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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

“'Into The Woods?'” by William Webster

Submitted to Contest #16

“The last time I saw him he was wearing a blue hoodie and he had a pack slung across his back.” The inquisitor stared long and hard at me with a glare that said he didn’t believe I word I was saying. “So, lets take it from the top. What was he carrying?” “I told you before, I don’t remember him carrying anything. Jim just walked past me heading down the corridor.” Sitting in the ridged chair that looked like an ergonomic computer desk chair, but felt more like a medieval torture seat, I argued,&nbs...

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“BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR” by Favour Julius

Submitted to Contest #16

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR Once upon a time behind the public toilet in Ladakh India, lived a little girl beautiful, smart, extremely talented and very thin. Her name was Saraswathi. Her parents were so poor and could only afford an abandoned one room building which was behind a public toilet. Her mother sold tea and samosa while her father washed the public toilet for 1000rupees per annum. Thanks to the Indian government, she was able to complete primary education, on scholarship. She was the...

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“Believe ” by Surbhi Vadhani

Submitted to Contest #16

I vividly remember that day, it was my 12th birthday. Balloons decorated the place with a vibe of tranquillity. The room was full of people whom I adored from the deepest chords of my heart. Family, friends, relatives, and all my good acquaintances occupied the hall while I entered the room with my favourite turquoise coloured dress curled up at the ends and squeezed in the middle with a pair of black stilettoes. I stood at the center of attraction of the buzzing crowd. The huge cake with phenomenal dressing faced me with the few candles on ...

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“Blue Moon Obsession” by Rachel Sloan

Submitted to Contest #16

When I saw him, I knew him.When I saw him, I loved him. When I saw him, I knew he was the one for me and no others could compare.After the vision of my future beloved, I had no choice but to find him.Every twenty-five years, the perpetual red sun relinquished it’s throne and gave way to the renowned blue moon for twenty-five days. The Coupling Moon, as it was known, showed and led all lone youth of the most recent generation their future life mates. From the lore passed down from prior generations, your other half is shown to you on th...

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“Walls Keep Those Out ” by Meli Mangos

Submitted to Contest #16

In the meadow outside the walls of Almeria, where purple Lanterns flower and stags graze in the early morning, little Henry was running in front of Elizabeth through the tall grass. Her skirts swished around her legs as she huffed to keep up. She had beat him up the hill, but when it plateaued he quickly overtook her. “Come on, Liza! Last to the tree line has to go into the woods!” His hair danced wildly even in the absence of wind. Oh what his mother would say when she sees how he ruined what she had spent half the morning combing.&nb...

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“Swallowing woods” by Joan Opoyi

Submitted to Contest #16

The crash just happened and no one saw it coming. Trapped in the middle of no where in an evil island, we couldn't find a way out from the island. We had to stick together like one big team being careful not to loose one another. "don't go into the woods? but all the warning given didn't occur to us, for we can't stay in one position and not look for food to fill our stomach. I set off together with my friends Leah and Dorcas, the wood was so quite and scary. Neither did we realize we had entered into the wolves territory. Holding each other...

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“This Forest Belongs to the Witches” by Lee Romero

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #16

"Stay away from the forest," my mother cautioned me as a child. "There are witches inside of it, and they eat children." I had laughed, and she chased me around the house, snarling playfully. That was before the lawsuit. Her boss caught her with her husband, and sued. My mother was left poor, unwanted, untouched by any company that could hire her. The first time she got drunk, fully, truly, started-drinking-at-10-a.m drunk, she screamed at me, yelling how worthless and stupid I was. In her hangover, she said she was sorry and that ...

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“Wish your Life Away” by Savannah Dycus

Submitted to Contest #16

The dim light covered the tables of the coffee shop as the breeze carries the sweet smell of coffee beans throughout the shop. I sat there enjoying my coffee, and writing my essay for English class. A man started walking towards me, a tall, dark figure got closer and closer to me. He finally got to me, and started talking. He read my mind, I didn’t have to open my mouth to communicate. “Hello Melanie.” The tall figure said. “How did you know my name?” I replied, confused. “I know ev...

