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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 – 296 stories

Stories

“The Girl in the Glass” by Tatiana Olin

Submitted to Contest #101

They keep telling me she isn’t real. My husband, my kids, the doctors. Especially the doctors. They keep telling me she isn’t real. But she’s all I see. She’s more real than the people here, than my own breath, than my existence. I lost her, but she never left. And if she isn’t all the places I never made it to, then she’s all of the paths that were taken from me when she went away. It’s been 6 years, 5 months and 8 days. And I am still waiting for her to walk through the door and tell me that she was wrong; it was all a misunderstanding. ...

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“'Breaking News'” by Asha Pillay

Submitted to Contest #101

Sheena glanced at the clock for the sixth time in fifteen minutes.'Where was Anil?', she wondered. She knew, if she didn't leave the house soon she would be late for her late-night news telecast.It was already 9.30 pm and he had promised to be home by 9 pm. He had to attend an official meeting which would be over by 8 pm and it would take him roughly an hour to reach home from the highway.She tried to put the baby to sleep but it seemed, he too wasn't in the mood to listen to her.She tried Anil's cell number but it was switched off, maybe he...

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“Dear Shadow, the Night Does Nothing to Hide You” by Kendi Karimi

Submitted to Contest #101

If only there had been more time... Shadow, you are right. You are me, not mine. I wanted you to be mine, so I can leave you by the road to die and drive away. But when I stepped on the gas, you hit the breaks. When I stopped by the Cafe, you ordered black, and a new pastry on the menu. And remember when the waiter said, "We don't have that today," you shouted back? Why didn't you shout at Sam like that? Is it because he beat you first then hugged you from the back? Did you feel comfort in his arms after that? Dear shadow, don't...

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“Funny Little Birds” by Rachel Deeming

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #101

As Marjory sat in her armchair, a steaming cup and saucer of tea next to her, she ruminated on how it had been a long time since someone had come to see her. It was a nice feeling, having a visitor. The window in which her armchair was situated had a wonderfully clear view of the sloped lawn outside her home and Marjory got a lot of pleasure from watching the wind sway the trees to and fro and the birds flitting about. She especially liked it when they landed on the feeders, pausing and pecking with sharp staccato movements and an alert wari...

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“American Wake” by Elle Becker

Submitted to Contest #101

“Will you have another cuppa? … Emma?” My Mum’s voice snapped me from my daydream, and I looked up at her. “Sorry, I was miles away. No, I thank ye. I was actually in a mind to take a wee stroll up the village,” I said, and so she’d let me go I quickly added, “I want to see who’s coming tonight.” I knew my Mum was wild for any gossip of who was attending tonight’s “American wake,” proudly hosted by our family, but really for all eleven of us emigrating from our tiny village of Killyderg, in Derry, Ireland. They were called American wakes ...

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“Deja Vu” by Aubrey Maria ✌

Submitted to Contest #101

“Do you ever get deja vu?” It was a simple question, but sometimes the most simple ones are the hardest to answer. Rita tensed her shoulders, “I don’t like talking about things that don’t make sense.” Luca, her little brother groaned, “Why do you always have to be so boring?” She laughed, “I’m definitely not boring,” while looking in her bedroom mirror correcting her eyeliner. “I’m the most authentic person you’ll find.” Luca turned to leave, “Whatever, Rita.” Luca was on a search. For only being eight, his mind was filled...

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“The Chance of A Half-Dead Man and Dr. Jane” by Alysha Atah

Submitted to Contest #101

White sound filled the living room as Jane struggle to find her TV remote. Soft pillows scattered all over the carpet, leaving a minimal space for Jane to stomp around angrily. She never liked the white sound. Haunting as it is, Jane tried to calm herself and collect memories of where she placed her TV remote. Her hand slips into the crease and the fold of her sofa, grasping at the empty space in between. Jane moved her hand slowly to the corner of her sofa and her hand finally hit something. She grabbed the object and surprised when she sa...

