Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#102: To Kill a Mockingbird

This Sunday (July 11th) marks sixty-one years since To Kill A Mockingbird was first published. For over six decades now, Harper Lee’s groundbreaking Great American Novel has been taught in schools, stocked by the dozens in bookstores, and devoured by adults and children alike. And despite its age, many of its themes remain deeply relevant today: the damage done by judgment and discrimination, the loss of innocence as one grows up, and the vital importance of standing up for what’s right — even when everyone else is against you.

To commemorate this classic, this week’s prompts are inspired by its characters, plot devices, and most enduring lessons. Whether To Kill a Mockingbird is a distant English-class memory or your favorite book of all time, these prompts are sure to spark a few story ideas — one of which may even lead to your own literary masterpiece.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a metaphor about human nature.

Fiction – 109 stories

Frame your story as an adult recalling the events of their childhood.

Adults – 244 stories

Write about a character with an unassailable moral compass.

Character – 34 stories

Write a story about someone losing faith in an institution.

Angst – 120 stories

Write about a mysterious figure in one’s neighborhood.

Horror – 205 stories

Stories

“The Chicken House” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #102

THE CHICKEN HOUSE An abandoned building draws kids to it, like a moths to a flame. And sometimes, they get burned. Allister looked down at what he had written, and sighed. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to write about his own childhood, even under the guise of fiction. He had thought that it would be a good idea — they say to write what you know, but what did he know, really? He only knew what he knew. There were the stories from the others, but what had happened, exactly? His father, a police officer a...

Read story

“Tears of a basket ” by Prince Akatika

Submitted to Contest #102

When I was a small boy, I used to control my parents as if they were robots. It had been an easy feat at the time, owing to my condition. They would come running whenever I orchestrated my signature dogged wail, and mother would pack me up in her arms and sing to me, promising me snacks and goodies. My cry would become inexorable until they had fulfilled these agreements, and as I gobbled my loot, they would eyeball me with mistrust from the gloomy corners, wondering if in truth I had been in need. Hence, I would throw in a few phlegma...

Read story

“The MIddle Child ” by Barbara Mealer

Submitted to Contest #102

The Middle Child Being the middle child isn’t easy. That is something I learned at an early age. First is the oldest child. They are the darling one the parents dote on when born and then make all the mistake while learning to be parents (or not). Then comes the second child. Now that they know the binkie on the floor isn’t going to make the kid deathly ill, they pick up it, rub it against their clothes and give it back. The parents are now comfortable but their focus is still on the oldest who is learning all the wonderful things...

Read story

“Memories” by Tom Sun

Submitted to Contest #102

Some memories are abandoned but a spark of light from seven years ago is something that I can never forget. A life lesson that always lingers around every day. That time, I stared at the same full moon as today. The cobalt plate hung up on top of my head a couple of years ago... “Mom,” my young self called that night. “Why is the moon blue today?” I was curious about everything and I would always make older kids and adults go crazy. However, my mother was never bothered by it. Instead, she seemed to li...

Read story

“Just Me” by E. B. Bullet

Submitted to Contest #102

As a child, I wasn’t sure what constituted a good kid. I kept to myself in gentle hobbies of coloring and reading, keeping to mild mannered behavior. I was not a bad kid, but calling me a good one seemed too far a stretch, as though it weren’t an earned title. Most adults simply thought me shy, a bit too quiet for a growing boy. I thought them right. It seemed to me that adults had the sense of it all, and I’d gathered in my limited mind that my mother was the smartest lady to walk the planet. A woman from Mexico emigrated to America with a ...

Read story

“Death” by I. 25

Submitted to Contest #102

“OK, I give up. If this is a trap, I don’t get it.” The Smuggler looked up. He seemed surprised. “You. My men said you drowned.” Shadow smiled. “You really thought you’d get rid of me that easily?” “I probably should have known better.” Shadow scanned the dining room. Still nothing. No henchmen, no dogs, no movement of any kind. Nothing but a gorgeous view of the sun setting on New York City. “We’re alone,” the Smuggler said. “If you’d like to join me.” Shadow leapt onto the table. It seemed sturdy enough. What was he playing at?...

Read story

“Mask” by Manan Suraiya

Submitted to Contest #102

TW: child death, murder The mask of human nature is deadly. You never know what lies behind. BOOM! Sofia woke up with a start. A puddle of sweat had creeped around her on the bed sheet. Moonlight filtered through the window, sparkling on the tears that streamed down her face. With a quivering hand, she raised the glass beside her to her lips and took a sip of water. Her eyes fell on the picture lying next to her. The picture of a young boy, no older than six. Tenderly, she ran a hand across the photo, almost feeling the boy’s soft brown hair...

