Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#126: The Night Before

Happy Christmas Eve! As this year draws to a close, many people will be reflecting on the past 365 days, as well as looking ahead and planning for the future.

This week’s contest ends, serendipitously, on the last day of the year. New Year’s Eve sees a whole host of celebrations around the world, but some of us are skipping the usual parties and staying home. For this week’s contest, I’ve put together some prompts centering on this exciting night, so you can get in the festive spirit no matter how you’re celebrating. Let the countdown begin!

This week's prompts

Start or end your story with one or more characters shouting “Happy new year!”

Holiday – 46 stories

Write about a character reflecting on the previous year.

Christmas – 19 stories

Write a story about two people who don’t know each other but bump into one other on New Year’s Eve (either once or every year).

Holiday – 39 stories

Write a story about someone seeking a fresh start after a difficult year.

Christmas – 32 stories

Write about a character setting an unusual New Year’s resolution.

Holiday – 26 stories

Stories

“New Years In the City” by Emilie D

Submitted to Contest #126

The first yearIt was 10 o’clock when Amy rang the buzzer. The doorman waved her in when no response came from the apartment. The din of the New Years party had likely drowned out the sound. When the elevator doors opened a group spilled out that was raucous like they had just pregamed sufficiently for wherever they were headed.Amy rode up to the 9th floor and was only a little anxious when she opened the door. Her four year long relationship had ended with a whimper early in December and she was relearning how to do so many things, attending...

Read story

“Proof of Love” by Charlene 🧙‍♀️✨ Boyce

Submitted to Contest #126

TW: abusive relationship described. Old Man Luedecke had released his Proof of Love album in the late summer. Of course we had seen him live four times through the spring and summer. Once in a church, where the sound rolled through the polished wood like amber honey and scotch pouring into a crystal glass. Twice at the coffeehouse where we sipped our craft sodas with an all ages crowd. And once at a giant club where he looked out of place surrounded with empty stage, perched on a chair with his wool sweater and banjo, and where only about ...

Read story

“New Years Hell.” by Marie Cunningham Davidson

Submitted to Contest #126

WARNING: THIS STORY IS VERY GRAPHIC AND MAY BE EXTREMELY DISTURBING TO PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS. It’s that dreaded time of year again. My memories, chaotic at the best of times, are a jumble of actual, fictional and hugely distorted. Why does New Year's Eve always elicit these thoughts? It’s a rhetorical question, of course, because on this day, ten years ago, New Year's Eve was the nightmare to rival all nightmares. Where my baby sister, at the tender age of eleven, chose to end her life. I have vivid recollections of when ...

Read story

“New Beginnings” by Fatima Jawaid

Submitted to Contest #126

[CW: Substance abuse, mentions of abuse, violence, death]The black splotches were spreading. Neha rotated her hands carefully, watching as the dye tendrils snaked down her wrists. She imagined them like a disease taking over, consuming her, removing what was left of her old self. Until only a shallow shell of her former life remained. And, shells were easily cracked.Neha turned on the shower, cranking the rusty handle as far as it could go. She had a rough go of it recently, she would be the first to admit it. But as Neha’s current tran...

Read story

“Lost Souls or a New Year?” by Cal Kirby

Submitted to Contest #126

Note: Contains Sexual and physical violenceLost souls or a New Year?By, Cal Kirby Susie was born on a plantation on July 4, 1836, in rural North Carolina. She was the daughter of the slave Anna and possibly her Master, James Ryan. Master Ryan was a drunkard, abusive and an owner of 120 acres of tobacco land in North Carolina. Susie was a lighter-skinned daughter Anna never really wanted, but fell in love with when the baby first opened her eyes. Anna never knew whether James or his brother, Needham, was the father.Anna had served Master Rya...

Read story

“Tweaking the Recipe for a Fresh Start” by Rajiv Iyer

Submitted to Contest #126

[Note: mild profanity (one or two occurrences of a-word and f-word);sharp satire or dark humor at times][Disclaimer-1: The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed here are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.][Disclaimer-2: Fair use (Parody) might apply in some situations.] As the clock struck midnight, and the entire world heralded the arrival of 2022 with great pomp, Alan and his new friend turned soul-mate held each oth...

Read story

“Reflections” by Giulia S.

Submitted to Contest #126

January 1st, 2021I can't believe another year just started. What the hell happened to 2020? Why time's passing by so fast?!Well, let's take a look at the past 12 months: a pandemic exploded, all the world has been in lockdown, people had serious problems with the concept of wearing a mask correctly. I think this is a perfect summary of the year that just passed. Oh, and since a pandemic wasn't enough, my boyfriend broke up with me at the end of that crappy year.Yeah, thank you 2020 for all that crap. Really. I just hope this new year wi...

