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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

“TURING CAR” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #20

TURING CARBy Andrew Paul GrellFree. Roam. Free to roam. “That is correct, Pierre. We are free to roam. We may now roam freely.”Where roam now?“Buffalo. You know. Truckin, up to Buffalo, been thinkin’, you got to mellow slow. Your Daddy had quite a record collection, jazz to Grateful Dead and everything in between.”Yes. Thank you, Aida. Miss Daddy. Takes time to pick a place to go. Aida, play Stan Getz Thom Jobim.“Playing Girl From Iponema By Antonio Carlos Jobim and Stan Getz from the re...

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“The Aliens Inside of Me Talk.” by Rima ElBoustani

Submitted to Contest #20

This is fiction. This is fact. I’d hide from it if I could or should but that wouldn’t be wise, nor lead to a cure, at the very least my demise. I cannot believe that it was just an act – who played me and who played them, my friends? Where do I live? That’s a trick thought, I’m certain. I stay in the ward on many an occasion, in a hospital close by. They worry though they don’t say much, but I can see the fear in their eyes. I cannot but stop and swear, and I see visions everywhere. Whenever I open my mouth, it all comes out strange. It’s ...

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“He turned the Globe Over.” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #20

He Turned the Globe Over He turned the globe over, and then flipped it back again. It had been a much loved Christmas gift when he was a child. Steve still enjoyed watching the golden specks swirl around the black swan with the crown on its head. It was like some kind of magic winter scene, in some fairy world.   Now, as he watched the specks fall, with the swan emerging more and more clearly, until it stood alone, he felt differently. There was at this point just the emptiness of the water surrounding the swan....

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“A Gory Story” by Dash GetEm

Submitted to Contest #20

My whole body had gone numb with fear. It was impossible to focus. I sat there, shivering in my suit, damp with sweat. I looked down at the little box I was confined in, then up to the judge’s menacing glare, and finally back over to the prosecutor.“...Can you identify that man in the courtroom today?”As hard as I tried… I couldn’t.I remember wishing this whole thing was over so I could go back home, where it was safe. “Mr. Wheeler?” I could feel my heart beat faster and faster with every passing moment. I wheezed and strained my lungs....

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“Mere Sentiment” by Tay Wilding

Submitted to Contest #20

The man woke in a sea of wildflowers.   He didn't note how the wind blew the yellow petals against the grass. The whole field seeming a writhing mass of yellow stars in a green sky. The only thing he did notice was the blood on the flowers.  His own blood.  It was crusted on his head and hands.  Worse, he didn't know what had happened.  Panic made its customary appearance, and still nothing came to mind. His head was as empty as the blue sky. There was nothing. Nothing.  His br...

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“Rise of Azrael. Angel of Death” by Jason Yeboah

Submitted to Contest #20

-Nova -Azrael -Aspen   -Phoenix -Hydra -Eon -Raven “Now that you have all finished signing the document, accommodations have been prepared,” said the squire. “Very well,” replied Eon. I knew creating you would serve me well. Eon was an excellent creator. He was the master of time. He could see the future and the past, but he didn’t often because it drained him of his energy. He was the one who had the idea of a treaty. “Well, is that everything?,” asked Phoenix. The gods had just finished signing a treaty t...

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“The Lyon's Tale” by Eric Olsen

Submitted to Contest #20

25 December 1929: Crocodile River Farm - Transvaal."They're scared of me," boasted Cestshewayo."*Hennie tried to think of a reply that would elevate his status in his friend's eyes. He couldn't.Henry Claridge-Lyon's ancestry might have given him an interesting pedigree, but Ouma's** reassurances didn't mean much to a six year old. The mischievous child with sun-bleached hair looked up at his Zulu friend, four years his senior. "I'm hot. Let's go and swim in the river."A frayed rope dangled from the branch of a tree where they'd tied it, mont...

