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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

“Oblivion” by Cath Atkins

Submitted to Contest #140

OblivionHave you ever had one of those dreams where you are trying to run away from something, but you are just not gaining any ground? Or you are fighting someone off, but your arms will only move on slow motion? If you have, you will remember waking up with an almost painful knot of frustration resting in the very pit of your stomach, and the overwhelming hopelessness that you carried from your subconscious into the conscious waking moments.Occasionally, residual feelings from dreams linger throughout the day, tainting your mood. Like you ...

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“Breathe” by D. Thorne

Submitted to Contest #140

2022 I pass Lincoln Center with the click-clack of my boots. I look toward the illustrious theater and breathe it in, smiling to myself. I feel heads turn. It seems as though an old lady with poise is one worth staring at, or perhaps it is my red lipstick that manages to turn heads. Crazy, though they call me, I can only wear high-heeled shoes. I am tall enough, and I walk with an elongated neck due to years of practice but the shoes, however, remind me of my youth as a ballerina. The paradox of maintaining an ethereal disposition of a wom...

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“Sabrina ” by Raizel Michelina

Submitted to Contest #140

I remember now, years later, that bittersweet day when our lives changed irrevocably forever. A heads up would have been nice. But, oh no, Mr Ugly Duckling had to be all dramatic and incredibly sadistic. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. This is the story of me and my family. I am called Sabrina Swan of the great Swan Family. My founding ancestor was of course Mr. Ugly Duckling who turned out to be a Swan. We were deemed to be special, a clan of Swans who grew up slowly like humans and attained ripe old ages like them.....

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“Hypnopompia ” by Abigial Scibiur

Submitted to Contest #140

You know that feeling when you wake up in the middle of the night and don’t recognize where you are? Like when you forgot you were spending the night at your grandmother’s house. Or when you expect to wake up in your childhood bedroom, but you’ve lived by yourself in an apartment for the past two years.I know that feeling very well.The first sensation is simply waking. It must start mundane for it to be startling a second later—which it is. Then the panic starts. But just as you realize your heart is beating heavily, you take a slow, deep br...

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“My Li'l Black Dad” by Frank Bosworth

Submitted to Contest #140

I remember, seems from the day I was born, I remember my dad was short and black. Well, no, not quite. Let’s say not ‘short’ short, but vertically challenged. And not ‘black’ black, but how about he was, uh, colored? Yes. Better. He was colored. Yes. Vertically challenged and colored. Better. Much better. He was four colors, actually. Being I was, and still am at this writing, a certifiable Caucasian, an explanation would be in order. You see, for many years, long before I was born and long after, my dad worked in a foundry. An iron fo...

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“Love Is (Not) Enough: A Memoir” by Spike Uesugi

Submitted to Contest #140

I remember the first time we met. Do you? I went to pick you up at the airport. It took a while for you to get your luggage and walk to the concourse, but I saw you from across the room as soon as you walked in. You were holding the stuffed animal I bought you and your favorite pillow. When you saw me, you tensed up. I couldn’t tell what you were thinking, because you were just shaking your head and hiding your face. Then I realized that you were too shy to come toward me. So I came toward you instead and gave you a big hug. I remember think...

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“Cheers fo Sophie” by Gary Baxter

Submitted to Contest #140

Cheer for Sophie’s Choice by Gary Baxter Casual relationships: no matter how fickle or fiery they start, they ultimately all do one thing. They end. Sure, some participants are left with heartaches to heal, (max out Amex's, unwanted pregnancies, and joint Equinox lifetime gym memberships for others) but for the masses its fragmented memories. It’s old text messages with purple hearts and smiley emojis. Its numbers to iPhone 5's that are no longer working or available for your 1am call for noisy debauchery. But at ...