Read story

“A Deadly Conversation” by Cody Waltman

Submitted to Contest #126

As I opened the door and stepped out onto the balcony, I left the party behind. She stood twenty feet away at the edge by the stone railing. It was a clear night, and the city’s lights were as alive as ever. Snowflakes descend around us. I take my time as I approach. I keep my hands concealed in my peacoat and move slowly to admire her as I amble closer. She doesn’t acknowledge my presence. Her mind is elsewhere. I can’t know what she is thinking, but it must be intense to distract her from the bitter cold. I think if I had to...

Read story

“White Lines” by Emerson Lindsey

Submitted to Contest #126

She couldn’t get enough of the fuzzy socks she received in her stocking from her family at Christmas this year. The spotted green and black pattern boldly accentuated the pink background in a most pleasing manner. All was calm in her old bedroom, the familiar posters of her youth remained tacked to the walls where she had left them. In her bed late on Saturday evening, journal resting in her lap, fresh-brewed tea on her nightstand, she felt completely refreshed and ready for the New Year.She reached down and scratched at the top of the ankle...

Read story

“CEO makes a binding New Year Resolution for Corporate Underlings” by Rajiv Iyer

Submitted to Contest #126

[Note: Some profanity (mainly the a-word and f-word), sharp satire]On New Year’s Eve 2021, Grimraj reflected upon the year that went by, and the grim tally of everything he had achieved with grim satisfaction, while he was en-route to a watering hole to ring in the New Year with his co-workers, and celebrate their achievements in grand style. For you see, 2021 had been a stellar year for him; he had clocked-in only God knows how many hours , achieved all his targets and then some. 2021 was the year when the CEO finally noticed him as a stand...

Read story

“A New Year Nirvana ” by Connie Elstun

Submitted to Contest #126

The Mercury Apartment building in downtown Greeley Colorado is usually, a quiet place for me and my Calico cat Bonkers to live, but tonight, the party noise is driving Bonkers, well, bonkers. Me too, as the crazy cat ran around my lumpy sofa fifty times before heading up the Christmas tree. Sally, what is wrong with you? I asked myself then answered, you're lazy, that's what -it's New Year's, and you still have your pathetic Christmas tree up in the corner. Generally, New Year's Eve is filled with jocose laughter and cele...

Read story

“Humble Servant” by Davie McGuinn

Submitted to Contest #126

Reading over the first draft of grandma’s obit, I noticed some curious ambiguity; “She died in a Morganton Hospital.” The actual name of the institution wasn’t mentioned, as often was the case when I read other obits for ideas: “Martha Evaline Campbell, age 84, of Jonas Ridge, NC, came home to her Lord and savior after a long fight with cancer at Grace Memorial Hospital.” Curious, but not confusing. Grandma spent the last several months at Broughton, the regional psychiatric hospital. This is where you can be involuntarily committed if the s...

Read story

“Twin Strangers” by Melissa Lee

Submitted to Contest #126

My twin saved my life. The problem is, I didn’t have a twin. I first met her at a New Year’s Eve party at my friend Phil’s parent’s house. His parents were conveniently out of town for New Year’s Eve, so of course Phil invited two dozen of his “closest” friends over to celebrate. At 18 years old, it was a thrill to be away from my parent’s house for New Year’s Eve, nursing a cheap beer I wasn’t old enough to drink, and dancing in my brand-new purple dress with friends old and new, waiting for the clock to str...

Read story

“Happy New Year's... I guess” by Ashley Park

Submitted to Contest #126

The last thing I remember is her crying on our bed telling me that I'm not doing enough emotionally. She doesn't want to be physical with me because I am not doing enough for her. I go to work, I come home, I go to my second job, I help with the kids and dinner when I can, what else am I supposed to do? I try to console her, but she shrugs away from me. I shiver at the thought of the woman I love and have loved since high school would or could feel this way about me. I am at loss for words and am unsure of how I can fix this. I know this isn...

Read story

“Again, Time Passes” by James Grasham

Submitted to Contest #126

Gerrod eased himself back in the comfortable armchair, picked up his glass of wine and drank deeply. A fine, sweet red all the way from Averleon. This was the way to celebrate Year’s Turn, no noise, no parties, just peace, quiet and an expensive barrel of wine. He’d seen 72 nights such as this, but of them all, this was by far the most satisfying. The wood panelled parlour was warm and comfortable, and the servants couldn’t seem to do enough for him. The furniture was solid oak, generously padded and polished to a bright shine. A thick red...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

162

Contest entries

100

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 31, 2021 EST

Won by Jerome Grafil-Carlos 🏆

Title: When The Sea Takes You, I Won't Come With

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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