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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#119: Listen

It’s November, and with that come some familiar sounds: the pitter-patter of rain, the rustling of leaves, and the hysterical typing of writers attempting NaNoWriMo. This week, let’s throw the windows open and listen closely. And if you need company while you write, join the Reedsy team for a live Write-In on November 10th!

This week's prompts

Start your story with an unusual sound being heard.

Horror – 41 stories

Start your story with a character saying “Listen, …”

Valentine's Day – 57 stories

Write a story inspired by a piece of music (without using any lyrics).

Middle School – 39 stories

Write a story that involves eavesdropping.

Fluff – 34 stories

Set your story in a silent house by the sea.

Dystopian – 61 stories

Stories

“The Silence and the Sea” by L.B Rinker

Submitted to Contest #119

It wasn’t the dozens of seagulls on my deck that bothered me. They had grown accustomed to the sweet bread my wife would leave out for them, and I was quite accustomed to their flapping, and squawking, and shitting, but I had no sweet bread to give them, the stove had gone cold a long time ago.. I would have killed to hear the train whistle of a kettle my mother-in-law had given to us, but it sat collecting dust on one of the burners… It wasn’t the leaky faucet in our guest bathroom that bothered me eith...

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“Solitude” by Christopher Stevens

Submitted to Contest #119

The house clung on the edge of the cliff, steadfast against the howling frigid winds and creeping icy fingers of fog that constantly rolled in from distant oceans. Sometimes the mist skulked amongst the gnarled cypress trees and slinked between the feather reeds that bordered the house, sometimes it was a screaming gale ripping at the shingles on the roof, pelting the walls with rain and begging to be let in. Inside the house was completely quiet and still.She lived in solitude, not out of a love for the crashing waves that thundered the bas...

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“Once in a Blue Moon” by Daniel Harder

Submitted to Contest #119

Once in a Blue MoonA short story by Daniel HarderJournal Entry, November 18, from James Thompson: This has been going on too long now. Maybe my friends are right, and I should just move on; try to forget this ever happened. Get back out there and make an attempt at a ‘normal life.’But just how does one “move on” back to regular dates or meeting up with other desperate strangers at bars, after seven magical nights with an incredible woman who seemed to strike the perfect and delicate balance between fun, spontaneity, and being serious about t...

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“The Dancing Doves” by Mike North

Submitted to Contest #119

The dancing feet of the doves made an unusual and rather loud noise on the tin roof and any chance of sleep was out of the question. But it didn't really matter, because at seven-thirty the desert sun was already making its presence felt in the rapidly warming trailer and the idea of lying in bed was not a comfortable option. So the courting ritual of the white doves was tolerated.The metal bed frame gave out a weary sigh of relief as he slowly emerged from his disturbed night's sleep. His boxer shorts, strewn across the small space next to ...

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“An Amusing Story from a Funeral ” by Daylin Leach

Submitted to Contest #119

SSCHWOOOAAAAAHHEEEE!!! The Brutal, insistent, incomparable (and apparently unspellable) sound of amplification feedback. It is impossible to prepare oneself for it and equally impossible to hear it without wincing. It portends a more calming communication to follow, but is not itself calming in that it also foretells that whoever is trying to speak is going to continue wrestling with the microphone until they subdue it, which suggests the ominous promise of more unnatural shrieking. This is how the funeral began. With the all-too-ear...

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“Wilbur Shakespeare” by Mike North

Submitted to Contest #119

‘Listen, don’t get narky, I was just asking if you’ve read the rules, that’s all.’‘Have I read the rules? What kind of a man do you think I am, of course I’ve read the rules.’‘I know exactly what kind of man you are, I say again, have you read the rules?’‘Oh rules my arse, you’re interfering with the creative process, us creative types don’t follow rules. We make our own rules in this world. You wouldn’t ask Wilbur Shakespeare if he followed the rules, of course not, you would just let him get on with it.’‘William.’‘Who?’‘Oh god, never mind....

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“Late August” by Dave Bolin

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen,” August said. Etta sighed, put down the shot glass she was drying, and stared at August from across the bar. August had been working on the song all morning; Etta had heard it a dozen times already. August played the tune again, the jangling of the saloon piano echoing through the empty room. “What do you think? Will the men like it?” “As much as they’ll pay attention to it, August, sure.” It was not the response August was looking for. August had arrived in Independence, Missouri in the spring of 1835, planning on...

