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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#111: What Endures Through Time

Mary Wollstonecraft was a renowned philosopher and writer who, despite dying at just 38, published works that changed feminist thought and literature forever. Writing as she was in the eighteenth century, Wollstonecraft’s portrayal of unapologetic, strong, intelligent heroines was not only brave, but revolutionary — and today’s writers and feminist thinkers owe a great deal to the groundwork she laid over two hundred years ago.

Since this week’s contest falls on the anniversary of Wollstonecraft’s death, we want to reflect on her remarkable legacy — and indeed on the impact one person can make, even in relatively little time.

This week's prompts

An intelligent young girl solves a big problem, but becomes frustrated that no one wants to believe her. Write about what she does next.

Teens – 15 stories

Set your story in eighteenth century London, including a casual reference to something that changes the course of history.

Historical Fiction – 21 stories

Write about a character who wakes up in the future and learns that their legacy has outlasted them — for better or worse.

Character – 32 stories

Write about a child who carries on their parent’s work or legacy in some form.

Teens – 40 stories

Write about a group of friends who hope to use their combined skills to better the world.

Middle School – 16 stories

Stories

“She is a Leader” by Ella A

Submitted to Contest #111

DON’T TELL THEM YOU CAN SEE. A sudden hush descends on me all at once. The noises of chatter and footsteps, which I could hear so clearly just moments before, dull to a muted roar. The light taste of the elderberries and puffer fish I ate for lunch that lay thick on my tongue fades until it is almost unnoticeable. The aches and pains from sparring in Chemistry, so sharp just moments before, almost completely vanishes. The slightly rough sensation of my uniform brushing against my skin turns smooth and bland, almost unfelt. But my eyes . . . ...

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“Immolation” by Omar Alvarez

Submitted to Contest #111

“What’s that?” asked Aubrey as he looked across the garage of his one-story home in Detroit. His childhood friend, Chris, reached out to what seemed like a pixelated wave, slowly growing in concentric circles. Naomi walked around to see if there was something projecting it, deflecting light, causing some sort of manipulation of their eyes; there wasn’t. As the circle grew bigger, a gloved hand came out of it. Their fourth friend, Shawn, was walking up the driveway and saw what was going on. He stopped in his tracks w...

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“Driving Blind” by Robin Owens

Submitted to Contest #111

My Dear Isabella, I’m writing to explain the large sum of money that has suddenly materialized for you and your brothers. Now, you know your grandmother to be a woman of modest means, so I imagine the news of your newfound small fortune has come as quite a shock! To best explain, I should like to share a story I’ve kept largely to myself for the past several decades. New York City, January 1903 Mother (your great-grandmother) and I visited New York each year to escape the frigid lake-effect snow of Buffalo and gallivant through the pre...

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“The Orb and the Peacock Feather” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #111

The Orb and the Peacock Feather by Elizabeth Fenley “Are you an angel?” The luminescent woman hovering a few inches off the ground smiled. “No, I am not an angel.” Tara frowned, uncertain. “Then, what are you? Or am I dreaming?” “You aren’t dreaming, Tara.” Tara stepped back on the grass of the deserted field she’d never seen before. She’d been on the crowded sidewalk on her way to school. This was beyond creepy. “How do you know my name? Where the hell am I? How the fuck did you---” The...

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“Society of the Higher Order of the Lycanthrope ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #111

Catherine Mosby always suspected there was something quite unusual about her husband Elan, but she could never quite put her finger on it. While a ne'er-do-well in the lower rings of London’s society, Elan had his sights set on moving up the ladder of his current social club since his business had a very profitable fiscal year. She had heard he had made inquiries near Chelsea which made her hopeful that their fortunes would soon be on the upswing. Elan did his best to keep her in the dark about his business and socia...

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“Just the Beginning for Us” by Sophia Buck

Submitted to Contest #111

Everything always starts with some dramatic scene, at least every story I have ever been told has. This story however started with a moment of calm for our main character. A young girl who had grown up alone with only her father and her brother. She was left in their care after her mother passed away. She never had a claim to her sibling or father, yet they kept her close, as if left unsupervised she would spill their secrets. Eirian’s tale began on March 26, 1735. A day that felt so mundane she wasn’t even thinking about what she w...

