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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#179: Levelling Up

New Year's Eve is a time for celebration, but it also marks a watershed. If there's something you've been wanting to achieve, but haven't quite found the time (or willpower) to make happen, the start of a new year can be the perfect moment to turn over a new leaf.

This week's prompts are all in the spirit of progress. Whether your characters are starting an entirely new life, or are making a tiny shift in the pursuit of happiness, it's time for change. And if your New Year's resolution involves getting back into your writing routine after the holiday haze, we hope they'll provide ample inspiration to jumpstart your creativity. We'll see you in 2023!

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone making a vision board.

Adults – 17 stories

Write a story in the form of a list of New Year's resolutions.

Holiday – 38 stories

Your character always makes the same promise; to change. Will they finally make it happen this time?

Angst – 44 stories

Write a story about someone scrambling on New Year's Eve to fulfil their resolutions for the entire year before the clock strikes twelve.

Funny – 28 stories

End your story with a kiss at midnight.

Romance – 73 stories

Stories

“Better Late Than Never” by Magnolia Blackwell

Submitted to Contest #179

This story contains content related to (victory over) substance addiction and sexual abuse. ********************************************************************Once the holiday hoopla was over, I hung out around my back door firepit, feeding the flames with fallen pine boughs and sipping on a bottle of bourbon I kept tucked in my breast pocket. Between that and the fire, I didn’t seem to feel the cold front that was promising a storm later in the day.I shook my head at the bottle in my hand. I knew it wasn’t a great habit, but I had my reaso...

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“One Last Time.” by Oriel Space

Submitted to Contest #179

I swear the box would always be staring at me. Taunting, reminding. Every time I opened my closet it would look down upon me from its perch at the top, and even though it was tucked behind some shoes, and buried under an old shirt, I could almost feel its presence. Oh trust me, I’ve wanted to get rid of the box plenty of times. But every time I even lifted the ratty flannel to reveal the box underneath, the pain it represented would grip me to the point of incapacitation, leaving me to curl up on the floor and let the pain flow through the t...

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“Pound Sterling” by Victoria Dove

Submitted to Contest #179

It's December 31st. I open my checklist with New Year's resolutions I created exactly a year ago. Completing my goals and winning the right to place a little tick next to the task brings me joy like nothing else. I glide my eyes over everything I've achieved this year- I am more than satisfied with myself. As I am doing a little happy dance and reading over the small wins of the year, my eyes narrow down one line...missing a check mark. "Lose 10lbs." I gasp. Not wasting any time, I rush to my bedroom and get on the scale. Steady breaths. I j...

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“Countdown to New Year's” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #179

Carrie Thompson was meticulous in everything she did. When she woke in the morning, she let the buzzer on her alarm ring for exactly five seconds before shutting it off. She would then get out of the bed from the left side and have a shower that lasted precisely eight minutes. Carrie allowed her bread to toast for exactly two-minutes-thirty-five-seconds and poured her coffee two-thirds full to allow for her one ...

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“‘Tis the Season ” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #179

Mirror mirror on the wall… Lisa swiped her hand over the steamed up glass and surveyed the reflection. This was not the face she saw in her own mind. The woman who looked back was old and tired and, was that a grey hair? She leaned in further, nose a scant few inches from the glass. Another side effect of the ageing process was an inability to perceive fine detail, perhaps it was a blessing. There they were, the fine wrinkles and silver wisps that were visible upon closer inspection. She stood back and stared at her body, grateful for the bl...

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“First Love in Waves & Dimensions” by Kenley Ellis

Submitted to Contest #179

Don’t you remember? I see it every night in the shapes in my ceiling, flickering to technicolor when I hold a pillow close and imagine it’s your body. It was one of those warm summer evenings you could feel in your teeth. Everything that mattered was right there, biting; the fireflies blinking to life outside the window, the sky closing over your parked car. The lights on the dashboard played over your fingertips as you tinkered with the volume and traced them over my arm - “Why can’t you just hold my hand?” I asked, trying not to la...

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“A Deadly Kiss” by Kat _

Submitted to Contest #179

“It’s tradition Indra! I don’t get why you think it’s such a big deal” “Tradition? Nahlea it’s drowning people!” “We’ve been over this - none of them actually drown, well, most of the time” Indra let out a shocked screech at her friend, as they had their annual argument about a particular tradition that they had different opinions on. At the end of the year, on the stroke of midnight, sirens, such as Nahlea, would pull someone into the ocean with a kiss, and those without the mental fortuity to protect themselves from a siren’s...

