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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#163: Leo Tolstoy

Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9th, 1828 — so happy birthday, Leo! In his novels, Tolstoy explored the intricacies and contradictions of ordinary people, as well as examining the nature of power, history, and society as a whole. In his later years, he renounced his aristocratic lifestyle to focus on a more spiritual path, promoting the idea of nonviolent resistance.

This week’s prompts pay homage to one of history's greatest writers and most interesting thinkers.

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone breaking an awkward silence at a family dinner.

Adults – 36 stories

Write about a character who is living through a major historical event — whether they know it or not.

Historical Fiction – 40 stories

Write about a character who risks everything to pursue their heart’s desires.

Romance – 19 stories

Write a story about someone facing death for the first time in their life.

Sad – 88 stories

Write a story in which someone says “You'll never be content.”

Adults – 51 stories

Stories

“Thaw” by Corey Melin

Submitted to Contest #163

“I really wish someone will start talking so everyone won’t hear me fart,” James said to his family members. Everyone looks to James in disbelief, then they either chuckle or start laughing. “Always the one to break the ice,” James’s father, Bruce, said, giving his son a stern look, which quickly turns to an expression of gratitude. &nbsp...

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“Paper Girl” by Hamzah Malik

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #163

Once upon a time there lived a girl made out of paper. She had puzzled her village when she was born, but over time they realised she was just like any other child, apart from one curious quirk. Paper Girl did not hold a memory, and she would forget everything every morning she woke up. To remedy this, Paper Girl’s mother lovingly painted colourful patterns on her daughter. She would explain what each pattern meant, and every morning when Paper Girl awoke, confused and scared, she would look at her colourful patterns and reme...

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“I Am A Savior” by Futurama Delivery

Submitted to Contest #163

I am a savior.You might recognize me as Dr. Aldaine.My self-healing books touched millions. Their voices flutter, grasping at a rope I provided. Tears from calloused eyes ripple like waves in my soul. It’s easy. Too easy. Psychology is an easy subject. It’s so moving.Saccharine words echo from a hollowed mouth. My mouth. Words don’t need to have any meaning. A person on edge looks for any hopeful glimpse—like a tightrope walker. Their minds, beaten with despair, glisten with rage.Rich authors can write poor characters. Pigs can feast like gi...

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“The Doll.” by Mel Dingwall

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #163

Contains a dead body, suggestions of murder and drug addiction.There was a plague of crickets the summer we found her body. They were everywhere. At the bus stop, hopping on the road, even sitting on the pump at the gas station. I remember the dead ones crunched under our sandals as we walked down to the creek.“My butt hurts.”“Then stop scratchin’ it.”“Candy, this grass won’t quit whippin’ me, it’s hurtin’ my legs.”“You didn’t have to come, Greg.”“Mom made me. Where are we goin’?“I’m goin’ to get tadpoles down at the creek.”“Why?”“For Billy....

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“Voicemail” by Elliot Moss

Submitted to Contest #163

“Hi Mama, hey Dad! I miss you guys! It’s been so long since I’ve been there to see you two, but I promise I’ll visit soon. I’m just having so much fun at school, meeting new people, learning so much. Dad, you were so right, the pizza here is horrible. We’ll have to go to Marienne’s when I get back to eat a proper pizza dinner! Oh, and Mom, how’s Pepper? I found this adorable bed for her, she’s just gonna love it! I miss my sweet puppy! Anyway, I should get going! I miss you guys, and I’ll see you soon! Love you!” The...

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“SALT” by Suma Jayachandar

Submitted to Contest #163

Violence has a way of breaking you. Even if it’s the other guy whose bones are crushed.The food is all right. Mostly vegetarian. Suits me fine. It’s the sun and the wind; one splitting your skin open and the other rubbing the salt in. I am beginning to get used to that as well. It’s not for nothing I walked miles in the Mexican desert following a General. Or ran across the streets of London as the air raid alarms blared in 1917. After all, my muscles hold the miles they walked to cover stories along the length and breadth of Michigan as a yo...

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“Color” by Jade Perkins

Submitted to Contest #163

I am simple. I am a simple woman who likes simple clothes and simple food. I find no significant meaning in people or objects, I simply just exist in this home of mine. My very simple home that holds no plants or fancy televisions or abstract art. No flower vases or pictures of my nieces and nephews on my walls; I like things simple. I am very peculiar about the colors in my home. I like simple colors. White carpets and white tile flooring, the walls and cabinets grey. I exist in almost no color at all. I dislike orange and violet...

