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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

“Strings” by Cannelle L

Submitted to Contest #105

Aranya is lying on the grass, alone and tired from running. She looks different, bleached hair spreading like a shield. I almost can't recognize her with her eyes closed, forest green orbs hidden behind soft lashes. Then you find her. She tells you to go away, but you don't. Putting your guitar down first, you lie beside her and tell her that she is crying like it is the simplest thing to do. She lifts a hand to her cheek, greeting the dampness on her skin. Two girls stay for long moments, staring at the sky. It...

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“10 days ” by Eric Falvey

Submitted to Contest #105

TW: Suicide ideation, suicide mention. There are 28,652.5 days in the average human life span in the U.S. It is hard to believe that the entirety of my life was weighed by only 10 of those. 10 days to hang on to. 10 days until I could have had everything I ever wanted, everything I ever deserved. 10 days and my heart and my mind would have been fulfilled forever, but she took that away from me. She couldn’t wait. She cut the legs out from underneath of me, and watched as all my plans fell over and crushed me in their screaming, weighted...

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“Moony” by Valerie June

Submitted to Contest #105

It was a night like any other and, unfortunately, the loud activity of the night made it quite difficult to catch onto a dream and drift off to sleep. But a little girl knew better than to chase her dreams, anyway. A howl from a stray dog mixed in with nature’s nightly lullaby. The crashing of ocean waves sounded like cymbals against the shore and the whistling of the wind was frighteningly similar to that of a sigh or a forlorn echo. Time stood still during this single magical moment. However, the usual pale body of light seen at this hou...

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“Another Day” by Henry Vinicio Valerio-Madriz

Submitted to Contest #105

The cold didn’t let him sleep; it was a long night in the streets. Some conditions refuse to leave… the cold stuck to his body for hours. Logan felt it deeply in his bones, there wasn’t much to do. He was 52; nonetheless, he looked older, much older. “Some people drink life like drinking a water jet. I guess I need to drink life a drop at a time”, Logan reflected. Logan picked up the 2 boxes he uses as a bed. Then he put them behind an old gate of a forgotten closed factory. He chose that spot to sleep over because he completely identi...

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“I wish you could see...” by Amanda Chan

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #105

I wish you could see the stars the way I do. I wish you could see the night sky and think of the endless possibilities. I wish you could see the ocean, watch the waves, and think of peace. I wish you could see... But you can't. Your eyes are blinded by hate, by hurt, by the pain and suffering this world has bestowed upon you. Your ears have turned deaf to the pleas of the people as you cross the street. Your nose has been desensitised to the pungent smell of the poor. "They deserve it." You say. "They should have worked harder to better ...

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“Shadow” by Kylie Wallis

Submitted to Contest #105

Regina Clarke made the choice to return to Grendel Crescent, when she heard that her father was dead. She had run away from home as a teenager, unwilling to go through with an arranged marriage. Regina never really liked Frank, even when they were younger. She suspected he harboured a crush on her, which she found kind of repulsive.The Ramirez and Aldridge families had known each other for years and so figured, why not get the kids together? Of course, it didn’t go according to plan. When she was eighteen, Regina crossed paths with Ezra Clar...

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“The Birthday Disaster” by Kirrtanaa Thanesh

Submitted to Contest #105

Lily’s POVI’m super excited because my birthday party’s going to start! The guests will arrive any minute now! I’ve just finished decorating the whole place. Layla’s just finished making the jelly and Riley’s hanging up more balloons. I’m so lucky that they’re helping me. I never would have managed it by myself. I think I kind of overdid it with the invitations and invited more people than I was supposed to but never mind. The more the merrier! I’ve just heard a few cars park in my driveway! My birthday party is about t...

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“Summer Camp Visions” by Corbin Sage

Submitted to Contest #105

The crumbling building by the woods was covered in graffiti, names and dates, and crudely carved hearts spanning the surface like the heavily gathered clouds in the sky above. My eyes found the red sharpie that was scrawled over a painted patch, back from when this place still belonged to a summer camp. It was my old initials, EFH. I hadn’t wanted to write my full name, but I hadn’t yet wanted to use my chosen one in public. Even now, I had a hard time introducing myself as Chance, as though my parents were hovering over my shoulder sha...

