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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

“I Know What I Heard” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #119

Gregg says you can’t hear anything in a hurricane. That is not true. I can hear anything. I’m like my mother. My mother could hear a mouse dancing on a snowflake in the middle of a symphony. The women in my family have tremendous ears. The men die young, but the women live forever and hear everything. Once, at a New Year’s Eve party, I heard someone disparaging my perm all the way from across the room. This big living room with a hundred people in it, and as everyone was counting down to midnight, all I could hear was Viv Olson saying I ...

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“Legacy” by Rob Ryter

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #119

“Listen,” urged Fiona. “Don’t you hear it?”Brian’s brow furrowed as he concentrated. “Sorry, no, I don’t hear anything.”Disharmony reigned, rare in Brian and Fiona Berriman’s year-old marriage. Whenever they disagreed, it always seemed to be about the damned phonograph. Apart from that, they were the perfect couple, insanely in love, lapping up every minute of each other’s company, filling the gnawing emptiness when they had to be apart by keeping busy and video calling whenever they could.The phonograph had been an impulse buy. On the secon...

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“First Date” by Edén Sibello

Submitted to Contest #119

April 25 was perfect, it was a little windy, but the sun was still out and the birds were having the time of their lives chirping along in the skies. Lucien finally got the courage to ask his crush on a date. It was nothing grand, just a simple picnic at a park, getting to know each other and stuff… In truth, he didn’t plan anything for his first date. Could you blame him? Lucien was a hopeless romantic; he never thought he would get this far with anyone. It was kind of scary for him, he barely knew the guy! They talked to each other a few t...

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“Butterflies Broken Wings (Trigger warning)” by Elaine Nieves

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen, I don't want to be there.” Rubbing his face as he washes off the dirt, Aaron stares himself on the mirror. Small bags under his eyes, skin flushed from the heat, he disgustingly walks out of the small bathroom. Watching his men work putting the pipes in place, making sure that the tenants has hot water for the night, Aaron continues to keep himself busy. “Yo! My brother, I think you should go.” “Nah, man. I'm needed here.” Raphael looks down at Aaron, while he continues to avoid his look. Pats Aaron on his shoulder and pulls...

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“In the Quiet Our Sorrow Lies” by Katie Ingold

Submitted to Contest #119

TW: Mentions of death and grief.This is not a story I would usually write, but it wanted to be told nonetheless. To all of those who’ve lost someone they love, may you find love and happiness again.Silence filled the house. The locked doors and closed windows kept the noise of the world at bay. Jason’s family left out early this morning for the long drive back, and the last of his friends left a few minutes ago, too afraid to leave him by himself but needing to get back their own lives. As much as he loved them, he was glad they were go...

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“Fear” by Zea MindWerl

Submitted to Contest #119

An eerie skin crawling scream pierced the absolute silence. The sound sunk fear deep into my heart and panic high in my chest. I shuddered. There was something out there. Something moving about in the cool night. My heart was beating so fast and loud I thought it would give me away. I held absolutely still. I thought I might suffocate for breathing so quietly. Another slicing razor edged scream jolted across my ears. I shuddered. I could hear it now. A muffled crunching and ticking moving about in the night. I wanted to be gone. I did not wa...

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“Suite Memories” by Mae Siu-Wai Stroshane

Submitted to Contest #119

Jack Colby leaned back in his battered recliner and closed his eyes. How long had it been since he’d slept in his own bed? He’d gotten used to the recliner at Amelia’s bedside in the Hospice Unit at the Memorial, and found he liked it. Truth was, he dreaded going back to the bed they’d shared at home for forty-one years. He couldn’t imagine a night without her gentle breathing and comfortable curves next to him, always warming to his kisses. All through the funeral and for weeks after, he hadn’t shed a tear. Friends were amazed, but ...

