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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

“Voices In Her Head” by Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #119

Listen...It was two am. The house was quiet. Emma padded down the stairs then checked every window and door on the first floor. She saw the alarm had been activated (by Robert) and let out a sigh of relief.Then she pulled her terry cloth robe tighter before making her way back upstairs.Emma had just gotten back under the down comforter when she heard it again.Listen...Emma shut her eyes tight and placed her hands over both ears. I have to get some sleep tonight. She thought to herself.Why was this happening again?***Twenty five minutes later...

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“Mommy and daddy are breaking up... because of me” by Skyler Svenrose

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen, …” my mommy said softly. Her voice kind, but full of pain. I felt the urge to do something to make the look on her face go away but I had no idea what. In reality, it probably wasn't a lot I could do... So instead, I just sat down and prepared myself for the worst. “Your dad and I are going to live in different places for a while. We want you to know this is not your fault, sometimes things just don’t work out for grown ups. We still love each other and we are all still a family, but too much has happened the past year so we have de...

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“I hung my head” by Gianluca Angelucci

Submitted to Contest #119

The thud of the gavel roaring from the towering chair of the judge presses on my chest, with the same weight of the doors of Hell closing behind me.I suppose that it will actually happen, as soon as the Grim Reaper will come and claim my soul. There in the square, where the gallows stand waiting for me, the Lone Rider will escort me to Hell, like the sheriff did to the jury house.How I got here still escapes the grasp of my understanding. My hands had known for all my life nothing but the stern touch of plow and sickle, the same as my father...

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“The Flow ” by Agnes Goldfinch

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen,” she said, her eyes squinted and her voice the only thing that I cared to hear. Like liquified cinnamon dripping softly into warm hazelnut milk it was, smooth but undeniable, solid. Too specific? Well, she was specific. Unmatched, really. There was a scintillating peculiarity to the way she blinked and to the way she laughed. And she laughed a lot and often – at times laughter burst out of her in unexpected eruptions, but contrary to everyone else I then knew, she made no effort whatsoever to hold it back, to subdue it. She made no ...

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“Dandelions and Lambs Ear” by Marie Martello

Submitted to Contest #119

TW: abuse, gore. The soft glide, the mellifluous grey floss puncturing material of a half embroidered flower. A prick of sharpness diving into tight threads, straining to pass, then breaking through. The journey of the thread, drawn away from the subject in a long hiss until it doubles back to create a quiet symphony. It was the only note that Helena would appease. She never used to be so solitary. Her house was once filled with artifacts, parties, and guests that would make Queen Victoria blush. Extravagance filled th...

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“Designated Mourner: The Team's Back Together” by Charlene 🧙‍♀️✨ Boyce

Submitted to Contest #119

It was a sound a bit like a plastic spatula scraping the sky, if the sky were filled with tinfoil seagulls who did not particularly want to be scraped, Jonathan had just gotten used to the stillness of the planet, but the biweekly delivery sound was impossible to develop immunity to. It lasted three minutes and 42 seconds precisely and then a parcel appeared in the air about waist height and plopped onto the sand. This box was larger than usual, and he struggled to cart it up the path to the cottage. After tripping over several pre...

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“The Fickle Finger of Fate” by Maribeth Mundell

Submitted to Contest #119

“Listen…” I rolled my eyes and leaned back against the passenger’s seat of the Dodge, trying to get myself right with the Lord before something came out of my mouth that would get me in trouble. “Mama, I really don’t hear anything different when you start up. Stop parking it under the live oak. There’s probably more acorns under the hood than motor. When was the last time you took the truck in for service?” “Last month.” She pushed her oversized pink glasses back up the bridge of her nose, the lenses large enough to support a small gold mono...

