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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#191: Sakura

Spring is finally here! In Japan, the season is famously marked by the mass blooming of cherry blossoms, also known as sakura, an event so beautiful it attracts tourists from all over the world. Due to its impressive yet short-lived blooming, the flower symbolizes the fascinatingly transient nature of life — but it’s also associated with a message of renewal, and hope for the future. 


To celebrate the new season, this week’s prompts are inspired by cherry blossoms and the feelings they evoke year after year 一 we hope they’ll bloom into great stories!

This week's prompts

Start your story with your character(s) going to buy some flowers.

Spring – 78 stories

Write about a character who is starting to open up to life again.

Character – 68 stories

Write a story about a character who’s late to witness a special event.

Funny – 25 stories

Make Japan (or Japanese culture) an element of your story.

Narrative – 37 stories

Write a story that includes someone saying, “I feel alive.”

Dialogue – 68 stories

Stories

“Walking Through the Storm” by Jennifer Fremon

Submitted to Contest #191

“I’m Alison”, the women said, offering Brianna her hand. “Please have a seat.”She gestured towards the chair across from her desk and Brianna sat, her eyes scanning the office. The decor in the room was simple: desk, two office chairs, a few potted plants on the windowsill, a few scattered books on a table in the corner. A large poster hung on the far wall, a silhouette of a muscled woman with the caption “Strong women aren’t simply born. They are made by the storms they walk through.”“So Brianna, tell me about yourself.”Brianna smiled “I am...

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“Out of the Rock” by Raquel Smith

Submitted to Contest #191

Last summer, exactly a year ago today I survived on nothing alone but potato chips. What a time to be alive now that Snapchat is around to remind you of how far you've came. "Lara?" I hear my colleague calling me from behind me. I am at my lunch break at my job, it is nothing fancy; it's a fast food restaurant and it's to be expected to be someone's first job on their CV. Except, I'm twenty-two and I still haven't worked out a professional excuse for me to have such a large gap in starting my career. I hope it will come with my work exper...

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“A Taste of Japan” by Roberto Naili

Submitted to Contest #191

Our friendship began with a lot of bitterness and no care for the beautiful culture I was going to show him but by the end, Kenny the tourist learned some things about Japanese culture. And I gave him something to return to. A Fantastic Culture. Chapter 1 - Sakura. I work as a tourist guide around Tokyo but I'd also go around other places too. This particular time I had to deal with the most annoying customer of all, Kenny, who didn't even bow when he met me. Now Kenny hasn't told me his name yet but so far all I've gotten from him is b...

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“FIVE POUNDS OF FOOD” by BRUCE MARTIN

Submitted to Contest #191

The Big Texan is a ranch and restaurant in Amarillo, Texas. It was founded in 1960 on Route 66, serving the finest Texas barbecue, but moved to its current location just off Route 40 in Amarillo in April, 1971. The owner originated the 72-ounce Steak Challenge, and when the new facility opened, the Challenge became famous.   It wasn’t long before this ranch became an iconic destination. Many customers have tried their appetites on the 72-ounce Steak Challenge, but only about 10% succeed. The 72-ounce Steak Challenge is very simple.&...

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“Haikus and the Shiba Inu Adventure” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #191

This adventure hereIs told in Haiku poems Our story begins…The mountains sat quietInside the temple, he satThe Shiba InuBreathe in and breathe out It was meditation hourIt had been since dawnNash was his real name He was a trained and skilled dogHis master was Kai“Meditation done”“Time now to follow the ball”Kai threw Nash the ballNash caught it mid-airHe rolled it back panting hard“Remember your breath”“Tai Chi begins there”“You must respond not react”“We must be aware”The ball squeaked loudlyNash fought the urge to chase it“...

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“The Mountain Guardian” by Philippa Hibberd

Submitted to Contest #191

When Sota asked Hisa to venture into the forest with him, she didn’t dare refuse.Snow crunched under her shuffling steps. The cold stiffened her joints through the thin cotton of her kimono. Still, she trudged up the slope after Sota, for if she slowed down, who knew what he’d do. The person she feared most, more than the yokai rumoured to live in these mountains, was her own son.At least this meant, for the time being, he wouldn’t hurt Megumi. She pictured her granddaughter in the hut, alone, taking care of household chores, or venturing ou...

