CANTON -- Kaitlin J. French, a SUNY Canton senior from Gouverneur, recently had her short story "The Seek" selected for publication by the website Everydayfiction.com.

A psychology major, French penned the story for a creative writing class taught by Assistant Professor Kirk K. Jones, who encouraged her to submit it for publication.

"Professor Jones' class is unique in that he allows his students to take their work into their own hands," French said. "There are very few restrictions, which encourages creativity."

French said she enjoys writing poems and stories that have a dark undertone, and "The Seek" leans toward the horror genre, with a plot twist.

"The story is told from the point of view of a 5-year-old boy whose sister has gone missing," she said.

Everydayfiction features works that are commonly referred to as "flash fiction" -- brief stories that are typically 1,000 words or less. The website publishes one story per day. "The Seek" is scheduled to appear Feb. 22.

Although there is no monetary compensation, French said it is an honor to be selected and has given her the confidence to keep writing. She recently submitted a second story for publication and is awaiting a decision.

"Kaitlin came into class a solid writer and speaker, with a balance of passion and humility that is often contagious in the classroom," Jones said. "I have recommended a publisher in Australia review her work and look forward to hearing about her continued success as she moves forward."

Log on to https://everydayfiction.com Feb. 22 to read French’s work.