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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#132: Time to Blume

On February 12th, Judy Blume turns 84 — and her bestselling book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, is finally becoming a feature film this year. To celebrate, we’re featuring prompts based on the YA classic released over 50 years ago.


If you need a refresher, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret follows 6th grader Margaret Simon in her quest for a religious identity. Her mother was raised Christian, her father Jewish. They’ve decided not to impose one belief or the other on their daughter, but that leaves Margaret longing for a god of her own to talk to. 


Dive into this blast-from-the-past and relive your childhood reading by writing a story based on one of our five Judy Blume prompts.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character saying “Are you there, God? It’s me…”

Dialogue – 108 stories

Write a story where a character is exploring their religious or spiritual identity.

Fiction – 59 stories

Write a story about a couple with fundamentally different beliefs.

Valentine's Day – 23 stories

End your story with a character saying “Thank you, God. Thanks an awful lot.” (sarcastically or not).

Dialogue – 44 stories

Write a story about a teenager whose family is moving.

Teens – 46 stories

Stories

“Evermore” by Zi Poromon

Submitted to Contest #132

EvermoreTW: death, mental health, mature language, abuseLife is precious, love is a disease.God makes perfection, Esi made a mistake.Family is everything, and Olufemi is a sledgehammer barreling into them.----The aging, brown townhouses swelter in heat, even though the sun has fallen. Children run home in notice of the streetlights, mosquitoes follow them, craving to get a taste of their blood.Inside the small Okoro home, white rice and tasty African chicken stew is set on the deteriorating white stove.Olufemi plates first, dishing a large a...

3 comments 3
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“Moving Again” by Rick Mullholand

Submitted to Contest #132

Gary is a typical young boy, fifteen years of age, and thoughtful. He had a slight build, and his weight was average. He was very self-conscious of his body changing into an adult.  On a good day, he thought of his life as filled with little adventures because his family was always moving to a new city. On a droopy day, the thought of moving made him sad. Their latest move was to Durango, Colorado where a small startup firm needed someone with his father’s, Harry, experience, and qualifications. They have m...

5 comments 5
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“Who Moved My Life” by Lynn Tabor

Submitted to Contest #132

Who Moved My Life? He would feel it in the mornings; when he first woke up it hit him like a harsh blow to the stomach.  He recovered marginally and creaked out of bed.  Football practices had been particularly grueling lately, but nothing impacted his body, his whole being, as this thing did.  It had a life of its own and it loved to overwhelm him, wrap around him and not let go.  He would slowly descend the stairs, those same stairs that he used to practically tumble down, two, three at a time, so compelled to get down ...

2 comments 2
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“Our Time in California” by Brian Thatcher

Submitted to Contest #132

Dear Diary Fuck everything We moved again. I remember when my mom had just given me the news months ago. Dad had been reassigned so we were moving, come the end of the school year and we would be gone. So, you might think, why write about it now, if you got the news months ago. Well to be honest, I am writing about it now because my therapist told me to, so here it goes. It was just another move, to wherever dad was stationed next, no big deal. I make it a habit to avoid tethering myself to a place because I don’t want to be heartbroken when...

3 comments 3
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“Success” by Bahadrhan Cicek

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there God? It’s me Khaled. I am coming to you. Will you welcome me there, God? You promised me a future God. Eternal future!” said Khaled. This was the last thought after the burning hole in his head.He was the biggest gift of the family. After long years of struggle, his father Nassif and Malika were finally manage to make their dream true. That moment Khaled smiled first time, they already forgot all the trouble they had. Here it was. “Isn’t it ridiculous?” thought Nassif. All these years, they tried to survive. War, hunger, threa...

4 comments 4
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“Josie's Answered Prayers” by Rachael Reese

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there God? It’s me, Josie.” My chest and legs burn as I run through the surf, each footprint immediately washed away, leaving behind no trace of me. Sand and water spray the backs of my legs. My knotted oily brown hair whips around in the wind, hitting me in my face. I stop under the pier and position myself behind a wide leg. Inhale in, two, three. Exhale out, two, three. The rise and fall of my chest begins to slow as I work to control my breathing. I wipe the tears off of my cheeks and beach sand sticks to my face. I examine th...

4 comments 4
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“Moonstar - The revelation ” by Akhil Mohan

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there God its me “ Jay asked wiping his tears. “Your perfect creation. You took my father’s life and my mother’s sanity . I am not able to walk like other kids , I see the sounds no one hears .I saw things no one sees. Why you made me like this God” Jay slowly walked down the road from school , he hears the bullies are still making fun of him as today he fell on ground in their first punch. He sat on the bench by the side of the cliff and tried to see what is the world beyond this cursed village named “ Octa hills “ . As the n...