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“California Beaches ” by Simsim Rose

Submitted to Contest #179

The bubbly champagne trickles down her throat as Piper gazes onto Santa Monica’s beach from her hotel suite. It was new year’s eve and she had nowhere else to go so she bought herself a nice hotel room overlooking the ocean. Sitting on her balcony she hears the waves crashing, sees the palm trees swaying, and hears the tourists laughing. It’s her birthday. She finally has enough money to buy a hotel room somewhere nice. Somewhere she had dreamed of going all her life. When Piper was in high school she al...

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“A Beaut's Room for Survival ” by David Lontok

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #179

1) Start fresh and carry onCongratulations, you beautiful breathing thing. Stray bullets from the celebratory gunshots missed your skin on New Year’s Eve. The curfew applauds your compliance, and as promised, you’ve reaped safety.Now, put out that cigarette. You know he despises the sting of your bitter breath—as if his strikes anyone like a wreath of roses. Those “welcome home” kisses bring about the exchange, and his demand repeated through time builds up in volume. This year, don’t wait till his actions speak ...

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“A Coping Mechanism” by Agnes Fejer

Submitted to Contest #179

It has been ten years since that fatal New Year’s Eve. There have been nine New Year’s Days since then, and I have made the same resolution as every year: that I quit drinking. Maybe this year, I will succeed. But a tenth anniversary is not easy, and I already crave the sweet haze alcohol casts on my brain. Maybe I should try Antabuse. Or at least Alcoholics Anonymous. But I feel exhausted. As I open up my laptop, my hands feel like lead, my mouth is dry, and all I want is to sleep forever and drink a glass of whisky. Or six. Not necessarily...

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“Not Again ” by Kimberly Walker

Submitted to Contest #179

Not Again My teacher used to say,” if you can see it, you can achieve it.” The same thing happened every year, I wrote down the resolutions by Christmas day, and by Valentine’s day, I had broken all the important ones. Not this year; I’m determined to make a vision board…they say they work. Posting one up in my office at work and one on the refrigerator here at home. This way, others can keep me accountable. So, I can return to my high school weight by our fortieth reunion in June.Not sure if what I see in my mind’s eye is even a vision boar...

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“Let's just try” by C.L. Linz

Submitted to Contest #179

Something feels off as I step into my living room. I don't see, but sense that Nicole is here. The lavender fragrance usually present is tinted with the vanilla shimmer lotion she wears. Underneath that is a subtle dusting of sandalwood. That's Alan. I'd never allow another man into my home. I'm surprised they both agreed to come. I expected them to have big plans for New Year's Eve, but I surmise they planned on having quiet nights like me. The combined aroma has a warm feeling spreading through me. It feels like happiness. Like l...

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“My secret love :)” by Megan Whitten

Submitted to Contest #179

They were finally here, and her heart began to beat just a little bit faster. This was her first time seeing her friends in close to four months since they had all been away at college. She was particularly nervous to see one person, but before she had time to think about it, they all barged in. She gave them all hugs as they were screeching loudly, but of course not loud enough to wake up her parents. Then, they eagerly ran downstairs to start the party. What better way to celebrate than getting together for New Year’s Eve. She passed out t...

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“A Kiss at Midnight” by Dan Hansen

Submitted to Contest #179

Making the Vision BoardIs it a coincidence or not? You decide. Stardate December thirtieth, twenty-twenty two and another year has come and gone. I am no better off than the last several years since my divorce and taking care of my mother. Is it a strange and unusual coincidence that today of all days a writing prompt hits my inbox suggested writing about someone starting a vision board? Is it not also odd that on this very day I receive a text from my business group leader, Dr. Latrice, inviting those interested to get on Zoom at eight this...

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“Santa Cruz” by Allison King

Submitted to Contest #179

“It’s New Year’s Eve and none of us have dates to kiss.” “Hey, speak for yourselves,” Grim said, pulling Clary closer, reminding us all how desperately single we were. “I sense a tradition in the works,” Miles raised his glass. There were three minutes left until midnight. “Traditions are supposed to be fun,” I said, rolling my eyes, my glass had become empty in the process of self-pity. I didn’t know what to do with my hands so I kept attempting to take sips. This was not the way to welcome the new year. The new you. The still single...

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$250

Prize money

200

Contest entries

103

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 06, 2023 EST

Won by Saeda Rose 🏆

Title: Resolute

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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