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“Nannerl and the Wolf” by Vivien Leanne Saunders

Submitted to Contest #20

What big ears Wolfie has. It is not a compliment, merely a fact that follows him like perfume. He flatters himself with it. He is not special. How could he have a bad ear with a family like ours?Yes, I include myself. I have the right. It was I, after all, who watched him chew on quills and smash his fists into my violin. My father wanted no part in it. It was I who showed Wolfie which end of the flute to blow into, and where to place his fingers. I was so assured of my skills that I became as arrogant as a preening tomcat. My ignorance...

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“Maybe Tomorrow” by Destinee Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #20

"Bzzzz! Bzzz!"For most people, this would be the sound of their alarm clock buzzing, announcing the start of another day.For her, it is the sound of her preschooler, imitating a mechanical noise in lieu of telling her good morning. Heaving a sigh, she rolls herself over to look into his large grey eyes. "That time already, love?" she mumbles. He giggles and heaves himself up beside her, snuggling into her side. Brushing strands of dark blonde hair off his forehead, she bends to kiss him, this baby of hers. They stay there, entwined, for a fe...

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“The priest.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #20

The Priest.I suppose it was a cantankerous orneriness that had me taking vows of celibacy and devotion to the Man in the Sky.My family were committed atheists. They swore their noisy allegiance to nothing, as fervently as I was espousing my conviction that I had a good grasp of the hem of him up there.I would tell them that the attempted converting behaviour that they were directing toward me, was religious in nature, but at the moment, misplaced. That made them almost apoplectic! As you can see, I don’t necessarily hold with all of the...

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“Promise” by Mushroom (flammulina Velutipes)

Submitted to Contest #20

Wind whips my hair into my face as I drive, my eyes wide and my mouth open in a constant shout of elation.I'm going too fast - I know I am, but it's a mostly empty road, and apart from a few people mowing their lawns, there's no one to see me. And it's not like I'm going to crash - I was told I passed my driving test with flying colors.I narrowly avoid crashing into a mailbox, swerve around a corner, and finally screech to a halt near my best friend's house. In the sudden silence, I get out of the car.Without the sound of tires squealing and...

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“Jesus, tetherball, and Spot” by Linda Hallstrom

Submitted to Contest #20

Edith Glimshire was afraid of Jesus and Lily couldn’t understand why. At her church, Edith said, Jesus was mad at everybody and planned to send all of them to hell. That’s what the minister said anyway. Jesus was more mild-mannered at Lily’s church. He mostly wanted people to recite his prayer every week, sing hymns about the old rugged cross, and try not to trespass until the next week. Lily was sure that Jesus followed her family home after church to hover over the roast beef and listen to Lily recite the table prayer with her mo...

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“Late Night Calls” by Gianna Rocca

Submitted to Contest #20

“You have reached the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, also servicing the Veterans service line. If you are in emotional distress or suicidal crisis or are concerned about someone who might be, we're here to help. Please remain on the line while we route your call to the nearest crisis center in our network.” The silence after the message was promptly replaced  with music. Not necessarily sad or happy music, but calm yet upbeat notes filled the line. As if they were trying to cut any existing tension, but weren’t trying to be ...

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“A logical rejection” by Emily Clark

Submitted to Contest #20

I felt sick as I stared at her. How did I get into this position? I always (and I mean ALWAYS) analyze the situation. I’m never confused, I stick to facts, real things. So, logically explain to me how I just got rejected by my crush! It just doesn’t make sense. I calculated every possible outcome, and the probability of each outcome’s occurrence. I hardly ever make mistakes, but I guess asking her out was one of them. Despite my best efforts to think about something else, the scene just keeps replaying in my head like a broken record. &...

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“NO CLAPS PLEASE” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #20

Rohini was on her way to Vaniga Sangham Hall to deliver a lecture on ‘Beti Bachao’. She was a popular social activist and many organisations used to call her for their programmes as guest speaker. Occasionally she used to go well prepared, but many times, it was extempore. This time it was a mix of both. She had added her own personal experiences and made the speech very effective. Though she did not tell the audience about all that she went through, she did throw light on fallacies and myths, men carried two decades ago, may be holding good...

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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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