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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#209: Road Trippin'

The open road is a beacon of possibility. Who knows what you’ll discover as you navigate across boundaries, familiar and unfamiliar: maybe it’s the world’s biggest ball of twine, a hidden gem of a diner, or a new truth about yourself. Whatever it may be, a road trip provides the opportunity to indulge your curiosity, going wherever the wind may blow you. There’s no limits or obstacles, only what you’re willing to do.

After all, road trips are hardly ever about the destination. The journey is what matters most, and what you discover along the way, whether you're taking a vacation or setting out into the unknown. This week, we want to explore those unique feelings that only a good, long road trip can conjure.

This week's prompts

Set your entire story in a car.

Dramatic – 96 stories

Write about two strangers who are both heading to the same destination and agree to do a long distance drive together.

Character – 32 stories

Write a story about someone going on a life-changing journey.

Adventure – 57 stories

Write a story about someone getting lost, but discovering something they didn’t expect along the way.

Dramatic – 35 stories

Start your story with someone walking into a gas station.

Dialogue – 53 stories

Stories

“Waiting” by Kammi Sheeler

Submitted to Contest #209

Rachel begrudgingly pulls into a run-down gas station on the side of a highway weaving through the Oregon Cascades. For the last hour, she had been cruising with the windows down, the playlist she curated especially for this stage of her road trip blasting out of her speakers and into the wind along with her full-throated singing. Rachel had been paying attention to everything but the driver’s console. How could she not? The sun was getting low on the horizon, casting a golden gauze over the rugged peaks to her right. The shapes and colors o...

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“Should I stay or Should I go? ” by Cynthia Townsdin

Submitted to Contest #209

The woman walks into the gas station, her eyes immediately scanning the shelves. She is looking for something specific, but she can't quite put her finger on it. A Butterfinger candy bar? She hasn’t eaten one in a while. They used to be her favorite candy bar growing up. “No, that's not it”, she thinks and keeps walking down the first aisle. She didn’t want childhood memories overloading her brain at the moment it was already starting to go into overdrive from fatigue. Chips. No. Mixed nuts. No. Any other time she walks into ...

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“Fateful Detour” by TW Brown

Submitted to Contest #209

“Great!” the wife exclaimed, shaking her head with her hand to her forehead. “You missed the damn ramp!”“If you were better at giving me a heads up, this wouldn’t happen!” the husband threw his hand up at the windshield. “I’ll just take the road straight in, maybe the scenic route will help loosen you up.”“Oh, I’m uptight? Here we go again!” she attempted to quiet her voice halfway through.“I’m just saying, you are always stressing over every little thing,” he uttered with a low breath.“If I didn’t worry about everything nothing would get do...

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“Midnight Seduction: The Black Stockings” by J Rico

Submitted to Contest #209

Jake's weary eyes scanned the dark and desolate highway as he continued his long solo road trip across the country. The hum of the engine was his only companion, and the stars above provided a distant twinkle of solace. He had been driving for hours, seeking an escape from the monotony of his everyday life, but he couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that seemed to follow him wherever he went. As the night wore on, he spotted the glow of city lights on the horizon. Realizing that he needed a break from the road, he decided to stop for t...

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“Five Stars” by Sydney Crago

Submitted to Contest #209

The woman closed the door of the black sedan and slung the leather purse off of her shoulder and onto her lap. The engine hummed as the driver moved the gear shift from park to drive. The automatic locks clicked as the wheels of the car inched away from the curb and entered into the flow of traffic. The eyes in the rearview mirror glanced back to her. “107 Pine Street, right?” He asked. She nodded first, before realizing his focus had moved to the glow of the brake lights as the truck in front of them stopped for a red light. “Yes....

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“The Trip” by Michael Hellwig

Submitted to Contest #209

The Trip We agreed to drive back to Washington D.C. together from Oceanside C.A. Two broke privates with 30 days leave on the books to burn. The crazy part was, we thought we’d be saving money by driving on this trip. But when you considered it was 4 days each way. With the price tag of $200 for gas each go. We’d probably have been better off flying. But we were 2 young and dumb military lads, both believing this was the right move. We hit the I-10 heading east at approximately 8pm on a Thursday night. Starting our leave and beginning a r...

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“Half the Size of God” by Abaddon Trent

Submitted to Contest #209

Jake turned away from his mother’s current one-sided shouting match with the driver in front of them. He looked out the window as the phone towers ran past them. ‘Probably to get away from her screaming. Would that I could be so lucky. Too bad they are all chained together or they could escape more easily’ “-maybe you should pray to God for some driving lessons! It’s a miracle that you managed to find the keyhole you moron!” Jake turned to look at his mother’s face. Her lips were compressed in anger. He decided to speak. “Maybe they are ...

