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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#161: Digging Deep

Released to much critical acclaim, Jennette McCurdy’s recent memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died is one of the most talked-about books of the summer (and potentially the year), not least because of its provocative title. But behind the clickbait-y headline, the book is a masterclass in memoir writing — digging deep into McCurdy’s life and deftly handling sensitive material, including her time as a child actress and an abusive childhood.

This week’s prompts are inspired by some of the themes in McCurdy’s memoir — the pressure of stardom at a young age, finally speaking one's truth, and starting a process of healing — encouraging you to explore the complex and often gritty nature of human relationships and emotions.

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone sharing a secret that has a big impact on everyone.

High School – 39 stories

Write a story where someone finds comfort in an unexpected event, place, or person.

Adults – 56 stories

Write about a character who lives a seemingly charmed life.

Teens – 25 stories

Write a story where a character has to take on heavy responsibilities (perhaps beyond their age).

Kids – 48 stories

Write about someone who needs to face their past in order to move forward.

Adults – 73 stories

Stories

“Counterfeit” by Lorilyn Roberts

Submitted to Contest #161

The powerful leaders of the New World Order sat eating lunch in the new Hanging Gardens of Babylon designed by Kai, a renowned horticulturist. Surrounded by tropical ferns, prickly succulents, meandering vines, and exotic flowers, they chatted about secret matters of which the common people had no knowledge. Kai knew their secrets because the garden he created was their favorite hangout. He noted that while the rest of the world ate green—they ate meat and other delicacies he couldn’t even identify. The globalists valued Kai’s knowledge onl...

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“Where The Spirit Horses Drink” by Johanna Parry

Submitted to Contest #161

Where The Spirit Horses Drink By Johanna Lor Rain Parry ---- this story is based on true events, and real experiences. She could hear them drumming for those praying in the lodge...the heart-beat rhythm reminding her of the thousands of tears that drip slowly into the red earth from the eyes of those who have seen too much. A trail of prayers trickled upward from the fire in front of the sweat lodge. The swirling smoke spiraled, threadlike towards the sky. Life had always been hard in the sacred land. There is always a price to pay fo...

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“A Time for Heroes” by Del Garrett

Submitted to Contest #161

“Folks always called my daddy a liar.” The voice came low and sad-like from the 12-year-old who sat cross-legged on the concrete steps of the Williamsburg Regional Library on Scotland Street. Joshua Fry glanced up from the history book he was reading. His friend, Thomas Paine, could see the hurt in the young boy’s eyes. “He isn’t?” “Nope, he isn’t, but that don’t stop some people from saying he was wrong about our family history. My ancestor was a hero before George Washington.” “Washington, the Father of Our Country, helped b...

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“Up on Blackberry Ridge ” by Carissa Cherrington

Submitted to Contest #161

We were just sitting down to dinner when Mama shared the news about Michael Farlowe. “Poor boy jumped right off the old bridge,” she said, plopping down a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes. “Sheriff had to go down, have some boys help drag him out of the water nearly a mile from the bridge. I heard the news just this morning, from Mrs. Abernathy.” “Michael Farlowe never had any sense,” Daddy said. “The whole family is bad seed. Pass the salt, would you, Danny?” &nbsp...

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“The Cat Lady” by Katie Blake

Submitted to Contest #161

The Cat Lady “I just love the cat,” Louise said to the mail lady. “A rescue,” she boasted. Louise’s face- all cheekbones and forehead- was serious with conviction. “My cat, a rescue!” she yelled to the elderly neighbor slapping her cane down the sidewalk. She hung a bony finger in the air, pointing to her house as though transformed into a sanctuary. Most of the days, the cat was nowhere to be found, hidden between the bags lining the stairwell, stacks of books, duplicate pots and unnecessary pans. Since Roger left, she nurtured a pr...

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“The Heir” by John White

Submitted to Contest #161

“The king is dead.” Lucius declared. “Long live the king!” Marcus dropped his gaze, struck with sorrow at the sudden news. King Remus was beloved and renowned for being just and fair. Lucius continued, “This day has been planned since the day you were born. We have successfully kept the deception for 16 years. And it has worked. You’re alive.” “What deception?” Marcus asked. “You’re the true heir to the throne. You’re now the king.” He proclaimed, “Long live the king!” “How can that be?” Marcus w...

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“The Price of Freedom” by Kaitlyn M.

Submitted to Contest #161

The darkness does not come without a price. The freedom, the boundless plains that lay before you under the glorious light of the stars costs you. Today, I tell you my story. The light, I admit, is fun at certain moments. There are stolen treasures, glittering under the sun. There is laughter with friends, jokes with family, secrets whispered underneath oak trees with joy... But the dark. In the dark, you can become, you can create and live and exist in ways you never have. I used to be light, I stayed where it was safe, travelled along...