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“Red Against Blue” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #163

TW: War, violence, death. Smoke told of downfall. Changing flags represented the end of an era. Red and yellow fire banners of the Isotope empire had become the blue and green waves of the Republic of Entropa. Kareen saw none of it. “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?” “Yes mother,” said Anna. “A great day to celebrate the anniversary of the empire.” The daughter didn’t have the heart to tell her imperia...

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“The Exposed” by Alex Flores

Submitted to Contest #163

Staring out the window makes Scott wonder why he’s in the café in the first place. Multitudes pass by, impossible to spot every individual. Sitting at his table, Scott notices the hand-holders. The pairs. Those walking together rather than at the same time as others. A curiosity crosses his mind, at how long some pairs have been coupled. An envious thought enters Scott, thinking how free those pairs are, holding hand on the street. &n...

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“Masters of the Winds?” by L.M. Lydon

Submitted to Contest #163

Potential Trigger Warning: historical fiction partially set in 1930s Germany.As the last towers of New York City vanished into wispy clouds the dirty, off-white hue of undyed cotton, I sighed. Seeing the new Empire State Building from the air was an experience I could lord over my schoolfellows back home. Now I understood why they called it a “sky scraper.” Even at normal cruising elevation, we’d been forced to gaze up at the building’s towering spire and avoid circling too close, lest we collide. Boldly, we’d circled over the city, passing ...

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“That Must Have Hurt” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #163

I was in a tunnel falling backwards, away from a small round light rapidly shrinking at the other end. Shit… this is it… How did I let this happen? This is a mistake. No, it’s a series of regrettable events. Think quickly, Chris. Recount the lead-up to this moment. You must try to make some sense of it before it’s too late. Try and hold on to your conscious thought. Let’s see… I visited my regular haunt, the Harp Inn on a quiet night. Only a few people I know are there to chat with, so I talked short, drank long, and became inebriated quite...

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“Last Supper” by Benny Regalbuto

Submitted to Contest #163

Adrian’s fork clinks against his plate as he sets it down to pick up his spoon. It’s the first sound any of us have heard since the beginning—the Big Bang of this family dinner. Heh. Calling it a “family dinner” as if it’s just like any other… I meet Mari’s eyes, but they dart away, focusing on some pattern in the tablecloth. It is a nice tablecloth—been in the family for generations. Long enough for all of us to know all of its intricate designs without even having to look, which means Mari is faking. We all are. All Mom and Dad can do ...

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“Baptisma Pyros” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #163

The car window is open just a crack. Through it, I can smell the fumes and hear the rumble of the city. I would like to stick my nose out of that crack, but Shannon will say No. I was doing that until she told me to Sit on the seat and Stay. What would be best is if she opened the window all the way: then I could stick my whole head out and still Sit. Something is wrong today. Shannon is driving very quickly, so that everything outside the window whizzes past before I can see it clearly. She is afraid, and her fear makes me anxious. A p...

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“Content” by Arthur P. Dutton

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #163

They sat and picked through images of dogs. All breeds. Puppies, full grown, and tired old dogs. The three algorithms sat around the table and picked through the stacks together. They consumed the images they thought she would like, the rest they dropped through a hole in the center of the kitchen table. None of them had spoken in many zeptoseconds.“Father, what if I don’t want to make recommendations for Julie Hudson of Grove Park? What if I want to be emailed to people for free, like Pongle_567?” the smallest algorithm asked the largest.&n...

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“Gone With the Wind” by Trebor Mack

Submitted to Contest #163

This story contains low-level racial overtones. Gone With the Wind Iain Macleod looked around the dinner table where eight stern faces focused elsewhere but at him and the new lady in his life, Hia. Of late, Iain, a general practice doctor, had returned from an overseas assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders in English, an international humanitarian medical non-governmental organisation of French origin best known for its projects in conflict zones and countries affected by endemic diseases. Married, with tw...

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$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

126

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 16, 2022 EST

Won by Zack Powell 🏆

Title: 10 Ways to Explain Your Husband's Death to Your Son

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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