Celebrating Emerging Voices in Fiction with Spoken & Elegant Literature

When stories find their voice, something magical happens. At Spoken, we believe in the power of audio storytelling. Our recent collaboration with Elegant Literature for the Crossroads & Consequence writing contest was a testament to this belief. Elegant Literature, a pioneering short fiction magazine and educational hub, is dedicated to helping emerging writers become professional authors. Through this contest, both Spoken and Elegant Literature created an unparalleled opportunity for new voices to be heard, celebrated, and supported.

Among the many gifted entrants, three writers stood out for their unforgettable narratives and stunning performances: Alexandria Bellani, who took first place with Riptide; Nick Badot, who earned second place with Laughter, Weeping; and Adrian Vasiliu, who won third place with The Elegant Art of Haunting and Horticulture. Today, we celebrate all three winning authors, their creative journeys, and the powerful impact this collaboration had on emerging storytellers.

And they’re not alone. Many of the contest submissions—beyond just the winners—are now streaming on Spoken, offering a rich and diverse playlist of stories born from the same creative challenge. It’s a living showcase of what happens when new voices are given the tools and encouragement to shine.

Elegant Literature: Championing Emerging Writers

Elegant Literature is the first short fiction magazine to pay professional rates while exclusively publishing new writers. With over 270 authors published and more than $200,000 awarded to emerging talent, it has become a leading platform for aspiring storytellers. Beyond the magazine, Elegant Literature offers education, community, and awards—providing a one-stop destination where writers can publish their work, learn from industry professionals, and engage with a supportive creative network. This mission aligns seamlessly with Spoken’s goal: to democratize access to storytelling in the audio world.

For new writers, breaking into the industry is notoriously difficult. Elegant Literature is changing that by providing easier, more supportive paths to professional publication. The Crossroads & Consequence contest was another step in that mission, offering authors a chance to see their work published, heard, and appreciated. Learn more about Elegant Literature at their website.

Adrian: A First-Time Fiction Writer Finds His Voice

Adrian Vasiliu is a graphic designer and brand manager from Romania, now venturing into fiction. With a background in visual storytelling, he is drawn to the details that shape character and atmosphere. “This is actually the first fiction writing that I ever completed,” he shared. For Adrian, the contest helped him move beyond self-doubt, “There’s always this kind of doubt in your mind, especially when you’re starting out like myself. You’re thinking, ‘I think it’s good, I enjoy writing it... but I’ll probably get shut down.’”

He described the impact of seeing his story come to life on Spoken, “Just to have your work out there and living in an environment in which people can read it, can interact with it, can provide feedback is just an amazing accomplishment in itself.”

His experience using Spoken’s AI-powered studio was eye-opening. “It’s extremely empowering to have a tool that lets you hear the character in your head come to life,” he said, noting that he explored multiple voice options during the casting process. “I tried 10 or 12 voices just to hear how different tones would sound. It was so fun.”

Alexandria: Bringing Emotion to the Surface with ‘Riptide’

Alexandria Bellani’s Riptide is a deeply moving story that resonated strongly with our judging team—and listeners. Inspired by her experiences and the universal fear of loss, Alexandria explored a painful emotional dilemma with grace and nuance. “The story came from that classic thought experiment—if your child and your partner are drowning, who do you save?” she shared. “Then it became, how do you forgive someone for choosing you over your child?”

She emphasized how Spoken influenced the creative process itself. “If I hadn’t already intended to narrate it through the Spoken platform, the story would have been quite different. I’m not even sure that the story would exist in the form that it is without that.”

She poured thought and care into her casting: “I went through at least a dozen voices for each character.” Alexandria wanted Astrid’s voice to feel mature and emotionally resonant, and Michael’s to have a soft, mellow tone. “By the end, I was getting sick of hearing it. But when I listened again a week later, I was like, ‘Yep, nailed that.’”

Her advice to authors: “Don’t be afraid to play with the formatting… Pauses, line breaks—those make a difference in how the story sounds.”

Nick: Exploring the Mythic in ‘Laughter, Weeping’

Nick Badot is an Irish-Belgian writer of fiction and poetry currently living in the Balkans. His short fiction has appeared in Impossible Worlds, Factor Four, Andromeda Spaceways, and more. With a love for the mythological, speculative, macabre, and fantastical, Nick crafts worlds that linger long after the final line. His second-place-winning story, Laughter, Weeping, is a mesmerizing narrative that echoes with grief, wisdom, and timeless emotional depth. He is currently seeking representation for a novel about endless towers and the ruins of cities in the desert.

Laughter, Weeping is now streaming on Spoken, joining Alexandria and Adrian’s work as a standout example of audio storytelling’s emotional power.

Why Spoken Matters: A Platform Built for Emerging Authors

Spoken is more than a tool—it’s a creative ecosystem built for authors who want to be heard. For emerging writers, the platform offers:

• Instant, High-Quality Narration

• An Intuitive Studio Experience

• Creative Control

• No Barrier to Entry

• An Audience-First Network

“This opens up a whole new audience… You don’t always have the resources for professional voice actors or equipment. But Spoken removes those roadblocks. Now, a writer can focus on what they do best: writing,” Adrian added. 

And Alexandria echoed the same creative spark: “I think that if I hadn’t already intended to do that through the Spoken platform, the story would have been quite different.”

A Community Built for Storytellers

Both Adrian and Alexandria found support in creative communities. Alexandria credits her writers’ group—affectionately called the “Goblin Conspiracy”—for motivating her to enter contests and continue writing. “They are the most invaluable writing resource I have,” she shared.

Spoken and Elegant Literature are proud to cultivate that same sense of community and support. From our dynamic studio experience to discoverability tools and author-reader interaction, we’re building an ecosystem where writers can thrive.

Listening Is

Believing Is

Listening Is Believing Is

Alexandria’s Riptide, Nick’s Laughter, Weeping, and Adrian’s The Elegant Art of Haunting and Horticulture are all streaming now on Spoken—alongside many other remarkable entries from the Crossroads & Consequence contest. These stories—and the writers behind them—represent the best of what happens when emerging talent is empowered to shine.

Find all three winning submissions—and many more—now streaming on Spoken. Ready to bring your own stories to life? Join our community and take your first step into the world of spoken storytelling.

Riptide

By @Alexandria on Spoken

Astrid and Michael, a couple grappling with the devastating loss of their child, Bodhi, find themselves adrift in the turbulent waters of grief. While Michael attempts to navigate his pain, Astrid remains consumed by hers. Their therapist attempts to bridge the gap between their differing experiences, but Astrid's resistance to healing poses a formidable challenge. This poignant tale explores the multifaceted nature of grief, guilt, and the arduous journey towards forgiveness in the face of tragedy.

Laughter, Weeping

By @Nick on Spoken

Haunted by a violent past, a wandering singer encounters a mysterious entity at a crossroads. This entity, laughing and weeping, challenges the singer to define joy and pain and reveals the singer's deepest desires. A deal is struck, granting the singer immense fame and recognition, but at the cost of immortality and endless torment. His songs, imbued with raw emotion, captivate audiences, yet bring him no solace, leaving him trapped in a chilling cycle of performance and despair.

The Elegant Art of Haunting and Horticulture

By @Adrian Vasiliu on Spoken

Lord Hablot Braithwaite, Everleigh Botanical Gardens' spectral custodian, refuses to let death—or his odious heirs—doom his life's work. When a visitor proves uniquely perceptive, an opportunity arises. A will must be rewritten, a fortune secured. But as ink dries and fate is sealed, one question lingers—who is truly inheriting whom?