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“The Pause” by Coltrane Rogers

Submitted to Contest #111

The square room was of white walls, white canvas and white light.From each corner hid no shadow; not a mote of dust lingered, and not a sound was heard.A cryogenic bed was fixed in the middle of the room with a digital counter atop the glass frame.The last minute of the timer fell and as the numbers showed zero, a door on the far side of the room opened.The bed unlatched with a wheeze and a naked man sat upright.“Dr Fischer,” spoke a voice, “another year has passed. The procedure will be resumed.”“Did you destroy it?” he said out of pure ins...

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“So Little Virgin Blood” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #111

So Little Virgin Blood By Elizabeth Fenley The newborn babies are easy to silence while I drink their blood from their savaged necks until I feel it go sour as their hearts stop beating. I stuff tiny bodies into a red box attached to the wall in this too bright room. I am able to suck three dry this time ...

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“The Bees” by Clark Graham

Submitted to Contest #111

“There you are. Hey, Vinney, it worked.” “Why did you waste the energy bringing her here?” “I wanted her to see what she’s done.” Dorothy focused on the grey metal walls around her. “Where am I? How did I get here?” A man in a white coverall smiled. “I’m John. I brought you here.” “Brought me where?” She tried to stand up but the low ceiling prevented her. She sat back down. “This is the last ship out. Take a look.” He pointed to a round window. “Earth?” “Yep, it’s Earth. Of course, no one lives there anymore because of you. I brought you he...

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“Following in Underground Footsteps” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #111

Following in Underground Footsteps by Elizabeth Fenley “Prodigal” Both of my mothers know I am a criminal. An Enemy of The Capitol. If caught, I will be executed. One of my sisters knows, but the youngest has embraced The Capitol Doctrine. She and her husband raise their children to accept propaganda as the truth. “Athena” We agreed not to talk about it, my mothers and I. Too dangerous. I walk with one foot on each side of the divide between The Capitol a...

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“Improving Our World” by Eunice Amero

Submitted to Contest #111

Improving Our World “Hi, Lucy, have you ever thought about how we could better the world?” “I think about it once in a while, but I can’t do it alone,” said Portia. “But what do you think we could do?” “One of the things I thought of was planting a tree,” Portia told her. “That can be done. It’s easy and I love trees. We should get all our...

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“The Five Fortunes” by Leah Bartleson

Submitted to Contest #111

It was a windless day of cloud and rain when the mute girl Milaka began to notice things. She lived alone, on the outside of the village circle where only the noise of the wind, when it blew, could be heard. It was the side where, rumor had it in her village, the winds of change blew. That day, a day of grayness and cheerless chill, Milaka had left her stool and her quiet, lonely meal, and had gone to stand by the open window. For two days she had not moved. Her sisters, Darva and Kaleena, were beginning to worry. “Milaka,” they sa...

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“Lady Ada” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #111

The sun started to rise, but to Ada, it seemed as if this new day would just herald the end of all time once more. Her eyes drifted thoughtlessly over the surrounding fields. Despite the harvest and the greenery, she found the land before, in its rigid immobility; empty, lifeless, and sad. The birds sang their merry salute to a new morning; a flock of pigeons shot through the air flapping their wings and the larks clamored about the cornfields. And yet there was something sad and depressing about all this. Why can't I run barefoot through th...

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“What Happened to Yesterday” by Jewel Paul

Submitted to Contest #111

As I wake up in a bed that isn't mine, the winter breeze compliments the cracked window in front of me. This house doesn’t look the same as when it was when I fell asleep. The more I explore the house that isn't my own, the more I realize how familiar it seems. It was my grandparent’s old home that no one used. This house served as a safe haven for our family. But why would I be here? Out of all the places in the world. I travel outside with my grandfathers’ favorite slippers. There has to be a reason why it's winter. When I fell asleep it w...

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“Well in Time” by Suma Jayachandar

Submitted to Contest #111

CW: Reference to autism, self-harm. All it took was a touch. To see that the concept of time and space is an illusion of the mind. When Fiona James woke up, she didn’t remember it though. She always woke up 5 minutes before the alarm went off. It was her routine to mentally go through the day’s schedule while still in bed. It was not a casual tabulation but an hour to hour if not minute to minute visualization. She believed in being thorough. This was one of the qualities that had propelled her to head one of the most coveted researc...

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$250

Prize money

124

Contest entries

110

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 17, 2021 EST

Won by Charlene 🧙‍♀️✨ Boyce 🏆

Title: Flour and fire

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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