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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

“Going On A Treasure Hunt” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #161

Angela opens her eyes to bright light. She looks over at the single bed next to her, Johnny and Pricilla, her young siblings, are nearly on top of one another, blanket up to their chins. Angela breathes out and watches her breath turn to fog in front of her. The fire must have gone out in the middle of the night. Angela’s pink puffy coat, her only coat, lays across her as an extra layer while she sleeps and she puts it on, sits up, and stretches out her arms. Her mother bought it for her two years ago, for her...

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“The Vampire and the Werewolf” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #161

Finally, Zorro Lobo managed to get his hair slicked into the right style; his reflection smiled appreciatively back. “Rock’n’roll” was said with devotion as Zorro took in his magnificence. His brand new, straight-out-of-the-box blue swede shoes screamed cool, as did his black pinstriped pants; the black short-sleeved shirt with an up-turned collar just finished everything off nicely, and after a week of practice, he’d gotten the lip curl down pat as well. An attitude of rebel cool screamed out from his full-length mirror.&nbs...

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“jiāoqiǎnyánshēn ” by Madison Marvin

Submitted to Contest #161

jiāoqiǎnyánshēn (交浅言深) Chinese, v. - to have a deep and intimate conversation with a stranger. The phone had been ringing nonstop for the past twenty minutes from an unknown number. Even when I denied the call, or put my phone on silent, I couldn’t get it to stop ringing. Despite knowing that this was definitely the first five minutes of a horror movie, I answered it. And as soon as the voice on the other end spoke, I knew who it was. My birth mother. “Hello?” I called out, and she answered me. I didn’t think she would answer me. Didn’...

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“Water Is Where The Past Is” by Trevor Loomis

Submitted to Contest #161

The cove hidden away from the rest of the world seemed to Judge to be the perfect place to forget his problems. With a lovely waterfall in front of him and extravagant flora encompassing him, Judge felt, maybe for the first time in months, that he could relax in this place of isolation. He stood at the brink of the waterfall’s barren rocky coast. Erosion had created a small pool of crystalline water inside a hollow hole of hard rock that constantly streamed into four estuaries that disappeared into the thick forest scenery. Four steps back w...

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“A Walk Between Worlds” by Cynthia Prokarym (Scott)

Submitted to Contest #161

"Stop that! It feels weird." A thousand icy fingers are trying to pilfer through my brain. My eyes squint at the discomfort. My forehead furrows. Now, it looks like a crinkle-cut French fry.I raise my hand in protest, hoping they stop this intrusion immediately. One of the 7 ft. tall light beings doubles over as if I just punched him in the solar plexus.“Owwwww, your kickback is powerful. Were you a sensitive in your former life?”“I don't know...whatever… Just stop the rummaging!" I reply. "My brain isn’t some garage sale for you to go ...

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“The Daughter Who Screwed My Husband” by Heather Sidwell

Submitted to Contest #161

She was darling; everyone in the community thought so, especially all the men. She just had this way about her, the sparkle in her eye that drew them in and then, like a Siren, she would sink her claws and fangs into them, cutting them far beneath the skin, tearing at their flesh and then ripping out their hearts. My fifteen year old son laid his eyes upon her married form and swore he would marry her himself one day. Sadly, none of us realized just what a promiscuous, narcissistic, sociopath she actually would turn out to be. What a joke! S...

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“19:27:46” by Joey Balk

Submitted to Contest #161

‘So, you know how we said we had to reduce CO2 emissions and separate our trash and such to prevent climate change?’ ‘That was over twenty years ago, Laura. What about it?’ Twenty-two, but who’s counting? At this point I’m unable to keep my leg still. Like a jackhammer I keep bouncing it up and down, sending ripples through the glass of water in front of me. ‘Yeah… that was a lie. What we discovered then wasn’t that the climate was changing, we already knew about that for thirty years, give or take, and with the rapid development of te...

