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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 – 243 stories

Write about a character with an unassailable moral compass.

Character – 34 stories

Write a story about someone losing faith in an institution.

Angst – 119 stories

Write about a mysterious figure in one’s neighborhood.

Horror – 205 stories

Stories

“Beauty and the Taxidermist” by Yvette Francaise

Submitted to Contest #102

We sat huddled in the bushes waiting with baited breath for him to come out. The blue A-frame was on the outside of town. The town folks thought he was mysterious. Once a month he would go into town for groceries and wouldn't be seen until the next month. His quietness made me want to talk to him even more, but my parents banned me. I guess I just never got around to it. He got his paper delivered at the same time every day. The oak door creaked open as a eighteen year old man with black hair looked outside for danger. His brown eyes...

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“The Loop ” by Maithili Patange

Submitted to Contest #102

THE LOOP Maithili Patange Last night was a disaster for Mr. Trevaylor. He had been sleeping peacefully in his bedroom when suddenly he heard a loud crash outside his window. He did not pay heed to it though, as cats often frequented on the building roof and would specifically decide to have fun at night. However, around 2 a.m his peaceful slumber was once again boken by the sound of sirens. He got out of his bed to peep out of the window and saw that a man, similar to his age, whose face was completely distorted, was being put on a stret...

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“Deda of Sabo Community” by Aminu Salihu

Submitted to Contest #102

DEDA OF SABO COMMUNITY The year 2017 is for sure the most tumultuous for the residence of Sabo community. Events that happened in the year alone are enough to make a lifetime history for generations to come. Among the many tragedies of the year in the community was the great famine, which was rightly accompanied by the acute drought. It was acute because it lasted for just a week and then everything went back to normalcy. The story of how the great famine and acute drought cam...

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“My Killer Neighbor” by Trent Johnson

Submitted to Contest #102

When I was twelve I lost a football to the abyss that was Mr. Wellerbey's vast yard. The grass was as green as a soccer field, and hosted countless boots from tired, sweaty workers every Saturday, whether it rained that week or not. The neighborhood kids and I, Joey, Mike and Scott were tossing the rock around, playing 2-on-2, when J-Man told me to go deep and did his best Jamarcus Russell impersonation, lofting the ball clear over the 12-foot wooden planks, which acted as castle walls around the old man's dystopian castle of a house. We ha...

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“To love and to be loved” by Arpitha Giri

Submitted to Contest #102

TW: murder suicide, death of a child He sat down there writing the missing report of a 4-year-old. A child that had so much darkness in him, one wouldn’t even be surprised if he had just run away from all the gloominess at home. Inspector Charnet sighed as he closed the file and wondered what he would discover about the child as the case would progress. A small town it was. The people were all familiar and every surname had tales and fables that everyone knew about. Savola was a rusty yet beautiful city that was cur...

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“The Shift ” by Alex Arias

Submitted to Contest #102

Kremmy reached out, the setting sun making the red rock a richer shade. The grainy texture smoothed the pad of their finger as they counted the layers in the cliffside, imagining the thousands of years of sedimentation it took to build the towering structure. Loose rocks tumbling to the side caught their attention, and they spotted a deer with thick antlers. It stood still and sure, its black eyes staring into their own. Kremmy let their hand fall from the rock. “Hey, buddy. Never seen one of you up close before.” They had just moved to U...

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“PELAGE ESCALIER” by Saim Khurshid

Submitted to Contest #102

I woke up this morning with a headache haunting my peace. I had gotten up earlier than usual and decided against getting ready for school just yet. I left my room which is right next to the stairs leading down to the living room and kitchen. I was going to head down to see if I could scavenge some breakfast for myself when my eyes noticed something awfully strange; the staircase was covered in some black coating. On closer inspection, It looked like hair or fur to be exact. I decided not to think about it and blamed the dog. Even tho...

