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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 – 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

“Why The Suffering?” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #102

It was a sunny and beautiful weekend morning. The kind of weather that suits this kind of lovely towns where things and traditions remain the same. Everything in the right place! The house’s walls were salmon-colored and decorated exquisitely. The front garden plants were selected carefully to always paint the home’s atmosphere with endless colors. You were also able to see the backyard fruit flowering trees from the 4 points of the compass, what a view! All neighbors envied how the garden was built, perfectly balanced. Outside, some k...

4 comments 4
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“Someday...” by ☠️฿ⱤɆ₵₭ł₦ ₦ØⱤ₮ⱧⱤɄ₱😎

Submitted to Contest #102

“Howdy ya do, partner?” said the old homeless man off the side of the road.“I’m fine, thank you. Now scram. You disgust me.” Said the twenty five year old billionaire sitting in his very own special limo.“Can I please have one small donation? I am very poor and could really use just a dollar. “Not in a million years. Now please go away and deal with your terrible life.” He said as he drove away, rolling up his window while putting his five hundred dollar sunglasses on his tan face.I walked off the road and sat down next to my black...

6 comments 6
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“Grave New World” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #102

Jim extinguished the fire, even though the children grumbled. “Please, Papa Jim,” said a boy with dark circles around his eyes. “Just five more minutes. I’m awful cold.” He wrapped his arms around his knobbled knees and shivered as if to punctuate his point. Several of the others nodded and mumbled their concurrences. Jim sighed. His eyes darted to the ruined city skyline. Nothing but rubble and rebar. “Now, Boy—” he didn’t name them, it made it too difficult when they died “—you know I can’t do that. The spiders are attracted to the lig...

3 comments 3
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“Two Wildflowers” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #102

It was the third or fourth day waiting for it. I was there, in the Field of Flowers, for hours… preying on it. My father told me that he had seen the deer around, a lovely male one; unfortunately, on that occasion, he didn’t have his rifle with him since dad was riding Grey Storm, his finest Andalusian horse. Dad enjoys spending time with his horses, deep love between them. There’s something between horses and men as much as dogs and men. Mother Earth planned it all from the beginning: to make men fall in love with these 2 faithful s...

6 comments 6
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“Light It Up” by Kylie Wallis

Submitted to Contest #102

Sydney Olsen stepped out of the building on Bradford Stret, where she lived in a one bedroom apartment. She stood still for a moment, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. She covered her eyes with sunglasses, slipped the 205 door key into her pocket and then set off. It only took about an hour for her to walk around three or four blocks. Sometimes she cut through the local park.Every now and then she would also stop at the SilverLeaf cafe' to rest, before going back home. On this particular day Sydney went inside, feeling kind of hungr...

2 comments 2
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“Alternate Realities” by Amiable Sorceress

Submitted to Contest #102

“They are mindless reeds, drifting wherever wind guides them. They can grow under artificial sunlight if they believe it is real. What is real?-- they are not sure. And if we claim to have the answers, they’ll drift like lost sheep into our fence, put down their scythes and live in the world their brains have cultivated unbeknownst to them”     -Only Chance Application, Page 70, Chapter 10  Xin was close, very close. The hum of old baseboard heating in the beach home vibrated with contempt, desire, a special secr...

10 comments 10
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“Beyond the Edge of Town” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #102

I escaped my untimely death by enrolling as a ghost in Limbo land. The initial contract requires four hauntings per month with time-off-in-lieu for exceeding client expectations. Given the workload, I’m looking forward to earthbound excursions and opportunities to tease my old schoolmates.    “So,” you say, “Limbo land doesn’t sound unbearable?”    Existing between two worlds is better than the alternative, but it’s not very exciting. Now I appreciate why ghosts are characterised by mournful wailing, it’s out of...

2 comments 2
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“Misadventures of an Introvert” by Shaquita B.

