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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#20: Quite the Character

Between 1887 and 1927, Sherlock Holmes appeared in a total of four novels and 56 short stories penned by Arthur Conan Doyle. Since then, the stories have been adapted countless times, earning Holmes a Guinness World Record for "most portrayed movie character." And while Doyle's mysteries were widely lauded, it was the character of Holmes that had readers coming back time and again.

This week, your challenge is to write a story that highlights a single character. The premise is up to you — just give us some small understanding of this character by the end of the story.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a character who starts out as a pessimist and ends as an optimist. (Or vice versa.)

Character – 46 stories

Write a story about a character experiencing anxiety.

Character – 83 stories

Write a story about a character who would be described above all else as "logical."

Character – 31 stories

Write a story about a day in the life of a mother.

Narrative – 55 stories

Write a story about a character experiencing independence for the first time.

Teens – 59 stories

Stories

“The End of the World as Eve Knows It” by Melody Cooper

Submitted to Contest #20

The way it had always been done was the way that makes the most sense. No one is allowed to change the way it had been done, not at the cost of sanity. Eve cricked her neck to the side. Feelings should not get in the way of progress, she thought as she puttered around the kitchen. The world was ending. Humans were ruled by their hearts. Eve needed a cure. She could not let the madness take over. She carefully wiped the scalpel on her lab coat and hummed gently. It was something in their blood. She was sure. Something was in the blood of huma...

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“Grounded” by Colleen Christi Willett

Submitted to Contest #20

The generic hotel comforter pressed down on her, decidedly uncomfortable. Despite the fact that Nanchang in early December felt more like late April in New York, the thermostat in their tiny suite was locked, unwavering, at an unbearable eighty-two degrees. She sighed and pressed her cheek against the damp pillowcase. Her right arm was pinned under the over-sized head of the tiny, slumbering body beside her. She wiggled her tingling fingers, watching them dance in the bluish light streaming in through the rain-spatte...

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“Late Night Shopping” by Debi Willis

Submitted to Contest #20

The cold draft trails in behind us. Entering the bright all-purpose store, I surmise my surroundings. Customers dart left and right like a bee hive, clamorous shopping carts, and a line from the checkout. And I am armed with my three boys and four year old daughter. My timing couldn’t be any better.“We’re never getting out of here,” my thirteen year old rolls his eyes. “Mom, what are we doing in the store? We came here yesterday.” Ten year old Kenny asks.I pat Kenny’s back, “Get me a basket.” “I forgot something from the store. I h...

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“New Hatchlings” by Shannon Meyers

Submitted to Contest #20

Myra had never had eggs of her own. The years seemed to slip by and there was always a new adventure to go on. Even though Baku had said it was fine if they never had nestlings, Myra had always seen herself with a family. So when the little human stumbled into her cave, crying and afraid, something stirred in her. “Am I that ugly to behold, child that you cry?” she had said. She was in her dragon form and sure the child hadn’t expected to run into her. The little one looked up at her, stopping her cries to really look. “No, you is ...

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“More Than Enough - A Day in the Life of a Mother” by Kimberly Harness

Submitted to Contest #20

Sunshine began to light up the narrow windows of the cramped, aged apartment. Dust motes drifted lazily between the beams of light, nowhere to go and nothing to do except add to the ever-growing list of chores as they settled on every surface in fine layers.Sadie had been up for hours by this time, not that she’d really even slept at all. A teething, fussy baby and a toddler with the flu meant she could kiss sweet sleep goodbye for the foreseeable future. The smell of coffee brewing was the only thing keeping her sanity at this moment, as sh...

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“Beginning to end of motherhood” by Samantha Garcia

Submitted to Contest #20

Being a mother isn't an easy job, it's a hard and dedicated responsibility. Raising a child isn't all sunshine and rainbows, there are gloomy and rainy days contributed to it.In the beginning, it's all about learning and caring for the new life you brought into this world. Some days you would be so happy, but other days you try to understand how women can do this. Everyday is a challenge as you wake up in the middle of the night or stay up as your baby needs you, but it's all worth it as each passing day is memorable. Then later on in the mo...

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“Roses for Baby” by Craig S

Submitted to Contest #20

“You are my daughter first. Then you are a sister to your older brother. One day you will be a wife, and if you are lucky then you will be a mother yourself….” Those words are etched into her memory. She had been standing in the garden right outside her kitchen window over twenty years ago. She watched as her mother fussed over the prized rose bushes; the rose bushes she was never allowed to touch. Every morning as she sipped her coffee looking through the same kitchen window of her childhood, she was reminded o...

