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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#190: Eras

To quote Brooklyn 99, Taylor Swift “makes all of us feel things.” With her honest and reflective accounts of growing up and searching for yourself and your place in the world, she’s managed to trace her remarkable coming-of-age arc in a way that millions of people can still relate to.

This week, let’s remember what growing up feels like, or take inspiration from Taylor Swift’s master storytelling to come up with a new story. But remember — using lyrics isn’t allowed!

This week's prompts

Start a story that begins with a character saying “Speak now.”

Dialogue – 86 stories

Write about someone who decides to make their own version of something old.

Character – 36 stories

Set your story in New York, where someone’s been waiting for your character.

Adventure – 39 stories

Write a story about a fandom

Funny – 27 stories

Start your story with someone vowing to take revenge.

Dark – 62 stories

Stories

“Turnover at the Buzzer” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #190

After spending my high school gridiron career on the sidelines watching spoiled rich kids hog the spotlight I made up my mind to run across the goal line for the score that would earn me the recognition I so richly deserved. I didn’t realize that running in for that touchdown would put me in the last quarter of my game of life. &...

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“The Prison Of One's Own Making” by Ann Walker

Submitted to Contest #190

As he stood at the graveside, Tom vowed to get revenge. He had lost his wife and child in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. The driver, who had been sentenced to just two years in prison, was now a free man, living his life as if nothing had happened. But Tom couldn't forget the pain and the anger. He started to obsess over the idea of revenge, spending countless hours researching the driver's every move. One day, Tom's persistence paid off. He discovered that the driver, a young man named Logan, had been working at a loca...

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“Laugh” by Landin Taylor

Submitted to Contest #190

A note for the reader: Objectivity is all but lost amongst those in our modern society. Situations these days are viewed only through the myopic lens of sympathy; people must always find a “victim,” when, in reality, the victim is just as much to blame as the perpetrator (oftentimes even more). With this at the forefront of our minds, I plead, dear reader, that this story is viewed only through the often disregarded lens of objectivity. This wonderful little narrative begins on a Saturday in early February: a day considerably less wond...

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“Retaliation” by Cesar Rodriguez-Bautista

Submitted to Contest #190

Retaliation By Cesar Rodriguez-Bautista Contents 1. The Giant. 2. Antonia. 3. Fed Up. 4. The Queen. 5. An opportunity presents itself. 6. The girls organize. 7. Pure chance. 8. Who is in control?. 1. The Giant. It was the tenth time that the giant had destroyed her labors. Antonia, as before...

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“The Call of Crimson” by Carson Hubbard

Submitted to Contest #190

This story contains: substance abuse, mental abuse, language, violence, and self harm. “I vow to avenge myself from the conscience of my own being.” John Mark was a man in his early thirties, although swore that he was in his fifties from his appearance. John has swept back dirty blonde hair, with a wrinkled face that has seen many bad things. John has extremely worked hands and clear signs of fights on his knuckles, likely from him being extremely drunk, mixed with anger and depression. John was a tall man at about 6 feet and is quite sin...

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“I Can’t Spend Money I Ain’t Got Yet If I’m Dead” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #190

Chugwater, Wyoming 1888 The three riders stare silently as Micah Tomlin’s ramshackle home catches fire. “Think anybody’s gonna see the smoke?” Harmon asks. “Nope. You and Jumbo are my closest neighbors. The others hate me too much to care.” “Never get in bed with a lawyer,” Jumbo says. “You tryin’ to be funny, Jumbo?” Pulling his soiled hat down around his grey eyes, twenty-six-year-old Harmon Jones looks away. He won’t miss Micah’s wife, Enid, any more than his cousin will, but their partner, Jackson St. John, treated Harmon squar...

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“What about me?” by Terrilyn Brou Harrington

Submitted to Contest #190

I’ll never know exactly why things turned out the way they did. Except for the fact that this time, I was exacting revenge out of bitterness. I’ve never been one to go looking for trouble. I didn’t realize the power this dude had to turn my mind and my life upside down. Now, I can’t get away from him. Momma’s always talking about God, reading her Bible, praying, and going to church. Telling me to pray. I prayed. I swear I did. The whole God thing seems like a racket to me. I hate it. At church, the Reverend talks for over ...