Submitted to Contest #102

Caution: Language Inspired by true events       One morning I noticed a fledgling sitting in a bird’s nest outside of my window, chirping his lungs out with his wings spread. He seemed to peep over the edge of the nest, trying to garner the courage to try out his wings. He reminded me of myself. Trying to gather the nerve to leave the nest of my comfort zone, spread my wings, and fly. I guess that’s what led me to make what turned out to be a poor decision. I took the exit that led to Brooke’s apartment and s...

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“My People” by Christina Marie

Submitted to Contest #102

The cluster of skyscrapers that define the city’s skyline loom impassively across the river, sparkling glass teeth sprouting from concrete gums under the red tongue of a late autumn sunset. Sometimes I marvel at the fullness of this city life—opportunities always available in the unknown, absolute freedom in every unfamiliar face, space to pursue passion without personal persecution. Other times I despair at its emptiness—anonymity dismissing family legacy, unpredictability abolishing comfort, novelty closing the door on community. ...

8 comments 8
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“All is not well” by Aditya Kaundal

Submitted to Contest #102

He was scolded; he was threatened; he was dragged out by collar many a times; he was beaten on few occasion; he was taken in custody thrice for a night still everyday for many days this old fellow, short in stature; skinny in build; with overgrown eyebrows above sunken eyes on the deadpan face was stubborn to do it again and again so today was no difference, little bent he came again donned in grey pants and off white shirt, shirt not tucked in , with a banner in right hand and a tiffin hanging to left shoulder and a water bot...

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“Ping Pong Balls” by Echo Sundar

Submitted to Contest #102

Life is a ping pong game. The table is the earth and humans are the balls placed upon the table. The paddles are the unseeable forces that control everything, emotions, motivations, desire. We, humans, are the balls because we are controlled by our emotions, our desires and yet we go places. We bounce around and around, back and forth. We are unpredictable. We change direction, we are never satisfied and always moving because that is human nature.  Esther was very much that ball. She bounced around and around. England, China, and New y...

3 comments 3
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“Good Man” by Jacen Patchwork

Submitted to Contest #102

The air was cool in the morning when he stepped out onto his porch to head to work. This was to be expected in early October, and he was thankful for it. The summer had been a hot one, and he’d been ready for the opportunity to break out his jacket and long sleeve shirts by the end of August. But, unfortunately, the summer heat had held firm throughout most of September. Now though, the heat had finally broken, and he was looking forward to the brisk air of fall. He turned, checking to ensure he’d locked the door before he made his way dow...

7 comments 7
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“The Silenced Cicadas” by Elena Pitsilidou

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #102

Content warning: war violence, rape, sexual assault, death, abortion It was that time of the year when the rhythmic song of the cicadas was interrupted. July. As the soul-piercing sound of the siren echoed, the sizzling summer day seemed to freeze in time when I witnessed the tiny dots on the sky falling down like the leaves of the primeval plane tree which stood in the square of my village, next to the coffeehouse. ‘Parachutes!’ my father screamed; ‘Elpida, they’re here, the enemy is HERE!’ My father grabbed me by my arm and pulled me insid...

8 comments 8
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“Sia Reyes Murder Case” by Keya J.

Submitted to Contest #102

The doorbell chime filled the anxiety spilt air. Clemency and I both exchanged nervous looks. We both knew who it was. I walked up to the door while she arranged a few drinks. “Oh Welcome Mr Wright. Please take a seat.” I greeted the young man. He was wearing a blue suit and tie, left parted hair and a shaved beard. Mr Wright sat comfortably on the foam, glaring at the drinks in front of him, but did not dare to have one. “So you’re Clemency Cook?” He asked, cocking a brow towards me. I left a foolish chuckle and pointed ...

6 comments 6
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“Perfidious Paramour” by Saim Khurshid

Submitted to Contest #102

CW: mental abuse, child murder We are merely ants who believe the world to be ours. But surely no ant would ever hurt its own kind to portray its view of reality. Then why do we humans step over each other for our desire to be seen better than those around us?   The story that I am about to tell you is of a girl and a boy, of a man and a woman, of love and hate. Their names are not important to the tale.    A lot of places to choose from but I choose the start:            ...

3 comments 3
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$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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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