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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#2: Toni Morrison

This week, we mourn the loss of an incredible figure in American literature: Toni Morrison. A Nobel Laureate and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Morrison penned eleven novels in her lifetime, including Beloved, Song of Solomon, and The Bluest Eye. We hope to honor her with this edition of our competition, featuring prompts based on the resounding themes of these and other works in her remarkable oeuvre.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone who's haunted by their past.

Narrative – 69 stories

Write a story about someone trying to escape their situation.

Novel – 47 stories

Write a story in which someone experiences discrimination.

Novel – 18 stories

Write a story about someone who defies social conventions.

Narrative – 15 stories

Write a story in which something seemingly innocent symbolizes something much darker.

Novel – 22 stories

Stories

“PHALANGIST” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #2

PHALANGISTBy Andrew Paul GrellPrompt: Someone experiences discrimination "That’s 16. Three in a row, 17, 18, 19, 20. George. Twenty! Someone took the trouble to paint the letter Phi twenty times between here and 22nd Street. And then put a red no-no slash through each one. Twenty, George.” “Helen, please. It lets people vent a little steam. And you’re a fine one to talk. You tagged your way through high school. HELL-N was famous, you were one borough short of going All-City before you le...

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“The Bob” by Rebecca Ogden

Submitted to Contest #2

Friday nights were always designated family time. For my father, Friday meant a break from his relentless, repetitive, far-too-fiddly factory work. The coins of his wages had scarcely settled in his pocket before they came tumbling back out at the bookies, or the pub, or the counter of the grocer’s as he stocked up on his already more than plentiful stash of cigarettes. It was as though he had a magnet sewn into his pocket lining from which his salary was forcefully repelled on a weekly basis. For my mother, preparation for these Friday...

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“Royal Poinciana” by Adrienne Parker

Submitted to Contest #2

The sweat pours down my face as I struggle with the weeds in my garden. I’m not physically draining myself, but the sweat comes from fear. Every time I touch a weed, I see something from my past, my scarred past. Flashes of memories flood my vision even when I barely brush a weed. I can’t see past the flashes, they are blinding me. I try to pull out several weeds at once, which is a mistake. I see several memories in rapid succession, thoroughly confusing me. A hand coming out of nowhere, my mother screaming, a gunshot.... I c...

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“Far from Home” by Nia Chase

Submitted to Contest #2

I hate it when Darrel was right. Darrel was looking out the window when I was looking at the clock. Then he shook me and told me to look off the window, slightly panicky. There was a man with the officers wearing a expensive suit with a nicely trim mustache and green eyes.He was obviously rich. I looked at Darrel. He was tearing up and held my arm tightly. "Please don't let me go back to him." He whimpered. So Darrel was right. We can't trust officers. "What should we do now? The plane is suppose to be our way home.""Get me a car, then I'll ...

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“Parasomnia” by Dishani Wickramage

Submitted to Contest #2

What if I told you that your subconscious mind is trying to play mind games with you? Alternatively, maybe it doesn't shut itself down, whether it's a nap or your beauty sleep at night. Well, the truth is, the mind isn't pausing for any reason out there. Believe it or not, I have been through this. Moreover, I am still going through it. I would like you to imagine a scenario where you find yourself walking in a pitch, dark, endless corridor. The only sound you'd be hearing is your heartbeat. The single voice available is yours, and yo...

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“Over her shoulder ” by Toyosi Ajiboye

Submitted to Contest #2

Eva was out buying some groceries, she tugged on her hoodie and pulled it as down as she possibly could, she hunched her back and tried to seem as small as possible. Her eyes permanently on the floor. She shuddered away from everyone who uttered a greeting towards her, ignoring them. She walked to the counter and paid for her purchases. The cashier guy rose his hand to wave her goodbye, she flinched and she didn't understand why. Mumbling a quick and quiet bye Eva took off quickly but quietly so as not to draw attention to hersel...

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“A LONER'S TALE” by Peace Abina

Submitted to Contest #2

Fair woke up earlier than usual, in fact she wasn't sure if she could say she slept at all. At the first crow of the hen, she got up from the bed where her mother still lay fast asleep, she put on her slippers and tip-toed out of the room in order not to wake her up.Sitting on the stairs leading to her door post, she drew in fresh air into her lungs. She loved the feel of the early morning dew on her silky skin, the cool breeze that flushed her face sending her hair flying in different directions across her face, she had also grown accustome...

