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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#203: Back to Basics

If you’re signed up to the Prompts newsletter, you’re probably interested in writing short stories — and love getting emails from people called Laura. With that in mind, I have a recommendation for you...

Editor Laura Mae Isaacman offers a free, 10-day email course on How to Craft a Killer Short Story. She has edited literary giants like Noam Chomsky and Joyce Carol Oates, and her course breaks down the principles of short story writing into manageable chunks.

This week’s prompts take cues from Laura’s tips and examples, taking us back to the basics of storytelling, and can help you brush up your short story skills alongside the course.

This week's prompts

Write a story during which two conversations happen simultaneously.

Dialogue – 28 stories

Write about how a single event affects a seemingly unrelated area of a character’s life (their friendships, career, romantic relationships, etc.)

Character – 35 stories

Write about two friends getting into a fist fight.

Angst – 31 stories

Write a story that experiments with tone — perhaps a difficult subject dealt with in a playful way, or an ostensibly happy scene that hints at darkness lurking beneath.

Short Story – 63 stories

Start your story in the middle of the action.

Short Story – 69 stories

Stories

“Limbo” by Savannah Smith

Submitted to Contest #203

The beeps and whirring of machines filled the sterile air as fluorescent lights glared overhead and the fall of footsteps echoed loudly off the shiny, white walls. Plastic chairs similar to those found in primary schools were crammed into the tiny room, occupied by sombre individuals, each afflicted by a different malady. A tiny girl with elbow resting at an unnatural angle on a pink pillow, tears glistening on her cheeks, a young man in a flannel top with a bandage wrapped diagonally across his head, covering his left eye, a frail, wh...

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“THE KIDNAPPING” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #203

THE KIDNAPPING A five-year-old Gisella disappeared in the afternoon from the courtyard of the hotel where she was staying with her parents. The last adult who saw her in the courtyard, together with the other children, is another hotel guest. “ But we saw that man dressed in black who took Gisella away” Greta is saying. “ We have to say it” “ Now don’t exaggerate, we just saw the little girl following that man,” Peter replies. “ That man grabbed the child by the arm” Greta insists. “ No, he took her by the hand” “ But first grabbed her ...

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“Oh Marnie” by Jay DeBurgh

Submitted to Contest #203

"Oh Marnie""Stop it Steve.""Oh Marnie, you know I adore you.""No Steve, you're married to my sister, get away from me.""Oh Marnie, you are so pretty and bright, let's go up stairs.""No Steve, I need to get back to my kids soon, as my mum has picked them up from school today.""See that gives us time for a cuddle upstairs, let me show you how I adore you.""Steve, are you up there? I need the wine to be opened, as Marnie has to go soon.""Coming pumpkin."Steve licked his lips at the thought of sharing both sisters as he went back downstairs.&nbs...

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“Thank you” by Patrick Druid

Submitted to Contest #203

Thank you. My alarm went off around 7 pm while is was in my room, working another sketch on my drafting table. I got up from the little office chair and hit the off button. My little chair squeaked louder than the alarm but that was to be expected asi had bought it at a local thrift store. It served it's purpose though. I met my Mom in the little hallway next to my room as she gathered all of the clothes into a large, off white cotton bag and set it down, while I reached for the detergent and fabric softener from the to...

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“This is Gary” by Andy Mac

Submitted to Contest #203

This is Gary. Gary stands at an incredible six and a half feet tall, weighs over two hundred pounds ad has an incredibly low body fat count. His chiseled chest shows his years of mastering his physique and his non-stop devotion to serving the Terrain Defense Alliance for over twenty years. We see him holding out his side arm ready to shoot any foe that stands against freedom. No task is too great. No enemy too strong. Gary will conquer them all. This is Gary. Or at the very least, who everybody else wants Gary to be. But this may...

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“The Butterfly Effect” by Kathleen Rogan

Submitted to Contest #203

I think some people move through life with an intense purpose, you know? They’re the type of people when you meet them they just have it together- Just everything. I think my life was formed by a young God, learning how to knit strings of fate together haphazardly for the first time. I think if life was a river, then I’m a fish on the side of the riverbank, trying to walk. People get all sensitive when you talk about not wanting to be here, alive I mean, not like you’d ever do anything because then that would require you to you know- do...