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“Becoming a Guardian” by Clarissa Janeen

Submitted to Contest #102

I didn't notice the creature at first when I awoke. The morning started like any other: the rustle of leaves, the patter of feet down the road, a blanket of fog nestling the town in a soft aura. I still didn't notice it as I headed out from under Mrs. Gallahan's porch. It had proven to be a cozy resting spot for several months now. It kept me dry and was a fine spot for mouse-catching. "Good morning, Edgar." Mrs. Gallahan came down and scratched behind my ears. I leaned into it with a purr. "Here you are." She set down a plate with cat ...

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“THOMAS THE MYSTERY MAN” by Lujira Cooper

Submitted to Contest #102

The man worked if one could call it work, as a sidewalk vendor. That was not unusual for the strip between Nostrand Avenue and Verona Place in Brooklyn. His stall was part of many along the road. What rendered this stall and man odd was only three or four people eventually saw him. When those who did mention the stall, people scratched and shook their heads. Some commented, “What man or you must mean another street.” No three people were not hallucinating, nor did they have a substance abuse problem. One was a highly respected attorney, Laur...

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“The Explosion by KarLynn Erickson” by KarLynn Erickson

Submitted to Contest #102

Alex slowed to 45 MPH as the warning sign suggested. The next sign was green with white block letters stating Clover Ridge Population 234. “Again, with the small towns. I hate these stupid stories and these dumpy little towns.” He muttered under his breath. “I’ve lived in this state all my life and never heard of Clover Ridge until it came over the news blotter.” Clover Ridge was only 100 miles from Spring Valley which was an actual city. With over 100,000 people it housed a daily newspaper that Alex wor...

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“A Letter to Andrew Jackson from Simon La Greed” by George Key

Submitted to Contest #102

According to Richard Carlson, "The greed of gain has no time or limit to its capaciousness. Its one object is to produce and consume. It has pity neither for beautiful nature nor for living human beings. It is ruthlessly ready without a moment's hesitation to crush beauty and life". A Letter to Andrew Jackson from Simon La Greed (A plead for consideration to Andrew Jackson) by George Key Dear President Jackson, While in committee regarding the appropriation of necessary fiscal outlay, new evidence has...

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“Life can take us down many roads.” by David Singer

Submitted to Contest #102

Life can take us down many roads.I thought I had it made, a fortune obtained by the selling of property which had risen by 60% within two years. It was jointly owned with my brother, and I entrusted him to make the sale and return to me my share of the profit.A month went by, and I approached him about my finances, he informed me he had used all the money to purchase land. As I was in no hurry to obtain the cash, I settled for that. I saw myself as a trusting person and property was a secure investment. A year later the land w...

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“A better future” by Greg Rigby

Submitted to Contest #102

“Sympathy is an opiate, to the flagging human spirit. It is strongly addictive, and it encourages the recipient to closet themselves in their existing inadequacy. You must decide on a beneficial future. Then, you must do what you were taught as a child. You must look where you are going and press the pedals. Get off your bed and walk!” The loud voice of an oversized black priest booms through the community centre, that is crowded with survivors, all gaping at him in amazement. It is two days since the tragedy that left so many people dead, a...

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“Splitting hairs” by Sajid Bijapure

Submitted to Contest #102

"Man is a mystery, they say", said Tom slowly and thoughtfully, looking at the blue sky through the window of his study room. His friend Tim looked at him. Like Tom, Tim too was getting bored. Tim decided to continue the conversation to escape getting bored, but he was not sure the conversation would be less boring. "So?" Tim asked, staring at the wall opposite his chair. This question was a big encouragement for Tom in his struggle against boredom. His gaze was fixed on a single small white cloud in the bright sky. "As per the human n...

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“A Long Walk Home” by Joan McMenamin

Submitted to Contest #102

Human beings have two choices. The first is to expand their greatness beyond the galaxies and the far reaches of time itself; the second is to contract into spaces so small and so tightly, they have the snails and hermit crabs envy them. Most humans will fall somewhere in between those options and some never consider the choices to be options at all. It is a conundrum to be a human being. We are encouraged from very young ages to reach for the stars, the planets, the moon above our heads because that is where our ultimate goa...

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$50

Prize money

710

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!

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