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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#154: The Right Timing

It has come to our attention that Backstreet Boys (you know, the famous boy band from the 90s) recently announced that they'll be releasing a Christmas album. Naturally, this week's prompts are all about timing.

In a rapidly changing world, it can be hard to keep up sometimes. The newest TikTok is old almost as soon as it has gone viral, and trends come and go quicker than the seasons. And yet, some things are timeless classics. Taking inspiration from the ebb and flow of time, here are this week’s prompts:

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone saying, “We’re running out of time.”

Middle School – 77 stories

Write a story about someone who feels increasingly irrelevant.

Sad – 57 stories

Write a story — romantic or not — about two characters who can’t find the right timing.

Romance – 32 stories

Write a story about an object that has been around for centuries or passed down generations.

Kids – 46 stories

Write a story featuring an element of time-travel or anachronism.

Science Fiction – 68 stories

Stories

“Grace is all we need” by Kaylee Johnson

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time, Leave it!” I yell as Liam runs back to grab something. “I need to grab it, Grace!” Liam yells back as he retrieve’s his weapon. It was home-made, created from the spare parts of a broom, a butter knife, and some rubber bands. But then again, everything had to be home-made in a apocalypse. I run back and pull his wrist just as he touches the spear. We run with all our mite back to the bunker. “What did Noah say again?” Liam askes, “Did he say left turn on queens or right?” “Left” I answer turning the conner, ...

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“Expectations” by Manolis Kokogiannakis

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time.” 1 hour ago: “Ok mum,” I sigh as I go down to get Billy who is playing in the fields with his friends. “Billy, mum says to go back up cos’ dinner’s ready.” “But…wh.wh.why…No,” Billy whines, which makes his friends giggle quietly(you don’t want to get on the bad side of Billy). “I will tell mum,” I reply quite sternly. Billy finally agrees and comes back up to our small nest where mum has worms ready. In an instant Billy complains that we always have worms (we do not). In the end Billy finishes al...

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“The Volcanic Date” by Ria Aggarwal

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time!” panicked Brayden. “You got us into this situation, and now you’re going to get us out,” replied Angela. “Well, yeah I would. But how was I supposed to know that the hot air balloon would malfunction?” “Maybe you shouldn’t have lowered the hot air balloon into a volcano,” Angela spoke firmly. She walked towards him. Her eyes were filled with rage. “Listen, I was just going to lower the hot air balloon a little bit and then raise it back into the air. This whole thing was supposed to be a joke anyways! Nothing ...

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“Pressure” by Whitney Devor

Submitted to Contest #154

“We’re running out of time,” Paula Groves said as she flipped through the JCPenny magazine. “Your graduation party is in three weeks, and if you don’t choose a dress I’ll have to pay for expedited shipping.” Paula’s daughter Alice was silent across the table as her mother rambled on about pastels being popular colors this year but, in her opinion, Alice looked best in darker colors like navy or plum. Alice didn’t tell her mother that she didn’t like any of the dresses from JCPenny, she didn’t tell her about the long cornflower blue dress wit...

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“Anxiety of the Middle Years” by Jewel May

Submitted to Contest #154

Skirttttttttt the bus's brakes squeaked as they were slammed by the driver. All the kids rocked forward but remained fairly calm. The driver apologized and everyone got off at the last stop. Lizzet walked home that cool, fall afternoon with her best friend Harriet, as she had every other school day for the last 7 years. They had met in first grade and hit it off right away. They spent every summer and every school year, since then, together. 7th grade had just started today and they both were nervous but together they got through it and now ...

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“The Day Time Cracked and Love was Wasted” by Ann Walker

Submitted to Contest #154

This story contains mild offensive language There comes a time in life, after the wonder and mystery of adolescence has receded into only the deepest corners of our memories, when the truth of one’s intention calls to action a dire decision. Greek mythology teaches us about the idea of twin flames; when the Great Spirit, or God, took a soul and split it in half. The twins are drawn to one another, they feel familiar and in tune with the very beat of the other’s heart. A fantasy of a thought unless of course, you have had a chance to love y...

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“Italian at Seven” by Isaac Jeon

Submitted to Contest #154

On February 15th of 1981 at Enoylno, Vertucky, Joey lies on his bed wondering if he’ll ever have a girlfriend, considering how Valentine’s Day had just passed. However, he certainly has this new desire that he won’t be the odd one out and decides that this year he’ll have a girlfriend like all his friends. On the same day, he sets on his journey to find a girlfriend. Joey had the desire of wanting a girlfriend, so he decided to approach the prettiest girl at school during recess. The prettiest girl's name was Jennifer, who was both very pre...

