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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

“ARIELLE” by Adurakoya Aremu

Submitted to Contest #1

ARIELLEBased on the prompt, "Write a story about a birthday party with a major plot twist."It's finally my birthday. I just turned nineteen today.I could hear the loud music and I could tell that there are a lot of people downstairs already. Truth be told, I never wanted a party because I'm a reserved person and I love my privacy but my best friend, Arianna would have never let me hear the end of it if I refuse to have one.I stood in front of the mirror admiring myself. As much as I hate to admit it, Arianna has done a pretty good job to tra...

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“Samantha” by Joy Smith

Submitted to Contest #1

"It's my birthday!" Samantha grinned back at herself in the mirror that centered the dark blue walls of the hallway upstairs. Her sun-kissed blonde pigtails were braided with pale purple ribbons that carefully matched the ribbons of her satin and lace dress. She wore white stockings and her mother's favorite shoes, the shiny black ones that always pinched her feet just a little too tight, but she didn't care, because today was special. Samantha twirled herself around, not too much, just a few times, so she wouldn't get dizzy. Her ...

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“A Dead Party” by Aafje Adkins

Submitted to Contest #1

“Wait a minute…she wants what kind of a party?” Aaron loved his daughter very much but sometimes she had odd taste. “She really wants some kind of Halloween party or something to that affect.” Nadia, his wife rolled her eyes as she repeated the wish. The couple were getting ready for bed as the discussed the birthday party for their soon to be thirteen-year-old daughter. “It was odd enough when she went through her phase of dressing like Queen Elizabeth I, but she is taking this to a whole new creepy level.” “What do you want from me?” ...

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“Fun Times” by Alexandra Mirazizyan

Submitted to Contest #1

Servants bustled around, placing large glass tables all over the backyard. The screeching sound of table legs being dragged over the stone deck made Anna wince with discomfort. Anna’s younger brother, Charlie, was turning six, and she was very, very happy. Ever since Charlie was just a baby, Anna loved him with all her heart. She wanted him to grow up to be a kind, smart boy who always did the right thing. And he was all those things, at least as much as a child can be. As Charlie’s 15-year old sister, Anna felt it was her responsibility to ...

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“In Celebration” by Jacqui Lui

Submitted to Contest #1

The new apartment building in town had been built over a month ago, but from what I’ve heard, not a lot of people had moved in. Perhaps people had a natural aversion to it--while the building was glamorous and sparkling, if you looked at it for longer than five seconds, it only seemed still and lifeless. As I walked through its glass doors, I gave a head nod in greeting to the doorman. Curiously enough, he didn’t respond. In fact, he was staring into space again, just like he was a few seconds before I walked in. Well, someone needs more cof...

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“Not my party” by Kamilah Hana

Submitted to Contest #1

They got the wrong person... Sometimes, having the same middle name as your father's first name is annoying. Why my parents decided to name me this way, I will never know. I am Alex Isen Packer, and though I don't mention my middle name a lot, people still know it, thanks to registers and the like. I have a fair amount of friends, even though I'm not the most social. It's not that I push them away, it's just that I don't talk about myself too much, or anything for that matter. I'm more of a silent type. Somehow, this makes my friends more in...

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“IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL............” by Reenie Z

Submitted to Contest #1

How do you feel when the biggest day of your life is just around the corner,exhilarated?nervous?anxious?I know you probably feel like you are on top of the world,who wouldn't want to be treated like a king even for a day?It must be exciting to think about all the presents you're going to get,the surprise party that is no longer a surprise because it happens every year,the cake with your name written on it and the perfect little candles that you're so eager to blow out after making a wish{chuckles}what about the praises you receive from diffe...

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“Birthday King” by Danielle Yosere

Submitted to Contest #1

Oh, it’s all fun and games while we celebrate but once everyone’s gone, the truth comes out. “Happy birthday!” they cheer. I groan being tired of the stupid birthday tradition. You’d think that after five hundred years of birthdays people would stop celebrating, right? NO. They’re still doing it. While inviting mortals! I cringe at the thought of one of the leaders walking in on one of these parties. I rub my hand down my face and turn on the smile. My aunt looks at me knowingly. “It’ll be okay,” she chides. “Don’t worry, we’ve never gotten ...

