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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#174: Evolution

On November 25th, 1859, Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking book, On the Origin of Species. The idea of evolution was controversial; to claim that the world wasn’t unchanging and had not always been the same chafed against human ideals of perfection. But as we well know, nothing in life is truly static.

In the spirit of this anniversary, this week we want to explore evolution and new discoveries; because sometimes change can be terrifying, but it can also be freeing.

This week's prompts

Write a story where someone says, “Everything is changing.”

Dramatic – 59 stories

Write about two old friends meeting for the first time in years.

Adults – 60 stories

Write a story about someone coming to terms with how different they are from their younger self.

Angst – 49 stories

Write about someone whose desire to constantly improve something borders on obsessive.

Dramatic – 25 stories

Write a story about a brilliant scientist making a startling discovery.

Science Fiction – 45 stories

Stories

“How Different I am from my Younger Self” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #174

When writing to prompts, there are ones that appeal and ones that don't. This one appealed because 'coming to terms with how different I am now than in my youth,' is an active thing I wrangle with, and it isn't something I have achieved. Who would if they believed people de-evolve once they reach the prime of life? Or if they believe growing old should refer to a state of maturity and wisdom, not a state of becoming physically decrepit. Maturity is a state of mind because aging is compulsory but growing up is optional. Those who choose the...

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“Auburnsborro Church” by James Kelly

Submitted to Contest #174

by James Ross Kelly You could always look out the windows if the sermons went overly long in 1962. There were pigs there in a well rooted field. The faithful were few then, but there were children forced to hear religion from their World War II veteran era parents who, with notable exceptions had mostly abandoned the notion personally, but still felt it had taught basic morality 101—and everyone needs some of that. So, a lot of the children were delivered up there on Sunday’s. Fred caught a ride with the Pastor and his wife and two daughters...

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“When I was a wildchild...” by Asia Perrine

Submitted to Contest #174

When I was a child, The world was large. I had so much to do and many adventures to go on. Thrill seeking, camping trips by myself, I would run through the tall grass and pet wild horses that let me hold them close. I would try to keep wild dogs as pets and befriend cats I found in barns. The world was my oyster and I was a noble and wild adventurer. Even when I felt alone. When I began to ask myself Why I was so alone I would compare myself to peter pan. I would say I am simply a lost girl who is on her own way to neverland and things w...

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“Never.” by Jennifer Grace

Submitted to Contest #174

He was so close, she could see the individual follicles on his unshaven cheek: a plantation of oily black holes sprouting tiny branchless trees. She thought about trying to count them, drawing an imaginary fence between the diamond stud in his earlobe and the first grey whisker on his chin. But she couldn’t concentrate. He was hurting her too much. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her head back into the pillow, willing herself to soften beneath him, despite the pain. He would be done with her soon, and then she never ...

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“A Forgotten Promise” by Kara Reed

Submitted to Contest #174

Tw: Brief implication of underage sex work Time flies. Of course, we all know this, but it seems we don’t realize the severity of it until we are much older. When you are a child, two or three years seems like a lifetime, and something further away, like ten years, seems impossible. But as an adult, as you grow nearer and nearer to death, the days and years blend seamlessly. Tomorrow, yesterday, today, and next year are so streamlined, it is easy to forget the events that occur in a given moment. Like many children, these thoughts ...

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“Hello Future Me” by John Hutchinson

Submitted to Contest #174

I pulled into the lot, making a bee line for the my spot. I found a minivan instead, stickers on the back proudly boasting of being a soccer mom. Groaning I looked for an empty space, then made for the building. The morning granted a bit of luck when a man held the elevator as I sped down the hall. “Floor thirteen, please.” I say huffing, and out of breath. Curse my creaking body. The ride up was silent, besides the pop music playing in the chassis. I had less than fifteen minutes when I stepped out onto my floor, and decided to head straig...

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“there's beauty in what's broken” by Aza P

Submitted to Contest #174

Until he breaks. Arched back, bruised knees. There’s nothing sexy about it, but it looks good on stage. Eyes like he’s going to fuck you tonight, but he doesn’t mean it. Never means it. Or maybe he does. He can’t do anything without meaning it with his whole heart. There’s truth in that look. But it’s like a daydream to reality. Slamming to the ground, wearing the wrong kind of shoes for this – the kind that don’t let him stand up fast enough. Falls down. Again. Arched back, bruised knees. Slamming to the ground. Falling down. Agai...

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“Nature Vs Nurture” by Kelly Jackson

Submitted to Contest #174

I had that dream again last night. Being chased, desperately trying to lose my pursuer, my legs painfully slow and heavy. I never manage to escape. I dare not look back, but I hear their footsteps, rapidly gaining on me, their hot breath drawing closer and closer, making my hairs stand to attention. I stumble in the darkness as the overwhelming fear floods every muscle, every tendon, crushing my burning chest. Then I wake. My body stiff and twisted, palms hot and wet, teeth clenched like a vice. My husband thought I was having a seizure the ...

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“A Morning Routine” by Dylan Taylor

Submitted to Contest #174

The piano keys felt like ice cubes on Henry’s fingers. It was a sensation he had grown used to with time, like stepping out of a hot morning shower in a cold house. He needed to warm up, but as the keys had reminded him, so did the piano. An antique mahogany spinet piano took only a gentle touch. They had been learning about each other for the last six years, starting on Henry’s fifth birthday, when this one made its first appearance. A piano for the brothel, his father had called it at the time. Henry hadn’t known what that meant, a...

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“With Love” by Kacie W.

Submitted to Contest #174

To my darling, nameless girl - you won't remain nameless for long, I promise. I had planned to name you Harper, but after holding you, I knew it was wrong. I thought about Camille, or Diana, or Lyla, but none of them seemed right either. Give me a bit more time. I'll find something very soon. Happy birthday, sweet one. With love, Mom Eleanor stares at the computer screen. The letter is the first of nine hundred and thirty-six emails. This is the first time she has opened any of them. It is daunting - reading through these one...

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“The Biggest Fight” by Mark El-Ayat

Submitted to Contest #174

Joey Habib was an angry child growing up. A motherless teen full of rage with hatred in his heart. The yelling from his uncle, who became his wrestling coach, the fights with fellow students, and one occurrence during his senior year when he knocked out his math teacher for calling him a stupid Arab boy. This led Joey to be homeschooled for the rest of the high school year. After, he worked for a construction company, doing demolition, while his uncle got him some fighting matches that would garner some side money.Joey observed his chiseled ...

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“Getting Better Every Day” by Malene A. Little

Submitted to Contest #174

Trigger Warning: "Mental health" and "suicide or self harm"It was the last Tuesday of the month, so I’m treating myself to Golden Rings, my favorite pan-Asian cuisine restaurant. As I bite into a crab Rangoon oozing with cream cheese and dripping with sweet and sour sauce, I think about how decadent it is. The couple in the booth to the right and a little ahead of me suddenly catches my attention. The woman offers the man a bite of her dessert. He evidently likes it as he asks her something and looks around. He must be wondering where she fo...

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“Father and son.” by Jack Sink

Submitted to Contest #174

The wind shook the tree branches creating a sound that had the same deafening tone as rain. “Windy day out,” The man claiming to be my father said, desperate to make some sort of conversation. “Sure,” I replied, unwilling to even offer him a look in the eyes. I don’t know why I’d agreed to go on this hunting trip with him. Nothing was forcing me to say yes, he just showed up out of the blue one day after being gone for twenty-three years. “Do you hate me?” he aske...

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$250

Prize money

238

Contest entries

96

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 02, 2022 EST

Won by Sam Porter 🏆

Title: Playing God

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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