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!

#16: Once Upon a Time

Earlier this week, we published a blog post about modern fairy tales, and it got us thinking about the fact that no genre of literature is without its own set of tropes — and that certain literary tropes we still see commonly today are rooted centuries back.

This week's prompts are all elements pulled from fairy tales — both modern and old. You can feel free to play them straight: in other words, using the trope traditionally. Or you can feel free to twist the trope on its head. That's the great thing about tropes: they might provide you with a foundation that's already well-worn, but the opportunities to make it your own are endless.

This week's prompts

Write a story around the theme: Be careful what you wish for.

Novel – 79 stories

Write a story that involves love at first sight.

Romance – 87 stories

Write a rags-to-riches story.

Novel – 20 stories

Write a story in which characters are warned not to go into the woods.

Mystery – 98 stories

Write a story about a character on a quest, trying to "prove themselves."

Adventure – 30 stories

Stories

“Heartbeat” by Kia Costa

Submitted to Contest #16

Calm down Trina, calm down. You're almost there. Steady and deep breaths, I thought to myself as I frantically navigate the empty school hallway. The pounding of my heart rang into my ears like a marching band inside my ribcage. I was beginning to feel sweaty and sick and I wanted nothing more to just start packing and head home.The panic attack that terrorized my body showed no signs of stopping and I could feel my lungs ready to collapse. I was far enough from the busy lunchtime courtyard to not hear the deafening sounds of gossip and cha...

Read story

“Hooked” by Christine Anikpeh

Submitted to Contest #16

He calls, you knew he would, you have just met for the first time at your boss's dinner party and as both your eyes met and held for a second, you get this funny feeling in your stomach, love at first sight maybe, this should be it. You could swear you've seen him somewhere. Maybe on Instagram or somewhere else, but you can't seem to place it. You also feel like you have known him forever, isn’t that how it always starts in the movies? You let your mind wander a bit to your first meeting or rather, the first date, as you let your phone ring ...

Read story

“Love at first sight” by Joan Opoyi

Submitted to Contest #16

Annaline and her friends went backstage to meet the famous dancer. Their hearts were all filled with excitement, making themselves eagerly waiting for the dancer to come onto the backstage. "wow! am so super excited *calls were made everywhere and announced on the facebook, the opportunity to meet this famous dancer. The famous dancer made his way to the backstage, as they tried to reach to him but they were given a hard push by the bodyguards. Disappointments filled their hearts, and what they saw their dream of greeting the famous dancer ...

Read story

“At First Sight” by Richa Saran

Submitted to Contest #16

I saw her from across the room and I knew immediately that I was in love.How many times had I heard people around me talk about love at first sight? Sure, it was a time-honored cliche but I never thought it could apply to me. Countless times I watched from the sidelines as my friends and family, one by one, found this type of connection that seemed to consistently avoid me. Not until the moment I saw her did I realize I had allowed myself to settle into the hopeless assumption that not another living soul would ever be able to fill the growi...

Read story

“Love at first sight” by V D

Submitted to Contest #16

Nights at my grandpa’s village are so different than at our house in New Delhi.I like it here at my grandpa’s place, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.Nature and man seem to be so close.Grandpa often remarks “Ah! Delhi is such a busy city! why live there at all? Stay with me and grandma.Sarah I promise you won't regret it.” Before I can think of a polite way of refusing him my grandma would reply “Oh! the old man has lost a few of his brain cells and forgets his teenage days when he fought with his father to be sent to Delhi...

Read story

“First Date” by David Weaver

Submitted to Contest #16

The agency had fixed the date for six o’clock that evening. A little early but there’s sod all else to do round here, or anyone to do it with. When I say ‘agency’ I refer to the white-haired old guy who seems to run the place; not too inspiring on the romance front to be honest. He seemed to be pretty enthusiastic about my chances though.“What’ll she be like?” I asked, trying to keep a calm front even though my stomach was full of butterflies. I think they were butterflies; those colourful little winged creatures anyway. I’m not so good on a...

Read story

“My Favorite Color is Her” by Brianne Datiles

Submitted to Contest #16

Her hair? Softer than silk. Her lips? Even softer still. She is patient when most would be frustrated and she treats everyone with the same, beautiful honesty. I love the way her name flows from my lips and out for the world to behold. The echoes linger in my ears each time I say it- as if it were too holy to say so callously. She is my wife, and I have been married to her for twenty-three years. We met at a park. It was an uneven place with sloping hills everywhere. Not so easy to traverse. There I was, sitting at a bench, listening t...

