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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#105: Gaining Perspective

Selecting which point of view to tell their story from is one of the most crucial choices an author can make. Whether you opt for the intimacy of first person (“I”), the directness of second person (“you”), or the versatility of third person (“they”), this decision is critically important in creating a story that resonates with readers. Identifying your POV characters is also of the utmost importance: a story might actually be more interesting when told not from the perspective of the action hero, but through the eyes of their overshadowed, long-suffering sidekick.

With this week’s prompts, I’d like you to consider your choice of perspective, and maybe try something new! Put yourself into the shoes of an unexpected character — or ask your character to consider another’s point of view. How meta!

Like I mentioned, we’re currently working on some big changes to Prompts. With that in mind, we’re asking again for you to submit your stories 24 hours earlier than usual, to make those changes possible. The deadline for submitting a story to this week’s contest is 11:59PM EST on Thursday, August 5th. Stay tuned!

This week's prompts

Write a story from the point of view of three different characters.

Character – 191 stories

Write about a person trying to see something from another’s point of view.

Nonfiction – 92 stories

Write your story from the perspective of a side character.

Character – 143 stories

Write a story that switches between first person and third person point of view.

Kids – 100 stories

Write about a character who can suddenly see through another person's eyes — literally.

Adventure – 131 stories

Stories

“Time Heals” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #105

Time Heals Suzanne Marsh The blast of a Colt .45 awakened Jed Thompson. The Second Rebellion was finally over except for men like Jed. Jed was the quickest draw this side of the Pecos. Texas back then was booming with men returning or hiding in Texas. Jed Thompson was just one of many gunslingers. He quickly pulled on his boots heading in the direction of sound of the Colt .45 something he could never mistaken; not since the war. His ears were finely attuned to s...

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“The Cracks in the Ice” by Phoenix Williamson

Submitted to Contest #105

Trigger Warning: Abusive relationship, mild profanity, death I don't know where I am. Oh. That's fine. I am hiding, after all. I'm hiding where no one can find me: Beneath the brush. In the trees. Under the lake. Above the sky. No one will find me. But I hear footsteps. They crunch over the frozen dirt. Atop dead leaves flaked with frost. Around barren trees. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. I want to yell, "go away!" but then I won't be hiding anymore. The moon is full and round. Its white light points at them. It seems to shout,...

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“The Joy Mission” by Michelle Gregory

Submitted to Contest #105

THE JOY MISSION Lauryn stood at her kitchen sink, looking out the window, filling the coffee pot with water. This was the first pot of coffee she and her husband would share in their new home. Jeff was upstairs getting ready for his first day of work since being transferred for his job at an architecture firm. He would have a long drive into the city so they were both up early. The sun was just peeking over the horizon in the distance and Lauryn thought how lucky she was to be able to watch the sun greet her every mornin...

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“The Late-Night Caller” by Del Gibson

Submitted to Contest #105

THE LATE-NIGHT CALLER by Del Gibson ‘Jake, the phone’s ringing,’ I shove him hard with my elbow into his side. ‘Jake, answer the god damn phone!’ My eyes stray to the luminescent sick, green, digital-clock, it’s 2:30 a.m. Phone still ringing… ‘What the hell? Who would be calling at this time?’ he says, reaching over and snatching the landline from its cradle. ‘Hello,’ Jake’s voice hoarse; having been ripped from his sleep, almost hesitant, as he realises the time on the digital clock. ‘Hello, sorry to call at such a late hour. But may I ...

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“Life as Hayley Williams” by Desarae Driggers

Submitted to Contest #105

I remember since the age of four I would often think about wanting to live a different life. I was in quite emotional pain and longed nothing more for happiness. This is when I developed depression although at the time I did not know that. At this time in my life, my family was living together but had already grown apart. There was domestic violence and abuse in the household. I went into foster care two years later. In the second grade, at recess I would stare at the house across the street from the school. It was a blue little house a...

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“And then he saw her...” by Steven Kaye

Submitted to Contest #105

And then he saw her...As the couple came down the hill to their favorite beach, they rounded a bend ,stopping in their tracks. This was their last day on the island and they spotted something they had not anticipated. Hundreds of spinner dolphins were observed at the very edge of the bay. They could tell the species because they were flipping themselves high in the air up and spinning their thin bodies in a 360-degree arc. “Quick honey,” said the man’s wife. “You swim so much bett...

