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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#197: Fate and Free Will

It’s an eternal question. Are our lives governed by our own actions, or subject to the powers of destiny? Religions, philosophers, writers, and everyday folk have been arguing about it for centuries, and we still don’t have a definitive answer. Stories of heroes locked into tragic fates they can’t escape make up a large portion of our oldest myths and legends. Yet modern stories tend to paint their protagonists as free will incarnate. Even so, there are still plenty that play with destiny. 


This week, we want to explore the age-old conundrum of heroes. Are we in charge of our fate? Or is it all in the hands of some unknowable power laying out our path forward?

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone successfully — or unsuccessfully — escaping their fate.

Angst – 107 stories

Write about a god desperately trying to get their chosen hero to follow the path they set out for them.

Fantasy – 61 stories

Write a story that includes the phrase “I’m free!”

Dialogue – 60 stories

Write about somebody who wholeheartedly believes in fate, and views every little thing through the lens of predestiny.

Character – 22 stories

Set your story in a world where everyone’s decisions are made for them. One morning, your character wakes up, and chooses not to go to work. Wait…chooses?!

Thriller and Suspense – 18 stories

Stories

“Burnjaw” by Dylan Patrick

Submitted to Contest #197

Varjan saw a journey of ten thousand days in the face of a flickering fire. The volcanic eruption that birthed him, the sea of blood he had left in his wake as a youth, the glory he had earned as a soldier for the unification of dragons and humans, the strange but fulfilling love he had shared with the human princess of Dragon’s Landing, the inherited rivalry which had doomed one of them to death since their birth. Even as they became distant memories, all burned alive and well once contemplation overtook the bloodlust of the wander-wearied ...

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“The Labyrinth” by Jeff Duke

Submitted to Contest #197

Chapter one The Creator lost the beauty of the surroundings, the lush foliage with the bonus of every flower imaginable, in his/her mood. Rarely seen in this bad mood, the arch angels stood helpless as the Creator walked in circles, waving His hands, and talking loud and profusely. “How did they end up there? That dimension has the worst monsters and a clue, but not the first one.” “We haven't arranged the clues in any order. The one there is just one clue. They cannot decipher them unless one has all four together. Someone stole the b...

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“A Letter From Elias” by Deirdre Stein

Submitted to Contest #197

A Letter from Elias.I still don’t know how it happened. In my most vivid dreams, I could never have imagined this, but it happened. One day I just wasn’t me. I changed.I was the guy that was always having fun. I had friends at school, home, and the ones I met at the gym where I trained. I wasn’t just ordinarily outgoing like the next guy; no, I was exceptionally outgoing. I was interested and involved with all of life’s offerings. I did things for the challenge and experience. I was a Columbia engineering student taking ballet just for the e...

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“The Island” by Patricia Williford

Submitted to Contest #197

THE ISLAND   Two young men, their faces sleek and vibrant as sunlight, lifted the dull, rumpled old man onto the boat. The motor idled restlessly, ready to race its powerful legs across the water. The old man licked the sea mist from his parched lips, the salt burning the sores on his tongue. A woman standing on the dock, wearing a white dress and matching hat, let go of the two children she had been holding back and cupped her hands around her red-penciled mouth.   “Goodbye, Papa.”   “Goodbye...

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“Love” by George Anderson

Submitted to Contest #197

 Mac had worked out he had been born old at a fairly young age because he had always had an old man's point of view. Now he was retired and had accumulated enough health problems to reasonably assume he was close to the end of the journey. He spends much of his time pondering the meaning of it all. Had he learned what he'd been sent here to learn? With age comes perspective was one of the first gems he had picked up on. Before he was thirty Mac had observed that what was important to you at twenty would seem laughable at forty and...

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“Uncaged” by Jessica Lunn

Submitted to Contest #197

Note: This story contains notions of addiction and sexual violence For nearly 20 years I solemnly perched on my twig-like swing, day after changeless day, singing melancholy melodies. My feathered bodice, once vibrant, shiny, and tamed, turned lackluster and disheveled at best. Long ago, I was a young, adventurous, and naive little hatchling. Nothing struck me as dangerous or frightening until a concealed felon decided to take advantage of my innocent undisturbed life. Little did I know that moment in time would etch away at my internal be...