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“Eulogy for a Cracked Shell” by Sydney Atkin

Submitted to Contest #119

CW: death, grief, mature language. It sounded like a shoe crushing a bag of chips or a pair of glasses. A crushing, cracking sound. From the cab of her dad’s pickup, two sizes too small for the passenger seat, Andie craned her neck to see the road below them. She pressed her face to the glass, trying to angle her head just right to catch a glimpse of what they had hit. Her dad swore in the creative way he always did, some bizarre combination of words that hinted at what he really wanted to say, and pulled over to the side of the road.&nbs...

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“The Legend of the Canair Bells” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen… I’ve discerned a pattern.” A small group stood in the shadow of the church, at Canair, listening to James, the caretaker. “I first heard the bird’s call the morning of the baby Aiden’s christening.” The widow, called Mad Agnes, spoke. “The bird didn’t bring the Christening.” Several moaned, “Oh, I pray not an omen…” “Of course not. Father Ambrose says a healthy baby is from God. No one disputes that. After many difficult months, that bright faced baby, truly is a gift. The bird heralded that.” That calmed them. “But I didn’t heed it...

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“The Kid is Alright” by Ry Danto

Submitted to Contest #119

"Listen. Listen..." You're always telling me to listen.I. Hear. You.Yesterday, when I was experimenting with the bang of my milk glass against the walls and cabinets; I heard you. I understand you have strong feelings when your precious glasses break all over, but I quite like the way one thing can become many smaller things. And the way glass makes that high pitch sound and just shatters in that way it does… It brings me joy.And, I should mention that when I broke the glass yesterday, I was, in-fact, attempting the learn more about sound be...

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“Heritage House” by Suma Jayachandar

Submitted to Contest #119

Palacio De Maria stood on a plateau close to Palolem beach. The lush greenery surrounding it was in sharp contrast with the shiny sands that lay beyond. Remo Pareira was its sole occupant at the moment.Remo looked down at the flashing strobe lights from the shacks, milling tourists with fluorescent headbands and folding tables set close to the lapping waves. November nights had turned even the quieter beaches into buzzing hives.Once, he too used to look forward to the tourist season. He would set up his small booth next to Big Bamboo and pai...

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“The Sweetest Step” by Linda Quinteros

Submitted to Contest #119

Listen, he thought. Just listen. It was beautiful, this late afternoon. He could hear the birds and he loved this time of year. Just the beginning of what was going to be another hot summer. It was still nice though. Not too hot yet.He went to the flower shop and bought a bouquet of spring flowers. He liked these best. They reminded him of her happy personality. Bright, overflowing with color, ready to be loved, they were perfect for her. He drove to their place to set everything up by the big tree. It cast such wonderful shade. He knew she ...

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“The House” by TMK M

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen, I need you to walk back there and get your hat,” she said firmly. Not fully understanding why she was pushing so hard. ”No. Mom. I can’t. I’m scared,” Kaden stuttered through his tears, looking downward, feeling ashamed.“You have nothing to be afraid of,” she replied, a little louder, all the while trembling from fear herself.“Do it. Now!” She said harshly.Kaden rushed down the dark hallway, returning quickly with the hat gripped tightly in his hand. “Get in the car,” she said feeling annoyed by the delay. Both reliev...

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“The Masters of Lamaze” by Gene Strother

Submitted to Contest #119

"Hee...hoo...hee...hoo...hee...hoo." I was three months shy of my nineteen birthday when I married. My wife is five days younger than me. It seems insane to admit this in the twenty-first century when kids are still kids well into their twenties – and a few into their thirties. We lived differently, my young bride and me. We were not seeking a safe space to hide from ideas contrary to our own. There was no one to coddle us and cradle us in the arms of safety from the meanies in the world. We had no time to shout down dissenting or aberra...

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“The Forest is Alive” by Hannah Foust

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen Davey, Ya hear that?” Davey looked at his Pa, and stood silently tuning his ears to their surroundings, they were three days away from home, with nothing but the forest on all sides, Pa was standing stock still, the only indication that he was a living being, the breath of fog escaping his lips, on the brisk morning air. “I don’t hear anything Pa, ‘cept the leaves crunchin’ under our feet” Davey looked up at his Pa expectantly “what d’you hear?” Davey’s Pa smiled and bent down beside his five year old son “Everything, the forest ...

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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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