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“What a Difference a Key Makes” by Barbara Nosek

Submitted to Contest #203

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A KEY MAKESBy Lori MadiganWell it’s pretty clear I wouldn’t be here, sitting alone in this small room, if my 14-yr old daughter Dana hadn’t become such an avid K-pop fan. That’s how we ended up months ago at a Saturday noontime concert at our small local theater where K-PLAZE, an aspiring local group, was given the opportunity to perform in advance of the regular movie schedule. It’s important to note that the concession counter had been opened early for the event.Even though I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to it, we h...

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“Be Careful What You Don't Know You Wish For” by Jodi Renee Thomas

Submitted to Contest #203

“I need a date for a wedding next Saturday.” That was it, one seemingly innocuous sentence that changed my life forever. I was a 38-year-old spinster who had been burned so many times before that I had sworn off all romantic entanglements. Maybe it was my shockingly red hair or the attitude that matched it. Or perhaps it was the fact that I spent the majority of my adult life (up to that point) spanking people for money. I’m sure it was a myriad of reasons that I was still single, but I didn’t care. I just knew that no single woman of a ce...

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“Deer Season” by Jim Holley

Submitted to Contest #203

Deer Season &nb...

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“Knuckles Up” by Lynda Baker

Submitted to Contest #203

Everybody knew about it. Well almost everybody. As the months passed and icy patches became lush and green there was a stillness in the air. However, only the 'inner circle' were privy to what was happening. Men spoke in hushed tones clasping hands tightly as wads of cash passed from one to the other. "That'll do now, Paddy. I'll look after ye." "Not a word to herself mind." - - - - - - The village was a small bustling community. It consisted of a large halting site where families stayed for a time before moving...

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“She's the Man” by Alexis Morales-Cowell

Submitted to Contest #203

“My friend from Canada is coming down for a week and staying with us, is that cool?” Janie asked Anna. “Sure.” Anna shrugged; she already knew Janie was talking about John. “Yeah, his movie premier is next weekend.” Janie relished in her ability to turn her fandom into a friendship with a D-list celebrity. Janie was a homely looking white girl, and this made her a prime target to be...

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“Close Competition ” by Tamara Page

Submitted to Contest #203

"I can't believe my only best friend, in the whole world, would stab me in the back!" Roxy sat fuming the whole time during choir rehearsal. All she could think about was the heated encounter she had before rehearsal with her best friend, Diamond. They both got a crush on the same guy who seems to have the attention of every female member in the congregation. "Kingston is my boyfriend…he doesn't even like you! Diamond yelled as she pushed Roxy back hard into a red chair behind her. She quickly got back onto her feet and pushed Diamond...

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“Upon Return” by Liz Leness

Submitted to Contest #203

THWACK! Johnson is knocked flat on his stomach. He lies face-down, a thunderous pounding in his skull, and a ringing in his ears so shrill it rattles his eyeballs.Ughhh, who the fuck? Still dazed, Johnson squints up at his attacker. The young man's face is distorted by the sun's late -afternoon glare, but Johnson immediately recognizes the silhouette of his best friend, Weasel. He closes his eyes regretfully, resting his cheek against the scalding sand."How did you find me?" Johnson groans, pushing himself up to his knees.&nbs...

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“The Tradegy of Evelyn Harrison” by Kara Reed

Submitted to Contest #203

Evelyn Harrison was no stranger in her small town. She was the teacher of the year for three years straight, volunteered at her church on the weekends, made regular donations to charities, always wore bright floral dresses—no matter the season—and was the kindest person one could ever meet. She was loved and admired by everyone in her small town. No one had an ounce of ill will towards her, but the whole town was concerned with one thing: she was a lonely woman. She spent her days and nights serving others, seemingly having no time for her...

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“We've Got This” by C.G Ripplinger

Submitted to Contest #203

Greg's snoring could be heard throughout the usually quiet house. His body was sprawled all about the double queen size bed, with one arm behind his head, the other close to his crotch to occasionally scratch at his belly button, his left leg angled fifty degrees from his torso and entering dangerously close to his wife's side of the bed, and his right leg just completely off the bed entirely. His short shirt exposed his poor stomach and the amount of self-conscious adjusting he'd done throughout his sleep allowed his jogging pants to ride d...

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$250

Prize money

226

Contest entries

121

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 23, 2023 EST

Won by Kris Hawkins 🏆

Title: Echelon

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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