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“Frosty Friday” by Gary St John

Submitted to Contest #119

It was seven PM in the evening. It was damp and dreary with a slight hint of a chill in the air. Strolling into his favorite local eatery a somewhat upscale steakhouse, Frank’s Lounge and Bar situated on the shores of the marina, Remington requested of the hostess to be seated at the booth in the corner away from the maddening crowd so he could console himself in self pity after a horrible week ending as he said to himself a frosty Friday. A single man being divorced now for ...

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“No Bad Deed Ever Goes Unseen” by CJ Rodgers

Submitted to Contest #119

tw: mentions of murder, child death, rape, religious trauma, and light goreIt hadn't been too scary in the daytime. But Josie couldn't deny that it had sent shivers down her spine.Tait had thrown up, so she was at least faring better than him."What is this place?" Josie peered into a room without a door, stunned to find beds in three neat rows."A residential school." Tait had spat the words like they were poison. "A torture chamber. Hell." He listed like they were adjectives of each other.There were three rooms of beds, each room holding abo...

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“The End of the Day” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #119

All of her life Mrs. Fletcher had an almost pathological fear of missing the train to work. She had worked in the same office doing the same thing for over 20 years. She could not be late today of all days, her final day. Each day before work she would wake up four hours early and get out of bed and summon the butler, Charles, who would in turn summon the cook, Julie, who would rush into the kitchen to cook Mrs. Fletcher’s breakfast. Each morning was the same breakfast. Julie would cook two eggs over easy, cut up exactly two and a half...

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“The 417” by Yvonne Clarke

Submitted to Contest #119

The number 417 is more crowded than usual this morning. I move down the aisle, then flop down as the bus lurches forwards. The raised seat over the rear wheels is a bit lean on legroom but it is good for people watching. I like to guess people’s professions as they board the bus. Actor or accountant? Social worker or salesperson? I will never find out, of course. But that’s not the point. All of a sudden, I am old in the official sense of the word. State pension, free bus pass, concessions. The last time I felt like this was when I hit mid...

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“The words that feed me” by Holli Walsh

Submitted to Contest #119

Trigger warning for mentions of suicide and some derogatory words The only way I can find satisfaction is by listening to others through these thin walls. Depending on the tone, words, and emotion I could feel full and satisfied for days. I would wait for a long time often to hear such mouth-watering words. Until the new residents moved in. The new house owners, a pair of siblings, a brother, and a sister, seem to be much happier than the last couple that kept me fed. “I can’t believe we got this place for so cheap.” This was so...

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“Family Holiday Politics” by Lorna JC

Submitted to Contest #119

You read to the girls before bed, it's your turn, and anyway it's nice to get the opportunity to as you don't get to see Ava very often. She's your cousin's daughter and lives in Canada. The two girls have tucked themselves up in a makeshift bed on the pull-out sofa, they've zipped their sleeping bags together to make one giant one, and they are giddy. When you finish the book they don't seem any sleepier, but you kiss them goodnight, switch off the light and leave, then you sit on the stairs just outside the room. You hear the excited low...

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“The Silent House at Saltmarsh” by Joseph Morganella

Submitted to Contest #119

I had just completed my devotional exercises to Nerull and was entering a meditative state when I felt his presence intrude upon my senses. I rose easily to my full fifteen-foot height, muscles toned and relaxed. “Master,” I bowed, “I am honored by your presence, how may I serve you?” “Mortals have invaded our crypts, even now they break through the secret entrance to my throne. I will alert the others. The steelwing, the cauchemar and my children will engage them, we must reinforce them.” I bowed again, “As you say, ...

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“Unknown” by Michaela Askew

Submitted to Contest #119

Sirens sounded in the air halting the town in their tracks. The clouds in the sky rolled sheltering everyone from the sun. Panic didn’t set in right away but the continuous noise made everyone scared and wondering what to do next. What followed was chaos. 3 months Later. The street was blanketed by the midnight sky making it hard to see more than 6 feet in front of you. The petite young females eyes frantically moved side to side trying to sweep the space in front of her constantly watching for any movement. The sirens sounded agai...

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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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