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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 Purs” by Andres Rich

Submitted to Contest #20

“Þurs Týr!” Yr yelled. Everyone in the hall turned to look at him, the foam of ales in the beards of their scarred faces. Þurs Týr sat at the head of the hall, tearing a piece of flesh from a roasted lamb’s leg, its juices and grease staining his beard. He made eye contact with Yr, his cruel eyes glinting with malice and curiosity. Yr stood taller, feeling terrified inside. Nevertheless, he continued.“I challenge you to a fight to the death!” A roll of laughter went through those gathered around the tables. Yr continued. “If I win, your me...

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“The Voice Recording of Jerome Mannore” by Micah Grace

Submitted to Contest #20

I hear voices in my head sometimes. I can’t explain it well. It just happens. It happens whenever I’m in the shower; often when the water is hot. Steamy. That reminds me, and I think it’s important--I have this thing I do where I keep my glasses on when I’m in the shower. No matter how foggy they get. When I take them off, I see things. Horrible things. The whispers of the voices in my head come to life and I begin seeing them. It’s not very often that I see the things the voices belong to, so I can’t describe them well… Except for one...

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“When I met Jimmy” by Abner Santos

Submitted to Contest #20

That Jimmy is highly intelligent and inquisitive is a fact well-publicized by all at the office. More often than one would think appropriate, as I walk to my desk every morning, I listen to people either whispering or giggling excitedly about the latest developments of his life. The guy is popular and, worst of all, it seems like he acts as though he is oblivious it. Typical charmer. I have never felt curious about getting to meet him, or interacting with him. I am a man of business and focus, and as Senior Accountant of the City of Providen...

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“WLTM” by Chris Hannon

Submitted to Contest #20

Butcher’s shop, downtown. Marcus inhaled through his nostrils. What a sweet perfume. You could bottle that essence into a vaporiser and spray it out in a rosy mist. He’d buy it, for one. The meat in the display lay on squares of AstroTurf; a thoughtful touch, evocative of the grass the cow had once grazed on, a bridge between its idyllic past and unpleasant destiny. Unpleasant for the cow anyway. The haunches of meat were planted with miniature flags, 100% British, and the price per kilo. He imagined the little flag poles easing into the fle...

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“Fascinating” by Dianne Bramble

Submitted to Contest #20

I take it as a compliment when people call me Spock or Data. For those of you who don't know, Spock is an alien character from a science fiction television show who is from a race of very logical beings. Data is a character from another science fiction show. He is an android and is also very logical. I like to think that I am most like Spock.I have always been this way, even as a child. Other children would want to play make believe games, but I was the one who wanted to play chess. I was teased and bullied throughout my childhood, but it ne...

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“My Dearest Eliza” by Alexis Forbes

Submitted to Contest #20

My dearest Eliza, oh how there is so much I yearn to share. My heart, my body, my soul. Take me away with the gleam of hope you cast upon this damned world. I wish you could see what I see. Your hair is fire that melts the coldest of hearts, your skin fair as winter is long, your eyes darkened with secrets I must investigate. I watch you execute simple acts, yet you perform them in such a methodical way it seems as if Shakespearian. Oh Eliza, dear sweet Eliza. How I long for you.You saw me once, as I walked by with my hound. You smiled to me...

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“Destiny's Decision for one Cyprus Gray” by Quinn Shioda

Submitted to Contest #20

New York City, 1841,The land of the free and the home of the brave housed a rather interesting character. Cyprus Gray was a cold, bitter, self-entitled man, selfish to boot, and overly opinionated. He was someone with a personality that people actively avoided, as well as being someone difficult to deal with. However, on the flip-side, he was an opportunist; someone that was willing to exploit anything, for any advantage. Needless to say, he was not someone that had many friends or really associated with people in general. ...

