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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#170: Best Laid Plans

As the old saying goes, "We plan, God laughs"; no matter how carefully we try and prepare for the future, life tends to get in the way. Sometimes these obstacles are actually opportunities, and things work out for the better. Sometimes, these disappointments don’t have a happy ending. Either way, we have to muddle through.

This week’s prompts are all about plans — whether they work out, they don’t, or we never had one to begin with!

This week's prompts

Start your story with the line “I’ve got a plan”.

Dialogue – 60 stories

Write a story about a character who tries to control their life down to the most minute detail — but has to learn to let go.

Character – 25 stories

Write about a plan that goes wrong, for the better.

Middle School – 38 stories

Write a story that involves the architectural plans for a building.

Mystery – 10 stories

Fly by the seat of your pants and write a story without a plan.

Short Story – 68 stories

Stories

“Fantastic Variations on an Old Rhyme - ~A Pastiche~” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #170

Fantastic Variations on an Old Rhyme~A Pastiche~Scritch-scritch-scritch.There it was again: a faint scrabbling sound. Gert exhaled loudly, flipped her pillow to the cool side, and pulled the quilt over her head.Scritch-scritch-scritch.She could still hear it. A mouse in the wall, no doubt — and there lay Siminy, tidily curled at the foot of the bed, unjustly sleeping the sleep of the just.What time was it? Bonnnggg… The Clock struck One.Gert was too hot. She flung the covers back to feel the breeze from the fan. Scritch-scritch-scr...

12 comments 12
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“Under The Poppies” by Kami L'le

Submitted to Contest #170

“911, what’s your emergency?” “She’s gone! S-she’s really gone… Help me… She’s gone…” A panicked voice sobbed helplessly. The voice on the other line inhaled sharply. “Who’s gone?” “My daughter, Brielle. She’s gone. She’s- she’s not here anymore.” “Take a deep breath. What’s your name?” “Atta-” Atta tried to take deep breaths, but her lungs felt as if they’d been set to a flame. She gasped for air but vomited in the process. “Okay Atta, Give me your location and we will send officers as soon as possible.” Atta stated where she was located wh...

4 comments 4
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“Odd Pilgrims at the Church of Hate” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #170

TW: Swearing, gangs, guns. I’ve got a plan. It’s vicious, perhaps even cruel. That’s part of the fun.             They gather in a giant shed. From the outside it’s halfway to a church. White wooden walls. Tall thin windows. They don’t preach the word of God here. They worship hate.             A project I have laboured on for a week is coming to fruition. Every night I sealed up every possible vent for air in the side of...

9 comments 9
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“A Rolling Change” by Michael Schafer

Submitted to Contest #170

So here I am, the guy everyone knows as the unluckiest kid in town. But not on this night! It’s January of 1980. I am at the skating rink with my friends, Billy, Avis, and the girl of my fourteen-year-old dreams: Lisa. Lisa is the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, cheerleader beauty that every guy in school loves. She isn’t very tall, but she is definitely, dynamite in a small package. I have waited a long time to have this night. You see, Lisa and I have had some issues. Okay, I screwed up. Because of a dumb accident involving my three-speed H...

4 comments 4
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“Feel the Benefit” by Karen McDermott

Submitted to Contest #170

Eye mask. Lavender spray. Ear plugs. Phone off. All the things I do to avoid you, yet sometimes, somehow, you still sneak in. Usually complaining of how tired you are, failing to note the irony. Then on about how you never get to go anywhere. I remind you that you do not have legs, but you talk over me to tell me how you do not approve of my boyfriend, my hair, my clothes, my weight, my carpet, my job. Which doesn’t matter. None of these things are for you. But I could build a concrete wall and your poison arrows would still corrode it ov...

16 comments 16
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“Violets” by Jennifer Cameron

Submitted to Contest #170

I’ve got a plan. My pale fingers folded around the small bouquet of Violets grasped in my cold palm. Death had a way of distorting things, of changing perceptions. Here I am bringing you flowers and yet just because I killed you everyone thinks they’re better than me, that I’m the lowest of the low. I don’t see any of them bringing you flowers. Well, they probably did in the beginning, but it’s been a whole life sentence since then and the only remaining petals are grey and crisp with dying veins running through them. But you understand, do...

4 comments 4
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“Just An Average Tower Princess” by K.J Stars

Submitted to Contest #170

When I was taken to live in a tower—it was expected for a Princess like me to be terrified. To slink into the corner of my (rather an extravagant one mind you) room that I now reside in and wait for some knightly prince to save me as I cower from the dragon. Perhaps even a bit of resistance and attempt escape.Funny enough, I asked for this. I’m relieved to be away from the place I falsely called home which hosted a place of so-called family who was to forcefully marry me off to some higher-ranking prince.Yeah, no.And that dragon who supposed...

