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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#101: Antanaclasis

Benjamin Franklin’s famous quip “your argument is sound, nothing but sound” may be the best known example of antanaclasis. This is a literary device in which a word is repeated but has two different senses (here, “sound” meaning both “sensible” and “a load of noise”) — reminder that in writing, as in everything, context matters.

With this week’s prompts, we're using antanaclasis as a jumping off point to create stories that play with repetitions, routines, and the importance of context in creating meaning.

This week's prompts

Write about a character doing something they’ve done hundreds of times — only this time, it’s taken on a new meaning.

Character – 148 stories

Write a story about a character who fails to understand something until they have the full context.

Character – 75 stories

Write a story in which the same line recurs three times.

Fiction – 163 stories

Write a story about a character who always repeats themselves.

Character – 45 stories

Write a story that involves a reflection in a mirror.

Horror – 295 stories

Stories

“Play It Again” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #101

They were twins. They weren’t identical twins, physically lookin, but in all other ways one could be exchanged for the other and no one that can’t see could tell them apart. One of the things, and there were many, that could drive you to distraction, was their ability to echo one another’s thoughts. Robert having been born first I believe inherited the predominant quality that goes with those that are first, and Roger always the echo, the shadow, a faint breath behind his brother where speech was concerned, a close second. So...

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“The Apple Man” by Oscar Cole

Submitted to Contest #101

Wilfred was an old man. He spent his long days listening to the radio, watching cricket, tending to his garden, doing the crossword in the Daily Mail paper… Rinse and repeat it went on for years this way. He kept himself to himself; he was quite alone, but quite content. One day, he opened the front door, and found something that threw him off quite completely. Placed perfectly centered on the top stone step that led up to his open door, an apple sat, glistening at him in the hazy daylight. Frowning, then wincing, Wilfred bent his kne...

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“Rules of the Game” by Julie Frederick

Submitted to Contest #101

“Where’s the crackers?” my grandfather gruffly asked the waitress. She had just placed a bowl of the soup of the day, cream of chicken, in front of him. Globules of oil beaded the surface of the yellowish gluey concoction.The sour-faced waitress disappeared for a moment and returned with a single crushed packet of saltines. She slapped it on the table in front of him.I winced, desperately wanting to start digging a hole out of there.His clear blue eyes, mesmerizing even in his old age, shot her an icy glare. For a split second she held his s...

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“The Red Hijab” by Prathamesh Dole

Submitted to Contest #101

The Red Hijab “Hey, hey wait please don’t leave please… Rehab… Rehab….” Mourad was shouting these words in the middle of the city square wondering how futile his words are and watching quietly the moving image of a young girl going away from him and disappearing in the crowd. Mourad stood helpless with a small paper on which he had written all his love for Rehab. Rehab, a young Egyptian girl whose eyes looked like evenings in a dark forested land. Her eyes were all Mourad’s wish. He used to look deep in her eyes the way we look at the...

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“Soul ” by Amaranthine Sky

Submitted to Contest #101

Trigger Warning: mentions of suicide Does anybody truly hear me in this vast, vast multiverse? I blink, breathe, shudder, exhale. It is my second day. Hello, can you hear me? Nod, nod slowly. I can speak if I want to, but even that, I know, is impossible. I’m not supposed to be able to speak. I don’t want to be able to know I have the power to speak. I don’t know why I thought it’d be different with me, that the fibers of my existence could latch onto whatever came beyond. But that isn’t allowed anymore. You’re not ...

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“The Vampire King's Sons” by Athena Ember Antigone

Submitted to Contest #101

It's ok, no one will know...I'm safe now...He can't- he can't hurt me. Not anymore.------I love the smell of a fresh-baked apple pie. There's nothing like it. No better way to make this home my own. Sure, I still haven't unboxed any of my boxes yet, but I have to do this first."Mum," I sigh as I take my first smell of the apple pie, straight out of the oven. I cut into the crispy crust of the pie and let the juices ooze out. Delish.-----"Wow, it's already 12:00am?" I say looking up from my book at the clock. "I really should go to bed," I sa...

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“Divorce 💔” by Ishika Kaur

Submitted to Contest #101

"Where's Madam?" "Must have gone partying, I guess," shrugged the maid. He sighed and said to himself, Then, a small girl came out of the room. Her amber coloured eyes twinkled.. "Olivia, go back to sleep. I'm coming," he said getting a shock. The little girl entered the room. Her ten year old brother was sleeping soundly. "Where is Mummy?" asked the little girl laying down. "She went out. Now, stop worrying and go back to sleep," he said. The little girl soon slept and he creeped out of the room. He sat by the poolside using his laptop. Af...