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“Diner” by Itay Frenkel

Submitted to Contest #105

“Do you think some people are meant to stay in your life forever?” “We’ve really run out of things to talk about, haven’t we?” He said. “That’s not true, I just don’t wanna talk about the past anymore. Please, what do you think, are there people meant to stay in your life forever?” “I hope so, but what do I know?” “You’re the one who said that to me, when we were kids.” He let his face relax into a smile and nodded. I looked into his brown eyes, like two mud puddles. They were the only thing about him that had remained the same. When...

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“You're Ours” by Katie Ingold

Submitted to Contest #105

CW: Some adult content, soul mates, and polyamory. Cameron Shadows in the corner of the crowded club hid me from prying eyes as I watched them dance. Even though I was part of their inner circle, they forgot I was here and immersed themselves in each other. They were almost the same height, Logan only slightly shorter than Jace, so it was easy for Jace to reach anywhere on Logan. Their hands slid along each other’s bodies, and their hips ground to the pulse of the sultry beat. The strobe of the lights caused them to take on ethereal qual...

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“Lessons for a Medium in Training” by Carrie Fitzgerald

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #105

Just because someone is dead doesn’t mean that they know anything. I know, I know. This is not a sentiment you expect to hear from a medium, but it’s absolutely true. And if you want to be a working medium, you need to understand this. Repeat after me- the newly dead aren’t any smarter than they were when they were alive. Wisdom doesn’t come the moment your heart stops. It takes time and guidance. The problem is most of our clients want to talk to their loved ones soon after the death, when their grief is still fresh. They want to say ...

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“The Prince and the Dragon” by Annalisa D.

Submitted to Contest #105

I never wanted to be a thief, but I had no other choice. At the age of ten, I lost both my parents and ended up on my own. My parents barely had any money, but at least they had something. Without them, I had nothing. Therefore, I did what I needed to for money. It’s not a unique story, but this story isn’t about me anyway. In desperate need of something to eat, I snatched the purse of a wealthy woman who careles...

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“Through Lilly's Eyes” by Kim Kline

Submitted to Contest #105

I’m watching her through the kitchen window. A curious zoo-goer observing a young bear cub perched on a tall branch. So innocent, so vulnerable, so ignorant to the dangers of the world outside its shelter. She looks serene in this moment with her nose buried in a book, eyebrows slightly pinched in concentration. Her golden locks tumble over thin shoulders that are perpetually shrouded under baggy clothing. I’ve made her favorite dinner tonight. Or, at least, it used to be her favorite dinner. At fifteen she seems lifetimes away from the t...

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“I'm April. I'm Four.” by Stacey Jackson

Submitted to Contest #105

I’m April and I’m four. I like it out here on the porch in the sunshine. I can see all the birds and plants and trees and squirrels on my Daddy’s farm. I just sit here and smell the air and watch. I like it outside better than inside. So do my sisters, Maggie and Daisy. We share a room. Our room is where the warm stove is, so it feels good when it’s cold outside. Sometimes we leave our room and get into bed with Daddy. There’s only one other room in the house and that’s the kitchen. Daddy’s cooking always smells good. &nbsp...

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“Split” by Aishwarya Vuppala

Submitted to Contest #105

Death was quick.Well, it wasn't quick, but it sure felt like that.I thought I'd see a light and leave, but nope.I could see my body laying on the bed as I hovered around looking for a light. The only light I saw was my bed lamp which I'm pretty sure I turned off before swallowing that cup of pills."Hey Pri, are you awake? I wanted to tal-"I saw my twin sister Zoya's jaw drop when she saw the bottles of pills on my bedside table. She slapped my face trying to wake up my lifeless body. It was such a thunderous slap that I heard the sound past ...

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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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