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“A Drive Home ” by Michelle Iruobe

Submitted to Contest #2

A Drive HomeAfter his famous article, ‘Apartheid: The Story Untold’, renowned social critic, James Welsh in his recent story on racial prejudice, asked his readers, one of them a popular actress and model, Samantha Osama-Jacobs, to share their relatable personal experiences on the subject and it’s emotional effects. Samantha Osama-Jacobs, replying to the Welsh publications for the very first time, decided to share her own experience—one she had never given complete details of. Using the nickname— Julie, and...

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“A Versatile Man. by Stephen C Berg” by Stephen Berg

Submitted to Contest #2

Vincent van Nezla had a fetish. He preferred to call it a selective desire, but it was more than that. He also liked to party and, when in Paris, did so, with the gay set. His favourite party trick was to sabrage, or ‘neck’, a champagne bottle using a sabre. Most impressive, when done well. His Parisian friends all had fetishes too, of course, which is why he felt comfortable in their midst. Although his father’s head office was in Paris, their factory was in Reims—the family was in the glass manufacturing business. Five hundred years ago, i...

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“Enough” by Katherine Tung

Submitted to Contest #2

For my whole life, I've always been looking for the perfect guy. Someone to love me unconditionally, despite what I am. But there was never anyone to hold me and comfort me, so I realized I had to start living for myself. I grew up without a mother or father figure, nearly friendless and always alone. I was an accident. I was the mistake, the burden, the pain. I was never good enough, no matter how hard I tried. So I stopped living for them, and started living for myself. It was hard, growing up. Soon, my mother and father divorced. My mothe...

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“The Little Yellow Room ” by Annie Wang

Submitted to Contest #2

Sunlight streamed into her daughter’s room like strips of gold. A sheen of dust glittered on abandoned toys and books. Flowers bloomed and withered away, transforming days into months and months into years – so many years that the turn of neighbors made for faceless strangers and old friends shriveled into a dusty unknown.Yet, time stopped in this little yellow room. Sitting in the corner was a little girl, fourteen-years old and trying to navigate the ropes of a world turned cold and unforgiving. She had no guide to help her through treache...

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“The Cursed Coat ” by Rebekah Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #2

A little girl named Susie Price had gotten a red coat from her best friend Peter Willis on her birthday, it had both of their initials on it S.P P.W.The next day Susie found out Peter was leaving town, "I won't forget you", Susie told Peter as the two friends hugged each other one last time"I will write to you every day," Peter replied and he got in the backseat of his van and drove away. Susie just stood there crying as she watched her childhood friend wave goodbye to her, she started running toward the van and yelled: "Wait!" the van ...

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“Far from Sanity” by Nia Chase

Submitted to Contest #2

Chapter 1Allen came from his therapy session with tears in his eyes and a light heart. Talking to his therapist always left him emotional. He spoke about how he felt at the moment, what triggered it, and what to do when that time comes again. Writing it down tends to help.Sometimes talking to his mother and friends, but he never wants to give them everything. He witnessed death, some he caused with his own hands. He could never sleep right without seeing the sight of his victim's blood or hearing gunshots. He always panics and yells in his s...

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“Dr Dani” by Betty Barrett

Submitted to Contest #2

“When was the last time you were happy?’ “Probably when I was 7 – I had nice hair and no acne then. Those were the days.” It’s what I wanted to say, but you don’t want to seem too unhinged in your first ever therapy session. I thought that you needed to lead up to it, make the therapist work for it a bit. They are professionals after all, it would insult their intelligence to give them something too easy; where would the challenge be, the thrill of the chase? So I continued to smile awkwardly at the screen. One of the convenie...

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“The past that never left her.” by Renee Ule

Submitted to Contest #2

I hear the cry in the middle of the night, Screaming of hurt and confusion in her eyes; She sleeps with fear of the past she had,Listening to hurt and fear and not having a dad;Days and nights become long and hard, No sleep no motivation cause the dream tore her apart; Feeling helpless and trapped in the past She hates,Falling to pieces because she cant escape;She looks around in the cold dark room,Hearing voices from the past with Hope's it to leave soon;Wake up wake up as her mind tries to leave, But in her eyes u can only see how she grie...

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$50

Prize money

171

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 16, 2019 EST

Won by Amy St. Pierre 🏆

Title: Kids

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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