STORY INFO
image

The Craving

Content

cw: miscarriage This could not wait till morning. The craving came on so sudden and intense that resisting never even crossed her mind. For some reason Claudia needed fudge. Maybe it was hormones. Maybe it was the fact that she finally had an appetite. But she needed fudge. Not the kind she usually made this time of year, melting chocolate chips in the microwave. Claudia needed the heavy, silky fudge her grandma used to make—the kind you made in a saucepan with a candy thermometer.Did you need a doubl...

Outstanding reviews

Usually I hate it when stories have very little dialogue. Here, it works. Here, it's magnificent and plays into the almost tortured inner monologue. This was a wonderful story. Deserved win!
Thanks. Yes, this story is heavy on interior monologue. I couldn't think of another way to emphasize the isolation and disconnectedness she was feeling besides all of questions inside her head. The dialog came at the end as a resolution. It was also about all of the things that go unsaid inside of families--the bubbles roiling beneath the surface.
A very subtle showing, not telling. And random question, what does cw, at the very beginning of the story, mean?
Reedsy actually added the cw. I'm assuming it stands for "content warning"?
Yeah, I assumed it was a trigger warning of some kind.
omg I agree! Great story!!
My mom had 4 miscarriages and 7 surviving, healthy kids so I 100% know how May feels!
I was just about to read this and--it won! Wow, congrats Anne! Totally deserved. Fudge is very hard to make. You wrote this beautifully. So, so sad.
Thank you! I did make myself teary as I wrote the last few paragraphs, but I meant for it to be bitter-sweet. We're all just as connected by our losses as by our triumphs.
Indeed. Thank you for writing this.
Indeed. Thank you for writing this.
Thank you for all of these observations! It makes me so happy to see people engaging with my stories at this level.
WOOOO SECOND WIN! I never thought fudge could be the essence of such a beautiful, poignant dive into the human psyche, but at this point I’m not surprised you can pull it off. Congrats 🥳If this is by any chance based on personal experience, you have my condolences.
Woooo! Thank you. I've watched my mom make this kind of fudge, but have never braved it myself. The story is based on some actual experience, but an old wound. I have two great daughters now.
I’m thrilled you channeled that energy and turned it into this amazing piece. Kudos 😙
I’m thrilled you channeled that energy and turned it into this amazing piece. Kudos 😙
I’m thrilled you channeled that energy and turned it into this amazing piece. Kudos 😙
Hi...please comment on my stories..their just two submission
Hi...please comment on my stories..their just two submission
Thank you so! I pulled details from kitchens I've known, but mine is not quite as cool as claudia's. No walk in pantry here. I think there's a special fudge my great grandma made. My mom was craving it. I feel bad i don't even know.
Don't feel bad - it inspired a great story!! : )
AND A WIN!! Congratulations! This story stayed with me this week-I was so happy to see that it won. Very, very well deserved.
You have great inspiration.
This was a realistic and bittersweet story. The way the making of the fudge strung the story together was really effective. The language and descriptions just flow from each other so effortlessly. I really don't know what else to say because this story is so good. The way she told her mother about the miscarriage was so heartbreaking to read. Congratulations on your second win, Anne! Truly amazing work!
Thank you! Glad to see you're back with another story.
This is an incredible work. Your words totally took control of my emotions, and I know it's a good piece of writing when that happens. 🎉So, Congrats!!🎉
Thanks so much for writing this. I needed to read it today as I've been thinking about the fudge my Mom has made for our family each year for 70+ years. This is the first year we won't have her fudge because she's in a transitional care center. I included the recipe in a gift of several old recipes for my daughter and happy to think it will hopefully be made for future generations.
I'm so glad this could help with a difficult time. I think i did quite it out of a feeling of being disconnected from tradition as we prepare for a long-distance holiday season. Thank goodness for little things that bind us. Your recipe idea sounds perfect. Perhaps, since you're a writer, accompanied by an account of some of your memories?
Beautifully rendered story. Fudge is very difficult to make! And it is a poignant metaphor for how difficult it is to talk about miscarriage.
I liked the potential for the rising and falling heat to mirror the story arc, too. And I learned a lot about fudge making in the process!
This is an incredible story Anne. I thought so long before the reveal about the miscarriage. I loved how you kept weaving together the past with the present and turning this simple act of fudge making (or not so simple as we see) into a suspenseful story - would she make a successful pan of fudge or not??? I was not ready for the twist and that made an already excellent story superb.
Congrats Anne! This felt like a winner to me when I read it, but I didn't want to jinx it. I'm so happy it rose to the top!
🥳🥳
I love it. I loved every word! Let me know if you would like a full review!
Anne! I am so mesmerized by your writing. I know to expect something different along the way, and I found that here. My takeaway-If only people shared their losses the way they share their family recipes, we'd be fed among company and not starved for compassion of our losses. My grandma always made sugared walnuts, and she taught me how to test the boiled sugar in water....and it always left me fascinated. Beautiful story!
I love your take on this-- if people shared their losses the way they shared family recipes! I agree. Thanks. And yum on the walnuts.
Anne!!!! You won!!!! You really deserved this one, I keep thinking about how great this story is that you created <3
Loved this! I went on an emotional roller coaster while reading it. You did amazing conveying her whole fight with herself and just everything was so amazingly put!
Thanks so much for sharing that! Made my day.
A polished voice and a mouth-watering piece. Like the fudge, you delivered to us the story, with the perfect consistency required.
Such a beautiful bittersweet story.. Loved reading..!Congratulations on your win :)
Loved it!!! An amazing story.
Wowwww...I love it.please like and comment on mine.i only have two submission so farthanks
Congrats !!!!!1
I know I'm a few weeks late to this but I'm brand new to Reedsy and reading through previous winners out of curiosity. And my goodness what a fantastic story! This is heartbreaking but so beautifully written - excellent job! :)
Thanks so much, and welcome to Reedsy!
Thank you! :)
(((Also just read your other winning story -- it was wonderful as well!)))
Hey! Congratulations on this win! What can I say? I know a good shortlist when I read one haha. This really was an amazing story. Looking forward to reading more. :)
Guess that makes you a good judge! I'm interested in your story review project. Keep meaning to message you. I'll look out for your takes on all the best stories.
That’d be great! Thanks for your support :)

TOP Story

Local Tongue

419 Reads
Chapter 1 18 hours ago

01

Black Christmas

412 Reads
Chapter 1 4 hours ago

02

Over These Still Rising Waters

410 Reads
Chapter 1 9 hours ago

03

Life Line

339 Reads
Chapter 1 1 day ago

04

The Consortium Library

252 Reads
Chapter 1 20 hours ago

05

On the Job Training

234 Reads
Chapter 1 1 day ago

06

In Hell

223 Reads
Chapter 1 7 hours ago

07

The Clock Strikes Glick

222 Reads
Chapter 1 1 day ago

08