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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#216: Show, Don't Tell

As autumn marches on, we once again find ourselves back to work and study, hopefully filled with renewed energy and the desire to write. But before we start typing away, why not revisit some craft fundamentals?

"Show, don't tell," is age-old advice that encourages writers to tell stories through sensory details, actions, and images, rather than exposition. But that’s easier said than done. The best way to incorporate it into your writing is to practice.

With that in mind, you might enjoy our free 10-day email course on Show, Don't Tell, along with this week's prompts, which are inspired by it and invite you to refine this foundational storytelling skill.

This week's prompts

Start your story in a coffee shop without using obvious words to describe it (e.g. barista, coffee cup.)

Narrative – 69 stories

Write a scene in which a character’s behavior or reaction to something is affected by a past experience — without saying what that experience was.

Character – 51 stories

Include dialogue that shows that a character is socially awkward.

Dialogue – 28 stories

Include a scene in your story in which a character's body language conveys their hidden emotions.

Character – 25 stories

Write a story with an open ending that gives readers just enough details to draw their own conclusions.

Narrative – 111 stories

Stories

“Accidently in Love” by Ian Grogan

Submitted to Contest #216

His fingers run across his jawline as he examines the piece of artwork hanging on the brick wall. The days-old scruff scratches him until his fingers meet his thumb at the crux of his chin. Deep in thought, Robert wonders why these sporadic lines and splotches of colors are worth $750 as he pans from the handwritten price tag taped to the wall and back to the painting, closely analyzing it through focused eyes. He can’t recall how many times he has looked at it. At this point, he could paint it himself. He could use the $750, at least.He bac...

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“The Bright Lady” by Michael Malzacher

Submitted to Contest #216

The big modern baroque glass doors with tall parallel handles swing open. Immediately my nose is filled with the dense scent of roast. The tiles inside appear as if they are flickering, reflecting light at various angles as I move my head around the door and walk inside. The ambience within the room is much more peaceful than outside. The door shuts behind me and suddenly my ears are almost silent in comparison to before I had walked in. Calm jazz is playing, or is it lo-fi? I can't even tell, but it fits the atmosphere perfectly. Low but no...

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“Choking on Citrus” by Sue Hunter

Submitted to Contest #216

It was bad enough that AI had overthrown humanity. It was even worse that Harri had to work in retail for them. He was on his knees, scrubbing the linoleum floor with a sponge that had long since lost its bright yellow color. He tried to ignore his boss’s eyes on him as he dunked the sponge into a bucket of soapy water. If he let up his cleaning regimen for even a moment, Robo-Boss would be on him in an instant. Harri had no idea why people thought robots couldn’t express emotions because his boss was the moodiest AI on this side of the co...

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“Just the Usual” by Mary Pennington

Submitted to Contest #216

“Just the usual,” I say to the cashier, but there’s nothing usual about today. Why is he in town?, I think to myself. “Coming right up!” she says with a smile. I tap my card to the machine on the counter. “Oh and make that for here this time,” I add quickly as she turns around to prepare my order. I look down at my watch, 8:56 am. I wait at the counter at the end of the register. Smells of morning time waft through the air, people on their phones wait in the queue, everyone is in a rush to get somewhere. I watch as paper cups before me ar...

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“The Nook” by Davie McGuinn

Submitted to Contest #216

I’m generally not a selfish person, but one must understand the unwritten rules of the nook. I made my way up the stairs, each solid oak step creaking beneath my weight. At the top, I was relieved to see that I had it all to myself. I sat my belongings on the live edge table next to some out-of-print literary magazines and cozied up against the edge of my favorite window. Raindrops slowly trickled down one by one outside, gently tapping the tin roof below. The sound of a splashing puddle and spray of water occurred with each passing car. I o...

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“Drink me” by Paige Bauer

Submitted to Contest #216

***Trigger warnings include: self harm, grief, anxiety, and depression.*** Here I am, sitting in another room. I feel as if every room is the same, just painted over with lies and pretty fabrics. I’ve never been here before, but every wall surrounds me in thick air and I still can’t breathe. Anxiety brews deep within my aching bones. I bite my nails and feel disgusted. I contemplate chewing my lip instead, until I realize if I were to follow through with those urges, I would fall into old habits from my childhood and young teenage years, a...

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“BRANDED” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #216

BRANDED “Is she under lock and key, Sergeant?”“Yessir, Colonel. She’s a real wildcat, sir”.As the sergeant spoke, he turned his head to show the officer the scratches he had suffered down the side of his face and neck.“It'll take her a while to settle down, I reckon. See how she goes with no food for a day”.“Yessir”.The sergeant left his commanding officer’s quarters and strolled across the sandy parade ground. When he was sure he was out of sight, in the shadows of the stockade, he opened his leather gloved hand and stared intently at the l...