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“The Train to Kachungjunga” by Leo Greer 🦅 🕶

Submitted to Contest #101

The train ran on shaky wooden tracks, marching across the snowy mountainside like a caterpillar. The black-iron locomotive led the way, its brass valves hissing steam, and a line of six painted wooden passenger cars trundling merrily behind it. Every car but the black-iron engine was painted like a gypsy caravan, festooned with muted blues and explosive reds, exuberant yellows and moody oranges. Above the train loomed Kachungjunga, the mountain of calm. Ironic name. Massive slabs of frosted ice clung to precarious ledges. Banks of snow loom...

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“Talking Cars” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #101

On the final occasion we visited Dad in hospital our last conversation was about cars. Jimmy predicted a future with speaking navigation aids and the possibility of driverless vehicles. As he spouted forth, Dad’s face assumed a ruddy glow and his gnarly fingers curled into fists. Our father loved talking cars but talking about talking cars? Never. He’d married a forthright woman who could handle a map and gave adequate travel directions; a machine to replace her talents was inconceivable.“Just think, Dad,” I said. “A talking map could’ve end...

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“Cooking for Gordon” by Michael Martin

Submitted to Contest #101

Kyle stared at the two prep cooks, wide-eyed and speechless. “Tonight? Gordon Ramsay is coming tonight? And you're just now telling me?”“Your uncle told us not to,” Joey said. “Said you would freak out if you knew.”“Of course I would freak out! It’s Gordon friggin’ Ramsay! And he’s gonna expect the food to be terrible..." The restaurants on Kitchen Nightmares are supposed to be terrible. The food is expected to be disgusting. Why did Uncle John invite the show when the restaurant was flourishing?Kyle shook his head. "Damni...

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“Blood on O'Connell Street” by Beth Mason

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #101

There was blood on O’Connell Street; I saw it walking home. I didn’t notice it at first. You don’t notice these things all at once when you live in the city and you’re just focused on keeping your head down and not looking anyone in the eye. But all it took was looking up for just half a moment, and there it was. Even in the swarm of the early evening, when tourists nervously wander along in bunched-up groups of three or more and gaggles of college students gather in ragged crowds outside of nightclubs and local pubs, the trail stood out ...

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“C-O-N-V-0-Y” by Jude S. Walko

Submitted to Contest #101

Billy McCall had probably driven the 18-wheeled big rig down steep mountain roads like this one hundreds of times before, but something felt different about today. He couldn’t place his finger on it. It wasn’t mechanical, at least he had hoped not. It was more of an instinctual feeling, and he didn’t like it. He had gotten this feeling out of the blue, a few times in the past, during his nearly 40-year trucking career. It always turned out to be a bad thing. This time he had been coming over the steep passes and sharp curves of Mounteag...

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“Pieces of her LOVE” by Shoshana A

Submitted to Contest #101

I could see her picking up the pieces of her love with extreme care. Her eyes twinkled and her cheeks flushed, as she picked up the love letters and read them with interest. It seemed that only she, in the entire world, had understood love and was now motivated by its power. I could not even imagine waiting for someone for so long with patience. Sometimes, I feel that if love gives pain, then why would people indulge in it soulfully. Amy’s mind whispered into her ignorant ears, as she watched Maria with curiosity.“Hey! Who are you? Are you n...

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“Dear You” by Everett Silvers

Submitted to Contest #101

Dear You, I'm still mad at you. You should know that better than anyone. I inherited your temper and Dad's love for books and writing. You might wonder why I started my letter with 'Dear You' but you're smart, I got that from you, you'll be able to figure it out. I don't know if I'll be able to forgive you, and it's not like you'll write back or maybe even read this once you see the return address, but my shrink says that it'll be good for me, and Dad agreed. He doesn't talk about you, he's gotten really good at changing the subject.&nbsp...

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“Milton Magee Needs A Plan ” by Andrea Magee

Submitted to Contest #101

On an ordinary day; on an ordinary street; in an ordinary state; was an ordinary town with nothing out of the ordinary going on in it.There lived an ordinary man named Milton Magee.Milton Magee had an average build with; an average weight and height. His features were non-descript. The clothing and shoes he wore were plain and non-trendy.He owned a used, plain, dull blue Toyota Sentry which he drove everyday to his simple job as a toll booth attendant on I-76 North.Milton Magee was an only child to parents that had him late in life and had p...

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$50

Prize money

729

Contest entries

0

Stories

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.

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

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