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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#1: Birthdays

The Reedsy writing prompts newsletter started almost three years ago, and over the past few years, the simple concept of sending out five weekly writing ideas has allowed us to connect with thousands of fantastic authors around the world. This week marks the 150th edition of our prompts newsletter, and to celebrate, we’re excited to launch our brand new Reedsy Prompts page which will host our writing contest moving forward! Also to celebrate our prompts newsletter turning 150 weeks old, the theme this week is — what else — birthdays!

This week's prompts

Write a story about a stressed parent planning their child's birthday.

Adults – 22 stories

Write a story about a sweet sixteen.

Short Story – 13 stories

Write a story about someone turning 100 years old.

Fiction – 47 stories

Write a story about someone trying to find the perfect birthday gift.

Short Story – 19 stories

Write a story about a birthday party with a major plot twist.

Funny – 38 stories

Stories

“Owzat!” by Nofel Nawras

Submitted to Contest #1

It fell this year on a Sunday and the village quiet. My favourite day. I’m not a Christian, though I am fascinated by some of the words attributed to the man Jesus. I don’t suppose he celebrated his birthday. There seems to be a truth in a few of his sayings which cuts to the bone, goes straight to the heart of things and yet, are they liveable? Are they precepts which ordinary mortals can ascribe to? Anyway, there’s always been something about Sundays that makes me feel British, a sort of closet member of the C of E. No offence to the ...

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“100 Again” by Elizabeth Witt

Submitted to Contest #1

There I was, sitting in front of all my family and friends. They were singing Happy Birthday to me, I couldn’t keep myself from looking at each and every one of them, holding one persons gaze then moving to the next. I was trying to remember every wrinkle, every scar, every eye color and hair color. I was trying to imprint their faces to my memory. I’ve been practicing with trying to remember, because I know it will only be a little while before I will be gone. I always found it hard to remember after I started over. The memories always get ...

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“A Moment in Time” by Andres Caldera

Submitted to Contest #1

Joe rushed into his new apartment in some of the worst projects in the city, he still believed it was better than the various adoption homes he’d lived in since he was fourteen. The death of his parents had weigh heavy on his heart and spiraled him into drug abuse for most of his teenage life. Now eighteen, and an independent young adult, he got himself a job at the steel mill near by, but most of his money came from his drug sales him & his buddy Andy sold. Except on this day, he was celebrating his birthday with a special drug Andy had...

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“Centurion” by Mike Dettmers

Submitted to Contest #1

I can say without doubt that I hate Mondays.It’s not a stereotypical sort of thing, like the drivel on tee shirts or coffee mugs. I don’t like them because every Monday I have to decide who dies that week.None of them are family or lifelong friends or even close personal acquaintances. I don’t like it because with the loss of another, we lose a little more of what we were. And if we’re supposed to learn from history, then every Monday we become a little dumber.But this Monday is particularly cruel because not only is he an acquaintance I’ve ...

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“Not a Big Deal” by Maritza Gluntz

Submitted to Contest #1

“Good morning world.” The August sun melted into Elirose’s eyes as she looked up to examine her surroundings. She was a small, frail woman and the lines on her face each told a story about her life. She loved the sun in all of its shades, when it rose and when it set. She knew she was on borrowed time so she took great care of it. Her one-hundredth birthday happened to be on that day. That irked her. She had hated every one of her birthdays since her family made a big deal out her turning 80. “What’s so incredible about me living another yea...

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“Felix's surprise” by Karen Kininsberg

Submitted to Contest #1

“Come on Grandpa, we have to leave in five minutes. I told mom we would be there on time,” said Joey as he waited outside the white bathroom door. He rolled his eyes as he watched the clock, ticking its way past 5.13pm. He hated waiting. His patience had a time limit and he was afraid that Grandpa Felix would be testing it today. Joey heard the door knob wiggle, and then the door opened gently. Grandpa Felix stepped out looking very proud of himself. He had pretty much doused himself in 4711 Muelhens Eau de Cologne. The few strands of hair h...

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“Creating and Memories ” by Adam Engel

Submitted to Contest #1

Store number four, or was it five, down. It was a bit early in the search to lose count, but after each great idea turned bust it was seeming like this search was going to get out of hand. Michelle’s was not the easiest woman to shop for. It was not that she had everything she wanted. More like what she looked for in gifts was something with meaning as well, at least on her birthday. So, this gift had to be perfect. That is practical and emotionally satisfying. So where to go from here? Driving down the road I see a sign for Lobby Hobby, a s...