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“Creative Inspiration” by Sarah Vickery

Submitted to Contest #190

She had been texting Fatima so gleefully when the message came through. Mid-conversation, mid-enthusing. A nice deep cut, slicing right through the excitement. -I had a great time last night, but I just don’t see it going anywhere. I’m sorry. She literally couldn’t believe it. They’d had such a great evening. She had just been giving Fatima all the details. The easy-going vibe, the flirting, how he actually was cuter than his pictures. For once. They’d been talking for a week before (they never talk to me for a whole week...

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“Shattered Dreams” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #190

Deafening silence cut through the crowded bar as shards of glass exploded into the thick smoky air showering the patrons with amber shrapnel and foamy beer. The silence transpired into loud clamor as everyone gasped in disbelief at what they had just witnessed. Minutes before the chaos ensued, a chatty young gal with a thick southern accent sat sipping on an espresso martini bellied up to the bar bantering with the locals. She stuck out like a sore thumb flipping her blond curls around her pointer finger while tugging at her skimpy black b...

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“The Deal” by Fred Moses

Submitted to Contest #190

Hank exploded on to the roof, the door swinging out and hitting the adjoining wall. The hinges shook, doing their best to stay in place. “That bitch!” He didn’t shout, but there was still so much rage in his voice. He paced upon the gravel as the afternoon sun began to set behind the buildings to the west. Back and forth, angrily muttering to himself with the occasional audible expletive. He stopped, looking out over the skyline. His mind racing over all the things he wanted to do, all the ways he wanted to hurt her. She ne...

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“The Prison of Calindon” by Corey Ray

Submitted to Contest #190

“My revenge will be swift, and the Gioran Empire will be destroyed!” yelled Calindon as he thrashed against his metal bonds. Calindon’s physique was exemplary for a Gioran, even after several days incarcerated for his crimes. His shaved head emphasized the series of white tattoos that streaked along his brow and down his neck and back. His gray skin was common among Giorans but looked nearly white due to the moon dust covering his body. The chains binding Calindon, held him in a standing position atop a short bluff on the small moon, Torini....

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“Rory” by T C Milton

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now.”A rumble of chuckles emanated from the gathered family and friends, and Katie scrunched her head down and flashed a nervous half-smile at her husband-to-be, who grew her smile into a full grin with his effected eye-roll followed by a wink of his left eye. Tension eased itself out of Katie’s shoulders and neck and she knew, somehow, that all the stress leading up to this moment … this moment they had planned for, hoped for, looked for … was not going to overshadow the joy in her heart and the sheer excitement of becoming Mrs. Dona...

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“Speak Now” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #190

Speak Now “Speak now…” “I will.” The old preacher stopped speaking, not following his first two words with the finishing ancient but familiar line that ended with “or forever hold your peace…” The young man who had shouted out his two words from the back had silenced him. Not many ministers say these words these days, but the preacher was very old fashioned and was well-known for including these potentiall...

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“Sister Margaret Beckwith” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #190

“Speak now, Sister Margaret so that Jesus Christ can forgive your sins.” Father Hans Mercharaine said softly from behind his curtained screen. Kneeling before him was an eighty seven year old nun who had come to him with a request that he hear her final confession. He accepted the request without hesitation since she had served the Saint Johannes Basilika since taking her vows in 1927 sixty three years ago. The urgency of her request startled him as he sat in his office preparing a sermon for the following Sunday at ...

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“Transmutation” by Riley Willsey

Submitted to Contest #190

"Speak now" What did she want me to say? She was sleeping with my best friend. I had no words. "It was only one time and we were both drunk. You were out of town..." Apparently my silence has prompted her to keep talking. I wish she'd stop. She does for a second as our food arrives. "Thank you" she smiles at the waitress. Oh how sincere. She starts eating. I stare down at my food. I have no desire for it. When I look back to her, she's talking again. "It's really not that big of a deal if you think about it. I mean, think of how tiny we ...

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$250

Prize money

250

Contest entries

114

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 24, 2023 EST

Won by Éan Bird 🏆

Title: Dear Coldplay, I Love You. Wait. Scratch That.

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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