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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

“Sometimes we do things to help ourselves but instead those choices change our lives forever ” by Jori Nunes

Submitted to Contest #203

Although it's been nearly a decade since I appeared on the Dr.Phil show titled, "My sister wrote a book of lies" being on the show still haunts me. My life has been completely torn a part and I am not blaming anyone but myself and how I handled coming to terms with my past abuse. I had never blamed my father since he was mentally ill and an alcoholic. I always excused his inappropriate behaviors towards me hoping it was because he was under the influence of alcohol or who knows what else. The women loved him, they would always say he was so ...

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“Dave” by Sarah Addams

Submitted to Contest #203

As a freelance writer, my income was always unpredictable. One month I'd be rolling in cash, and the next I'd be scraping by on ramen noodles and tap water. I was used to the feast-or-famine cycle, but I never expected that a single Craigslist purchase would have such a profound impact on my life. It all started when I decided to buy a used exercise bike. I'd been meaning to get in shape for months, but I couldn't afford a gym membership. So when I saw an ad for a barely-used bike at a fraction of the retail price, I jumped at the chance. ...

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“Granny's Books” by Kristine Bone

Submitted to Contest #203

Granny’s Books “Granny, is this a good book for tonight?” Greta Schneider sat in her usual place in the family living room. Near the fireplace in an immense lounge chair, a blanket covering her tiny body, she reminded me of a turtle with only her head exposed. She was a small woman with steel gray hair, sparce on top, somewhat pasty white skin and piercing blue eyes that eyed my choice of reading material suspiciously. As her eyes were not what they used to be, momma insisted each evening I read to Granny to help her relax and hope...

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“Tiffany Shultz ” by Deva Hinton-Lawson

Submitted to Contest #203

"-And that's why I can't love." "I'm sorry?" "Yeah It's terrible-" "No I mean I don't understand. What does that have to do with your love life?" "You seriously didn’t get it? You want me to tell that whole story over again?" "If it’ll make you feel better…" "Fine! Pay attention this time." Xandria shifted in her stool as she prepared to re-tell her tragic tale. "It all started in fifth grade on the playground, she ruled the playground. Tiffany Shultz was the most popular girl at Wayward Elementary. Everything she did oo...

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“Waiting On a One-Word Song” by L.B Rinker

Submitted to Contest #203

Waves of pain were still radiating down my thigh to my toes. The pills they gave me helped a little, but it’s not like I could just ignore the fact that my leg had practically broken in half just a few hours earlier. I was just driving around the country, aimless, finding work where I could, and one day I decided I was going to be a roofer… that same day I slid off of a two story. I couldn’t even remember what town I was in, but I laid there in that hospital bed, waiting for the nurse to come back like she said she would. I had told her bef...

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“INHUMAN BONDAGE” by Ellen Ziegler

Submitted to Contest #203

COVER SHEET: Ellen Ziegler “Inhuman Bondage” 3 Dore Court, New City, NY 10956 ellenziegler@optonline.net 845 634-2261 Inhuman Bondage When the white disc of the moon s...

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“Aaron's Brithday” by David Krepel

Submitted to Contest #203

The sign read “Happy Birthday, Aaron!” The smell of cake and wine and innumerous cocktails mingled in the air with excited chatter, live music and the sounds of laughter. The hundred or so invitees of Aaron's party milled about, talking, dancing and helping themselves to the open bar while he sat contemplating the banner that celebrated the start of his existence twenty-five years ago today. He idly stirred his drink with the little umbrella that stuck out from the top of his glass while his mind worked on what those twenty-five years ...

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“My Dad's Wedding” by A Silverman

Submitted to Contest #203

The rustle of guests entering the building and softly greeting one another in nervous anticipation. The gentle vibration of a string quartet playing in the background. The shuffle of flower arrangements being perfectly spaced apart. The rhythmic beep of a heart monitor. The artificial whir of an AC unit. The low murmur of nurses making their rounds in the hallway outside. The bride holds a bouquet of lilies. The groom dons a hospital gown. It’s my dad’s wedding day. He’s a groom for the second time in his life. The first time w...

