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!

#139: Growing Up

As March reaches its conclusion and nature comes into full bloom (at least in the Northern hemisphere), it’s a time to reflect on growth. While shoots are emerging and flowers start to bud, it’s inspiring to think how big things flourish from such small beginnings.

This week’s prompts are about just that. Whether your characters have already gone through big changes, or are just beginning them, it’s time to get growing. I’ll see you back here for the next contest, when we’ll all be one week older and, hopefully, one week wiser.

This week's prompts

Write a story that involves a character donating a box of clothes which have been outgrown.

Middle School – 49 stories

Start your story with someone having their height marked on a door frame.

Middle School – 36 stories

Format your story in the style of diary entries.

Middle School – 53 stories

Start your story with the words: “Grow up.”

Angst – 63 stories

Write about a character sowing seeds for the future (literally or figuratively).

Spring – 39 stories

Stories

“The Bad Best Friend's Diary” by J.C. Lovero

Submitted to Contest #139

Thursday, April 21stBack home after falling for her tricks AGAIN.Elena asked me to skip eighth period to hang out at the coffeehouse. Ordered my usual: venti caramel macchiato, extra shot, extra hot, extra whip, and sugar-free. Barista rolled her eyes as she scribbled on the cup—hope she didn’t add extra ingredients. When Elena offered to pay, I should have known she was up to something.“You should try tea sometime,” she said as she wrapped her palms around her cup, raising it to her face. “There are many studies—”I tuned her out while she r...

Read story

“Wendy, Never After” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #139

Day Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Tinkerbell still won’t speak to me. She keeps insisting that I used her shampoo. I did no such thing. If I even attempted to pick up the bottle, I would crush it instantly. Her accusations used to be easy to brush off, but now they crawl up my skin like the forest bugs that swarm us every night after dinner. This place is meant to be some sort of Paradise, and yet, it has all the trappings of every other tropical island. Insects, humidity, birds that look like rodents and rodents that look like birds. Pe...

Read story

“Memorium” by Connor Greene

Submitted to Contest #139

Today You know how little I remember. It’s strange to have lived a whole life and not have any memory of it. I’m lying here in a hospital bed, with no memory of how I got here. There is no one in the room and the door is shut. I cry out for help and no one answers. My sheets are tucked tightly over and under me from my waist downwards. I am clothed, that much I can tell. My right wrist is shackled to the bed by a single handcuff. Words and my voice are clear to me. I recognize them. But why can’t I remember my name? Beside me is a small op...

Read story

“Dear Diary” by Shelby B

Submitted to Contest #139

January 3rd, 2017Dear Diary,My therapist told me it might help me to start writing down my thoughts every now and then. I’m not entirely sure how writing down stupid words on a piece of paper will help me at all, but who am I to judge? She’s the professional after all. I’m not sure how to even write in a diary. It all seems so childish, but if it gets my mom and therapist off my back for a while then I will do just about anything. So diary, I guess I’ll start off by saying why I’m in therapy. They say it’s because I’m depressed, but I don’t ...

Read story

“Dancing Seas, Quaking Earth, Rocking Beds” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up in Fisher’s Gasp and you learn how to handle yourself in a boat. There’s a big difference between fishing from a rowing boat and spending weeks at a time without seeing land. How long will it be before we dock at the other side of this gods forsaken ocean?” Danielle Longbow asked the red acolyte, clutching her stomach. She had barely kept a meal down in a month. The red acolyte, Barra, shrugged. “It takes as long as it takes, Cranner. It depends on the waves, th...

Read story

“A Very Brief Meeting” by Jared Lenover

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #139

“This company could save a fortune on air conditioning.” A shiver ran through me as I sat looking around the HR manager’s small office, wearing only a t-shirt and my boxer briefs. The cooling unit under the window rattled. It was on high and the adrenaline was wearing off. I was alone, sitting on a lime green plastic office chair facing a desk carefully arranged with standard office equipment, file folders, and sticky notes. People usually waited in the reception area, but given the circumstances the secretary had made an exception, ushe...

