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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

“Two Blue Lines” by Justine Burns

Submitted to Contest #20

Two blue lines. Hi there. I’ve waited for you a long time. Sixty-three periods to be exact. You’re finally there, you’ve finally chosen me as your mother. Make yourself at home, I’ve had everything prepared especially for you. Although shedding a tear sounds much more graceful, I am blubbering, like I’m sure you will do one day soon. I can’t wait to wipe away your tears. You are so incredibly loved. When I turn side-ways I feel like I can see you there already, but I know I ate too much pizza. You’re my little secret for now. Can you feel my...

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“For Petunia.” by Kayla Lewis

Submitted to Contest #20

School was on a two-hour delay, but Evelyn was still awake at the usual time sipping coffee. It was rare that her five-year-old daughter Sophie slept past 7:30, so she was taking in the silence while she could, going over her mental checklist. Things that needed to be done that day (pay bills, go grocery shopping, stop by pharmacy) as well as things that needed to be done that week. She inhaled deeply, shut her eyes and held it for a few seconds before exhaling and opening them again. There was a lot to do and her small window of time had go...

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“My Baby Love” by Angela Coffey

Submitted to Contest #20

I looked down admiring his blonde hair and his beautiful chocolate brown eyes. He was perfect and looked just like his dad. He kicked his feet as he laid in his crib. I couldn’t help but stare as he continued to play. He was aweing and gooing. He was perfect and a mixture of my love and me. I never pictured myself as a mom and was climbing the corporate ladder. I was about to be the vice president of a huge beauty company when I met Dean. The first time we talked, I was head over hills. It didn’t take long before I learned of my pregn...

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“Bus Stops And Headlights” by Katt Ester

Submitted to Contest #20

The bus pulled up, the brakes squealing with effort, and I jerked up, Cameron’s fingers untangling from my hair. We gathered our bags quickly, worried the bus would leave without us. The suitcase was stolen by Cameron, who took out her bus card and paid both our fairs before bouncing onto the bus. I smiled when I noticed the bus was practically empty, aside from an old lady, a young boy, two teens, and a woman. We took our seats near the front of the bus, the row of three seats parallel to the bus walls becoming home until we found a more su...

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“ Midnight Tears” by Jayden Spresser

Submitted to Contest #20

"I thought I would find you up here." I turned at John's voice and smiled as I watched him slowly climb up unto the roof beside me. "Why do you like it up here?" Looking over the edge he quickly sat down besides me. "Its so high; I hate heights." Laughing I curled my legs up unto the ledge. Heights were the last thing I was afraid of, course he wouldn't understand it like I did. He didn't have wings, not that they did me much help here, far away from my own world. "You shouldn't be up here John.""And neither should you little lady. Crystal y...

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“Emily” by Annabeth Chase

Submitted to Contest #20

The woman inhaled the crisp air. Had it always been so refreshing? Had the sun always been so bright? Were the birds always so cheerful? Or were they rejoicing at her freedom? She picked up her pace, going from a dazed wanderer to an agile runner. Her feet hit the worn path rhythmically. Thump, thump. Each time her foot came in contact with the ground, it jarred her bad leg, but she barely noticed. Her arms, muscled from doing heavy work, swung by her sides, elbows bent, fingers curled. The wind pushed against her face, causing her nose to n...

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“Telltale Glimmer” by Ana Marie Dollano

Submitted to Contest #20

As the summer sky turned into a melancholy purple, street lights flickered and came on creating a dull glow. Vendors thronged to set up their food stalls on a narrow street, in a shabby downtown district in the heart of the city, instantly transforming it into a melting pot of hungry customers and sellers. Then, as the night sky set in, the sultry smoky air wafted barbecued pork and chicken giblets that melded with the pungent smell of dried fish nearby.Lucy strode across the street towards a nondescript building on the corner, unpertu...