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“Diary of a Teenage Girl” by Ruby Dolinger

Submitted to Contest #119

Nov. 10. 2021 “Listen, do you hear that?” Katie June said. “Um, no. What do you hear?” I responded. We were talking on walkie-talkies even though we were 10 feet away. “That...stomping noise. It keeps happening every few seconds. Are you sure you don’t hear it?” she asked. “Nope, don’t hear it.” “You’ve got to hear it. Come on.” “I already said no.” “Ugh... Can you hear it now?” “No.” “Now?” “No!” “Fine!” Silence. “Now?” “NO!” Then my mom shouted from upstairs, “Sorry, if the creaky floor is bothering you two, I...

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“Through closed eyes” by Rayna Falch

Submitted to Contest #119

Trigger warning: self harm and suicidal themes I roll up my shirtsleeve for the seventh time in the past two days. My grip on the blade tightens. I close my eyes. There’s a lump in my throat and my mouth is dry. I take a shaky breath as I press the sharp metal to my wrist. Tears start to fall as I feel the point pierce my skin. I can feel the blood start to trickle out as I drag the blade across my wrist. I’m scared to look. I’m always scared to look. I look anyway. A heavy sob escapes my chest when I see the trail of red slowly flowing ou...

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“Perfidia in 4 Acts” by James Freeh

Submitted to Contest #119

6:30 pm As he pulled into the restaurant parking lot, it occurred to Alberto that he had already worked 9 hours today. Tonight, if he was lucky, he should be home by 10:15, so that would give him just over 12 hours today! He knew he was working too much, but he really wanted to take Carla to Mazatlan for her birthday, and it wasn’t that far off. And what was wrong with Carla lately? She seemed, he thought, a little distant, a little sad. He loved his wife, but she was so complicated. They’d been through a lot together, but he sometimes wa...

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“People Who May Have Listened” by Iris Franckheim

Submitted to Contest #119

sensitive content: reference to war and escapePeople Who May Have Listened“Oh, hello…! How nice to see you! How are you doing, my dear?”Poor you, you were caught right in front of your doorstep! Mrs Wierszinski, petite, grey-haired and in tweed, was speeding down the stairs, faster than you might have expected. It was so typical, wasn ´ t it? In her left hand she was holding her plastic bag with old toast for the ducks, also just as always; she had shown you they ´ d always get those bits that were too mouldy to be eaten. You had scolded her...

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“Leaves Dropping” by McKeon Gardella

Submitted to Contest #119

“Good morning Kay,” Jon said to his long-time neighbor. Both were standing, in bath robes, on their respective front porches grabbing the newspaper. “Hello Jon. It looks like it’s going to be a lovely day.” “It sure is. The fall season is here! There’s lots of leaves dropping going on here,” Jon said. Kay’s smile dissipated over Jon’s remark. Kay thought her passive-aggressive neighbor was complaining about her infamous-chronic curiosity. “Well, Jon it appears you caught me,” She said giving a timid frown. “If you are referring to my eaves...

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“The Voices in the Woods” by Nitara Baruah

Submitted to Contest #119

I hid behind the tall birch tree, not wanting to be noticed by the voices on the other side. Heavy rain fell on my shoulders, and instead of looking for my lost dog I decided to eavesdrop on a conversation between two people I didn’t know. “Herald, the bishop moves straight up and down, what are you talking about?” “No… that’s what a rook does, have you really played chess before?” “Of course, I have! Now let me move my bishop.” “John… the game doesn’t work that way. You can’t move the bishop up and down the boar-” “Ok and? What ...

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“The melody of the sea” by Kayem The Writer

Submitted to Contest #119

The sea. The waves. The sand. The wind. I desperately wanted to see them, to feel them, to hear them. I tried to call upon my memories, but they were blurred. A hand came onto my shoulder, startling me and taking me away from my thoughts. My eyes diverted from the beach painting facing me to the person who invaded my personal space. It was Violet, the medical electrocardiography manipulator. For a brief moment, I forgot I was in a waiting room, waiting for my weekly appointment. She beamed at me as she asked me to follow her.As usual, I sat ...

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“Sea For Yourself” by Delusional Poet

Submitted to Contest #119

Sea for Yourself An old house sat on a beach, smoke slowly rose from its chimney. The Autumn wind carried the smoke high into the air, and through the hemlocks. The sky reflected off its many windows as it stood there, silently smoking. Dorian Marr sat in his red armchair, looking through the floor-to-ceiling window at the waves. He looked at his watch, and snapped his book shut. He then grabbed a bottle of pills from the little table. He took two with a glass of water. At a very young age Dorian’s parents had taken him to the doctor...

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$250

Prize money

232

Contest entries

160

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 12, 2021 EST

Won by Rachel Dzengelewski 🏆

Title: Suzanne

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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