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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#204: Wild, Wild West

The days of the old American West have long held weight in the collective imagination of storytellers. There’s a mythic power to it. Tales of survival, revenge, and itinerant gunslingers still draw us in, whether for a bit of adventure or to ask deeper questions about morality and philosophy.

The desolate desert landscapes, the struggles and conflicts between settlers and Native peoples, the wandering heroes, all these elements and more have inspired writers across genres, from George Lucas to Stephen King. Perhaps the best thing about a Western is its malleability and creativity: its ability to be set anywhere from America in the 1800s to a galaxy far, far away. So this week get your cowboy hats (or space helmets) ready as we go to explore the great unknown.

Plus, you're invited! 🎉

The second issue of PROMPTED, our literary magazine, is coming soon — and to celebrate, we're holding a live online event next Thursday! Find out more and get your free ticket right here.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a stranger coming to town and shaking up the order of things.

Character – 56 stories

Set your story in a desert town.

Adventure – 52 stories

Write a story about someone undertaking a long, dangerous journey.

Adventure – 39 stories

Write a Western-inspired story in a new genre or setting (e.g. a space western, fantasy western, etc.)

Fiction – 78 stories

Write a story about someone seeking revenge for a past wrong.

Dramatic – 73 stories

Stories

“Jackalope Horror” by Liv Sand

Submitted to Contest #204

Olivia M. Schmidt Jackalope Horror Under the full moonlight, half a dozen horses and their riders tracked cautiously over the cool desert sand. They hold the reins in a white-knuckled grip with a rifle slung around their backs. Thunder rolled in the distance, steadily growing closer and closer. The horses snorted and neighed, stomping their hooves nervously against the rough grains. At the raised clenched fist of the sheriff, the little band stopped. “We’ll carry on foot,” the gruff voice of the sheriff could be heard over the ...

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“Windy Trails of Jalvern” by Paul Besancon

Submitted to Contest #204

The small village of Jalvern, was quiet—deceptively so. Residing in northern Starklevende, the jagged mountains dwarfing the little town from either side gave its deep valley an ominous whistle of wind that flowed through the damp roads, lifting skirts and disheveling hair. The sign out front of the tavern creaked and swayed with the gusty breeze, echoing its rusty cry across the buildings’ stony faces. The few denizens of Jalvern silently went about their morning business. Eyes focused on feet, rather than meet the gaze of passersby. Hardl...

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“And its rider’s name was Death” by Briana Spring

Submitted to Contest #204

Ten The oppressive heat of the high noon sun beats against her back. A drop of sweat slowly traces a path down her neck, smearing the dirt and dried blood on her skin and catching on the smoothness of her leather vest. Her body’s discomfort at having been riding for so long makes itself known; her muscles burn and her eyes itch. She keeps them forward regardless. Nine After days, months, years of relentless searching she finally has her target in sight. She squints against the sun’s light, the relatively wide brim of her hat prov...

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“Destination...Nowhere” by Kimberly Walker

Submitted to Contest #204

Mom was a type 1 diabetic who lost her only pregnancy in the second trimester, in the late 50s, and she had to continue carrying the child until she naturally aborted. That was so traumatizing that she never wanted to attempt to have another child; depression set in soon after. Although happy with their life, Dad suggested becoming foster parents and adopting to get Mom to smile again. He wanted a son; the baby would have been named Warner had he survived. They started the applications for both programs at the same time. There were classes f...

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“Space Rangler” by Brwn Trout

Submitted to Contest #204

Space, the final frontier, is a cold and desolate empty void where very little occupies so much. It is open and vast, interspaced with bits of beautiful visions and epitaphs of stars, suns' and novas. A simple man is sitting on his porch, watching the stars and the quiet beauty of space. His home is little more than a large rock with metal panels strewn along its side's like a large metal ring; sitting atop the large rock is a house; from a distance, the house would look like a quaint small ranch with a small red barn in the back, but as you...

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“Dog Park, High Noon” by Robert Egan

Submitted to Contest #204

Paradise isn't easy to come by and it's even harder to keep. But a good dog knows that she has to stand up to protect what's hers. This is the story of one such dog, the one they call Bella.Now, paradise was Three Forks Dog Park in Snoqualmie, and even on overcast days, of which there were many, the park was a bright place to be. But the sun was shining on that October Saturday when Greg and Bella rode their Ford Bronco into Three Forks. Heads turned, as they always did, at Bella's arrival.Greg strolled, but Bella pranced. Greg was a well-gr...

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“Heavy Rain, Ex-Detectives, and the Mojave Desert” by Jordan Armstrong

Submitted to Contest #204

One, for a cruel God. The spirit burned as it snaked down my throat, conjuring memories of flames and charred corpses; a mother and father, torn from a son destined to pain. Two, for a wasted opportunity. The orphan, a prodigy; gifted, they said, and they wondered what would become of him- a mathematician, a poet, a lawyer, surely. Three, for false promises. Alone, the men in blue comforted him, as the firemen dueled the blaze; he would be just like them, one day. Four, for the loss of innocence. Lost footage, lost...