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“The Car” by Lucia Whitely

Submitted to Contest #209

There was nothing really special about the car until you stepped inside it. From the outside it was just another plain matt black car with a slight dent on the left hand side of the bumper nut when you entered the car it shone but not in a glossy way. It shone from the love that had gone into the car from its owners. You could instantly tell by looking at the car that it was a car that had been religiously taken into a drive-through car wash every Sunday and then rubbed with a chammy cloth by its owner until not a miniscule speck of du...

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“Turkey Stew” by Kaayala Aver

Submitted to Contest #209

In Delta, with the Oyinvwi’s, the very first evil Edojah tasted was a surprise to her mother. Edojah’s mother was a hawker who peddled handcrafted items like fabrics and ceramics she drew herself on the streets. Edojah accompanied her when she was selling more than her usuals–days when she was selling head plates of food and drinks in plastic bottles; both the kind she made and the kind she didn’t. They’d go to big cities and walk the street. It was the only time Edojah was allowed on the road by herself. "Use that charm of yours," he...

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“Char & Lisa” by Sarafina Hamer

Submitted to Contest #209

(This story contains themes of substance abuse, mental health and self harm.) This is one of those favors that I always regret committing to. If she wasn’t such an asshole she’d have more friends to mooch off of. Spread it out a little. Finally a middle finger pushes threw some dingy curtains from the porch window after a hard lean on the horn. She’s up. She takes forever. Not just, let me get a quick look at myself before I run out to be on time for the person who’s been patiently waiting for me for 30 minutes. I imagine i...

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“Subroto’s Reedsy Contest Submission” by Subroto Sinha

Submitted to Contest #209

Subroto’s Reedsy Contest Submission Two strangers who are both heading to the same destination and agree to do a long-distance drive together It was well past midnight when the Doon Express from Kolkata entered the railway station in Dehradun. An athletic looking, dark-complexioned man, Roberta, alighted from the train dragging a Rollaboard suitcase and carrying a shoulder bag. He walked hurriedly towards the waiting room and pushed the door open. There were no passengers inside and he seated himself comfortably in an ...

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“To the Lake ” by Miller George

Submitted to Contest #209

There was no way he was not going to make it to that lake. Today was his last chance to see it and her. The bus station was only a short walk from his hotel in Cusco. As he walked quickly towards the station he was thinking of all the things he could say to Astrid, the girl he met on the bus ride from Machu Picchu less than 24 hours ago. As he approached the station, his dreams dissipated quickly. There were not any buses or people waiting for them. As he walked closer he heard a woman yelling in Spanish. He did...

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“Among Lies” by David Lontok

Submitted to Contest #209

I peeked at him through the corner of my eye. He looked back, barely turning his head. I snapped back to my window. Then both his eyes focused on the road. “If you try any funny business, sweetie,” he said, “it’s only me who’ll end up laughing.” I nodded and wiped my cheeks dry with the back of my hand. He pointed at the glove compartment. When I opened it, a box of tissues tilted down. I got two sheets and mouthed the words “thank you” to him. “Apologies for being firm. You can’t be too safe when taking in a hitchhiker.” Sinking back i...

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“Mum’s Diary” by Reale Eudora

Submitted to Contest #209

We have one rule in our household: Never, ever mention Daddy. I’ve never met my daddy. Well, to be frank, I’ve never quite met anybody beyond Mum, Sally Jones, and Candy. Sally Jone’s a third cousin who’s twice my age, and Candy’s a cat who greatly dislikes me, but they’re, like, the only living things I have for company. Anyways. I was at dinner when the most oddish thing happened. Basically, Sally Jones was rattling ‘bout some university in Iowa and her college application blah blah blah blah when I suddenly blurted: “That’s nice, Sal, bu...

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“Road To Virginia City” by Aitch Enfield

Submitted to Contest #209

Henry DeQuille made his way into the lobby of the Lake House. He untied his kerchief and wiped the grime from his neck, sweaty from spending hours in the hot sun, surveying lots along the Truckee the railroad was offering for sale. Boom times were expected for Reno and people began to clamor for land. “Telegram for you, Mr. DeQuille.” The hotel clerk held out the yellow sheet as Henry made his way to the desk. “It's from Carson City.” “Thanks, Joe.” He took the telegram from the clerk's ink stained hand, fished a nickel out of his vest f...

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$250

Prize money

273

Contest entries

154

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 04, 2023 EST

Won by Kyle Sager 🏆

Title: The Driving Snow

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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