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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#140: Down Memory Lane

It’s no secret that many writers draw inspiration for their writing from real life, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, when you’re searching for things to write about, taking a memory of your own and altering it is a reliable way to get out of a bout of writer’s block.

Memory is an important concept when writing fiction, as it helps connect the past to the present — so this week, let’s take a trip down memory lane.

This week's prompts

Start your story with the narrator or a character saying “I remember…”

Angst – 102 stories

Write about a character with an unreliable memory.

Character – 46 stories

End your story with total oblivion.

Horror – 24 stories

Write a story that involves a flashback.

Fiction – 71 stories

Write a story inspired by a memory of yours.

Nonfiction – 90 stories

Stories

“Best of Friends” by Raymond Warters

Submitted to Contest #140

I remember the day Laura brought her new son home for the first time. I was excited. I knew I'd recall it as the most important day of my life. After much debate, we decided he should be named Hampton, a family name, though I always called him Hamp when his mom wasn't hovering nearby. Her face shone with such pride in the little guy. She held him so tight that I worried she might crush him. I wondered whether she knew the proper way to carry him. "Be sure to support him from h...

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“ "Eye Witness"” by Fortunatus Eze

Submitted to Contest #140

CW: contains scene of gun violence and robbery." I remember.." - I said finally. Turning to face the two well- suited detectives, already seated in our living room, interrogating dad and mom over the incident that happened three nights, prior to this day. The case seemed to have taken a whole lot out of them, both their time and energy. Making them look pale and weary, almost to the resemblance of a "zombie character" like in the popular " Z's nation" Hollywood show .The detectives were still in the process of trying to find a concrete expla...

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“Onto The Next Adventure” by Hayden Quinn

Submitted to Contest #140

“I remember when this was an awful lot easier,” Jeff spluttered, tugging the metal shutter upward for the final time. He lowered his gaze instinctively, knowing from years of experience that the early morning sun glinting off the windows would be enough to temporarily, and painfully, blind him. Every morning, since long before his hair turned gray and began to depart, Jeff had completed the whole ritual of opening his Pawnshop on auto-pilot. Not today though. On this, his last day as a shop owner, he savored every moment of it; the way the l...

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“A Life Long Role Model” by Marlene Margolis

Submitted to Contest #140

I remember many things of 1970. It was the year that Jimi Hendrix died and the Beatles separated. Big events, sad events for the teenager I was back then. I remember Willy Brandt, then Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, getting down on his knees in Poland, in front of the Warsaw-Ghetto-Uprising Memorial. A touching act of friendship and a demonstration of desire for peace. To many of us, this was the beginning of the end of the Iron Curtain. I remember hearing about Woodstock: love, peace and marijuana. I so regretted n...

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“Angela” by Kyla Ojalehto

Submitted to Contest #140

“I remember what they said, but not who they were A dusty, blurry figment sitting in mud In a puddle With a white dress” She was obviously high. I was over poetry; I don’t think everyone got past that phase in English class. It could change a person really, give them strange emotions. It happened to me once, but it was worse because I was not high. Angela kept reciting poems that I assumed were hers, but I was unsure. She looked too natural in that basement where sunlight could creep through the half windows from above. She looked so pe...

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“She'll never forget” by Rebecca Stack

Submitted to Contest #140

“I remember” he protests “I do, I do” with an intense frown across his face. Spoken with such conviction but strained in such a way that it’s obvious he’s trying to convince himself. “I’m sorry, but to be perfectly honest I don’t think you do” she replies touching his arm ever so gently. “What? Why?” he questions looking at her. His head cocked to the side with these wide sad eyes the kind a puppy makes at you when it’s begging for scraps. “I’m sorry dad, I mean what you remember and what actually happened seem worlds apart.&nb...

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“The Man In The Glasses (Who Could Not Remember His Own Name)” by Dylan Miner

Submitted to Contest #140

“I remember nothing.” The man said. He was sitting down in an inch-high pool of water, more of a puddle really. There was some moss growing around its edges and a lily pad or two floating around. Beyond the puddle was an expanse of uncertain shapes and colors. “You must have some recollection.” Another man said. He was standing beyond the rim of the puddle. He pulled the tips of his sagging glasses back onto his eyes and squinted. He was struggling with his sight, more so than he usually does. All he could see was a blur sitting in...

