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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

“The Consequence of a Rumour ” by Hannah Wilson

Submitted to Contest #204

TRIGGER WARNING - Allegations of Sexual assault and violence. Claudia gulped from the smooth, glass bottle she held in her hand. She felt the burning sensation slide down her throat and settle in her stomach. After the burning subsided, she was left with a numbing sensation with tackled the emotional turmoil swirling inside. She looked around at the bush she was now hiding in and sniggered. How had she fallen so far? She was reduced to spying on a life she was no longer welcome to participate in. Claudia stared at her daughter and her hus...

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“Afterclap” by Amanda Bennett

Submitted to Contest #204

Those who knew my character would swear I lacked the stomach for murder. They had never once heard me utter a complaint, let alone swear a reckoning. Of course, back when my wife had been spitting up blood in a bedpan, the nearest neighbour was over an hour away… Hardly surprising that none of ’em ever heard me howling for retribution. In those days towns had to grow, and fast, or they faded back into dust. Unfortunately, my community saw something of a boon as a pit-stop for the wagon trains moving on to better prospects. Wasn’t four ...

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“Before You Meet the Devil” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #204

Skinner, Arkansas, 1877 Jack sat behind the bar reading a newspaper. It was mid-afternoon and the saloon was quiet, but it was always quiet until suppertime when the gamblers came in. It would be standing room only, everybody hoping to get a seat at a table or making bets on the side. Jack had started the bar in a tent, in 1870. He had named it the Red Ace Saloon and it soon garnered a reputation as a card-playing hot spot. He learned quickly that gambling was thirsty work. Men drank to calm their nerves, for courage, or to drown the...

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“Wilde, Wilde, West, and Associates” by Victoria Hatton

Submitted to Contest #204

Wilde, Wilde, West, and Associates By Victoria Hatton “Wilde, Wilde, West, and Associates. This is Annie. How may I help you?” “Hi. Ummm…is my lawyer there? Patrick…Mr. West?” Annie instantly recognized the caller’s voice. Mr. Holliday. He had been in litigation for divorce and child custody for a year and a half. He had a bit of a short temper, but he was by no means the worst client Patrick ever had. “No, I’m sorry, he’s out of the office right now. Would you like me to transfer you to his voicemail?” A...

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“A Rootin' Tootin' Fight” by Nathan Baylet

Submitted to Contest #204

A Rootin’ Tootin’ Fight a short story by Nathan Baylet 6-29-2023 Reedsy short story contest #204 wild, wild west catagory: stranger comes to town word count: 2,958 “He’s here!” someone shouted. Rex clacked his empty shot glass on the bar, dawned his dusty hat, and strode out the saloon doors, silver gun ready on this right, and steel eyes fixed on the stranger down the street ridin’ into town, and dismounting a great horse. Patters of footsteps echoed around the wooden two-story buildings and clicks of locking doors, then silence, sunl...

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“Tricked Again, By the Tushies” by Sophie Veland

Submitted to Contest #204

“Good morning, sleepy head!” my oldest sister, Braylin, said. She was always up before me due to her job. She works at a beauty Parlor called Yo Hair is Did. It’s cringe if you ask me. I think the name needs a little workshopping. I walked into the kitchen and made a bowl of what looks like mud (grits). Sometimes my sister makes me biscuits on the weekends, but lately, she hasn’t been able to due to her job at the salon. “Are you excited about the mud run today?” “Sure thing! Are you going to be able to make it? My siste...

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“THE ORDER OF THINGS” by Ikageng Pheko

Submitted to Contest #204

The dusty town of Dry Gin had always been a quiet, predictable place. Nestled in the heart of the Wild Wild West, its residents went about their daily routines, embracing the familiar patterns of their lives; the simple life. The Moondance Saloon echoed with laughter, the blacksmith's hammer rang through the air to bring Dry Gin’s unique sound and identity to life, and the sheriff lazily patrolled the streets, with very little worry in his old boring town.But one fateful day, a stranger rode into the old town on a spirited chestnut stallion....