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“On the Darkest Night” by Assyna N

Submitted to Contest #16

"So will you grant my wish?"Even the way she sat was arrogant. Her back straight, leg elegantly resting on the other, and even though she was shorter than him, the way she held her chin made it seem as though she were looking down at him. He bit back a sneer, instead giving her his best version of the English smile, lips curved upwards, and just a hint of teeth."Was it you who summoned me?" The dark haired boy inclined his head the side, feigning curiosity. Of course it was her who had summoned him, that much was clear. He had heard much abo...

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“Rain of money ” by Joan Opoyi

Submitted to Contest #16

The condition one is right now is not permanent, for everything has an expiring date. There was a certain man who used to live under the old bridge, with nothing to fill his stomach only the strong smell from the garbage. No friend near him except flies on his sore legs. This is the story of Mr Phillip. Mr Phillip was not born under the bridge, but, like others he had a family and attended school. His dream was shattered the moment they were travelling to upcountry together with his parents, when the vehicle rolled down the hill steep. Mr ...

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“rags to riches” by Kara Assmar

Submitted to Contest #16

My name is Lancey and this is my story.I live in New York City and are you was homeless my mom and dad abandoned me when I was young so I grew up basically on the street. I bounced from foster home to foster home looking for a purpose but here we are and I never found one. I used to think that people like me never belonged but now I have over six point million and I'll tell you my story I'll start my story from about three days before my fortune it was like any other. I was embarrassingly about to steal a piece of bread from a shop I kn...

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“ In Emerald Pond” by Christine Tapper

Submitted to Contest #16

Crissinda gasped. It was him, Lucas, there in the maze, the prince from her vision. The one she had fallen in love with instantly; unstoppably.As she peeped through the hedgerow again, she realized he'd drawn a woman into his arms. Locked in their passionate embrace, they neither saw nor heard her.The wind billowed around Crissinda trying to dry her tears. It steered her from the maze along a cloistered path. As she ran, she held her skirt and petticoat high. As soon as she reached the banks of Emerald Pond the wind dropped, Criss...

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“Do Not Go Into the Woods!” by Sara Grim

Submitted to Contest #16

Oh no! Billy was up to bat. He always, and I mean always, hits home runs. I call him “The Billy.” Our family was camping out for the weekend with Billy’s family. I have two brothers, Tommy and Timmy, and a sister, Suzy. Billy has a brother, Bobby. We wanted to play a friendly softball game before we went fishing. Sure enough, Billy slugged hard at a perfect pitch and the ball went sailing up and away… right into the woods. I was running after the ball, when all of a sudden my dad stopped me and yelled, “Do not go into the woods!” “What? Why?...

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“Fearless” by Eva Korošec

Submitted to Contest #16

There is a tale going around in my village, old as time itself. It appeared one night, like a cold brisk of air at the coming of winter, groaning with pain and hunger of a ferocious beast, a grand wolf, that occupies the deep nearby forests. They use it to scare children into obedience, but not even the bravest men and women take it lightly. Should you go out of your way, the wolf will catch you. Should you talk to a dark stranger, it is an evil wolf in disguise.I know this, because I am the wolf.Some may wonder what goes through the mind of...

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“Best Laid Plans” by Barry Jones

Submitted to Contest #16

February 2, 1979 Chicago, IL Gimme that night fe-verrr. Clap! We know how to show it. Clap! Twirl-two-three. Clap! Here I am, prayin’ for this moment to last... The Bee Gees sure had that right. I’d have loved for that moment to stretch out forever. It was the Semester Kickoff Party at Pi Kappa Phi, and the place was packed. Floyd Gillis, Ray Irmer, and I, centering three lines of girls, were each doing our best John Travolta - complete with silk shirts and tight jeans, perfect hair, and aloof expressions - at the eastern end of the...

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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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