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“Final Test” by James Grasham

Submitted to Contest #140

‘I remember going out there to fight, the smell of blood, the roar of the crowd, and the warm sun beating on your back. Ahhh, those were the days.’ As L’Beira reminisced out loud, a dreamy expression washed over his face. ‘I can’t enjoy it like you used to.’ Luthar gestured with his chained hands to the scowling guard, eager to be free of his shackles. They stood in the armoury once more, Luthar’s belly doing somersaults ahead of his final fight for freedom. The number of guards had doubled, but today, L’Beira was allowed to give him som...

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“Something is Coming” by Ema Fancher

Submitted to Contest #140

I remember when silver orbs freckled the night sky. Deep indigo blanketed our world, wrapping us in the salty air. Our lullaby played on the chilled waves bombarding the shore alongside a symphony of frogs and crickets. From balmy nights, soaking us in perpetual dew, to icy nights sucking every drop of moisture from us, the seaside brought us only comfort and safety. Even as storms raged, sudden and unpredictable, we knew we’d come out stronger than before. The town of Gillamoor doused its lights like clockwork every night. Our only beacon...

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“A Dance Between Life and Death, By M.J. Palladino ” by Kara Palladino

Submitted to Contest #140

A dance between life and death. “I remember the day I died.” Beatrice mused to her nephew as he was gazing in awe at the decaying leaves falling off the trees. “You died?!” Beatrice’s nephew, Raymond, shouted in disbelief. “Auntie Reese, I don’t believe you! You’re alive right now!” “It’s true though!” Beatrice laughed, “I remember so vividly.” “Really?” Raymond challenged her, “Tell me.” “Alright then.” Beatrice gave in. “Have a seat, and I will tell you everything I saw.” Raymond quickly plopped himself down on the autumn grass, eyes bri...

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“A Slippery Slope” by Donna Smith

Submitted to Contest #140

A Slippery Slope Note: This story contains triggers about dementia that may be upsetting to some. Dementia is the cruelest of thieves. It slips in, unnoticed, stealing small memories at first, ones you might have just misplaced, leaving you with the belief that you need to pay a little more attention to details. Then in an effort to pay better attention to details, you find that you are obsessing over whether you have forgotten something and you start repeating yourself more often than before. It is at this point that you realize that yo...

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“Unreliable Memories” by Lori Hale

Submitted to Contest #140

Memory used to be my “superpower.” I could close my eyes and rattle off any facts or trivia I had learned at any point in my life, almost always as though I was reading straight from the source I had gained said knowledge from. I would astound my parents’ church acquaintances with my ability to accurately quote scripture from any holy book, needing only to know the general topic before spieling off with the exact chapter and verse they were looking for. And I aced every standardized test the teachers could set in front of me; especially help...

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“Or did I just imagine it?” by Sara Stan

Submitted to Contest #140

The door made a squeaking noise and the officer’s head popped from outside,his uniform touching lightly the handle and making the keys dangle loudly at his side.I quickly tucked my head in,adopting the if-i-can’t-see-you-you-can’t-see-me approach.I was redly ashamed that I was here in the first place and couldn’t bring myself to look the man in the eyes. “You’re not in trouble.”I could hear the smile in his hoarse voice so I raised my head,still I looked intently at something above his head,which was quite high since he was one of the talles...

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“Prompt; Down Memory Lane” by David Mac Mahon

Submitted to Contest #140

It’s Friday and I have that Friday feeling! I just got the email from Reedsy with this week’s prompts. Wow, I can’t believe it. The prompts this week are brilliant, not even that. I already have a great story which I’ve never used, and it is just perfect for this week’s prompts. What are the chances of that? Now, where have I got that great story saved? I wrote it a while ago, maybe a couple of months ago. It’s a sure winner this week. It will probably get a couple of hundred likes, or a couple of thousand even. And the prize mon...

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“Piper: A Comedic Tragedy” by Minehel Fable

Submitted to Contest #140

[ Spring] “I remember..” my grandmother’s pencil-thin brows condescendingly rose with a tilt of her pointy nose to the ceiling, staring me down. “Oh, mother. Leave her alone! ” My mother shooed the air as she placed a plate of sliced black beans with a side of fresh honey in the center of the table. Smaller dishes of sweet & savory treats like moss salad dressed with sap and slivers of rice or my favorite; salted pumpkin seed soup. “Well! The past isn’t all that life is about, Gramma! ” I said enthusiastically but also gave her a...

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$250

Prize money

333

Contest entries

170

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 08, 2022 EST

Won by Cecilia Maddison 🏆

Title: Old Soul

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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