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“Timing of the Universe.” by Laleh R

Submitted to Contest #154

All my life, I have been told to never doubt the universe's timing. Everything will come together for you, just when you need it to. To truly believe in your intentions and the reason why you want something to work out, and it will. Pure and intentional faith and belief will more - or - less guarantee the outcome you want. And so, I have continued on my path, exploring the depths of the universe, and learning the ebbs and flows of this powerful entity. I considered myself lucky; getting into the Ivy League university of my dreams, the D...

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“Hold My Hand, Lick My Ear” by Jarrel Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #154

He charges $200 an hour. I give him the cash upfront. “What’s your pleasure?” he asks in his Spanish accent. I expect him to present himself in a more sensual manner, to really try for my money, but no. He was as overused as a felt doll. I realize at this moment that cats of his profession didn’t need to “try.” He is the prettiest hunk of feline I’d ever met, and he just needs to not say no. I tell him I wanted to cuddle. He looks at me as if I’d just asked him to pluck out his whiskers. But he doesn’t say no. Thirty minutes in, ...

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“The Old Clock Stopped” by David Ader

Submitted to Contest #154

The old clock stopped. Facing it was its chronological counterpart; a mirror suffering age spots that distorted the clock’s image stuck at 6:32. It was like the final date on a gravestone. Its brass pendulum dangled dormant below the face. It was new on their wedding day. The groom’s father called it a “Regulator,” an accurate wall clock that would ring out the hours 24 times a day. &nbsp...

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“Old Oak Tree ” by Lancia Stewart

Submitted to Contest #154

Old Oak Tree By: Lancia Stewart“I love it, Bill!” My wife squealed with excitement as I unraveled the red silk blindfold from around her deep brown eyes. It was her dream home.As I hugged her tight and I watch our next generation of two girls and two boys run around the yard filled with an array of green vegetation and spring flowers which were at the peak of blooming. The vibrant pinks, reds, and purple flowers gave the house an artistic look. It was like we were standing still in an art exhibit, looking at a Realism Style portrait with ast...

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“The Prophets (Abridged)” by Bad CatZ

Submitted to Contest #154

The Prophets The bane of mankind is curiosity, for every splitting of the atom, and antimatter reactions are many curious human beings who died desperately clawing their way towards knowledge and the betterment of mankind, all in the name of science. ACT.I Somewhere on the moon, a path is revealed by the clearing of dust, and glimmering through in magnificent pulses of light, a golden obelisk set in a valley jealousy enclosed in the bosom of a crater. Thoughts race through the astronauts’ minds, thoughts of all the speculation that hum...

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“The Grandfather Clock” by Krynn McGinty

Submitted to Contest #154

The Grandfather Clock Grandma Arlene’s house screamed of old lady. The wallpaper was an ugly shade of yellow, and the carpet was a dingy shade of brown. Instead of a tv hanging on the wall, Grandma had a fireplace with all our pictures on it and a small tin full of mints. Instead of a computer, she had multiple bookshelves full of books I’d never seen before, and puzzles that were always missing pieces. Grandma’s table always had crossword puzzles on it too. Unfortunately, they were either finished or asked questions I didn’t know th...

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“Seeing the Future ” by John Casey

Submitted to Contest #154

I come from a long line of fortune tellers. Diviners was the word my grandmother preferred to use. I can still hear her voice in my head: “What I do is divine the future for those who lack the ability to see it.” She didn’t help people connect with the dead, and she wasn’t there to help people understand events from their past. The future was her specialty. She actually married someone whose last name – no joke – was Devine, and The Deviners was the name they went by when they traveled about the country. They put on stage shows where...

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“THE SHIRT FROM 1800s” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #154

THE SHIRT FROM 1800s It was so long that she not only hadn’t worn it, but she hadn’t even picked it up when, one night she dreamed of wearing just that shirt. In the ( her) dream she opened a door halfway ____maybe the door was that of the living room, maybe that of her parents’ bedroom____and, while she stood in the open half of the door, she could see herself , as if in a mirror, with that shirt on. Her mother too, who(m) she didn’t see, had to see her, because( since) she said to her : “NO, that shirt is no g...

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$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

112

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 15, 2022 EST

Won by Suma Jayachandar 🏆

Title: Moonlight and Madness

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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