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!

#103: Synchronicity

Have you ever experienced a strange or serendipitous alignment of events? Happy accidents, creepy coincidences, or randomly resonant moments happen to everyone, yet they always take us by surprise. Whether you believe they have any spiritual significance or not, it can be hard to shake the feeling that some things happen to us by design.

Since truth is often stranger than fiction, I’ve taken some of this week’s prompts directly from life — one poses a situation that has happened to me personally, and another to a friend of mine. The rest I leave up to your own imagination — or what the universe wants you to write!

This week's prompts

Write about a character looking for a sign.

Fluff – 153 stories

An apparent coincidence occurs. Write a story about a character who suspects paranormal, spiritual, or criminal causes.

Horror – 129 stories

Write a story where a character runs into someone they’ve seen in their dreams, or enters a building they’ve dreamt about before.

High School – 230 stories

Start your story with someone discovering a photograph that has something written on the back.

Valentine's Day – 196 stories

Write a story about someone who starts noticing the same object or phrase wherever they go.

Thriller and Suspense – 106 stories

Stories

“Twisted Fate” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #103

“I’m going now. To Thailand I mean, I’m going to find him,” said Arthur. “You are as mad as our son,” said Mildred. “Our son is missing for God's sake.” “Not according to the Embassy in Bangkok when you pestered them.” “We have not heard from him for one year. No Christmas cards, no birthday wishes. And you say he’s not missing?” “This morning you got an email, from him, so what’s the panic?” said Mildred. “That email was sent one year ago. It was the same one we opened exactly one year ago. Don’t you think that’s strange?” “Okay, but before...

Read story

“LUCID DREAM_ The Unbroken Curse” by Chioma Benedict

Submitted to Contest #103

LUCID DREAM: The Unbroken Curse PROLOGUE 1956 Arguments get closer Sounds get nearer and nearer A loud thud as Katharina, princess of Glenthrone approach the throne room in what looks like an argument between the great king of Erlgin and his son Prince Charles, her betroth and soon to be groom. Boom! Followed by a loud sound as the heated argument between the king and his son continues, making Queen Katharina curious as she decides to eavesdrop on the conversation between the King and Prince Charles. "With all due respect, father, I ...

Read story

“A Flower From the Dust” by Luka Škrlec

Submitted to Contest #103

TW: suicidal ideation, terminal illness The lace on my shoe was untied. I bent down, tied it. I got up, looked around. I was not home. I was in a foreign town, in a foreign state. The air was different, I was different. I stuck my hand into my right back pocket. There I carried a photograph. For good luck, I guess. On the front side was my hometown sunken in glorious colors of sunset. It was a nice photo, but it didn't mean as much to me as the back side of it did. There, in my handwriting, stood: “You will see great sorrow, and in th...

Read story

“No Second Chances ” by Neel Anil Panicker

Submitted to Contest #103

TW: rape, suicide The first time she said it, the phrase sounded so inconsequential. I mean you wouldn't, who would rather, notice or read more into a sentence meant to provide direction. Get off the train, take the 45, count the stops to 14. Alight. Look up. You see a Shiva Temple. Walk towards it. Take a left past Turning Point. From thereon, it's a hop, skip, and jump. Third house to the right. Right! You remember saying right. You remember doing all she told you. You followed her instructions to a T. You ...

Read story

“I love you, Teri Lynn” by KarLynn Erickson

Submitted to Contest #103

Teri Lynn Miller was 43 years old when her life changed in a most unexpected way after realizing she was catching glimpses of her reflection everywhere she went. And the reflection made her more and more uncomfortable. Her distorted image first turned up in a reflection of a car window. She saw it out of the corner of her eye and quickly turned toward it. She stopped and starred for longer than a minute. She brushed her wild curls from her forehead and frowned. Teri Lynn had been a stay-at-home mom. ...

Read story

“The boomerang” by Santina Forlenza-Pihuličova

Submitted to Contest #103

I’m Og. Until yesterday my life was perfect. Perfect because whenever the boomerang ran in the air I knew exactly what to do. Day by day and wave by wave. Wave by wave because my friend Holly (no matter the weather conditions) used to bring me at the seaside to play boomerang together. He threw it whenever a wave approached to the seashore, not earlier and not later. I played in a different way; randomly, I would say, meaning that I threw the boomerang whenever I caught it, and I had a lot of fun.Holly brought his arm back toward his forearm...