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“Menthol and Something Else” by Lexi Birks

Submitted to Contest #140

Every once in a while, I get a whiff of a peculiar mint odor. Not any mint will do the trick, only menthol. And not menthol in any form, it has to be mixed with another scent. Something undistinguishable. Despite being busy or otherwise preoccupied, a hand reaches down, yanks me by the back of my shirt, and shuttles me back to a time I’d rather not revisit. I was in the back seat of Grandma’s car. Since she shared it with my uncle Mark, his stuff was littered about the floor and back seat. A red and white Playmate cooler rested behind the ...

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“When Realities Collide” by Renda Hanson

Submitted to Contest #140

"That did NOT happen." Marla said empathically, sending daggers through him with her blue eyes glaring. Her hair was swept up, held in place by combs that she had picked up during one of the many travels they had. Their bone delicacy almost matched the gray of her hair. The bird’s egg blue dress she wore did not fit her like it once did, draping in folds rather than hugging her curves. She was thinner, older, but her perfume hung in the air as it always did, and her eyes had not loss the jewel like brilliance. "Of course, it did. You...

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“The road to death” by Joane Unknown

Submitted to Contest #140

I remember that night like a dream that keeps coming back every night, from which you wake up out of a sudden in the middle of the night, breathing hard and fast then feeling cold sweat on your back. The night where our life's length could have been shortened within seconds My friends and I were getting ready for our countryside trip. Josh's grandparents had a small, traditional house somewhere up in the mountains. We thought that we were going to have the time of our life, but it could have been the last time of our lives. Josh ...

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“I Didn't See You Come In” by Fred Aiken

Submitted to Contest #140

I keep note cards in my pocket. They hold my life’s secrets on them. Not really, but it sounds cool when I put it cryptically. I had an accident a few years back. At least, that’s what the first note card on my nightstand says when I wake up. I couldn’t tell you what happened exactly, because for some reason whenever I was writing these notecards, I didn’t have all the details, or at least that’s what I’m going to assume. There aren’t any note cards with my name or date of birth or place of origin. I assum...

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“The Awakening” by Douglas J. Veverka

Submitted to Contest #140

The weary soldier sauntered toward his barracks, exhausted from the humid jungle air, barely able to breathe under the weight of his surroundings. His skin glistened in the dim light that scattered throughout the base camp. He passed a dark man leaning back in a chair, an M-16 draped across his lap. “Ronnie V., how was it out there today? Another beautiful day in Nam’. You stay hydrated and keep those feet dry?” the man asked from the shadows.“Roger that, Sgt. Thompson. Keep ’em clean and dry. We pulled no punches out there and got...

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“Thalassophilia” by Max Cooper

Submitted to Contest #140

No one ever came to Aleena’s rocks. Probably due to fear. Any sailor who dared to get close would inevitably go missing. There were rumors, of course, humans loved their tall tales. They would whisper about a siren whose beauty would lure sailors to the rocky cliffside and cause them to capsize. These rumors flattered her but that's still all they were: rumors. She wasn’t even a siren, at least, she didn’t think she was. Just a regular old, fish-human thing. And she didn’t lure anyone, they just weren’t very good at maneuvering their large b...

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“Southbound Boyz” by Mickey Carroll

Submitted to Contest #140

[This story contains mentions of violence.]PART 1: Jackie Brown and the King of BeersThe sun would soon be setting over the deep-blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, as what had been a picture perfect July day began to wind itself down.While lounging on the beach of beautiful Naples, Florida, Johnny and Matt were quietly discussing their next steps, enjoying some adult beverages, and soaking in the view – both geographical and anatomical.Matt opted for Budweiser in a can (‘Why get fancy now?’ he thought.), while Johnny enjoyed his drink of cho...

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“I Smile” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #140

contains sensitive content about cancer and its struggle I remember when my aunt actually said that she went through cancer. Ok, she was diagnosed with cancer, but it was stage ZERO. Are you kidding me? I sat there listening to her ordeal as she cried when she was told that she had cancer stage ZERO. The family support for her was enormous. Meanwhile, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, but she was the one with the attention. Fine! I really don’t need attention. My aunt posted a picture of extra hair on her brush due to pills that ...

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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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