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“Admitting the Someone Else is Right.” by Izzy Olsen

Submitted to Contest #20

“It just doesn’t make sense with everything going on in the world right now.Climate change is happening faster than ever (thanks to humans).The planet is already overpopulated as is (thanks to humans).We don’t have enough resources to sustain what we have, or should I say WHO we have…there are millions of kids out there waiting to be adopted, what more do I need to say?!” “I already know all that, Mel! I know, okay? But we’re getting older now...and well, you know I’ve always wanted kids-” “But look at the facts! If you ‘already kn...

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“Flaws of Logic” by Eddie F

Submitted to Contest #20

“You seem to be an extremely negative person Steven,” said Doctor Ramsey, looking up from his notes. Steven smirked. “That is what they tell me Phil,” he replied wryly, leaning back on the brown leather futon. This wasn’t Steven’s first time in a therapist’s office. Far from it. It also wasn’t the first time a therapist commented on his negative nature. And as far as Steven was concerned, Doctor Phillip Ramsey was no different than any of the others. “You don’t seem surpris...

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“Illicit Nectar” by Christine Theiss

Submitted to Contest #20

It was around 4:00am, the pub was dimly lit and only two patrons were sitting upon stools at the bar. The place was grim, there was not much seating to be had and the bar itself was unorganized with cases of whiskey piled high behind it. A small band played quietly upon a dismal stage, singing some Paul Whiteman song. The bartender stood quietly humming along to the music while dubiously cleaning classes. There were no other customers in the underground venue. All others had left earlier in the evening, long before dawn. Most only risk being...

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“The Gig” by Annie Percik

Submitted to Contest #20

The music pounded through Emma’s chest and skull. The venue was crowded and dark, except for pinpoints of light scattered through the crowd as eager audience members raised their mobile phones to record bits of the show.The man standing at centre stage had longish pale blond hair, artfully designed to appear carelessly disarrayed. He was thin to the point of looking ill, in Emma’s opinion, his slender body outlined by a thin black shirt and tight black trousers. Black crow feathers stuck up from his hair and his look was finished...

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“A mom for Onyx” by Becky Vodek

Submitted to Contest #20

“Are you sure this is the right apartment building?” “Yes, patience. She is perfect. She will make a great mom for BC1151.” BC4 and BC24 hide behind the yellow fire hydrant waiting for their target to appear. “There she is, follow her. Then I will make my final decision.” I live in the city and walk the ten blocks to work every morning. Rain or shine. Snow or sun. Hot or cold. Every day flows into the next and it all begins to blur into one uneventful existence. Until an unseasonably warm, De...

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“My mum's Little Diary” by Mercy Duke

Submitted to Contest #20

“Jayden! Lenon! Hurry up you will be late for school” this voice would call us every morning when I and my younger brother were in the bathroom. We used to wake up at 5:am every school day and go to bath. Daily we would play games in the bathroom and forget we were supposed to be early for school. I was in Grade 4 and my young brother Lenon was in Grade one.“Okay mum, we are almost done” I would always answer from the bathroom. This was my daily answer even if she called before we started bathing. Sometimes I and my brother would play games ...

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“Heart's Desire” by Amari Byrd

Submitted to Contest #20

Kisandra rose to the blare of her alarm, a slight groan slipping out of her mouth as she slowly grabbed her phone to turn the alarm off. Still sitting in her bed she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and got out of her bed with a stretch. Kisandra walked down the hall to her children’s room to wake them up for school. She had two twin children, both of them were eight-years-old. She had a daughter named Ella and a son named Eric. Kisandra shook them awake and picked out their clothes to wear for school while they...

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“Daily Ritual” by Raegan Burkett

Submitted to Contest #20

In school, they ask me what my biggest fear is, and I sit quietly, seriously considering this question. My mind flashes to my future and what I expect of myself and how I want to live my life. I sift through the people that I have grown up around, and who I have to look up to as examples. My mom comes to mind; Her tired eyes but warm smile. I think of her life and routine, the slivers of it that I see. She is already awake when I get up at 5:30 in the morning for school. I walk into the kitchen and she is standing by the stove, preparing eg...

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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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