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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

“Labor of Love” by Jessica Amaya-Jimenez

Submitted to Contest #170

I’ve got a plan. At least I had one. I made it anyway. It was a great plan. One for how I was going to bring my baby into this world. Labor and delivery are somewhat of an unknown, uncertain time in a pregnant woman’s journey, whether they have had a child yet or not. My journey is unique to me and my baby, as any mama would know. I was going to give birth with a midwife, instead of at the hospital. My father thinks I’m crazy. In fact, we got into a full-on argument and yelling match about my chosen midwife's qualifications. Who is he to tel...

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“Joke's on You” by Dionne Nichols

Submitted to Contest #170

*Existential thought provoking that may offend those of religious indoctrination and beliefs.* Joke’s on You I’ve got a plan! Laughter. Not the kind one hears, but that kind that is felt. Joyous reflection of laughter. “Ha, ha, ha, ha … '' The continuous sound of laughter can be heard /felt on the wind, through the trees, crows cackling, birds chirping, squirrels chattering in such a way that all Nature rings out with the tinkling sounds that reminds you of Universal laughter. All Nature smiles and glows with this spectacular...

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“Drinking water” by バーブラ内葉

Submitted to Contest #170

"I've got a plan." John said and glanced at his own reflection. He was a thoughtful, and kind, juice drinker. Once, he had even made a cup of tea for a youthful chicken. But not even a thoughtless person who had once made a cup of tea for a youthful chicken, was prepared for what Becky had in store today. The sun shone like a walking monkey, making John jumpy. As John stepped outside and Becky came closer, he could see the blue glint in her eye. "I am here because I want some more followers," Becky bellowed, in a cool tone. She said "I...

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“Pants Down” by Sutanu Mukherjee

Submitted to Contest #170

Thinking of Toto’s Garage, Shikhar thought, “I’ve got a plan”.He and his friends from a well-regarded B-school were doing their summer internship and had gotten their first salary. Like most people who, like them, had just gotten their first salaries, they decided to get drunk. Or more specifically, Shikhar wanted to get very drunk and the rest wanted to have a good time.Summer saw Shikhar and his friends disperse to the various economic hubs of India for their summer internships. But most headed for Mumbai.Shikhar was doing his internship a...

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“The Day we Killed Billy Martin” by Joanne Johnson

Submitted to Contest #170

The Day we killed Billy Martin “I’ve got a plan.” Mark knelt in the dust. We all leaned in closer. Mark was the quiet one, but when he spoke we all listened. The four of us had been plotting and dreaming for days about how we could get Billy Martin’s new bike away from him. We really hated Billy Martin. It wasn’t his red hair and freckles that all but made his face one big freckle. It wasn’t that he always had a smug grin on his fat face. I don’t even think it was because he beat up the little kids and stole their lunch mone...

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“The Winner” by MJ Simons

Submitted to Contest #170

THE WINNER“I’ve got a plan,” Annie said enthusiastically. “I’ll have a garage sale! She glanced at her best friend Tuck, who was less than enthusiastic about her lofty ambitions, considering the forecast. He continued to feed himself a twisted glazed donut from a pink box while he sat on a black metal stool in Annie’s garage.“Tuck! Well, aren’t you going to say anything”? Tuck held up a finger and nodded as he finished chewing the last of his confection. He cleared his throat. “I was just going to say that I don't think this is a good idea.”...

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“Olivia has a plan” by Rayna Quinn

Submitted to Contest #170

"I've Got a Plan." Olivia said to herself and then turned to look out the window from her seat on the train. On the train, she had many childhood memories of trying to make the first pitch of a Pinnacle City Wolves baseball game in Den stadium. The thrill of trying to get there was the most memorable part. It was good she didn't take her car through the highway and tolls because she wanted to enjoy traveling on one to get a warm feeling of nostalgia. This nostalgia brought a smile to her face but had nothing to do with her plan.&nbsp...

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“The Orc's Gambit” by Denver Brown

Submitted to Contest #170

“I’ve got a plan.” Declared King Victor, as he entered the castle’s planning room to find his top soldiers stood around their war table. The human King pushed aside two of the soldiers to see the figures on the map. Small wooden columns of green, red, and blue colour were littered about a geographically inaccurate map of the Kingdom. “What would that plan be, sir?” The soldier’s captain asked. King Victor moved the blue pieces, which represented the soldiers of his kingdom, into a formation resembling an arrowhead. The green pieces, ...