1 comment 1
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“Southern Heartbreak” by Lancia Stewart

Submitted to Contest #170

Southern HeartbreakIt was a crisp cold night. I lay up here holding my beautiful wife, Leanna. Her beauty revealed itself even deeper to me through the whole in the roof under the moonlight. I had neva seen or eaten chocolate before, but I heard a description about it once being rich in flava, smooth as molasses and so sweet tast'n that it brings you to a sudden and instant joy. A feeling I felt every time Leanna’s smooth skin embraced mine. The crickets sang dey song. The frogs joined in for an amphibious sympathy. It was like music to...

2 comments 2
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“I Don't Want To” by Daniel Fernandes

Submitted to Contest #170

Times are tough. I won't deny it. We all have our struggles and most will hide it. Can't breathe anymore just keeping quiet. No need to anyways like a lawyer's client.Money is problematic, it always has been. Hard to get your hands on even if you're asking. I try to be good. I was raised right. Learned what I had to in order to be polite. Stretch patience and bow a head. Work for what you need otherwise you're dead.Hobby set aside working too much. killing a passion eliminates the love. I don't want to but I am desperate. Need income asap if...

17 comments 17
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“The plan” by 勇 王子

Submitted to Contest #170

I got a plan. I wish it was just as simple as that though. Breaking and entering isn’t a easy job to do, but with my 3 step plan I’m sure we can break into any secure building and get away with it. First, we need to scope out the place we plan on entering. Second, we dress like custodians on the night shift. Third, we walk into the building. Sounds easy enough right. This full proof plan has gotten me into millions of government buildings over the past few years. They never learn to make sure their “custodial staff” is actual custodial staff...

3 comments 3
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“Sly Fox Likes Duck Stew” by Melony Beard

Submitted to Contest #170

Not long ago, in the Land of Fairytales, lived Mother duck with her seven ducklings. They lived in a pond surrounded by green grass and wildflowers, near Fable Field, where Loki, the unicorn, lived. One morning, when Loki strolled by the pond, one little duckling looked very sad as he waded alone near the bank. "What's wrong, my little duckling friend?" Loki asked. "I want to run away from home," the little duckling answered. “The Land of Fairytales is the best home I’ve ever had. Why do you want to run away?” Loki asked. “My s...

4 comments 4
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“Jamie's Got a Plan” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #170

“I’ve got a plan.” “Your plan is what got us into this mess!” I looked around the room looking for some way out of this. It was a mess. The chair next to the vanity was overturned, the mirror was smashed, and a naked man in his 40s sat slumped unconscious, but still breathing, on the floor between the bed and the wall with a large butcher knife in his chest semi covered with my bedspread. My original plan was to get the naked guy, who used to be my best friend Renee’s step dad, over to my house, get him in a compromised situation, and then...

21 comments 21
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“Lovers and other Liars” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #170

I’ve got a plan.” Marcus looked at his friend with a mixture of intrigue and doubt. He had known Rendon for his entire life and had been his best friend since middle school. Marcus took another sip of beer and laughed at Marcus with mild amusement. Rendon always had some cock-eyed plan, and they never worked. They did, however, provide Marcus with a lot of entertainment. “And I’m ready to help you out, buddy. Tell me whatcha got,” Marcus got up and retrieved another beer from the refrigerator. He knew this would require beer, but then again,...

14 comments 14
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“Fall” by Deborah Wright

Submitted to Contest #170

Just thinking about way too much as I'm standing at the top of the stairs. I stop to hear people walking by my house, the rustling of leaves pulling my attention away as I put my left foot in the direction of the first step into space. The brisk, scratchy sound of leaves swooshing up into the air with each step of the unknown persons outside my perception. Taking me to a moment in time, not this one. Taking me away from where I should be focusing my attention. Stealing my attention from this critical moment. Now I'm falling, and all though...

2 comments 2
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“You’re Kidding” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #170

“I have a plan.” Roach looked up when Martin spoke. The din of shouting men echoed constantly off the prison’s concrete and metal surfaces. Whispers would be lost. “To escape?” “You crazy? I’m getting out in an hour. Why escape?” Roach sighed. “I hope you don’t mind my saying, but you can get impatient…” Martin paused. He didn’t want to feed his friend’s delusion. “Urgency demands action, Roach. That doesn’t mean I’m impatient. You could catch fire and take a nap.” A sense of déjà vu washed over Roach. “…Your plan? Going on vacation?” Marti...

2 comments 2
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$250

Prize money

201

Contest entries

125

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 04, 2022 EST

Won by Camphor White 🏆

Title: Fini Flight

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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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