Read story

“Hands” by Eric D.

Submitted to Contest #102

The children of the seaside town joyously ran around the hills holding out their handheld sparkler fireworks beaming bright red, green and yellow sparks of light. After a few hours of feasting, playing and watching the adults light the skies with colorful rainbow explosions, the children would run indoors for an enthralling story time session. Even some of the adults would join in, mainly my brother Johnny who would enjoy chiming in and creating a puffery of sorts."Aunt Aurora!" they endearingly called out. "When can we hear the story of Gra...

Read story

“Beauty and the Artist” by Steve Joseph

Submitted to Contest #102

Beauty and the Artist Monica's day had begun so well. John, her boyfriend, had called before breakfast to ask her out -- again. She had felt a momentary pang of regret as she turned him down but she could not let him think that he was in control. Besides, she had a good reason this time; her woman's group was to appoint her to lead the fight against the exploitation of women; certainly no place for a man. Yes, the day had been perfect -- right up to the moment that she received the phone call. Jane, her lawyer and best friend, had ca...

Read story

“Mourning Time” by Tamara Shaffer

Submitted to Contest #102

The faces stare out at me from the big red scrapbook, faces of people no longer alive but who formed my history and paved my way into the world. I search for features that resemble my own and marvel at how older relatives looked before I ever saw them. Each recognized face summons memories, torn from the passing of time into segments, like a journal with pages missing. With a sense of eerie sadness, I touch my grandmother’s name. Mary Agnes Tierney. 1880-1960. I knew nothing about her life as a little girl or a young bride, although I know...

Read story

“The Descent” by Babika Goel

Submitted to Contest #102

Authors musing-Arjun from Mahabharata was a warriorAnd faced a dilemma as a barrierTo do or not to do made him weakerWho else but Krishna stepped in as a preacherStages of life were explained deeperFrom duty-bound to being a renouncer All came in a particular order5000 years since then have passed in leisureFrom seeds to weeds, all are in disorder.I, an eternal seeker, asked why can’t all this be better?Why can’t Krishna and Arjun live among us as trendsetters?I let my thoughts run wilder And penned down their descent like a writer...

Read story

“Hero / Villain” by Kayley Dickins

Submitted to Contest #102

There had been one too many this time. One too many absences of apologies, one too many warnings that went ignored, one too many evenings spent at home with a bleak view out of the window and a whiskey in his hand that he wasn’t sure he could even taste anymore. Those who knew him would have been surprised it hadn’t yet reached the One Too Many Stage where he handed in his badge quite dramatically, quit on the spot, and questioned instantly why he hadn’t done that a long time ago. As it was, this was the One Too Many Stage where he just bega...

Read story

“The Butterfly Collector” by Gideon Leek

Submitted to Contest #102

I have never been good at taking in the scenery. Others always had to point things out to me. I never spotted the robin on the branch; I never saw the snake in the grass. For me, turtles that looked like rocks were just rocks or turtles. I never could appreciate a world filled with many things, but only individual things one at a time. I felt no pang of envy when someone would point out a rabbit in a snowdrift. I did not care. I never understood why others cared. I knew there were rabbits that hid in the snow and rare birds that visited fam...

Read story

“The Yellow Light from the House on the Corner” by Brittany Weaver

Submitted to Contest #102

I noticed it when I was eleven. My parents were getting a divorce and Mr. McGonnegy said they had been unhappy since I was born. Whenever they fought, Mr. McGonnegy would just look at me and shake his head and say, “They used to be happy, boy. All your fault.” McGonnegy’s cat was just as mean as he was and hissed at me as I ran past his yard. My parents didn’t even stop me; I just bolted out of the dining room and burst out the front door. I ran just to run, to feel my feet punch the hard pavement. It was near midnight, and the street was d...

Read story

“Where's my baby?” by Jazminn Bryant

Submitted to Contest #102

It was a regular day like any other day. I wake up, get myself and my son dressed and ready for work and daycare. My son was 11 months old at the time. I was 6 months pregnant with twin boys. I was in so much pain, I barely got myself out of bed. I was a single mom and the only source of income in our household, so I had no choice but to push through whatever pain I was going through. I dropped my son off at daycare. I gave him all the hugs and kisses I could. "Have a good day baby. I love you" I said to him. I left and headed to work. I wor...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

712

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 16, 2021 EST

Won by Shane Ransom 🏆

Title: Favorites

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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