Read story

“Horror Flicks” by Shiva Saxena

Submitted to Contest #103

Part-1 It was the full moon night and the colour of the moon was orange. As usual I was on my laptop sitting on my study table and it was about to be twelve when suddenly a pop-up screen appears on my laptop. It was turning red and blue. On it was written this link will disappear in 30 seconds. I was confused whether it was fraud or something else. The countdown begins..29..28..27..26..25......…………………………5..4..3..2.. and I quickly clicked the link thinking that what if I will miss a good opportunity. As soon as I clicked the link, lights...

Read story

“Rays of Hope” by Hanshika Goyal

Submitted to Contest #103

The sun fought to enter the room. The windows were shut but the curtains were drawn aside. Sunlight flooded the room, and I stared out of the window, still wrapped in bed. It was early morning after a sleepless night. It had been impossible for me to stop myself from recalling the night exactly ten years ago:I ran and ran, as fast as my little legs could take me. My bag swayed on my back, my ponytail dangled on my head and my eyes were fixed on the road that lay ahead. My heart was thumping in my chest, clearly audible in the silence o...

Read story

“SPLIT” by Alizah Muhammad

Submitted to Contest #103

Yet another night, the sobbing voices kept her awake. Maria’s feelings had transitioned from fear to sympathy, at this point, it was pure fury and frustration. ‘Show yourself or just go away! Reach out if you need help. I could help if you reached out, or at least just listen to what you have to say. I am certain of your presence. I freakin’ know I’m not crazy!’ Maria kept her voice low, but the rage was obvious.She heard a gasp, followed by complete silence. The darkness in her room intensified for a moment. The chilly air through the ...

Read story

“You'll never dare to look for a sign,ever again!!!” by Pranav N

Submitted to Contest #103

It was a beautiful fall morning, and the blue-green waters of New York Harbor were flat and smooth, as if oiled, following the previous day's shower- Jack was sitting on his bed in his pajamas watching TV when a sudden gust of wind makes him do the thing he hates the most in the early morning-get up. As he walks towards the window to close it, a postcard flies in and slams straight on his face. He lets out a small squeal of pain and picks up the card which has now fallen on the table,relaxing after its attack on Jack’s nose. He’s confused f...

Read story

“Dandelion” by Jennalee Love

Submitted to Contest #103

Whisky starts to taste less like poison and more like home. I cannot afford a therapist or new clothing for a job. I can’t afford much of anything. I panhandle when I can overcome the shame of asking strangers for money. A little liquid courage is all it takes to drown my shame. It doesn’t work like it used to. Nothing works like it used to. I go to sleep with the moon and wake up with the sun if the mosquitoes will allow it. I didn’t sleep last night. An incessant buzz in my ear all night long. I remind myself to buy some earplugs t...

Read story

“Alternate Universes” by Sharna Young

Submitted to Contest #103

June was flustered. She felt ashamed as she plonked her large, leather bag – dark berry, completely out of season for the summer – on the counter of the coffee shop, digging inside desperately for her purse. Her hands felt various keys, Cadence’s toys (perfect for when Cadence picked public transport as her place to have a meltdown), empty wrappers that should have been binned weeks ago. Feeling herself going red, she glanced at the barista nervously. He had his eyebrows raised but said nothing, waiting patiently. It was le...

Read story

“Beneath the Canals” by Josh C

Submitted to Contest #103

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, I tied the boat in front of the boarded up door. At one time every canal in the city would be alive with noise, criss-crossed with drying clothes, bedsheets and banners. I needn’t have worried. With so many houses left empty and boarded up the canal was silent save for one lone laundry line flapping in the light breeze. Nonetheless, I wanted to avoid being seen. People would think I was breaking into a historic building and causing yet more damage to the city of Venice. They would never belie...

Read story

“In the Present” by Jj Gomez

Submitted to Contest #103

Recommended reading: "The Pig"Four days before Beth’s seventh birthday, Selene walked sheepishly into her father’s home office, head bowed. He had been holding the door open for her. Once she was midway into the room, he closed it and then walked around her, back to his desk. He leaned back against it and folded his arms over his chest. “Why did you do it?” he asked.Selene tugged anxiously at the hem of her wrinkled summer dress. “Because…because I wanted to see what you got Beth,” she said in a very quiet voice, her eyes welling with tears....

Read story

“Traces” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #103

Faded photographs, covered now with lines and creases… ~ Classics IV, “Traces” (1969) Mara was surprised when the words from that old song popped into her head. She was surprised in part because she was looking, not at a set of photographs, but at just one photograph. She thought momentarily about the difference, and concluded there was one and that it might be a crucial one. The framed image before her didn’t seem to be faded, either. Nevertheless, the photograph looked a bit like it was faded simply because it was old. "Doe...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

814

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 23, 2021 EST

Won by Abigail Airuedomwinya 🏆

Title: THIS IS THE DAY WE DIE

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 ⭢