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

“The Turnip Field Treasure” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #16

Raymond had convinced himself he loved the early morning, when the mists were still rising and the moon was still visible in the sky. He had persuaded himself that he liked the sensation of doing something furtive and forbidden. None of that was strictly speaking true. He was thinking with a degree of longing of a warm mug of coffee and the Today programme on Radio 4, and the farmer across the lane had given him his full permission to pursue his hobby in his turnip field that lay fallow that year. Fred the farmer had not...

Read story

“The Woods” by Kaitlynn Flint

Submitted to Contest #16

11/21/19No matter how many times they warned us, there was still a nagging feeling to go into the woods. To ignore their pleas, and walk in the dark forest. My friends and I knew about the lost children and the dead bodies. There were times when even my gut told me to never go near those woods. But, that nagging thought-that voice- that desire- never left us. It happened last summer. It was our last summer before high school(or as a kid), and we wanted to spend it doing fun, exciting things. We all knew this was our last weekend of real...

Read story

“Be. Careful. What. You. Wish. For. ” by Rima ElBoustani

Submitted to Contest #16

Trigger Warning: Depicts crime and blood. Be. Careful. What. You. Wish. For. Be very careful. You just might get it. George wished very hard for a clown for Christmas. This was when George was four. And again, when he was five. And again, when he was six. He finally gave up and wished for something else. But when George turned twenty, he finally got his clown. He got what he wished for. ***George was playing computer games online when he thought he caught a glimpse of a clown outside his window. He glanced outside, trying to get a better loo...

Read story

“Beautiful Brilliance” by Kali Sayovitz

Submitted to Contest #16

A small town rests on the edge of a cliff near the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike the dull, average fishing towns of the East Coast, this one is special, magical even. Upon moving into the town, each person is given something that they have always wished for. It is not abnormal to see a family move to town and mysteriously receive a large inheritance from a distant relative days after moving in. A young woman, incredibly intelligent but rather average looking, moved into town to study the effects of ocean currents on fish populati...

Read story

“Thanksgiving Lottery Ticket” by M.D. Smith

Submitted to Contest #16

John Franklin bought a lottery ticket. He wished he could hit the jackpot on the Saturday night after Thanksgiving. He knew he might win three hundred million dollars with a single two-dollar ticket. Would John double his chances to win if he bought two tickets? No.A quick look at odds shows he would have one chance in three hundred million to win. If he bought two, it’s two in three hundred million to win the Powerball or Mega Millions. Pretty small odds. What if he bought a h...

361 comments 361

Read story

“SKIN DEEP” by Linda Lewis

Submitted to Contest #16

Richard pulled on a silk shirt, relishing the coolness of the fabric against his skin just as the front door clicked open. A voice floated up from the hallway. “Are you home?” He braced himself. “I’ll be down in a moment,” he said. He found Bella standing by the walnut sideboard, decanting sherry into a crystal glass. “Had a good day?” “Not bad. I won the case. The jury took one look at me and couldn’t wait to leave the courtroom.” As she turned in his arms, Richard held down the gasp of shock that still tried to force its wa...

Read story

“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Dayna Scott

Submitted to Contest #16

“This year I just want to find someone who will actually put me first, you know?” Jennifer O’Connell moped and moaned as she cleaned another spillage on the café floor. Thankfully, it was only coffee, nothing that would make her stomach churn. She scrubbed harder as her dreams swam to the surface, up from her heart, to her throat, and finally out of her lips. “Someone who wants me all to themselves, someone who will never let anyone else have me. I’m done with flings. I want the real deal.” “What fairy-tale high are you on right now?” Jackso...

Read story

“Turning Back the Hands of Time” by Deanna West

Submitted to Contest #16

"I wish that my mom would wake up and smell the flowers!!!!” I know that soundsa bit harsh, and a little insensitive but that's how I felt. My mother and Iunfortunately never had that mother/daughter relationship that you hear yourclosest friends talk about or that you see portrayed on TV. She always wouldleave me and my two younger sisters Elisa and Ellora while she is either atwork or up in some guys face. We’re only like two years apart. Elisa is 14,Ellora is 16 and I'm the oldest, I'm 18 years old. Ohhh sorry, I'm Emmie, itsshort for Em...