0 comments 0
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“Emi, not Emiko” by Rachel Kimoto

Submitted to Contest #132

Are you there, God? It’s me, Emi. Emiko. I haven’t said that name out loud in awhile when I introduce myself. I obviously can’t lie to you, though; you know everything about me, least of all my full legal first name, Emiko. I don’t think I’m ashamed of who I am, but I’ve been having a hard time celebrating who I am lately. If that even makes sense. Whenever I meet new people, especially when it requires having my name written down, I say my name is just ‘Emi.” It’s shorter, easy to spell, and not blatantly in your face that I’m Japanese. I a...

0 comments 0
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“God is Good & Worthy of Praise” by Mary J

Submitted to Contest #132

*This story contains sensitive content including death of a child* “Are you there, God? It’s me…again. I know I’ve asked you a million times already, but I wanted to ask one more time. Just in case you decided to change your mind. I’m helpless. Nothing can save him. Doctors can’t save him; money can’t save him; love can’t save him. God, you’re my only hope.” May 8th, 2019     Cloud nine was an understatement! It was the day my husband and I found the perfect house for our growing family; I couldn’t wait to see...

3 comments 3
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“Are you there, God? I'm questioning everything.” by Amber Horner

Submitted to Contest #132

Are you there, God? It’s me, Lizzie, the girl questioning everything she thought she knew. You certainly love to throw curveballs and challenge people, don’t you, God? I’ve always done everything I was taught throughout childhood, been the girl I thought I should be. And now, because of one person, one moment, one kiss, I don’t know who I am anymore. My life was still normal until that fateful day in August, when I moved into my college dorm. When I first arrived, my roommate hadn’t gotten there yet, so I had my pick of the two bedrooms. I...

0 comments 0
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“Jess” by James Milo

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there God? It’s me…” I laughed as I slid my best friend’s sled onto the icy lake, then shoved him towards it. I both loved and despised Jess.He was better looking, more popular with girls, and probably smarter than me too.Being a preteen was hard for everyone in at least some aspects. But, he took everything away from me in an instant.Peering over my locker, I felt like a peeping tom, etching the sight of my best friend kissing the one I loved most into permanent memory.No one was more beautiful than Kelly. Although I had never spok...

6 comments 6
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“Made for More” by Cheryl Anderson

Submitted to Contest #132

Prologue “Are you there God? It’s me, Caden.” He was alone in his dressing room about to head out on stage for the last show of his tour. He had performed in over thirty sold-out shows in a little over a month. With little time in between shows, he’d made appearances on morning shows and had done radio promotions. He had managed the month before to perform at three award shows and finish a few songs with other artists. It had been a busy few months and practically no downtime. Despite the screaming audience waiting for him, all he wanted ...

0 comments 0
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“Mother” by Hollie Nyest

Submitted to Contest #132

‘Are you there, god? It’s me…’ she said in a hushed tone. There were a few people near in the middle of the temple but luckily nobody paid her any mind. The closest person was kneeling before the altar, hopefully wrapped up in his prayer.The temple was well lit, the stone under her knees softened by a praying pillow— she couldn’t escape the feeling that all of it was too comfortable, too clean. Things like praying pillows made people too brave—they needed the cold, the pain, the discomfort to humble them, to make them remember their place. C...

1 comment 1
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“A New Baby” by Elaine St. Anne

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there God? It’s me, Annie. I want to know if you are really real.” That’s how I start my prayer. I am four, kneeling by the side of my bed, praying for my new baby brother. At least that is the way it is in my memory. I know I am four because I am exactly four years older than Adam and he was just born. Today is the day Mommy and Daddy will bring him home from the hospital.  It is winter. It is snowing. I am worried. Grandma is standing by the window with the lacy curtain pulled to the side so she can see the road. In a lo...

2 comments 2
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“A Tough Call” by Rebecca Stack

Submitted to Contest #132

“Are you there God, it’s me Riley? Please be there, I really need you to be there. Show me a sign, give me direction. Which way do I turn? Which path is the correct one?” In her mind’s eye Riley can see the available routes and the sun suddenly shines blindingly on the decision she visualizes on the road to the right. `Can this be a sign?’ thinks Riley, `or is it just highlighting the fact that right is another word for correct? Or am I overthinking this?’ Having just found the love of her life after searching for ma...

4 comments 4
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$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

127

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 11, 2022 EST

Won by Adam El Nabli 🏆

Title: Inshallah

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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.