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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

“Fabulous at Forty” by Eileen Dickinson

Submitted to Contest #16

Harriet saw red and was delighted. Throughout the whole shop red sale signs screamed their messages; “Half price Christmas cards,” “A third off calendars,” “Two angels for the price of one.” Harriet wandered happily amongst the displays, straightening a card here or putting one or two back in their right place.“Buying this shop was just what I needed to help me through this year,” she said to herself.Her eye was caught by the “Cards for Special” occasions section. Frowning slightly while she rifled through them, she selected one and pulled i...

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“When Wishes Come True” by E Rose

Submitted to Contest #16

Chase Vespasian. Cool name right? Well everyone around me always thought that. My whole life, I had friends and someone to play with. In elementary school, the first thing any of the other 2nd graders would say to me was: "WOW! You have an awesome name!" But after I got older people didn't want to just hang around me because of my name but also because I had a handsome face, rich parents, and, good grades. I know this might all sound like bragging. I am not trying to show off what I have. But everything that I have feels like it belongs to s...

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“Wishful Thinking” by Leah Onosato

Submitted to Contest #16

Be careful what you wish for. They told me to be careful what I wish for.I went to my mother. She told me, "Be careful what you wish for."I wasn't satisfied, couldn't give up so quickly, so easily. I went to my grandfather. He told me to look into his eyes, and they were black as the tea kettle. He told me, "Son, don't look away and hear what I have to say." He told me, "Be careful what you wish for."I left. I left and went to my lover. He told me, he told me he loved, he said, "I love you, I do baby, but we have to be careful what we wish f...

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“The Formula” by David Weaver

Submitted to Contest #16

Thompson hated school. He wished, right at that moment, that he was out of the place entirely. That in fact he had been secretly recruited to MI6 as it’s youngest ever agent, his talents recognised and rewarded with the responsibility of guarding the secret biological warfare formula told to him by dissident Russian scientists with express instructions to get it to the West and avoid the outbreak of World War Three.Trouble was he didn’t really understand it. In Russian at least.“We dissident scientists trust you agent Thompson, our lives are...

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“White Picket Fence” by Karen Guiney

Submitted to Contest #16

I have always had the picture perfect house in my mind. A perfectly manicured lawn decorated with flower gardens and large oak trees would break only for the cobblestone walkway. This would all be foreground to a Victorian house with black shutters and gingerbread trim. A porch that wrapped from one side to the other would hold rocking chairs and a porch swing. There would be several windows of various sizes to let the morning sun and evening stars shine through. Fireplaces would grace the living room and the master bedroom, giving a co...

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“THE MAGIC GIFT” by David D'EttoreUser

Submitted to Contest #16

THE MAGIC GIFT The first snowfall was always a magic time for Noelle. Sun-bathed summer blues, greens, and yellows had drifted into the oranges and reds of autumn that ultimately faded to the drab canvas of grays and browns of early winter. She waited with eager anticipation for that wonderland of white that would erase the drabness and fulfill the joyous anticipation of Christmas. &nbs...

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“Be Careful What You Wish For” by Leona Atkinson

Submitted to Contest #16

Once upon a time, quite a few years ago while out shopping, I kept asking my Father for a fish I had seen in the marketplace. It was a beautiful fish, one I was sure was meant for me because it looked just like the one I had been wishing for, but my Father refused to let me have it and I began to get upset. "Why" I said, "Why can't I have him? He is so handsome and charming. Look at him Father. He is just perfect for me, and we would be so good for each other. I can see he likes me, Father. Look, see how he looks at me! I kn...

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“Ivyx of Orc” by Eric Horst

Submitted to Contest #16

Why did I agree to take over this stupid magic shop after Dad passed? The business is deluged in debt, it's reputation is decrepit. The dark musty store itself is straight-up creepy. Repulsive from the outside, repugnant inside. The junk on the shelves are outdated gimmicks that trickster losers can buy off the internet for half the price. How the old man lured customers into this rundown shack and made sales is beyond me.Roaches fester the wall's bowed mortices. Rats rollic on the creeky floorboards from aisle to aisle. The scent of mold is...