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“A new beginning ” by Shyanne Jones

Submitted to Contest #20

So it was finally the day, I was moving out of the family house and into my first apartment, I had never been so sad and excited at the same time. I had packed all my things which wasn't much but enough, put them into my car kissed my mum and hugged my sister then jump in the car and I was off.My apartment wasn't to far away from the family home only about 20 minutes away. I finally got there open the door and took a deep breath I did it I had just began my life as an adult.Now the apartment wasn't that big, the kitchen and the lounge room w...

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“Moments” by Sophia Beeby

Submitted to Contest #20

My eyes opened. It was a sunny Tuesday in early April and the air smelled fresh through the open window of my small village house. Well, I used to view it as small. Since Mum died it had suddenly seemed so big. A place I’d known for all of my privileged eighteen years went from feeling cramped to cavernous overnight. I’d shared a room with my little sister since she was born thirteen years ago, and although the empty bedroom sat just down the hallway, we were still snuggled together in my single bed. I shut my eyes tightly and willed sleep t...

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“The Struggle ” by Nicholas Innamorato

Submitted to Contest #20

My body grew with anger. Some kid was trying to fight me. He punched, I kicked , he dodged the kick, I throw a punch and it landed. He was on the ground for a little bit. Everyone was chanting my name,“SAM, SAM, SAM.” He was finally getting back up, but I was too distracted because I was showboating. He landed a nasty uppercut, but it didn’t hurt me. I got him back with two right hooks. He was down, and he looked dead, but he was probably knocked out. Some teachers sprinted over because they heard people screaming . They s...

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“She Put On a Show With No Applause” by Tatum Doke

Submitted to Contest #20

She thought she was free from all rules, guidelines, and expectations. Nobody knew who she was in this college town, which meant she could make a new identity for herself. This girl had gone her whole life not fully understanding who she was, which honestly was nothing special… because who does? She had always felt awkward and out of touch with what typical teenagers were "supposed" to do, but she knew that going into college would be the perfect opportunity to change that. Her friends and family back in her home state thought they knew her,...

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“The Egyptian Adventure” by Molly McCrea

Submitted to Contest #20

THE EGYPTIAN ADVENTURE By: Jaia McCrea (8th grade) It was a rainy last day of school, I laced up my boots, grabbed my umbrella and left. My best friend Ty waited for me out on the porch like usual, I told him all about our project I finished working on the last night, it was about this tomb called "The crypt of no return." They would fill it with gold and silver that be...

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“My Silent Nightmare” by Emma Gibson

Submitted to Contest #20

”Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.” Head pressed heavily against the freezing hardwood floor, I heard the calming voice of my mother as she tried to calm me down. I tried to ignore the curious eyes that beat down on me as my mother tried to coax me away. I kept my head firmly placed on the ground with my hands threaded together behind my neck. I feel my mother’s shallow breath on my neck as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. ”Come on sweetie, let's go home.” I felt her fingers gently prod at my hand to clasp it in her own to lead me out of th...

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“Coffee, No Creamer” by Rob Conway

Submitted to Contest #20

She was free. That is what Susan told her last night anyway. “You are finally on your own again, Michele. The divorce papers have been served. He is gone. A new you.” Susan was right about that. Shane was gone. He grabbed a bunch of his things and would grab the rest later. She was on her own. "You will be happier now. Trust me."She considered the source. Susan was on her fourth divorce.The morning coffee brewed. She wondered if it would somehow taste differently. Perhaps the taste of freedom changed ...

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“Free, For The First Time” by Tonya Davis

Submitted to Contest #20

The warmth from the sun beamed down as Amy strolled toward the ocean. She put her feet in first, testing the temperature. The cool water refreshed her skin automatically. The heat from the sun vanished as she waded deeper into the ocean. Amy closed her eyes as the waves rushed over her, finally knocking her down. She laughed as she ran back toward the shore. The clean water, the white sandy beaches, and the smell of salt in the air engulfed her. She was right where she needed to be.Later that afternoon, she showered and dried her golden hair...

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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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