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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#171: Wanderlust, Wanderlost

If I can paraphrase In Search of Lost Time, Marcel Proust once said that “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” This idea of travel has always been popular in literature: most notably, as a way for authors to explore a character’s internal journey through their encounters with the external world. After all, our interactions with people and places are what shape our perspective on things.

Taking inspiration from the idea of the solo voyage — whether it be a big trip around the world, or simply a leisurely walk around an unfamiliar neighborhood — this week’s prompts invite you to hone in on drifting, wandering, and exploring on your own.

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone looking at a breathtaking view and getting emotional.

Dramatic – 64 stories

Write about two solo travelers who keep bumping into each other in the most unexpected of places.

Romance – 21 stories

Write about a character who is trying to leave something or someone behind — only to realize they carry it with them.

Sad – 72 stories

Write a story where someone decides to take the long way home.

Adventure – 37 stories

Your character is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. The story takes place during a long-haul flight, with an open return-date. What happens?

Adventure – 10 stories

Stories

“The Quarterly Report” by Christopher Biery

Submitted to Contest #171

Autumn. Blood orange leaves flowed down the mountainside. Sunset yellow oaks waved like ocean water, twirling to reveal the hidden green branches below; the last of their kind. The season’s turning below mocked the blue sky above, which still conjured clouds of summer rain. If the world was flipped upside-down, it’d look like a sunset sea.Like the sky, a pair of piercing blue rebel eyes looked out across the expanse. Cal, a man of twenty-four years, was doing his best to accept the loss of ninety-degree greenery. The orange reflection in his...

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“Not Another Rainbow” by Vicky Walters

Submitted to Contest #171

Costa Rica “Miss, Miss!” The guide whispered, jumping in front of Jen’s lens, ruining the perfect photo she was about to take. Naturally, as soon as he moved, the toucan with a donut in its beak flew off. Cursing silently, Jen looked up. She’d joined this tour group after being told by her agent that it would be good to have a local take her around. So far she’d just gotten a lot of nonsense. “Yes?” Jen was aware she sounded angry as she stood from her squat. It had been the best shot she’d seen so far. The guide seemed to realize his er...

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“Doll Face” by Nikolas Zarate

Submitted to Contest #171

Doll Face Hello there, my dear, so I heard that you wanted to know what happened to the infamous Luna LaBelle, the mysterious and elusive woman who put Sourwater, Louisiana, on the map and was thought to be long dead. However, as you know, they never found her or her body.Now, I was young at the time, so I don’t remember everything, but this is what I know. Luna LaBelle was born on January 1, 1900. Her father, Fredrick, a wealthy club owner, gave his daughter many freedoms that not many young wo...

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“Another one walking beside me” by Sutanu Mukherjee

Submitted to Contest #171

I think Hope is a bitch. Hope never left me or stayed with me. My mother, Asha Mann, spent most of her adult life snorting coke and doing odd jobs to fund her addiction. One such odd job brought me into this world. During an unprotected exercise of flailing her legs, she discovered the implications of "the odds are against you." I do not have much memory of my mother. But my neighbours in the slum where I live say that in her lucid moments, Ma used to call me Swayam. In Hindi, Swayam meant yourself. Maybe she hoped that, unlike her, I co...

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“The Lions Upstairs ” by Eunice S

Submitted to Contest #171

There is the sound of footsteps present in my house at all times, even when I am in bed. Even when there are no visitors, at least none that I know of. Even when there are no animals loose – there could not be – I do not own any. But it does not matter what I do. I search every corner of my house, and the sound still goes on. I think they might be Rebecca's footsteps, but I always forget; she is not here anymore. I have called the police, I have gone to therapies, there is nothing much I can do. I take my medicine and yet, nothing ...

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“Falling into an Old Habit” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #171

I am very much a creature of habits, right down to the smallest detail. My sister says that it is because I live alone and have done so for a very long time. Too much time in her thinking. That could be true. Take this early evening for example. It is Friday night, so I walked from home (I could drive but that is not part of the habit) to Ye Olde Inn for dinner and a few beers. It is what I often did as a teenager, the beer being added once I turned became ...

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“A Little Goes A Long Way - The Long Way Home” by Torkwase Burts

Submitted to Contest #171

A Little Goes A Long Way – The Long Way Home Written By: Torkwase Burts Nowadays “Okay sir, have a good day!” The bells clinked against the glass door as it swung shut behind him. You would think the structure of the door would be a bit more modern. They should have automated doors that I can magically walk through without having to lift a finger, Al thought. The type of doors that's so aware of a humans' royal presence, they'll slide ...