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“A Peak Into The Bottomless Pit” by N S

Submitted to Contest #20

Amid the scorching heat, Olle sat straight off her bed whilst holding her chest. Her eyes widen, drops of sweats streaming through her cheeks, while the others streaked her forehead like the colonies on a petri dish. She hit it mildly a few times, trying to get her breath back. Inhales… exhales… inhales…“Olle.” Malla grabbed her hand. “You had that dream again?” Olle closed her eyes and nodded. It had always been painful, but tonight it was even more so. “I’m here. Let’s count down together, OK?” Olle nodded. “10, 9, 8, 7...

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“To Go or Not To Go ” by Tessa Gray

Submitted to Contest #20

“Mommy I’m hungry,” the little boy informs his mother. She glances over at where her son sits coloring at the kitchen table. “Ok Lex, just give me a few more minutes to finish up this painting and then we can go out for dinner.”The child pauses in his drawing, appearing to consider his mother’s words. “Can we go to McDonald’s?” he asks hopefully. “I want chicken nuggets.” “Sorry kiddo,” his mother replies reaching over to tousle her son’s hair. “You already had McDonald’s this week. We can go to the diner. Just let me finish worki...

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“The Emergency Mom Handbook” by Debbie Rae

Submitted to Contest #20

The Emergency Mom Handbook1. Turn on the radio. Wipe down the kitchen counter. Get lost in the sultry tunes of slow jazz. Let the subtle rays of late afternoon sunshine warm you through the open window, while you shut your eyes and inhale, letting your sense of smell tell you if the chicken is ready for plating. 2. Open your eyes. Pout. 3. Remember: You never turned on the music because, let’s be real, who still listens to jazz? The chicken is on the stove...

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“Our Language ” by Holli Harms

Submitted to Contest #20

In the stroller you would sit very still. Your face concerned and cautious. Do you remember this? On our twenty minute walk I would point out letters along the way, like ATM and CVS, and say them and sign them. I would point out numbers also. Shiny big numbers on doors and windows. Those we would say and use our hands to show what is two, and three and five. Never four. You didn’t like four and would count one, two, three, five. Do you remember what was wrong with four?At Gymboree you would sit quietly in my lap and watch while the oth...

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“Unlike Any Mother’s Story” by M.D. Smith

Submitted to Contest #20

Selling the cow’s been difficult, she thought, but we had to have the money. Times are tough. In August of 1877 in the Wyoming Territory, the Nez Perce Indians were at war with the U.S. Army, who pursued them. Some settlers were casualties of the conflict as the Indians retreated toward the Yellowstone area. It was not far from where the Campbell family had settled.Maddie tried to nurse her infant daughter at her breast, but the milk was slow to come back. Maybe in a day or two, I’ll have enough again for Dorothy as she smiled down at the fu...

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“Mother of Many Monsters” by Chloe Larose

Submitted to Contest #20

Sharp rocks cut Eve's bare feet as she ran. She climbed and stumbled over boulders and rocks, always keeping her eyes on the dark spot high up in the sky. They couldn't take him. Not now. Not after all she'd done to stay hidden, stay safe. The edge of the ridge appeared through her tear-stricken vision. She tripped over the first step downwards, managing to catch herself on the rusty railing. She flung herself down them with all caution of heights thrown to the wind. Down in the crater a cabin appeared. Painted grey to blend in with the ston...

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“Hope” by Angela W

Submitted to Contest #20

First day at a new school in a new neighborhood. I knelt down and looked Josh in the eyes. “You’re going to like it here.” I smiled and pulled him in for a hug. “I love you.” He nodded and walked into his first grade classroom. A dark cloud floated by, casting a grayness over the school. I resisted the temptation to see that as an omen, but rather an anomaly in the perfectly clear fall weather we’d been having. Josh’s tumultuous year of kindergarten was history, as was his old school, where his outbursts and tantrums had earned him the monik...

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“Since I left Home” by Flor S

Submitted to Contest #20

Dear Life-giver;It's been 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,765 hours, 525,949 minutes and 31,556,952... 953... 954... 955 seconds since I left home. Or 1 year, to be precise.Looking back, I just wanna hug myself, I was so worried about how I would end up, If I would survive. Yes, SURVIVE. I actually believed it was THAT serious. Now I think that it was super exaggerated, but I remember how I was feeling back then and I know that it wasn't, it genuinely felt like a matter of life or death. If I'm being honest, I never thought someone cou...

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$50

Prize money

274

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 20, 2019 EST

Won by Amy St. Pierre 🏆

Title: At Home

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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