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“Fourteen Weeks” by Alaina Armendariz

Submitted to Contest #203

This story addresses the thoughts and emotions associated with the risks of a preterm delivery and extended hospital stay. On the day of her induction, Erin was wide-awake at five am. She stared up at the dark hospital ceiling for what felt like an eternity, a thousand thoughts racing through her brain. What if we’re making a mistake? Are we sure the steroids had enough time to work? Will the NICU take her away? What if I have a c-section? She rolled over in bed and stared at the lump of blankets on the reclining chair across from her. He...

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“Orange Roses” by Marie Knight

Submitted to Contest #203

Patties sizzled on the grill as flames met the dripping fat. In the yard, children shuffled, laughed, shouted, and chains clanged against metal bars. Tiny arguments ensued over who would push and swing, finally ending with the patties hitting a plate and their mother shouting, “Time to eat!” They asked for another minute but were denied by their father who smiled and said, “But the sooner we eat, the faster there is cake!”At the table, bright floral placemats surrounded a freshly delivered bouquet of orange roses. Glasses filled with lemonad...

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“I Did 'It' On The Weekend” by Heidi Poole

Submitted to Contest #203

(This story contains themes surrounding abortion and alludes to other mature themes.) I wasn’t paying much attention; I was investigating how long it would take me to drill a hole through an eraser with my pencil. Small grubby pieces of eraser were littering the desk like white ants, I’d look up every now and then to the whiteboard, but it was already something I knew. I glanced up a little more, changing hands to rest my face, we were all in a trance of boredom. The topic had lost its humour as people had started maturing, anyone who was ...

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“Paradise” by Valerie Busch

Submitted to Contest #203

Giselle opens her eyes and lifts her sunglasses. Dierdre is standing over her. “You’re blocking my sunlight,” she says. “G, you’re sitting directly under a palm tree,” Dierdre replies. “Get up. We’re going to a meeting.” Giselle sits up. “What? We just got here an hour ago. And it’s Saturday.” “It’ll be quick, it’s only a short drive down the road,” answers Dierdre. Giselle sighs. “Okay. Let me just get changed and grab my bag.” “No need. The car is already waiting. Mara’s coming too.” “But I’m just in my bathing suit,” Giselle frowns, look...

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“Two Lives in One” by Paul Besancon

Submitted to Contest #203

“Rawr! I'm a tiger!” the little girl squealed, chasing her playmates around the large suburban backyard. The face paint, or rather warpaint, on her nose and cheeks shone those familiar orange, white and black stripes with whiskers. “Roaarrr!” the six-year-old giggled as she gently smacked one of her friends on the back. “Not so hard, Kaley,” her mother scolded the birthday girl. “She’s fine,” her dad said, bringing out the cups and plasticware from the kitchen. “They’re just playing around, babe.” A soft kiss on warm cheek. One of the mothe...

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“The Final Show” by Erin Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #203

There are a lot of things that ghosts will tell you about being dead once you’ve gone and done the damn thing; seeing as most dead people are old, it doesn’t me that they love rules. Like my grandma – with her plastic-covered couch, her dishes and furniture reserved for responsible grown ups only, her many parables about the dangers of a young lady not knowing the proper and polite way to stand, sit, talk, sleep, breathe – the old fogies of the great beyond love having a good list of ‘do’s and ...

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“Dear Big Zack” by Saloni Dhingra

Submitted to Contest #203

Dear big ZackThe lion doesn’t hang out with the goats. What does Mama mean? She say this when I ask when is big Zack coming home. She say this when you go to that big school. She say this a lot. But tell me when are you comming back. I miss you. Don’t tell Mama I send you this letter. She scold me. Mama say you are different from us. You have black hair and we all have red. You can also colour your hair red so that we all become same. Mama say you not my real brother. but you are my real brother. I love you so much to the moon. Dada say we c...

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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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