Read story

“ALWAYS AND FOREVER” by Ashika B

Submitted to Contest #16

DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT???? LET ME TELL YOU A STORY...... It was a chill noon.The weather was cold. serena picks her jacket and waits for her mother. serena is 10 years old.she looks beautiful and she always smiles with her heart. After serena's mother comes from upstairs they both went to shopping mall.. when they reached the mall serena's mom was busy with talking her friends. In the meantime serena went to see the new collection toys. she searched for a nice toy more than 20 mins. after 20 mins her eyes sta...

Read story

“Trees” by Mushroom (flammulina Velutipes)

Submitted to Contest #16

The woods were dangerous, or so they told the villagers huddling in their thin blankets, praying to the gods that did not listen.They surrounded the southern border of the kingdom, thick and dark and full of things the villagers didn’t speak of. To say something’s name was to call it, and the villagers had enough trouble already.The trees ended just outside the village, but a few remained, gnarled and knotted and twisted and bent, missing the darkness from which they came. The houses were weak and small, made of brush and sticks and prayers....

Read story

“The Fairy Godfather” by Debra Caples

Submitted to Contest #16

Once upon a time there lived a widow with five children. The eldest was Julian, a shiftless young man more inclined to hide in the haymow than clean the stable. Clothide, sixteen, wept and moaned about her clothes, hair and their lack of wealth. Twins Roger and Ronald were eight, naughty boys behind in their schooling who would rather fight one another than do sums. The baby, Ella, gave her mother the least trouble, usually upon soiling her nappies and when teething. The widow Jane wasn’t a widow at all but the abandoned wife of a wastrel. H...

Read story

“How I Met My Wife” by Derek Williams

Submitted to Contest #16

Love at first sight does exist. I know, because it happened to me. This is the true story of how I met my wife. It was late June of 1987. I was enjoying the summer between my junior and senior years of high school. The day started out normally enough. I went to my job at the golf course, where I worked as a landscaper. I worked from 5 am until about noon, cutting grass. I then went home, ate lunch, and then went to the gym. I trained for about an hour or so, then went to get something to eat. After tha...

Read story

“Love Blossoms” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #16

Earl Winston trotted nonchalantly alongside his equerry James.A murder of crows cawed loudly, high up in the budding horse chestnuts. Pale spring sunshine lit up the eastern sky.'Earl Winston,' James asked,' how is Olympia this morning? She appears to be rather languid in her trotting?'With a gentle movement of his spurs Winston sat up promptly and replied curtly,' Olympia is in excellent form, James.'Equerry James and his master, Winston, continued to trot until the familiar loud peals of the church bells marked noontime.Dism...

Read story

“What Became of Red Riding Hood” by Destinee Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #16

Don't go in the woodsThe words pounded against her skull as she ran, stumbling over a stray tree root as she went. Ahead of her, drawing closer by the second, the forest's edge loomed. Tree branches waved in the air, beckoning her. Behind her, shouts of the mob chasing her echoed. Don't go in the woodsVillagers knew the story well: those who entered the wood beyond the east edge of the village never returned. Less suspicious folks believed they had simply found a better settlement somewhere else. The rest believed, quite strongly, in the old...

Read story

“Captured by Bliss ” by Deanna West

Submitted to Contest #16

I always thought that the term "Love at first sight" was rather something you see on television; not something that happens in reality... Especially not something that would happened to me a regular guy like me. However the momentmy eyes laid upon this beautiful young lady. I nearly instantly knew that shewould be mine... Forever! It started off likeany other day, I had to make a quick run to the grocery store to pick up a fewitems for this cake recipe I saw and wanted to. I wanted to try make this cake, (carrot caketo be exact); but...

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 ⭢