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“A Guilty Conscience” by Kennedi Hubbard

Submitted to Contest #16

Silence filled the room as the words escaped her mouth. My vicious aunt, who's hated me since I was young, stood before me and lashed into me. Everyone stayed silent as they stared in shock. What was meant to be a Happy Thanksgiving meal, turned to absolute ruin."Are you sure I'll be okay to tag along?" I sat up to put my hand on the front car seat where my sister Whitney sat. Her wife, Brandi, drove the car."I'm sure you are, they never had a problem with you dropping by without telling anyone before. Besides, it's Thanksgiving! A time for ...

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“An Eventful Encounter” by Ann Hunwicks

Submitted to Contest #16

"I was trapped. Couldn't get out. Looked up and around. No way out," George calmly stated as he looked at the psychiatrist recording his every word. "The hole was about seven feet in all directions. Meant I couldn't climb out either. Trapped for sure," he added.George paused, took a deep breath and stared into space. Mr. Trenton waited a few more seconds, glanced down at his notes, then prodded,"What thoughts were going through your mind when trapped in this hole?""I thought my life was over for sure. No one around to help me, to pull m...

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“The Witch” by Melissa Miller

Submitted to Contest #16

Once upon a time in a world next to ours, a man and woman gave birth to a baby girl, Seraon. The girl grew to be a kind and kindred spirit. But she was not happy. She wished to be wicked. An old witch lived in the groove next to the small town. She brewed her potions and whistled her spells. Each bringing to life a new curse. The girl watched the witch from the time she was young, wishing that instead, the witch was her mother. At the age of seventeen, when most girls her age look for commitment and strong support, she wanted not...

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“The Voice” by Cheza Vidal

Submitted to Contest #16

Dear Someone,I never much believed in God’s existence.I grew up an only child with strict religious parents who practiced their faith almost twenty-four seven. Whenever I did something wrong, I was forced to kneel down and pray and atone for my sins by doing labor. Because I’m a girl, I have to do the softest kinds of labor. Most of the time I was asked by my mother to hold up my hands midair until the end of the day. I couldn’t remember a day when I didn’t do that simple yet arduous task. There were even times I wondered if I’m ever going t...

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“Octavia Watson, Wish Consultant” by Jane Marple

Submitted to Contest #16

Octavia Waston inwardly groaned as she recorded Princess Fiona's story. This was possibly the worst field of law. Even the unreliable dwarfs in the ruby mines were more interesting. Why was she a wish consultant?"And, and when I wished for a prince, I didn't get my prince, I got a different prince." Princess Fiona sobbed as she concluded her "tragic" story."Well did you specify who you wanted?""No."Octavia groaned again. Princesses were always so light-headed that they never specified exactly what they wanted in their wishes, so they were ne...

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“Wishes Do Come True” by Shelley Lerea

Submitted to Contest #16

The clock struck midnight as Carrie closed her eyes. As she drifted off to dreamland, she thought, I wish that Erica and Mike would break up before this weekend so I don’t have to go to their stupid wedding. Mike was Carrie’s first serious boyfriend. She lost her virginity to him, and thought they would be together forever. On her 25th birthday, two major things happened. Her best friend Erica threw her a surprise party and Mike broke up with her. Two months later she found out Mike and Erica were a couple, and two years later they anno...

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“I Wish I May, I Wish I Might by CD Novak” by Chris Novak

Submitted to Contest #16

Accidents happen. Sometimes the outcome is a surprise, opening a new door. Sometimes the outcome sucks. Usually things fall in the middle. What is it you need for your life to become more idyllic? Money? Fame? Solitude? It’s always something. At least for must folks. And it’s usually money. No one ever seems to have enough, even though no one can define the right amount. Teller Martin and his wife Jen had been a couple for 18 years. They had three great kids in middle school or high school, all doing well. Life was grand. If you didn’t ...

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$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!

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