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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#135: I Wanna See You Be Brave

Looking at the children’s books I used to read, there’s a lot of emphasis on being courageous. It makes sense — growing up means facing one tough new thing after another. But in adulthood, we stop thinking about bravery so much, as if the concept is confined to the chivalrous men and misfit animals of fairy tales and picture books.

This week, let’s think about what bravery (or its opposite) really means, in an everyday context, a fantasy world, or a children’s story.

This week's prompts

Write about a hero or a villain deathly afraid of doing their job.

Adventure – 37 stories

Start your story with someone stepping outside their comfort zone.

Middle School – 60 stories

Set your story in a town full of cowards.

Fiction – 31 stories

Write a story where fortune doesn’t favor the brave.

Thriller and Suspense – 38 stories

Write about a casual act of bravery.

Narrative – 46 stories

Stories

“BEATING THE ODDS” by Liza Joseph

Submitted to Contest #135

Amidst the snow-capped Himalayas is unveiled a place of pristine heavenly beauty that is none other than Kashmir. The reason why this place intrigues me so much is – Just as the spectacular beauty it showcases in its lush green valleys, glaciers, and Mughal-era gardens so are the zeal and spirit of its residents. They have a burning desire to achieve the unfathomable. One such girl was Tara, who hailed from Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. A 23 year old, smart and sensible with a good sense of humor was the darling of her parents. As she wa...

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“Blind Courage” by Luke Boccuzzo

Submitted to Contest #135

Blind Courage My heart pounded painfully against my ribs, and my blood roared in my ears. It was difficult to drag air past my parted lips to ease the building pressure in my lungs. Each step I took was one step further away from the safety and comfort of my home and one step closer to the dangerous, unforgiving world. I stumbled onward down the forest trail. It would take me to the road which in turn led to the town full of people who despised my existence. The ...

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“The Crying Room” by Michael Nguyen

Submitted to Contest #135

The group performances were all complete and all I had left was my tap solo. It was my time when my knees started shaking. I’ve been dancing since I was 5 and this isn’t my first solo. But I was a kid back then and right now, I feel all alone. All I can see in my mind is how I’m going to embarrass myself. “Please I can’t do this” I kept hearing inside my mind. Tammy, my instructor, believed in me so it was on. They picked “motivation” for my song and I practiced the choreography for months. I changed into my 4th outfit of the day. ...

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“OUTSIDE THE COURTYARD” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #135

OUTSIDE THE COURTYARD “ Listen to me, little Bobby: you don’t have to go out of the courtyard at all! Do you understand? Not even to go after a hen, or a turkey, or a goose, or some other animal” Bobby saw Aunt Julie’s stern face at the window…He knew well that there was no questioning her orders. However, he dared to say ( reply) : “ But, aunt, the animals come out of the courtyard. WHY can’t I go out too?” “...

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“Written in Stone” by Richard Davis

Submitted to Contest #135

Remembering the last time I took this curve in the road I had a metal dashboard and a magnetic plastic Jesus staring at me with His arms outstretched. Tell you the truth, I could use a little Jesusing, a little salvation, and a little help. But that is a story for another day, and, besides, who couldn’t? Like then, I tuned the car's radio to WBRF, the "Sound of the Rivers," to see what the latest news was in town. Unlike years before, now there was a syndicated talker on, not a local radio guy, and he was sitting in some st...

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“No Risk, No Reward” by Raeleigh Wilkinson

Submitted to Contest #135

I could have been happy, had it not been for that wretched pregnant woman. Perhaps happy isn’t the word, come to think of it, but I would have been fine. I would have been content to sit at this sewing machine day in and day out, letting fabrics from all over the world flow through my fingers and thinking nothing of it. But now each new bolt fills me with torturous curiosity. Whose hands wove this wool? What was their life like? Who did they love? What made their hearts sing and sob? No, Marie. I shook my head to shoo the inc...

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“A Golden Flame” by Harley Marshall

Submitted to Contest #135

“The boy stood alone nothing but an old sword in his hand; his hulking opponent towered before him. Uncertain of his fate and desperately yearning to be back with his family, the boy trembled with terror, but he knew he had to face this beast, his fears; for if not him then who? What would become of his family if he didn’t stand his ground? He took a timid step forward, tightening his grip on the hilt. The hairy beast threw its awful head back against the light of the full moon and let out a bloodcurdling howl; this was his moment. He readie...