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“A Not-So-Happy Birthday” by Carla Miolli

Submitted to Contest #1

Abigail Orman slumped down onto her black leather couch. It was October 31st, Digit Choi’s Halloween/ birthday party. He was supposedly turning 15,and had invited everyone in the grade. His party wasn’t starting for a few hours, so Abigail decided to watch the news. “Great, this again.” she muttered, annoyed. In the past month, 15 victims were found brutally murdered. Each of them were in the age group between 13 and 17 years old, both female and male. They all seem to have 3 strange symbols carved with a sharp object onto their skin. Ignori...

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“The Birthday Dress ” by Samantha Bailey

Submitted to Contest #1

The heat was oppressive, not in the way she’d long ago accepted most southern summers were, but in a way that made her feel like she was caught in a Hitchcock movie. Cleaning the last of the blood off her boning knife from tonight’s meal, the last meal of the summer, it was finally time for Lola to close-up. She wiped the knife down with the edge of her pink apron and walked out into the night air. It felt like God breathing into her lungs after nine hours spent trapped without an air conditioner. &n...

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“Diamondsl are a ....” by Anne Reynolds

Submitted to Contest #1

Anne ReynoldsAnne.reynolds2010@gmail.com2,510 words including titleStory is themed on a birthday party with a major plot twist.Diamonds are a …..Sinking slowly into the dark, rich, thick, chocolate-mousse bath, the echoes of conversations immersed themselves: “Randolph, she has already brought so much joy into our lives, it needs to be impressive. You don’t have to worry I will do everything myself. With the animal shelter charity in receivership my volunteering work has come to an end, so I have time to devote to this....

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“The Gift” by Zeljko Dobric

Submitted to Contest #1

It is his birthday. What shall he say? That big wall far behind, there is the chaos, crowds, noise, parades, glare, and blinding lights. They have forgotten why. Ma and him will remind them. They will remember. Here, the night is heavy with storm clouds. Overgrown graves stretch to all sides disappearing into the blackness between twisted shapes of trees and thick shrubs. Whisps of mist curl among dirt-blackened crosses. In the pause between two rainfalls, the birch under which he stands is dripping. Before him is a mound overgrown with bur...

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“When's my Birthday?” by Tashefa S

Submitted to Contest #1

“Appy budday, Appy budday to youuuuu”, chanted the little girl. Her elder sister gave a little chuckle. “It’s... happy birthday. H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y”. She spelt out the word and taught her sibling to pronounce it. The little girl nodded as if she’d understood but continued chanting “Appy Budday” anyway. Her elder sister, Ilakya heaved a sigh (not because of her sister’s deliberate mispronunciation). She was pretending to be happy at the party but she was heart-broken on the inside after knowing that birthdays came only ...

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“Rebirth” by Pamela Raymond

Submitted to Contest #1

Erse rippled through the thin layer of her muslin sheets. Through squinted lashes, she pushed the cotton candy sleep from her eyes. Sluggish but with a hearty disposition, she tilted her small frame upright and swung her wiry legs over the edge of her bed. Erse slid toes first into her fur trimmed slippers and hopped to the floor.She wandered towards the window, nightgown cascading behind her. As she passed the calico blanket alone in the corner and marbles strewn along the length of the mahogany wood thatched chest, she barely noticed the a...

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“SMALL BIRTHDAY” by TJ TAYLOR

Submitted to Contest #1

John awoke with a gasp. He was out of breath and it felt like someone was pushing down on his chest. Mornings start early on the farm but this morning he awoke an hour earlier than usual. As he caught his breath, he realized he must be having a panic attack. Today was his son, CK's 18th birthday. More importantly, CK would be leaving tomorrow for college. Unless John did everything he could to make today perfect he knew he would never hear the end of it. Still, the animals needed tending to and he could not...

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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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