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“Code Red ” by Chyna Wells

Submitted to Contest #204

*Trigger Warning Note*: Story includes a school shooting, Mental Health issues, violence, weapons and suicidal thoughts Jackson "We are gathered here today to honor those who have passed in the FlockMore's High School shooting." I stare, blankly, at the five caskets-trying not to remember what caused those students to end up there. My hands shake and sweat-eager to get away from this funeral. My mind fills up with the sound of a Ruger nine millimeter going off, the yelling of my peers as they try to escape the terr...

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“Rak Off, Hairy Legs! ” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #204

Kylie Doll was in her reflection mode. She arose early, as normal, and lit her penny candle. These days, all was going well, so she said her morning devotion of gratitude, to accentuate her positives. It was her fiftieth birthday. Despite some setbacks, she had found somehow a plateau of peace and love. Kylie Doll internally wound back some of those years. Once she too had believed in love and marriage. She had been a reasonably attractive bank teller, enjoying being young. Along had come Cheetham, that older man everyone warned a young woma...

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“The Man With No Face” by Zeeshan Mahmud

Submitted to Contest #204

Warning: Contains graphic scene and language “See the thing with a n— like me is that n—-s are confused as to if I am really a n—- n—-uh or a just a plain ol’ albino n—--. And I ain’t gon beat ‘rund the bush no mo’. If your boy haddn dun this 90 years go … f—-in slang my brain with that chayain and fry ma face over the grill like a charred hickory ol’ babacue sauce man… f— no. I ain’t square dancin here nay neithuh I am tap dancin’. I came for his rusty a— and I want that m—----ers head on a nice ol dish… nuh scratch that on a silver platt...

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“Swindler’s End” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #204

The Palace Hotel was the biggest house Big Jim had ever seen. Fancy carriages rolled by him and Big Jim paid no mind to the splashes of mud from them. He walked to the doors of the hotel and looked on the whitest whitewashed walls he had ever seen. The dark clouds were parting and the sun was coming out. He had arrived. As he walked closer to the doors Big Jim held the reins of his horse wondering where he was going to tie him off. Preston, the doorman, stood like a soldier at his post. He wore an expensive suit and...

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“I Am the Thing You Made Me” by Alicia Bablick

Submitted to Contest #204

Lucky crashed through the underbrush. Low tree branches slapped at his face, stinging his cheeks and welting his hands as he tried to protect his eyes. Magic would have been a faster escape, but it was too late now. He had waited too long thinking he would be able to evade them on foot. The trees in this part of the forest were tall and dense and without a clear path through the air he risked slamming face first into a tree trunk. So Lucky ran. But his short legs barely kept him ahead of his pursuers and he was doing more tripping and stumbl...

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“It Feels Fatty” by Rachel Thompson

Submitted to Contest #204

The thought of Daniel makes my skin itch. It burns behind my eyes and clouds all my thoughts. There are days when the hate bleeds into all that I do. It makes me unable to parent, consumes all my compassion, and turns my energy to ash. On those days, I spend my evenings slumped on a shapeless sofa, like a warrior robbed of a battle they felt for sure they could win. He hurts my sister, always, and in new and creative ways. His greed and jealousy burn her skin every time he touches her. There have been seven years of Daniel, and I suspect at ...

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“The Unsolved Case On 22nd Street” by Tracy Brown

Submitted to Contest #204

Title: The Unsolved Case On 22nd Street Hello! My name is Luna. My family and I are from California; we now live in beautiful Ohio. Mid-June, June 19th to be precise, my family and I moved to Ohio, a city full of beautiful buildings, unique fashion boutiques, restaurants, breathtaking parks, beautiful gardens, and a clear blue sky; my mom and dad thought it would be a great idea to change our surroundings, and that was how we moved without hesitation. My dad, John Thompson, works as a computer engineer. I'm glad he stuck with his childh...

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“La Femme Fatale of the Frontier” by Andy Lemos

Submitted to Contest #204

"La Femme Fatale of the Frontier" By AJ Lemos “La Femme Fatale of the Frontier” is what she calls herself. Or maybe that’s what “they” call her. Not entirely sure. Either way, she’s causing quite a stir, from what I hear. “I swear she owns the town,” the young female ranch hand Bobbi Sue semi-giggled as she uttered the words, and I continued our interview. We strolled along on horseback along the long, dusty dirt trail. “How she ended up here, I got no idea. Don’t figure a town of this size would show up on any of them maps they sel...

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$250

Prize money

298

Contest entries

94

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 30, 2023 EST

Won by Katy B 🏆

Title: The Ungentling

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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