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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#208: Come On Barbie, Let's Go Party

The wait is finally over: today Greta Gerwig’s Barbie(™) movie hits theaters and I, for one, couldn’t be more excited! Blonde and big-busted, this by-now classic doll has often been associated with negative stereotypes of womanhood. But it’s also true that, when you played with Barbie as a child, she could be anything you liked: a firefighter, a flight attendant, a teacher, or even an astronaut (Barbie went to space 4 years before Armstrong did). The possibilities were endless, allowing young people to envision new futures for themselves.

This week’s prompts take inspiration from Barbie and her pink, plastic world, asking you to play with the idea of puppetry, childhood memories, and shiny surfaces that hide potential darkness.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone living vicariously through someone else.

Character – 32 stories

Write a story where the characters start to realize that they are, in fact, just characters.

Character – 49 stories

Write a story about a character who finds a childhood toy that brings back memories.

Character – 70 stories

Write a story about someone who is constantly being put into a box by others.

Angst – 40 stories

Set your story in a rosy-pink world where everything is rainbows and unicorns… until it isn’t.

Dramatic – 47 stories

Stories

“Case Closed” by Danielle Azoulay

Submitted to Contest #208

My life was perfect until I met the new boy in town. Summer vacation had just begun. When the seasons changed, our landscape transformed almost overnight, from crisp, cool blues and the spirited aroma of pine trees to warm ambers, pink skies and campfires wafting through the air. No matter the time of year, one thing stood true in Celestia; there was always a sense of cheer. Our slogan wasn’t “The World’s Happiest Town” for nothing. Everybody knew everybody, and we all got along like milk and cookies. The day I met the newcomer, I had ...

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“Undeserving of Love” by Carina Caccia

Submitted to Contest #208

Nora knew not to seek refuge in others, and yet this stranger—we’ll call him Louis—provided some kind of solace lying there beside her, shoulder to shoulder, each of them with their arms wrapped around a blue pillow. She was happy to lie here in his company, in his bed, for there was no family to hold her, no friends, no partner, and the only semblance of love she’d ever found was in the arms of men with ulterior motives; and so, she willingly mistook mud for chocolate, weeds for flowers, and blood for wine. But this time, she mightn’t hav...

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“Fire and Flame ” by Emilie Bufford

Submitted to Contest #208

The clouds were pink, to begin with. Emperor Posy of Peony had made sure of that. But, they hadn’t always been. Much to the Emperor’s alarm, they had turned black the day of his daughter’s birth. “Change them back,” the Emperor told his sorcerer after taking one glance at the mewling newborn in the nursemaid’s arms. “All was fine and pink until she came into this world. Nothing good will come of it.” The sorcerer, Aflyn, clad in a rose-pink robe with a red sash, quickly removed a vial from his breast pocket and blew across the ...

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“FAME” by Ruby Zaidi

Submitted to Contest #208

FAME Had it really been only fifty minutes since she got here ? It seemed to be so much longer . She glanced up at the wall clock again . Had it stopped ? She would gladly have come at dawn - in any case she had been unable to sleep a wink - but for security reasons. She would not have been allowed to enter. She was unable to stand in one place. She began pacing restlessly up and down the crowded platform . She felt about as calm as a cat on a hot tin roof. She did not even attempt to make a conversation with ...

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“Glory and Sacrifice ” by Eric E

Submitted to Contest #208

The clouds hung low in the sky like pillowy mountains that were mysteries to those who gazed up at them. Above them the sun burned evenly, spreading an indolent haze. Below them, it was the first day of Wimbledon and the green was strikingly verdant against the array of colours the spectators wore. Nikola Marusic was preparing to serve, and he approached the ball boy behind him who brought out three balls. The ball boy’s name was Max Hunter and he tried his best to stop his hands from shaking as his idol approached him. Marusic towered above...

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“Waiting On The Train” by Scott Jacobs

Submitted to Contest #208

The weeds are pumped with blood, unmitigated residence in these parts allowing them to grow wildly through the cracks in the wood and the seedy underbelly of stones. The meek ones stick to the tracks, but the most brazen reach up to the train. They’ve caught the cow catcher; they’ve wrapped accordion-style in between its metal prongs. Up in the sky slumped trees shroud the locomotive in vines. I suspect their awkward embrace is unwanted–the tendrils are delaying its arrival at the end of the world. I watch my step as I get closer–the weeds...