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“Campfire Fam” by Kyle Quande

Submitted to Contest #161

Clea sat quietly, the campfire crackling and illuminating the darkness. She watched and listened to her surrounding friends. Perhaps her new family, or so she would like them to be. Clea had told them her story and opened herself up to them. It was the first time she’d spoken the words aloud, Clea had never intended to keep her past a secret, but she never felt she could talk about it before this moment. Just something warm and inviting about this group of people made it easy for her to speak and open up about herself. Now that she was done ...

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“Good Old Man” by Caleb Lekki

Submitted to Contest #161

Every day, Shauna walked to school, she would pass his house. Every day she would see him peering through the window. His eyes were piercing like a hawk. His nose was pointed like a beak. His skin was wrinkled and pale. Sometimes, Shauna would see him come out of his house to tend his garden. He was a thin tall man. His house was a large, brick house with an oddly sharp and pointy roof. His lawn was well kept, but mysteriously so. You could see the man tending his garden from time to time, but no one ever saw him cut the grass, which one c...

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“A Late Evening Snack” by Katie Edie

Submitted to Contest #161

The stinging pitch of singing steam rang over the soft music and the hum of mumbled words. The dark, thick smell conquering the fading smell of wet floor cleaner clinging in the cracks of the floor. The bight yellow sign stuck out with warning. Warning. Did she need a warning? There was so much noise in her head, it was hard to tell if she was a danger or not. The knife of the mornings memories up to the hilt in her mind. The anxious tightness in her neck that just wouldn't fade. She hadn't mean to let the bastard escape. If he knew better, ...

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“Being Martha” by Melissa Rea

Submitted to Contest #161

Being Martha Martha Evans knew she shouldn’t have made the second pecan pie. Louella Davis being dead only required one pie for the visitation. The only reason for the second one was her own sweet tooth. Dr. Watson was going to have a blue blazes fit when she saw Martha’s blood sugar numbers next week. Eighty seven years might be enough time on this earth and if pecan pie was going to kill her, so be it....

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“End of a Dream” by Lucy Gardner

Submitted to Contest #161

I stared at the celestial body of Mars, burning orange against the dark-blue sky of Earth. The night was dead and the moon was hidden. A cloudless sky. A silent world. The city of skyscrapers had never before been so bare of all its monotone.It was irony and a chuckle was the only remedy. People wondered if global warming would end us or perhaps nuclear decimation would do the trick. We liked to imagine the end of the world as something that could be stopped if only we all took great pains to care, and yet? The world was ending and there was...

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“Juniper Kima III” by Lavender Marigold

Submitted to Contest #161

Something was wrong. I knew it the instant I planted my foot onto the arena’s glass floor. I knew as the feeling of chill dread strung itself through my spine and anticipation paralyzed me. Something was very wrong. I checked the tattoo on my arm. The glistening black ink read ‘3’—as it should. A wave of panic surged and my finger tapped against the side of my leg. I’d done that—no, she’d done that. Juniper Kima Prime had begun this habit as early as high school. And so, I did it too. With a clenched jaw and restless fingers, I f...

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“Open Mic Night” by Yuri D

Submitted to Contest #161

“Seriously?” She widens her eyes as her head follows his every move, “That’s how you want to start off?” “Absolutely, I am taking it back a few years. To when I realized that I enjoyed writing jokes.” He smiles as she rolls her eyes. She folds her arms across her chest, “Jake, that was also the time that your family stopped talking to you.” She questions him as he lets out a chuckle. “Not the point of the story Naomi. Just sit back and enjoy the show.” Jake replies as he walks away to the stage. &nbsp...

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“Reapers Ride Buses” by Natalie Sands

Submitted to Contest #161

“Come on, one more drink!” “Please?” I have a friend hanging off each arm, both begging me to stay and both already wasted. “I’m sorry, the last bus is due to arrive and you know taxis to my place are extortionate.” My two best friends, Susan and Molly, had convinced me to go drinki...

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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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