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“Paved with Good Intentions” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #170

“I’ve got a plan,” said Mr. Robinson. All eyes were on him as the candlelight fixtures - spaced regularly along the walls - flickered with an artificial glow. Those that stood around the room seemed to share nervous energy. The only ones who looked calm were the four who sat in leather-bound chairs arranged in a semi-circle and facing a beautifully-carved, oak desk. Despite the massive amount of individual power accumulated within the room, no one bid Mr. Robinson to continue. Only one could give such a command and he stood by the window, t...

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“The Sassy, Silent and Sarcastic” by Anush Sukumar

Submitted to Contest #170

“I’ve got a plan.”Alyssa was stunned at the blood red haired girl’s statement at her doorstep. Sara’s hair color was just an off-shoot of her entire wacky behavior. Sara flinched at anything normal and resorted to only abnormal tendencies like standing at her friend’s doorstep during midnight with an idea. Alyssa’s puffed eyes were not only open halfway, but her mouth was too dry to talk. Alyssa coughed - “Wha.. What idea? What time is it?”Sara’s eyes boomed - “It's midnight.” Alyssa didn’t bother to glean the significance of Sara's unwelcom...

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“Silver Bullets” by Stephen Bollich

Submitted to Contest #170

“I've got a plan,” Thom said to no one in particular. Today was the day. Thom was going to solve all his problems. All he needed to do was sit down and really concentrate. It wouldn’t be like last time. Or the time before that.First Thom would need paper. And a pen.THOM’S LIST OF ALL THE THINGS HE NEEDS TO BE HAPPY(1) Start talking to Courtney between periods at her locker. Never say anything about her eyebrows again.Crap. Thom forgot to trim three fingernails on his right hand. What had distracted him so suddenly from trimming his nails? Oh...

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“Inheritance ” by Lili Szomor

Submitted to Contest #170

I’ve got a plan, eight-year-old Mimi reassures herself as she approaches her parents. The perfect moment. Her mother sits at the kitchen table, one hand around her cup of coffee, the other flipping through a magazine. Her father clatters around her, banging cupboards and drawers, making his favourite snack. It is a Saturday morning. The radio is on. No talk of work. No laundry to do, or shopping. No expected packages or phone calls. “Mum?” She keeps her voice neutral. No need to alarm them. “Can I...

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“Lizzie's bottomless brain” by Atira Dayanim

Submitted to Contest #170

“I’ve got a plan,” My friend Lizzie said. “That’s never a good sign,” I replied. She rolled her eyes. We were five minutes away from the second bell. Yesterday morning, Lizzie came up to me frantically screaming about how she had to break into the Library of Congress. Believe it or not, this isn’t the craziest thing that Lizzie has ever done or wanted to do. I kept asking her why, and she kept saying she couldn’t tell me. She never does. I just always go with it. “First, we have to go at night, because that’s when no one will be there.” I lo...

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“A Relaxing Endeavor” by Brennan Welcher

Submitted to Contest #170

“Where to start,” he pondered aloud. It was a question searching for the precipice of a great wonder to be slew from his mind and onto his screen through the route of his fingertips, ultimately taking its place carefully organized onto a crisp piece of paper to be delicately stared at to return the words to the mind via the fingertips of a different individual. Filled with angst, the writer felt the light tapping of his fingertips hitting the keyboard rhythmically, tauntingly. He stopped. Annoyed, he leapt up and walked with a dutiful step t...

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“Crack of Dawn” by Paula Feldman

Submitted to Contest #170

I have everything I ever wanted, so why am I not happy? I have a gorgeous wife with bleached blond hair and a hot body, two boys who I can dress however I want. I even dye their hair to match their mother’s. We are the perfect family! Everyone sees us on social media and envies us. You see, I know how to have fun! It’s simple, you make a big deal out of everything possible! Trips, cruises, Disneyworld. Parties for every occasion. Live for the moment, they say! Work hard, play hard. I met my wife Pam in high school and we ha...

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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!

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