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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#185: Hoarding Away

Much like dragons, people love a good hoard. Whether it’s money, objects, or even people, collecting can be a hobby — or an obsession. Our collections might be a maximalist hodge-podge shoved into every nook and cranny, a meticulously organized catalog with every item neatly labeled, or they may not even be tangible at all. Junk or riches, thoughts or feelings, even if we don’t know it, we might be unconsciously clinging on to something.

This week’s prompts evoke treasure troves, keepsakes, and whatever it is that compels us to hold on tightly.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone who doesn’t know how to let go.

Dramatic – 121 stories

Someone’s beloved collection is destroyed. How do they react?

Adults – 25 stories

Start a story with someone saying, “It’s mine, and you can’t have it!”

Dialogue – 25 stories

Write about a dragon who doesn’t know what to do with their hoard anymore.

Fantasy – 63 stories

Set all or part of your story in a jam-packed storage unit.

Mystery – 46 stories

Stories

“Spic and span...” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #185

If you look for things you will never find them. Especially if you keep looking. The trick is not to look for them, and then you will find them. Sounds deep, doesn't it? I am always looking for wisdom. And that may sound banal, but at least less banal than saying that everyone must do their bit to save the planet, but that it won't look pretty. I do not understand such a sentence. I spend my days writing stories. Well, what am I saying, days? I mean my free time. And I intend to write children's stories, but I don't think my stories are suit...

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“Hold my hand” by Lisa Cornell

Submitted to Contest #185

Sherry grasped onto his hand a sweaty and uncomfortable hold easy to let go off and right now in this moment she couldn’t let him go.They first met in what she would consider the typical boy meets girl way. She was out with her friends and he had caught her eye and she had caught his. He was exactly her type tall, thick dark hair that fell naturally messy, dark eyes under thick dark eyelashes, not overly fit but a naturally broad and muscular build. She was surprised he didn’t already have a girl hanging off his muscular arm. She took one la...

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“Almanacs ” by Henrique Pasti

Submitted to Contest #185

The huntsman arrived at the old cabin carrying the equivalent in fur and meat to two full hunting weeks: hare, badger, and fox fur, salty boar and rabbit meat, smoked fish, lard, as well as some birds hunted at that very day, everything wrapped in new, firm leather. He knocked at the door, and the old resident called him in: she had seen in her runes he would come. He greeted her respectfully and with reverence, calling her the noblest titles he knew – mommy, aunt, grandma. The huntsman had always been dutiful and polite: he had learned fro...

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“2.17.23 9 a.m. est” by Chris Agnew

Submitted to Contest #185

The first things I think about when I’m talking to myself are always: what’m I gonna eat and whose fault is everything. That’s not a spiritual question, the first one. That’s practical. The second one is easy. The physics of the universe has brought us to this point. Of course that’s a bit dodgy. Physics I hear can be complicated. I wonder why I need any explanation in a place that is supposedly infinite. If that’s true, infinity, then doesn’t that answer every question. The answer is yes. And no. yes and no. Exactly. I wonder how many times...

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“Death of an Inner Child” by Aiden Garcia

Submitted to Contest #185

People spend most of their days worried about the future, about whether they are truly living. I believe that is nothing but past thought, something that isn’t necessary for a man like me. The timed ticks of the office clock warned the workers of the deadline. It was crawling closer as we had to ready the documents before the main boss came in. Terrifying it was, but not for me, as I had everything set; it was something I trained for. I had steadily made rows of information on documents day in and day out for this moment, and it was al...

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“Just like the First Time” by Johnathon Henry

Submitted to Contest #185

It was just like the first time I walked with her. I saw her on the street when I ducked quickly out of sight, she was walking hand and hand with someone else who wasn't me. I still remembered how smooth her hands were, how her lotion would infect my own with a strong aroma of mangos, that the very smell to this day only infects me with memories of her. Most of all, I remembered how safe I felt, how her hand enclosing my own felt like a protective aura that shielded me from the world, for the first time in my life...I wouldn't have t...

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“Henry” by Lauren Bird

Submitted to Contest #185

I’m alive like a pirate, and god is a bird on my shoulder! Finally, I’ve accepted that this road must be traveled alone, like a doctor’s visit, like a dream you enter in your own mind. [2 HOURS PRIOR] In the sunlight the door looked almost white, not the lavender it was described as in the email. It reminded me of the first place I had in Eastie with Marina. The two toned purple duplex, with the purple trim and steps that led to – “Welcome! come in, in!” A woman, probably mid fifties, swung the door, and held it open with...