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“The Glitch” by Conner Page

Submitted to Contest #171

The problem with going to dinner with Kali was always how full I am when I leave. I had needed a night out, away from the struggle of three kids and a husband, going to college a second time and navigating caring for a sick relative. She’d invited me to a high-end restaurant, her treat, but I’d had to make the drive because we lived in separate cities. Dallas was a middle point. I settled into the leather seats of my car and found my favorite playlist before entering the address of my h...

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“Jeff goes home” by Scott Dutkus

Submitted to Contest #171

“Attention Passengers aboard Delta Flight 5727, Reagan National to Boston Logan, our flight is unfortunately overbooked tonight and we are looking for several volunteers to be rebooked on an early morning flight. Delta is offering $350 and 5,000 bonus miles and we will rebook you on our 9 am flight tomorrow morning. If you are interested, please come to the gate and I will assist you in the rebooking process. Thank you.” Jeff looked at his ticket and saw an arrival time of 10:45. After a taxi ride, he could be home at t...

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“In Crayolese” by LiV Stickmann~Pollard

Submitted to Contest #171

(lesbian love)In CrayoleseWhen all you have is a slingshot, every problem looks like a window. Kit DavidstoneThere are in my entire memory just a few times when I have been slapped into a sudden clear awareness of life; when I suddenly began to understand my purpose, and believed that fulfilling it might actually be within my reach. I’m having one now, lying in bed just before dawn. Outside I know the mountain sky has been colored with soft, rosy Crayolas in apricot, yellow orange, goldenrod and salmon. To reproduce what ...

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“Terminal Living: A War Story” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #171

Like an Orwellian novel, I had been sent to Korea in 1984 to help defend democracy, crossing the International Date Line on Valentine’s Day where the clocks were all striking thirteen o’clock. After six months in Korea, I had decided to catch a flight home to get married in Marquette, Michigan. One of the perks about being in the service is that you can fly free, but as you may have guessed there is a catch. And the catch is what this near nonfiction tale is about. Catching a free flight from Osan Air Base t...

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“The Most Important Meal of the Day” by Jack Adam

Submitted to Contest #171

“Do you maybe want to call your brother and see if he wants to grab coffee before you go off to college?” I didn’t respond. “I think you should give it some thought, Thomas. You don’t know the next time you’ll see him, or if you ever will. You know how he lives…” My mother became choked up as she spoke; my older brother Blake was a drug addict and a possible sociopath, but she missed him dearly. I did too, although it was easier for me to cut him off - I could count on my fingers the amount of times I’ve seen him in person. She still r...

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“Blessings” by Megan Weiss

Submitted to Contest #171

She stands, hands jammed into jacket pockets, at the top of the hill. Cool air kisses her cheeks, drying the tears slowly tracking down to her chin. The chill against her damp skin makes her shiver, but she can’t make herself move. She can’t make herself break her eyes away from the clouds, and the rays of the sun shining through the gaps like the fingers of God. “Lia?” she turns. Her fiancé, who had been standing a few feet away to give her some needed spa...

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“COMING HOME TO MEMORIES” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #171

Niagara Falls, a beautiful sight to see. The falls has away of taking you on a magical journey. For me looking at the falls is very emotional, it brings back a lot of memories. I love everything about Niagara Falls. What I love most is going upon the boat rides. It was on one of these boat rides where the love of my life proposed to me. Oh My God! I knew this would happen. Tears are beginning to come down my face. The memories of Jesse's magical proposal is still real as ever. Me and Jesse hand in hand got on the boat, he held me so the ...

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“The View from My Seat” by Sharon Catlett

Submitted to Contest #171

The View from my Seat By S. Lee Catlett I have found the best view is when you observe the intimate solitary moments between those leaving or coming back from a journey. I guess I am a voyeur of the extraordinary landscape of people leaving to start anew or returning to something old and familiar. My favorite spot is a bench at the far corner of my city’s train station. I am old and although my wealth has allowed me to have seen many extraordinary gardens, mountains and oceans, the view from this bench has become...

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$250

Prize money

204

Contest entries

79

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 11, 2022 EST

Won by Thom With An H 🏆

Title: Silence

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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