#164: Where I Come From
Elizabeth Brewster wrote a beautiful poem titled ‘Where I Come From’ — this is how it begins:
“People are made of places. They carry with them
hints of jungles or mountains, a tropic grace
or the cool eyes of sea gazers.”
I’ve always loved this poem’s abstracted sense of local identity, so this week I invite you to consider how your characters’ backgrounds affect their personalities and choices.
This week's prompts
Start your story with a character saying “Where I come from, …”
Middle School – 86 stories
Write a story in which someone returns to their hometown.
Adults – 81 stories
Write a story about coming of age in a big city.
High School – 14 stories
Write a story where a local takes a newcomer under their wing.
Adults – 26 stories
Stories
“Home Town” by Mel Dingwall
Submitted to Contest #164
“Dreams of Cloudbase” by P. T. Golden
Submitted to Contest #164
“The red-eye flight” by Dao Huy Kien
Submitted to Contest #164
“The Love That Lasted” by Delaney Howard
Submitted to Contest #164
“Pioneer Days: Pop” by Nola Schiff
Submitted to Contest #164
“Who Says You Can't Go Home Part 1” by Laura Eliz
Submitted to Contest #164
“Rita's Bench” by Jonathan Mccarthy
Submitted to Contest #164
“Brigadoon” by Trebor Mack
Submitted to Contest #164
“My Dream Hometown” by Faruk Ahmed
Submitted to Contest #164
“The City Cries Blue” by Allyson Pang
Submitted to Contest #164
“I am Staussey, Dragon” by Tanya Humphreys
Submitted to Contest #164
“My Heart and the Sea” by Von Armstead
Submitted to Contest #164
“Dear Ladybird, I'm homesick...” by J.M. De Jong
Submitted to Contest #164
“The birdhouse maker ” by Dawn Kaltenbaugh
Submitted to Contest #164
“Drowning In Your Thoughts” by Tori Harrison
Submitted to Contest #164
$250
Prize money
238
Contest entries
91
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Sep 23, 2022 EST
Won by Lindsay Flo 🏆
Title: Mothering
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!