Read story

“Adam and Evelyn” by Zack Powell

Submitted to Contest #139

Content warning: Child lossAnother apple disintegrates under the weight of Evelyn's boots. It is the third one in the five minutes that they've been in the orchard, and it does nothing to quell her nagging suspicion that this whole excursion is a mistake. The mushy fruit clings to the sole of her shoe like a beggar, but she refuses to fall any farther behind.Already ten paces ahead, her wife, Gloria, whips through the row of apple trees with the same pinballesque efficiency she uses when stuffing bills and magazines and credit card offers in...

Read story

“Growing Up is Optional” by Christina B

Submitted to Contest #139

“Grow up.” I was no more than six and I had just skinned my knee on the rough asphalt of the cul-de-sac where my grandmother lived. For reasons more complicated than the parameters of this story, my second cousin was being raised by my grandmother. She was five years older than me and undoubtedly resented having to always play with the “littler” kids. But she must have known her arguments would fall on deaf ears and conceded to riding bikes and drawing with sidewalk chalk at the end of the cul-de-sac. I’ve had an active imagination since...

Read story

“Herb's 5-Day Crash Weight Loss/Conditioning Program” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #139

Herb’s 5 Day Weight Loss/Conditioning ProgramPlanning: Set goals (realistic): Lose 5 lbs; jog 1 mile (without stopping); develop healthy eating habits and structured, disciplined lifestyle; cut down on drinking (within reason). Preparation- Buy rugged, activewear jogging suit, a pair of Nike running shoes (on sale if possible) and an exercise mat; shop for healthy, low-calorie foods (ask someone ...

Read story

“Measurements” by Lavonne H.

Submitted to Contest #139

*Proper names have been changed to protect against potential embarrassment ;)“Nana, measure me!”The memory is still vivid; evoking the excitement of two preschoolers jumping up and down beside me as I hold the pencil and the ruler over one child’s head at a time. Oh, how I dread the day the grandkids will no longer want to be measured on the wall behind the office door. It was a family tradition we had had when our sons were old enough to stand by our kitchen wall. Always excited to see what new heights they were reaching in their race ...

Read story

“Freezer” by Theodora Kovacich

Submitted to Contest #139

"Only one more day to go," Thex says, rubbing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You got this." Looking up at him, I give a smile-but it's pained, stressful. Hovering over where I lay on the couch, he leans in, needle in hand. The last injection before our IVF retrieval. One of many such retrievals, a hope for the future we've dreamt of since we met as kids. Two weeks of injections, three years of trying. One would think I'm used to it by now, but maybe this is something I'll never get used to. "This time, it'll be good," I murmur, more to ...

Read story

“The house with Living Walls” by Darby Walker

Submitted to Contest #139

My mother, I would assume like so many other mothers, always marked my height on the frame of a door with a pencil. It was something we both excitedly waited for, my father teased my mother and I by affectionately referring to her as a "dork." I was nine when it started, every time I went back to check how much I'd grown or add another line, well, it was then that I started to realize there was something wrong with our house.The lines were never there when we returned, always to the puzzlement of my mother and I. At first she said they must ...

Read story

“Flowers of the Sun” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #139

February 16: Dear Diary, I love Wednesdays. That’s because it’s drama and literature day at school. For this term, Mr Kozak has challenged us to write about a topic that he selects each week. Assignments must be handed in every Tuesday for grading on Wednesdays. He says I have the aptitude and talent to go to university, but I still have many things to learn about the world. Being a 17-year-old girl in a small city is not always eventful, so I’ll try to write about...

Read story

“The House I Called Home” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #139

It was the winter of 1969, and my father rushed my mother to the hospital. It was one week before I was expected to make my appearance in this world, but I simply couldn’t wait any longer. I was a restless child, or so I am told, so my mother and father had many sleepless nights, but inside that one-bedroom apartment, they made me feel loved despite my need for constant attention. My father worked on a construct...

Read story

“Stop Growing ” by Lavonne H.

Submitted to Contest #139

Warning: This story contains violence against young children and could be a trigger for anyone who truly cares about children. Mental illness is implied.“Priscilla, this was the first dress you ever wore!” Margot shook out the tiny garment to show to her youngest and only daughter. “You were all of five months old. It was a hot, muggy day in June and you looked so sweet in this dress, sandals and your baby bonnet. I must find that photo of you sitting outside on a blanket….”Margot folded up the sundress and placed it gently in the box marked...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

239

Contest entries

135

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 01, 2022 EST

Won by Alex Sultan 🏆

Title: buried in saipan

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 ⭢