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“Mother’s Love” by Paul Leonard

Submitted to Contest #185

“Mum, please, I’m begging you,” I bawl at the control panel. “If you’re in there, you’ve got to let me out!” My yell reverberates around the kitchen, thin and shrill as it bounces off those expensive cabinets, tiles and stone countertops that Dad’s paying for but will never see, let alone use. The tiny camera lens just stares back, unblinking. Like some kind of one-eyed psychopath. “I’m not sure what you mean, Cindy,” the house’s AI system says in its infuriatingly calm, soothing voice. “If you can be more specific with your query, I’ll...

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“Empty Barrack” by Michaela Joy

Submitted to Contest #185

They came just before dawn, slinky and quiet like a shadow. Eberhart did not see them coming, had no idea, really, that anyone knew what he kept beneath his floorboards. They must have worked quickly, efficiently because everything was completely cleaned out before the sun cast its first rays into the house. Before he woke to feed his five chickens in the pen in his backyard, before his creaky muscles rose in the creaky old house to put the coffee on, to brush his teeth, before the morning paper came. It must have been hours before Ebe...

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“The Specimens ” by Nathan You

Submitted to Contest #185

The Specimens By Nathan You William Sperit had always been a curious young man, always keen to better understand the world around him. He would never leave a stone unturned, often quite literally. He'd taken up insect collecting and would spend many long days out with his net and traps. He searched through fields and undergrowth and yes, sometimes even under stones. Searching for tiny creatures he could catch and kill to put on display for posterity. Often these searches would take him far and wide as he searched for the very best prey. One...

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“Ginny's Family” by Alejandra Mora

Submitted to Contest #185

Ginny stepped into the garage which had just been burned to a crisp. Thankfully the house hadn’t been damaged in the fire and even the family car hadn’t been parked in the garage. So aside from what was in storage, they were lucky, no lives lost, not much damage. Except of course to Ginny’s heart. The stench of smoke filled the air still, even though it had been a couple of days. For safety measures, she and the others had cramped themselves into a motel room until the fire department deemed it safe to return home. Home. This place was bare...

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“On-Hand Off-Grid, Part 2” by Steffen Lettau

Submitted to Contest #185

The cabin. It looked almost as fresh as the day it was commissioned five years ago. It was sealed off from all kinds of parasites, from bugs and vermin to stray animals and homeless people looking for an easy place to squat, with Jerome being the only one who can get in. Upon arrival to this beautiful set-piece in nature's theatrical environment, he stepped out of his Jeep and took the craftsmanship in. Simple, sturdy, and the perfect home away from home. With a great happiness welling in his throat, he turned toward the direction of the cit...

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“Last of Dragonkind” by Vishwa Jay

Submitted to Contest #185

Flying to the Great Volcano, where all the fire-breathing dragons tended to congregate, Caravias approached Meridor. Yes, that Meridor: Meridor the Wise, who was one of those proper Scottish dragons, and tended to be very knowledgeable about such things as Caravias’s problem. At least, that’s what others said. But Caravias had such a hard time understanding Meridor! He’d only tried the one time, though. So, maybe this time he’d succeed in being able to comprehend the old guy. And wishes would magically turn into sheep, too. Uh-huh … right.“M...

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“Guardians of Gold” by C. R. Lukische

Submitted to Contest #185

Guardians of Gold By C. R. Lukische Vestata woke from his slumber with a loud yawn. He opened his gullet, then nearly choked as he sucked in a gigantic waft of air. He rolled over and spat, a coin hurtling free from the depths of his throat. It crashed into the mess of coins under him, steam permeating from its edges. He slapped his claw onto his forehead, then rolled out of his bed of gold coins, like a child on a slide. It was boring being a dragon, let alone one with a hundred-year hoard. ...

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“Mordred's Hoard Dread” by Alana Bowen

Submitted to Contest #185

Birds fluttered over the frosted boreal, innumerable and vast, moving as one and many through the crisp air; so cold it felt potable. Craggy and desolate, the mountain was a white desert. Nought but wingbeats breached the silence. But then, smoke began to billow from one of the caves. Not being typically curious creatures, the birds flapped on, their tiny minds focussed on mates and nests and food. Had they taken heed of the smoke, perhaps they wouldn’t have been roasted by a wall of fire bursting out of the mountain. Hot. ...

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$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

138

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 17, 2023 EST

Won by Lynda Williams 🏆

Title: Jesus and Jockeys

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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