Two Shaler Area Middle School students are being recognized for their writing talents through a contest held by the National Council of Teachers of English and the Colorado Writing Project.

Seventh-grader Gina Aluise won first place for her flash fiction story "The Ballad of the Jackal,” and Dillon Stoner, also a seventh-grader, won honorable mention for his flash fiction called "The Bromby Bros in Don't Cry Over Killed Milk."

Flash fiction is a short piece of fiction writing, often defined by its word count, that still includes character and plot development.

Gina and Dillon both received gift cards and will have their stories published on the Colorado Writing Project's website.