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“Nature” by Leeav Quaoar

Submitted to Contest #105

I have had enough.The thought of staying alive has been crawling onto my body, stabbing my skin until it bleeds, and nevermore I wish to see more of the world that keeps on betraying my beliefs and feelings.I have lost appetite for this thing called “life.” Surely I am contented enough to die; when someone says they are content, I scorn them, for contentment is not supposed to be subjected to life, but subjected to death.If you do not wish to die, you are still dissatisfied, so to speak. You want to see more of the world so your satisfaction...

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“Villain” by Eurus T.

Submitted to Contest #105

Only after I killed him I realized that I needed him.His name was no longer causing horror in people’s eyes, it was just another word and not a hush. Now we could walk in the sunlight without fear, people were dancing in the streets with joy and I wasn’t even able to walk without a hand touching my shoulder as if they couldn't believe I was there and wanted to make sure that I survived, that this is all over. Some were bending on their knees crying, praising me, holding and kissing my hands while I was standing there emotionless. It was eith...

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“Burdened Souls” by Hannah Fransen

Submitted to Contest #105

"Hey, are you ok?" I rested my hand on her shoulder, tapping my fingers lightly. Arin looked back to me, still fingering her fated weapon. "As good as I'll ever be," she sighed, returning her attention to her sword. I returned a light smile, though she didn’t notice. Her eyes ran up and down the dark bronze blade, falling into every small nick and imperfection. She'd been given the sword the day she turned eighteen, told it was the only way to save the world. Arin was a hero inscribed in fate, prophesied with...

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“A Side of Sewage” by Benny Regalbuto

Submitted to Contest #105

“I’m counting on you,” Markus says, hand on my shoulder and heel already turned to go. Heh. Ain’t that the gods’ honest truth. I nod, but he and the others are off before so much as a single hair on my head sways back from the motion. They’re not brushing me off, of course: they just have more important things to attend to. World-saving things. It’s only natural someone has to be left behind to guard the escape route. It’s only natural that someone is me. … And it’s only natural that the escape route is the smelliest sewer tunnel in this ...

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“Under the Light” by Itxy Lopez

Submitted to Contest #105

One, two, three gulps of coffee. One, two, three eye drops. Marco looked like a zombie. Only at least zombies, in spite of their lack of life and brains, still had a purpose: to kill humans. For the past few months, Marco flew like a dart with no intention of reaching any target. But he wouldn't tell me why. Every time I asked him what was wrong, he'd shrug and say he was okay. The bags under his eyes told me otherwise. Marco looked at me, probably having noticed I was staring. "What?" he said, but not unkindly. Curious. "That's ...

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“The Actor's Journey” by Ellie K

Submitted to Contest #105

Lights up. The stage is dark. A spotlight reveals ANGELINE, sitting alone on a park bench. In her hand, she holds a white rose. She ponders the events that have just ensued. For about the sixth time today, I wonder why I'm even here, what made me decide to do this. I sacrifice my lunches and after-school homework times just to be here and do what? I'm just sitting here on this bench in the middle of the stage, doing almost nothing while people stare at me. Up in the catwalk, four people dressed in black fuss with a humongous light fixture...

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“Ghosts” by A. Smoak

Submitted to Contest #105

I had hoped to drive through the night and make it to New Hampshire by morning but the rain began to fall hard. This little car of ours was never made for anything farther than 3 miles outside city limits and the last thing I wanted was to be stuck in the mud on the side of the road at two in the morning. The flimsy windshield wipers were beating back the water as hard as they could, but when I saw the neon glow of a hotel I could barely make out that golden ticket I had been hoping for - vacancies. In the lobby, the man behind the desk...

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“Seasons” by Tanisha Kumar

Submitted to Contest #105

My heart skips a beat as I witness for myself this magical moment. Up until now, I had believed that ‘heaven’ was a place, located somewhere atop the puffy, white clouds, with snowy-feathered doves singing along melodies of the harp as they welcome the purest of souls into a lifetime of eternity. But it is this moment that makes me realise, how heaven is just an abstract state of beauty found in the simplest of things, but treasured eternally by the blessed eyes of the beholder. There’s truly nothing unique about an aisle archway decorated w...

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“CELLPHONES” by Kelly Alaniz

Submitted to Contest #105

Kelly Alaniz #254 Gaining perspective 7/30/21 CELL PHONES In today's world of electronic devices cellphones are a must and most people own one. As a matter of fact, I have owned several. Each one had its own unique capabilities, as well as, a personality just for that extra special touch. Have you ever noticed any personal quirks about your cell phone? God knows I have given my phone the benefit of the doubt. After all the phones of today are said to be "smart phones" right? In addition, these phones are mini computers when h...

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$50

Prize money

662

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 05, 2021 EST

Won by Vi Bisky 🏆

Title: The Next Good Day

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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