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“Hummingbird” by Nick Baldino

Submitted to Contest #208

Jake sits upright at the end of the couch, elbows locked on his knees. He stares past his therapist, out the pale screen of dawn, to a hummingbird that darts between red and purple petunias. “Look,” Jake says. “A hummingbird.” The therapist doesn’t turn. He speaks in staccato. “What draws your attention to the hummingbird?” Jake shrugs. “I haven’t seen one in a long time, that’s all.” “And how does that make you feel?” “Nostalgic.” Jake pauses, making sure his next word is closer to meaning something. “Wanting.” “What exactly,” th...

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“My Marvellous Toy” by Gloria Bartone

Submitted to Contest #208

"When I was just a wee little lass, full of health and joy, my father homeward came one night, and gave to me a toy..." I have always loved the music of Peter, Paul, and Mary, but this particular song brings back the most wonderful of memories of my growing up years. It conjures memories of happy events,when I was too small and uncaring to notice that they were some of the happiest times of my young life. I grew up as the second child, and eldest daughter, in my family of five siblings. My brother was born in New York City, but I was born on...

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“The Show” by Zoë Page

Submitted to Contest #208

Matilda sat with the dollhouse cradled between her knees. Blonde hair tumbled down to frame her face as careful, delicate hands worked to arrange each little piece of furniture: the little velvet couch that had once been a sweet blue but had faded to almost grey, the little China sink, the little double bed with its matching kitten motif duvet and pillows. Everything was little, so small and perfectly sized for her hands.They weren’t fiddly. For some people they might be, people with big and clumsy and impatient fingers; Matilda curved her b...

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“THE FORGETTEN DOLL” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #208

THE FORGOTTEN DOLL When she happened to find it at the back of an old wardrobe, wrapped in pillowcases and towels, Alice gave a start of fear. Yet that doll was not anything but ugly or frightening. It was indeed beautiful. It was blonde, with very fine-flowing hair, and had a face with perfect features, almost regal: the perfect oval of the delightful face, the high cheekbones, the lively gaze. It had blue eyes and a small rosebud-shaped mouth. The blonde doll wore a white floor-length dress that was embroidered and embellished with ...

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“Silver Spoon” by Evan Charles

Submitted to Contest #208

All my life, I hated the silver spoon in my mouth; it felt more like a collar polished dry, rubbing at scabs on my neck. Its hold made it hard to breathe, worse to speak my mind. Took me a while to recognize the loathing, but therapy brought clarity. Yes, I resented my privileged life since I rarely got to enjoy my life. Just thinking that feels liberating because everyone knows how challenging that golden-ticketed life weighs on the wealthy. I won't begrudge those who look at my pompous prick peers in frustrated envy - most of tho...

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“I have no face, but I must love” by Ken Ng

Submitted to Contest #208

“Wake up, 621. You have work to do.” Katya-621 whirred steel optics and twitched synthetic-flesh fingers. The inside of her combat cradle was a mirror sheen that reflected a pale, naked female body of indeterminate age that was clearly designed to mimic the peak of human athleticism; whipcord thin, sporting toned, evenly molded musculature. Katya might have been considered beautiful, desirable even, save for the hundreds of diagnostic wires and electrical cables that remained plugged into the entire length of her back from cro...

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“Sunny Days” by Jade Rose Collette

Submitted to Contest #208

I can feel the sun shining on my face before I even open my eyes. I know its going to be a beautiful day but I savor the morning warmth for a few extra minutes. I open my eyes when I hear Spencer walk in and I can’t suppress a grin. He has a tray with breakfast, some orange juice and a vase with a flower he must have picked from the front yard this morning. What a swell guy. “You didn’t have to bring me breakfast in bed,” I say, sitting up on the pillows and grabbing the tray. “I know I didn’...

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$250

Prize money

238

Contest entries

85

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 28, 2023 EST

Won by Ian Gonzales 🏆

Title: That All Important First Scene

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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