this page will become a living archive with our contest history, winner spotlights, and the writing that helped launch this space.

Winner announcements and past selections will be published here.

Danielle Dahl