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“Cherry Blossom On A Hill of Restless Hearts” by Dylan Patrick

Submitted to Contest #191

It was like I was trapped in a moment. Though she was warm against me, I felt like I was frozen in carbonite. Putting two things next two each other often highlights each others' personality traits, which explained why the beauty of Mount Pleasant High bloomed so brilliantly next to the Aaron Christopher, the reserved wallflower (aka me). She felt like a marshmallow with flesh, but somehow also felt like an anchor on my arm. It was like not wanting to move because a dog was sitting on my lap and I didn’t want to disturb the moment at perfect...

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“Understanding Zoey” by Marie Perederii

Submitted to Contest #191

I stood in Times square watching, waiting. Yet she still hadn’t shown face. I was not accustomed to any of my students being late to extra sessions and if one was late, I would be infuriated because that might mean they did not enjoy mathematics as much as they say they did. Of course Hannah Gradilla was no exception no matter how gifted she was. Yet instead of leaving a note to her inclusive mother saying she was a no-show I continued rocking back and forth with a sweaty brow waiting for her. After 5 more minutes of what felt to be the most...

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“Recallingng the Spring of My Youth” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #191

Spring is far different in Tucson than it was back home in Massachusetts. Here spring arrives slightly before the twenty-first. It is heralded in by sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes.  The reason for this is that almost everything that blooms is a weed. I discovered that I’m allergic to two types of allergens. One is, of all things, cockroaches. The other is something called rabbit brush, an innocent-looking small yellow flower that grows by the roadside. Everyone in my family now has allergies, including...

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“My First Summer Back” by Jack Adam

Submitted to Contest #191

“See you next year!” “I’m going to miss you guys!”  “Dude, can’t wait for next semester!” Do any of these people actually mean what they say? My friend Rachel came up to me, hugged me, and through a blur of tears spat out an “I love you-I hope-summer-great,” to which I felt inclined to respond in like fashion, pretending to be choked up and hug her back. I will not miss her over the summer; she’s a great friend at school, and she will stay a great friend, at school. Next, my friend Tristan practically attacked me from behind, sa...

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“The Caged Sphinx” by Cajek Veilwinter

Submitted to Contest #191

The golden bird alighted upon the recluse’s walking stick, its beautiful plumage - mostly gold but with colorful glass intermixed - flowing all the way to the dirt and rocks below. The scent from the trees reminded the recluse of her. Even the ever-starry sky above.He wondered where she was, now.“You cannot still be melancholy?” It asked in his mistress’s voice. The recluse stopped his daydreaming under the full blanket of space and adjusted his attention to the delicate automaton. It cocked its mechanical head as he stopped his climb.The re...

6 comments 6
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“Regina's hope” by Rayna Quinn

Submitted to Contest #191

Regina drove her Jeep Wrangler down Moon Speed street, obeying every traffic law because she didn't want to get a ticket or hit someone.  Her techno music volume was high, and enjoying the music as she was heading to the flower shop. She had the biggest smile after finally getting rid of her ex-girlfriend twelve hours ago.  Then another song came on and began with the lyrics, "I feel Alive."  Last night was the beginning of her rebirth.  She remembers standing a few feet away from her after Grace dropped a bombshell,...

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“Autobiography of My Chair” by Anu Sharma

Submitted to Contest #191

The night before they arrived, I was cozily wrapped in the deep green leaves, hugged, and surrounded by my other family. The dense forest we made together would often scare most men, keep them off, and keep us safe. In my growing years, I had seen the members of my family and friends leave the forest one by one. I was curious to know where did they go? Are they in a better place? Slowly the density of our forest was decreasing. And with that, the courage of these men was growing. Before we could grieve for one, the other was cut and...

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“Check for Honesty” by Carly Kelly

Submitted to Contest #191

The breeze was light that afternoon. Carly and Gerald walked together along the concrete path of the park, the same as they did every Thursday. They always had to shuffle slowly through the park to get all the way to their favorite bench, but they accepted the slow pace over hiring an aid or accepting offers of assistance from younger park-goers.  The bench had a panoramic view that was unmatched by other locations in the park. They knew, because they had tried and tested other areas. Their favored spot allowed them to see the playgro...

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“Unalive” by Jacen Patchwork

Submitted to Contest #191

The wind howled through the trees as Sarah made her way through the forest. In the darkness, she had no idea where she was or even where she was going. She was lost, disorientated, and terrified. She needed to return to her car or the main road. She needed to find the trail. She needed out, but it was impossible in the near-total darkness of the forest. She’d been lost for what seemed like hours, and the more she struggled to find her way, the more hopeless it all felt. She’d left her car in the small lot near the head of the trail. She co...

3 comments 3
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$250

Prize money

276

Contest entries

170

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 31, 2023 EST

Won by Pari Ghodsi 🏆

Title: Lilies

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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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