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“No Longer Between Worlds” by Brie Monetti

Submitted to Contest #197

It had been precisely 637 days since Norah Dunlap had set foot in a hospital. She had never intended to return to any hospital, especially not this one, for the rest of her life - however short that life was meant to be. And yet here she was, shivering from the slicing autumn breeze, the anxiety coursing through her blood like the distant echoes of chemo or a combination of the two.  “Can I help you with something?” A voice thrummed somewhere in the ether, landing Norah back into her body. Norah inhaled, said a quick prayer to whate...

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“Theatrically Free” by Clare Horwood

Submitted to Contest #197

She delivered the last line of the play which declared her freedom from the tyrant of a husband that she had endured for many years. She took her final curtain call along with the rest of the cast. Rapturous applause greeted them. How she had loved performing here in Adelaide in South Australia at the wonderful Playhouse. Adelaide audiences loved their theatre, always being so enthusiastic in their response. Tonight was the closing night of their season here before moving on to Perth. She was pushed forward by the rest of the cast and receiv...

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“Depthless” by Marvin Reif

Submitted to Contest #197

Trigger warning: This story contains mental health problems and to some extent substance abuse. If you are uncomfortable then please skip this story. I am awake. I feel the sun burn on my forehead. The usual odour of exhaust fumes hangs in the air. I cough. Blood lands in my hand. Something is hanging at the end of my bed. What is it? I manage to sit up in bed. Ah, good, it is only some clothes. They aren’t mine, though. There is something odd about them. It’s women’s clothing. High Heels, a dress and a leather jacket. I have bigger feet ...

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“Solitarium” by Genoveva Baumann

Submitted to Contest #197

Breath hitched in his throat, making him choke on the stale cell’s air. How long had it been? Too long- He stared through the darkness, his eyes had adjusted to this dank place long ago, how long? He could never answer. He touched at his body, his bones protruded from his thinned frame and his bent spine pressed against his skin. He sat hunched on the cool, dank floor, waiting… for what? Alone he had sat in that cell, wondering if there was even a door anymore. The constant dripping of liquid from the ceiling, splashing against the cool ston...

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“The Red Light” by Cassandra Fan

Submitted to Contest #197

The red flashing light, Brendan knew it well. The one he should’ve listened to. Dangling in the corner of the sky as he rocketed forward. The moment replayed before him, repeating in slow-motion. The drops of rain, the headlights of cars cutting through the night, the shining blue eyes on her horrified face. And there it was again, that accursed light! Taunting him. Then the world faded into focus and he was no longer there. The light faded into a humming line on a monitor to his side, suddenly spiking to life. In an instant Brendan knew whe...

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“God's Will Be Done” by Tracie Johnson

Submitted to Contest #197

 TRIGGER WARNING:GOD’S WILL BE DONE           “And I tell you,” Pastor David Marks shouted above the chorus of ‘Amens,’ “as sure as God created heaven and earth, homosexuality is not inborn. God would not plant such a thing in the heart of a child. It is not an,” here he exaggerated the word, “orientation.” No one is compelled to commit such debauchery. You are free, I am free, we are all free to choose Christ above sin. There’s nothing that prayer can’t solve!” All seventy-five of ...

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“The Solution” by Benja Catton

Submitted to Contest #197

“This will not only be a day to remember, but a day to relive. We can remake the future. This is the beginning.”  William Howard had now heard that soundbite three times with his morning coffee, and the line was taking on a surreal tone as he heard it played again. William selected a different news source from the list of podcasts. He depressed the button on his coffee grinder and let the kitchen fill with noise while the intro music played. He liked to prepare tomorrow’s grounds while he enjoyed today’s drip. The two different aromas...

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“The Bends in the Branches” by Anthony Paculan

Submitted to Contest #197

Trevor was the kind of guy to look at the trees, enjoy their shade, and wonder why their branches grew the way they did. Even though each originated from the same bark, they all seemed destined to grow in different ways.One might sprout from the tree’s northern face, or its southern, or any degree in between. It might grow strong and firm to weather the storms, or remain thin and malleable to bend and flow. What truly perplexed Trevor was how some seemed to shoot toward the sun in defiance of the ground, while others softly descended in acqu...

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“Last Days in Miletus” by James Freeh

Submitted to Contest #197

Whence things have their origin, Thence also their destruction happens, According to necessity; For they give to each other justice and recompense For their injustice In conformity with the ordinance of Time. -Anaximander of Miletus ******************************************** Part I:           Wednesday morning            A languid breeze blew through the courtyard this morning, the scent of fennel and oleander at its back. Anaximan...

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$250

Prize money

268

Contest entries

100

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 12, 2023 EST

Won by HR Pinches 🏆

Title: The Fate of Customer 12

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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