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“Children of Ceridwen” by India Lee

Submitted to Contest #135

Shutters beat against the panes, rattling the horn plates of the window. They glowed orange against the shutters, lit within by a fire falling and blazing with each gust of howling wind. Like cat's eyes in the night, they shone on Madwyn, watching her across the room where she huddled beside the gulping fire. She rubbed her stiff toes together through three layers of stockings. Her sewing needle trembled between neat stitches of embroidery. It dove into the pale cloth with her exhale and shook as her chest seized, unable to breathe in as she...

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“Wannabe” by Hippity Hoppity

Submitted to Contest #135

The attic was cold, but cold was better than the piercing heat of angry handprints littered across mottled skin. The sister and brother sat hunched over, bony knees folded into their hollow rib cages like origami. Despite its cramped mustiness, the attic was really the only place they had in the Thing’s house. And, of course, the few picture frames of their deceased mother that sagged along the walls, if those counted for anything. And, the sister’s astronomy book. The sister reached for the book, which smelled of stale air and pla...

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“Mid-western coffee ” by Lyla Koch

Submitted to Contest #135

It was a February day, some town in Portland- I’d lost track at some point after I’d left Montana. Coffee, people, faces, 10 fingers, 10 toes. Bradshaw’s coffee house filled at 12, and emptied at 2; I’d kept careful note, ordering usual and unusual customers in my head.I had no idea where I was, but every inexhaustible variety of some vaguely Mid-Western coffee house was irrevocably forged in my mind. The agreeableness, the palpable pleasantry, a testament, to the unparalleled motion of human nature. Minds and words alike, crushed and filter...

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“A reflection on my life, for interested parties.” by Justine Arndt

Submitted to Contest #135

The parchment papers are tainted yellow from age, dark brown fingerprints are dragged across the corner of each piece, emitting the faintest metallic smell. Three starting lines are crossed or scribbled out. The writing is in a thick black liquid, not possible to verify if it is ink or something else. Nonetheless, each curve, each joining of the words are placed with careful penmanship. When I was younger, my parents told me that putting faith in anyone was the largest mistake you could ever make. They then gave me a practical exampl...

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“Heart Shaped Things and Contours of Flame” by Kathleen Hair

Submitted to Contest #135

“It’ll be nice to get that beer huh?”My mechanic asked as he reached out grabbing the flashlight I’d been holding beneath my chin, I squinted when he pointed the light in my eyes softly laughing.I wondered why so many people thought such a thing funny as I reoriented the final piece my uniform – the piece was my patrol cap, which wasn’t authorized to be worn backwards beneath the helmet but…. Meh. I slapped my ACH over it just the same. It was the weekend of the Fourth of July in the States and if we managed to make it back to Camp Echo, we’...

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“Drafting Love” by Brittnie Bowling

Submitted to Contest #135

“Breaking news tonight, after weeks of deliberation the government has decided to start a military draft. This would include any male over the age of 21 but under the age of 45 that can pass the test. This decision was made in light of the recent events in Europe, the current war has escalated and more and more troops are being deployed. The number of casualties our troops are seeing is growing more and more each week that the number of enlisted men cannot fill in the boots for those that have been lost alone. Officia...

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“Louder Than Fear” by Lucy Gray

Submitted to Contest #135

Little Liv wasn’t sure if the thudding in her chest was her heart or an echo of the drums thudding downstairs. She covered her ears with her hands. She could still hear and feel the pounding. Her body quaked a little and there was that funny tightness building in her throat that meant her eyes would start leaking soon. She thought of taking her hands off from her ears long enough to hold the rails and go downstairs. It would be louder there, and scarier, but maybe she could tell Daddy that it was too noisy and the drums would stop altogethe...

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“Bri-An's Job” by Cody Cooper

Submitted to Contest #135

“Come on! You can do this!” Bri-An looked at himself in the mirror, yelling to hype himself up. The mirror showed what appeared to be a thin, white-skinned human body, but with a red-skinned bull’s head on top of it with white horns protruding from his head. Bri-An’s nostrils, shaped like a pig’s nostrils, flared from the pep talk. “We got this! All we have to go is protect the dungeon for The Boss! From … a … potential … human … or … elf … who … could … use… magic … or … weapons … to … kill … ...

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$250

Prize money

212

Contest entries

154

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 04, 2022 EST

Won by Thom With An H 🏆

Title: Home of the Brave

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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