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“Cha-ma” by Aza P

Submitted to Contest #161

I wonder if you know what I’m doing to you. You’re not one to be suspicious. Never have been, never will be. But sometimes I find myself thinking you must have some sort of inkling. You’re not stupid either, not naive. But I wonder sometimes if you know. If you ever doubt me. If your heart ever beats too fast in your chest, sickening you with the feeling that something must be wrong. Or maybe you’ve always known. Maybe you like it. You’ve always liked kissing. This is normal – the way you’re kissing me now. Messy and disgu...

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“Daddy Issues” by Andrea Davis

Submitted to Contest #161

WARNING: the following story contains possible triggers of both, violence, domestic violence, child abuse, mental health struggles and sexual abuse. I know that I'm about to feel the leather of his black utility belt. The peeling screech of Velcro echoes across the room. "Place your hands on the bottom of the mattress and don't move". His voice is deep and terrifying. Each time we do this, it's the same routine, the same questions, same sounds of the Velcro and belt crack, and ultimately me alone in my bed crying. "How many licks do...

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“Ghosts of the Night” by Dhruv Srivastava

Submitted to Contest #161

With the strict brick walls of Winthrop manor, a slew of guests had most recently been chatting in the parlor, warm incandescent bulbs casting a yellow glow over Victorian furniture and through snifters of cognac. Laughs were sickeningly bright, following from comments such as, “Well of course John could’ve gone to Yale, but we thought it was best that he go to Harvard, like his father… Besides, we wanted him at a real Ivy League school.” Mr. Hainesworth was a Yale alumnus, so he began the hollow laughter which echoed around the room. It ha...

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“Lovers' Reunion” by Tori Routsong

Submitted to Contest #161

Carmen stared down at the faintly glowing body in disbelief, her ragged breath the only thing preventing her from appearing as a statue, completely still. “Ta da!” The Mystic beside her brandished a shaky, liverspotted hand at the young girl on the floor. “One lover, locked and loaded!” “Are… are you…” “Always this amazing? Yes, yes, I–” “Freaking kidding me?” Carmen finally snapped, turning to stare at the Mystic with bulging brown eyes. “This is not in any way what I asked for– what I paid for!” “Oh, no, no, no,” the Mystic chid...

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“Making Peace with Her Thunderstorm” by Luna Fuji

Submitted to Contest #161

Asami liked clouds. Fluffy and soft looking, just like cotton candy. Pull them apart and you’ll probably see a dozen or more thin threads come undone. Then when the wind arrives, the two of them, clouds and wind, performed for children all over the world an abstract picture book with billions of interpretations to their meanings. In a way, clouds were to children the same way cave paintings were to paleontologists. The wind weaved, pushed, and tugged at the clouds, asking to play. And the clouds responded nonchalantly and with playful gest...

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“A Hard Day's Work” by Mustang Patty

Submitted to Contest #161

(There are mentions of incestual abuse, as well as sexual situations)Her feet dragged as she climbed the stairs in her ugly waitress shoes. The uniform she wore was too baggy and long, but it satisfied what her boss wanted. Sighing, she stuck her key in the door.As the decrepit door swung into the dingy apartment, she wasn’t surprised to see toys all over the floor. Obviously, the talk she had with Pinky hadn’t been heard. But her bed was calling, along with the knowledge that an alarm would wake her at five-thirty the next morning.Oh wait –...

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“The Gardener and the Trashman” by Josh Mullenax

Submitted to Contest #161

“What exactly does basil smell like?” He wondered, thinking about his abundant basil plant back at home. He, mentally, was among his plants, walking down the carefully tended rows. His thoughts continued, “If I had to tell someone who had never had basil before what it smelled like, what would I tell them? I could talk through the acrid, herbaceous, and earthy taste of sage, and just tell them it’s that- but not.” He chuckled to himself, now pondering his sage plant, fuzzy leaves most likely wet with dew in the early morning. It was late...

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“Some Enchanted Evening” by VJ Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #161

Nurse Alford noiselessly opened the door, just wide enough to poke her head around it. “Did you buzz?” she said to the woman who lay like a darkened splash on the slanted bed. “Yes,” said the woman, tapping the translucent IV line attached to her arm. “Please get me some more of whatever this is. I can’t bear how these afternoons drag on.” “Mrs. McKennitt,” the nurse said and sighed. “I would gladly ask the doctor to increase your medication, but you will need a better reason for it. An ‘afternoon dragging on’ is not reason enough, you know....

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$250

Prize money

241

Contest entries

125

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 02, 2022 EST

Won by Marty B 🏆

Title: Long Distance Phone Call

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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