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“Clara Belle PI” by Marie Maher

Submitted to Contest #204

The stagecoach pulled up in a cloud of dust, the coachman reining in the steaming horses with an oath. He jumped down, spat, and opened the stagecoach door. “Ma’am,” he said, his moustaches quivering appreciatively. Clara Belle descended into the arid atmosphere of Gorey Creek, a dewy rose in a desert. A lady of some twenty-five summers, her glossy chestnut hair was swept into a knot at the nape of her neck. She lifted her skirt slightly as she climbed down, to reveal starched petticoats and buttoned boots. Clara waited as the driver sw...

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“Desert Sky Genie” by Alex Joyce

Submitted to Contest #204

From his kitchen window Jack watched clouds collide with the mountain, their shadow robbing the town of color. For the first time in his life he looked to the sky for entertainment. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen where there was no sky. It was buried, painted over with valleys of concrete and steel. Now, from his new cabin home he watched clouds dance with mountains. He'd only been there two weeks but he was already known around town. The retired cop from New York. He went to Ginger's Diner every day fo...

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“Strangest Girl I Ever Saw” by Lauren Kawamoto

Submitted to Contest #204

STRANGEST GIRL I EVER SAW SOMEWHERE IN THE OHIUS PLAINS CRACK flies the bullet, BOOM thunders the horse’s hooves, and SMASH comes the sound of shattering pride. He howls and howls and howls, a terrible noise that could suck up all of the world’s despair if given the chance as he topples from his stallion, hands flying to the new crater in his leg. Courtesy of the rider still galloping at full tilt towards him. “No!” he screams, raising a bloody hand toward his assailant in a useless plea. “I already gave you everything!” W...

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“BROTHERS IN ARMS” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #204

BROTHERS IN ARMS The fusillade of shots sent the two Curry brothers scampering back into the empty saloon. Virgil, the eldest, crawled behind the bar. His brother, Josh, known as Kid, rolled away to the right of the swing doors. “Jesus, Virg, there must be a dozen o’ them bastards out there”. “You hit?” “No. Leastways, I don’t think so. You?” “Just a nick; left hand. Damn, it stings”. Kid checked himself over. One bullet had pierced his left boot; clean hole-but had missed his foot. “What now, Virg...

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“King of Hearts” by Davie McGuinn

Submitted to Contest #204

{T.W.: Multiple} Kate lifted her groggy head out of the stale whiskey and saliva cesspool. The morning sun rays shined through the wavy leaded glass windows and baked the empty room. The stool in front of the piano was unoccupied, as were all of the other barstools and chairs in the saloon besides her own. The barkeep must have trusted her in good faith not to walk out of there with all of the booze, for he, too, was absent. She managed to pull herself from her barstool, adjusting her gun belt and straightening her lacy, burgundy c...

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“The Water Bearer” by Annette Hallie

Submitted to Contest #204

Nimble fingers race to finish braiding the last tufts of Tierra’s hair while she diligently applies kohl to the waterline of her eyes. A young girl kneels before her, securing strings of delicate shells to her right ankle.The curtains at the entrance of the room part forcefully. An old woman with a limp and cane hobbles in, waving her free arm.“They’re here. They’re here,” she whispers to the room of women. The pace of the braiding quickens.“She’s almost ready, Mama Althea,” one of the braiders responds. Her fingers twist and turn with fervo...

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“How A Bloody Road Leads to Life Everlasting” by Amanda Inman

Submitted to Contest #204

One day an angel visited a young girl named Mary, being engaged to Joseph; the angel told her that she indeed had favor with God and would give birth to His son, who would be called Jesus. Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit and had the first and only virgin birth. The delivery time approached, and the need for Mary to take a journey arose. Mary faced several challenges to her faith. Caesar Augustus had recently decreed that a registration be carried out of the land. It was no incident that Caesar issued this decree at this time in history ...

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“A Buffalo Woman's War” by Hayley Chau

Submitted to Contest #204

I was born on May, 16 2099. The same day a white buffalo calf was born as well. A white buffalo is extremely rare. Now if that isn’t odd already, a lunar eclipse occurred that day. That’s not the mind blowing part, get ready for this … the moment the Moon aligned in between Earth and the Sun, was the exact time of our births. What are the chances? All of our food sources are genetically cloned in a lab to end starvation around the world. However, a white buffalo was never encoded into the stem cell of that species, so how a WH...

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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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