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“Naya” by Cannelle L

Submitted to Contest #101

Trigger warning: mentions death***FRIDAY, 10 Feb 2021“Shame is a wasted emotion.” Kurt Hummel, The Quarterback (Season 5, Episode 3)I feel like I need to start off with that. I rewatched The Quarterback today. I didn’t cry this time, and I think I finally found closure. Sure, I still miss Cory and Naya. But watching the episode now (almost 8 years after Cory’s death, and almost a year after Naya’s) is simply comforting. Naya's always been so special to me. Ever since I saw her on Glee, one of my biggest dreams is to meet her, ...

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“My Heart and Body” by Luna Juarez

Submitted to Contest #101

My family, especially my mother, always had some sort of expectation that I would like her once I was 18 with a skinny body and big assets. I didn’t inherit the skinny stomach or the hips. Ever since hearing her stories about her life before my siblings and me, all I could think about was being the same. To be beautiful and have a life of luxury thanks to it. I looked in the mirror every morning to check if I had gotten more beautiful. But I didn't end up like that. There’s no one I could blame but myself for it. I hated my plump body. The...

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“The Narcissus” by Tom D

Submitted to Contest #101

He stands, frowning, looking into the mirror on his bedroom wall. A stranger looks back at him from under strong black brows. He is handsome, undeniably - his jawline is square, his features chiseled. His prominent chin is studded with two days’ stubble and his thick hair is swept up above his angular forehead. Robert reaches out and presses the touchscreen panel on the side of the mirror. A pleasing note sounds from the invisible in-built speaker and, before Robert’s eyes, a short boxed beard appears on the stranger’s face, accentuatin...

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“The Man In The Mirror” by Jason Ivey

Submitted to Contest #101

The man in the mirror stares at me. As I feel his eyes lock with my own, I try to deflect my gaze, but I am compelled to look. It’s difficult to face up to yourself, no holds barred, but sooner or later the time comes when you must take a critical look at yourself. I am watching the mirror, my eyes fixed on the monitor screen. It presents figures, graphs and charts, almost as if trying to prove its efficacy to me - not that it needs to convince me. I have no choice.I know what I have done. So does the mirror. They used to say it was bet...

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“TRUGMES” by Elsa Bluemoon

Submitted to Contest #101

TW: sensitive topic involving LGBTQ community and alienationTrugmes was a beacon of light in this world filled with darkness. I remember the day I met him as both the best and the worst of my life. His bright inquisitive eyes looked at me the same way Douglas (my dog) did, without judging me or showing me pity. I am a deviant, most of the people around me don’t care about my existence unless they have to deal with someone like me, and there is another group of prejudiced people who are bothered by the fact that we exist. These jerks ins...

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“parallels” by A. S.

Submitted to Contest #101

I could tell you a lot of things. I’m sure there are a lot of things to say. I could tell you about how I got to the top, the wind pulling at my clothing, the fabric trying to break free of my body. I could describe the dense feeling of the blood seeping into my hair and staining my scalp. Surrounding me like a laurel wreath. If you were truly interested, I could tell you what it feels like to die. You see, this could go an infinite number of ways, but I will be the first to admit; the roof was too high. They didn’t know that of cours...

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“Mirror of Imperfections” by Sinria Lee

Submitted to Contest #101

I know you’ve done it, don’t worry I have too. Windows, shiny screens, sometimes even polished silverware allow you to catch a good glimpse of yourself. Is my hair alright, makeup good, anything in my nose or, God forbid, teeth? Without anyone noticing I fix a loose strand of hair and return to what I was doing, a sense of reassurement fills my heart knowing that my face hasn’t suddenly morphed into something unrecognisable since the time I last checked. Wait but that’s just a little taste. Now for the main course, mirrors. Smooth, shiny, gl...

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“ODIASE” by Timilehin Soyemi

Submitted to Contest #101

Mama, Mama!! I saw it, I saw it, Odiase screamed out loud in fear, Mama came out and asked, Odiase son, what have you seen? Odiase replied I can’t comprehend what I have seen. Mama asked gently but fearfully, son, if you would just describe what you saw, I am sure I would make sense of it. Odiase replied I can’t describe a creature without a face. Mama screamed out loud Mama! Mama went inside in a rush to check up on her Mother, she slammed the door, sweating and panting, once again she asked the same question, Mama are you alright?. Odiase’...

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Ended on 23:59 - Jul 09, 2021 EST

Won by Mary Sheehan 🏆

Title: Colleen

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.

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