Read story

“IDEAL: EVEN BEFORE AND NOW” by Leophel Ampatin

Submitted to Contest #16

It was a gathering and a celebration, youth day- where new sprout of seed dealing to its new environment. I was just a simple boy that knows nothing but to enjoy the life into its fullness. I saw you in a distant and I can even miss even a glimpse of you. My eyes keep dragging out to you. My heart beats feels like jumping out of my body and needed to draw near to you. I hesitantly ask your name by I am coward and my feet keep on retreating in war that I know I would never win. I am not confident until I ask your name to one of my friend that...

Read story

“Coloured Monkey ” by Michelle Iruobe

Submitted to Contest #16

The lady I had been staring at for so long that I feared for my eyes wore a red, shiny dress which fitted her curvy form perfectly; showing off her long, creamy legs as she sat with her legs crossed. She held a half-filled wine glass with slightly shaking hands—it’s dark-coloured content swirling in the transparent container as she laughed, throwing her head back and letting her hair fall in a golden cascade like an Atlantis waterfall down her bare back. A million thoughts churned in my head as I watched her. I thought of as...

Read story

“Storytime Bar” by Nechama Leitner

Submitted to Contest #16

My teacher once told us a story of a man who found himself stuck in a commercial freezer for 30 hours and survived. As I walk down this icy road attempting to pull this poor woolen blanket even tighter around my frozen shoulders--if that's possible, I feel absolutely zero hope for myself. How did that man survive? How the hell did he live like this for 30 hours? My feet are completely numb, and so I close my eyes. Maybe I can sleep while I walk along this icy road. I hold on to the blanket even tighter as I trip on a small stone catchin...

Read story

“Almond-Eyed Love” by Jayden Mendez

Submitted to Contest #16

The first thing I noticed about him were his eyes. Yes, that’s a cliché, I know. But honestly, his eyes were beautiful. They were a light brown, and they glowed in the sun when it hit them. He had the softest blond hair, that curved over his skin in wavy locks. But I never loved him for just his looks. It was his personality- he was sweet, loyal, and was always wanting to make me happy. I loved him from the time I first saw him. And that’s why I adopted him! His name is Lenny, and he’s my Golden Retriever. ...

Read story

“Instance” by Stella B James

Submitted to Contest #16

People called them seers back in the day. Seers graduated to fortune tellers, which in turn graduated to psychics. I don’t claim to be any of these things. I like to call my gift something along the déjà vu effect. I don’t see future events through spiritual powers or cards or a clear ominous ball.I dream them, but I don’t remember the dreams until they’re playing out in real life, and then there’s that weird moment where I can tell you what someone is going to do or say before they do it. It’s almost like watching a car wreck, as I can’t do...

Read story

“Meet Me at the Edge” by Katelyn Sherwood

Submitted to Contest #16

Walking through the back streets of New York, the man glanced around and behind him nervously. He swore he had seen the same three guys strolling or leaned against a wall for the past 4 blocks. He had been warned of rising gang activity ever since the Prohibition started, but he didn’t expect to get mugged on his first day. He lowered his head and walked a bit faster. His new apartment was only another block away, but they were starting to close in, and he wasn’t sure if he could make it inside before they got to him.Out of nowhere, a young ...

Read story

“Augustus and Cedric” by Izzy Cleveland

Submitted to Contest #16

My name is Augustus, an elven commoner, living in the tight caves beneath the intelligent magnetic railroad. The city of elves is highly technologically advanced, holding the most sophistication out of the 7 kingdoms. Our city is great for most, but if your not one of the intelligent money bearing kind- this city is hell. I work for my best friend, Cedric, he’s a knight who guards the borders of our elven kingdom, protecting us from our enemies: the sirens. I’m not supposed to have a job related to the kingdom because I’m not of high class, ...

Read story

“Entitled Love” by MJ Andrews

Submitted to Contest #16

“Shit, shit, shit!” Lucy screamed, as she ran through the crowd gathered on the subway platform. At nineteen, Lucy’s idea of cardio was running from one job to another. In typical fashion, she was late for her evening shift at the local coffee shop and her boss, Dameon, was the present day Oscar the Grouch. Her brow was covered in sweat and her backpack squeezed her shoulders together as it bounced when she ran. Her books weighed a ton, not to mention cost a ton as well. No one ever said pre law was easy. She made to her job only f...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

314

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 22:59 - Nov 22, 2019 EST

Won by Vivien Leanne Saunders 🏆

Title: The Sackcloth Liar

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 ⭢