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“Surviving the Apocalypse” by Evangeline Wood

Submitted to Contest #216

The group ventured deeper into the decaying city. The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder of the horrors lurking nearby. Alex couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her stomach as they approached a makeshift barricade of abandoned cars and debris blocking their path. Carlos, the former marine, began dismantling the blockage, trying to clear a path through the rubble. His large hands and strong arms quickly moved the rocks. Alex scanned the area for any signs of movement but saw nothing. She knew this area would be crawl...

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“Dreading the Sun” by Ray Samber

Submitted to Contest #216

I can’t remember how long it’s been. I could feel as he carefully patched pieces of me together until I was big enough to roll. He was wearing his green scarf, black gloves, and blue striped boots overtop his grey snow-pants and blue camouflage jacket. Flakes of me were falling hard, making it hard to see everything he was doing but he was working hard to create his vision of me. I started out as a big ball, then after a little while longer I had a smaller ball atop that one, & eventually there was three balls atop each other each one sm...

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“Liv's Rules” by Celia Farr-Smith

Submitted to Contest #216

If Peter thought that forgiveness, or anything like it, would ever be on the table of reconciliation between them, he was wrong. Fucking wrong. The word Asshole! wasn’t descriptive enough to embody the feeling that came spitting out of her mouth during the mediation session. Like tiny venomous toads, the words leaped from her lips. Peter didn’t deserve a pardon; it was her time to get even. The hard way. The way that made a person wonder what the hell he had been thinking and wishing that he could just go back in time and say no when it had ...

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“Nothing But” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #216

“Come on! Get a grip. It’s only a party.”“Yeah, but all those people…”“Well, d’uh! Party. People. They kinda go together, don’t you think?”“Suppose so.”“So come on. Snap out of it. Get out of the car. Walk up the path. Ring the bell.”“Is this the right address, though?”“You’ve checked it twice already.”“Better check again.”“Go on then, if you must … Well?”“Yeah. It’s right. But maybe I’ll just stay here a few minutes. You know, ‘stiffen the sinews’ and all that.”“Jesus wept! Get. Out. Of. The. Car!”“All right, all right! I’m going. Now where...

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“HSP” by Jess G

Submitted to Contest #216

“Guardians of the watchtower of the East, I do summon, stir and call upon you to protect us in this rite. Breathe into us the spirit of the true joy of life.” “Guardians of the watchtower of the South, I do summon, stir and call upon you to protect us in this rite. Kindle within us the spirit of spiritual awakening.” “Guardians of the watchtower of the West, I do summon, stir and call upon you to protect us in this rite. Water our deepest roots, so that we may find peace of mind.” Then there was a long silence. I opened my eyes to see ...

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“The Midnight Train” by Krysty Malys

Submitted to Contest #216

A name is usually the first thing we learn about a person. The woman told me her name was Mara, and I believed her. Somewhere in my memory, I knew her as someone else. Watching her as coal-black eyes bore into mine and long brown hair that hung around her beautiful face like a picture frame; I knew her. “Mara.” Repeating her name, I tried to shake the cold pit in my stomach. “I’m Kira.” Mara smiled knowingly. A ...

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“The Weekend of All Weekends ” by Shanelle Monique

Submitted to Contest #216

Work was finally over. Rain unlocks the front door, kicks her shoes off and falls on the couch. "Thank God it's Friday! A weekend of much needed relaxation" said Rain. She heads up stairs and runs a nice, warm bubble bath and turns on some music. Rain steps into the tub, sits down, and closes her eyes to relax. Then her phone rings. "Hello." said Rain. When the voice on the other end spoke, Rain quickly sat up. "Greg!" shouted Rain with a smug grin on her face. Greg and Rain's best friend Stacy were the ...

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“No Goodbyes” by Kate Leanne

Submitted to Contest #216

With an air of unreality a woman stepped into the small building that was adorned with earth tones and heavy with the strong scent of steamed bitter hazelnut-chocolate-caramel and the low murmur of contented voices as their lips touched cooked white porcelain through grinning ignorant mouths.Through the sea of people she could spot her companion seated alone at a table-for-four, his hands tapping on the polished oak with clear impatience.Somehow his eyes locked on to hers within a second, the blackened coal burning with anticipation.The...

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$250

Prize money

284

Contest entries

115

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 22, 2023 EST

Won by Hazel Ide 🏆

Title: Long Live the King

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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