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“Party Pressure” by Donald Devaul

Submitted to Contest #1

It's just another Friday morning. The kids are off at school and you're sitting at the dinner table with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. Your boss had given you the day off which means a 3-day weekend. You flip open the newspaper to check the scores from last nights game. The Yankees had been making a comeback and the inner sports fan gets riled up as you flip to the sports page. You guide your eyes down the page looking for the scores "Perfect! They swept the Red Sox! The streak continues!" Your wife walks in from the kitchen drying off ...

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“To My Angels” by Camryn Dawkins

Submitted to Contest #1

Magnolia grew up with her three sisters, the triplets, Cornelia Elodie and Faith.They were always very close and kept in touch even when miles apart. And today is the triplets birthday! Magnolia had been waiting for this day, it had been sitting on her calendar unmarked for months. I guess since it took so long to get there she forgot, because when she woke up the next morning she felt something was out of place. She checked her calendar and instantly remembered the triplets birthday. She couldn’t believe she forgot, for she was usually earl...

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“The Perfect Gift for a Ten-Year-Old ” by Abigail Mohn

Submitted to Contest #1

Peter paced through the Target aisles, trying in vain to find what he was looking for. He knew it was no use. He’d already been through each section multiple times, and still, he had no clue what to get. Peter groaned and rubbed his temples, where a headache was beginning to grow. His younger sister’s tenth birthday was in two days, and Peter still had no idea what he should buy for her. As a sixteen-year-old boy, he had no idea what type of things tween girls liked. Dolls? No, she was too old. Makeup? Their parents would kill him. Art...

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“I Gift Myself to You” by Shana Horn

Submitted to Contest #1

What do you give to someone who saved your life for their birthday? What present could you give to someone that you are in love with, and long to spend the rest of your life with, but are too afraid that they do not feel that same way to tell them? A person you have spent years battling side-by-side with. A wizard you watched grow in power from possessing a half dozen puny spells to being able to slay enemies with a single bolt of lightning. We, the wizard and I, survived a battle with a curse devil that had been sent after one of our adve...

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“The Perfect Gift ” by Kate Heesemann

Submitted to Contest #1

Scrolling through Amazon, I began my quest of finding the perfect gift for my husband. What do you get a 50-year-old? I thought to myself. He doesn’t really want anything at all, but I got to get him something! I searched clothes, books, electronics — nothing seemed right. When I couldn’t find what I wanted on Amazon, I decided to drive myself to the mall. There I was sure to find the perfect gift. I parked and went inside the mall. It was crowded. I weaved through the mass of people and checked ever...

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“Catherine's Gift” by Rudy Uribe

Submitted to Contest #1

Buying birthday presents for friends is easy, I just let my wife do it. She will spend hours online or in a store looking for the perfect gift. I occasionally go shopping with her, but I know it isn’t good for our relationship. A typical shopping expedition might sound like this. “Do you think Robin will like this sweater?” she’ll ask. &...

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“To Be With You” by Candace Place

Submitted to Contest #1

Willa looked at her watch. Five-thirty. There wasn't going to be enough time. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she jumped a little, grabbing for it. Her co-workers all looked at her and she sank into her seat a little sending it to voicemail."Guess that's the end of the meeting, everyone." Marshall, the general manager, clapped his hands once and everyone filed out the door one by one.Marshall waved her over. "I was wondering if you didn't have any plans tonight….""I do," Willa cut in. "Sorry. A friend of mine is having a birthday party an...

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“The Same but Different” by Madison Hogle

Submitted to Contest #1

Matilda and I always had the same birthday party growing up. The candles, the paper cups that got soggy after two sips, the party hats. Everything was always the same. Our parents always forced us to invite the same people every year, even if we truly didn’t even like them. Things were different now. Matilda and I were teenagers, we were opposites. Even though we were twins, we couldn’t be more alike. She wanted a huge party with all of her friends, truthfully she just wanted the boys to notice her. I didn’t want a party. My birthday was nev...

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$50

Prize money

139

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 09, 2019 EST

Won by Joseph McLaughlin 🏆

Title: To You

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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