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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

“The Wake Up Call” by Zoë Page

Submitted to Contest #216

A man works, behind a counter, crafting wake-ups. He combines cloudlike froth and powdered bean, dissolved in steaming water; hands them away for thrice a dollar, the occasional heavy-lidded smile. His face is blurred, his unimportance in the bigger picture, as the world rolls on by. They’re addicts, they all are; it’s just another bitter morning, with a bitter drink to warm the hand, defrost the heart, and he’s just a most-likely-bitter person, behind a counter, crafting wake-ups. Wake up, wake up, from where dreams engulf, where reality ...

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“Inner Worlds” by J.W. Kimmel

Submitted to Contest #216

She strode through the threshold and into the pristinely clean room. As the heavy metal door slammed shut behind her she paused in the center of the room, gleaming metal racks all around her. Breathing in she savored the smell of industrial-grade cleaner and walked over to the storage unit built into the wall. She slid the door open revealing the mirror and a rack of standard-issue clothing. As a samurai from feudal Japan donned armor for battle, she reverently fitted the uniform around her body. She stared into the mirror. Her eyes graduall...

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“7th grade madness” by Marie Perederii

Submitted to Contest #216

The steamy scent of chocolate filled croissants, and apple crisp macchiato's filled the air as I entered the welcoming warm store. I was only there of course to do my homework and perhaps by a little treat for myself because I couldn't afford to waste too much money or else I wouldn't have enough to buy things in the future, like applications or admission fees for stories. Of course I did get the largest size only because I knew that I was going to be there for a very long time, after getting my usual pink drink...

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“Speak!” by Obakengs Masekos

Submitted to Contest #216

Speak! On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, Anna-Claire leans against the window counting the raindrops as they went down the smooth pane of glass that protects her from the lurking eyes outside, of curious people wondering why this girl looks drained of her youthful spirit. Almost as if the weather perfectly resembles how she feels inside. Although, for Anna-Claire it was more complex than just that. The rain always comforted her, even as a little girl – she loved sitting on her father's lap as he gently swings on a rocking chair pointing out t...

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“Cold Winds” by Anna Komora

Submitted to Contest #216

She tries to wrap her hoodie closer around her as she steps outside, and tries to take the driveway in several long strides to the running car waiting for her. Sitting in the passenger side of the back, Jenna hears the music, previously blasting, be turned down. Dale, in the driver's seat, speaks first. “Are you ready for a night of extra fall fun?” He says. His girlfriend, her closest friend, rolls her eyes in the passenger seat. “I am so sorry about him. We can kick him out at the gas station if you want.” It only m...

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“The forgiving earth” by Sandra Viviers

Submitted to Contest #216

Mathew’s head was pounding as though there were a million drums beating in it, the pain was excruciating. He felt his body being consumed by fire while his chest felt like it was collapsing onto his lungs forcing his life saving air out. ‘I’m in hell!’ Was his first logical thought. He opened his eyes sluggishly, his eyelids felt as if they were glued to his eyeballs. The air was filled with a grey, foul-smelling smoke, that stung his eyes. In the hazy center of the smoke, he saw a terrible image. It looked like a face, b...

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“Breaking the Girl” by Zach Martz

Submitted to Contest #216

“Officer Pardo, reporting on Patrol duty. Do you read me?” “Reading you loud and clear, Officer Pardo. Is Officer Metz with you?” “Yes, she’s right here.” “We got a call at 39200 West Jenkin Street. Emergency response needed.” “Oh God. Is that the –“ “It’s an industrial chemical lab. Currently closed but they have twenty-four hour security and they should let you in.” Officer Pardo swallowed. “Um, I actually think I’m seeing a robbery in progress right now, so I don’t think –“ Officer Metz grabbed the handset. “We’ll be right t...

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“The "perfect" swing” by Saskia Schleicher

Submitted to Contest #216

I can’t believe the past eight years have led me to this point. I still remember my first day at practice, like it was yesterday. I was only 7 years old, an anxious little girl playing with all the boys. But the coach was always encouraging me. “It’s so nice to finally have a girl on the team again,” he would say. “The girls are usually my favourite,” he’d whisper, with a cheeky smile and a wink. “Don’t let the boys intimidate you, baseball is a girls’ sport as much as it’s a boys’ sport.” He always tried to include me, make ...

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“Tender Heat” by M Karthik Raja

Submitted to Contest #216

Thudded on the silicate perfused road, he was squinting at the hot sunrays bubbling around and through his head and body. The heat so permeable that it was fuming the humidity out of the air. And so stirring, it had weakened Deepak's posture as he was dangling and leaning on his friend Ajay's rocky shoulder. On his left stood a series of impatient bystanders waiting to cross the road. And the road was getting charred and churned by the dashing vehicles whistling rustling past each other producing sparks in between them. There stood a woman w...

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“X marks the spot ” by Stacy Ramkissoon

Submitted to Contest #216

CRr, CRRr, CRRRr, CRRRRR, CRACK, TRASH, ow, BAM, ow, BOOM, ow, THUMP—were the sounds Rekha made as she tumbled down off the tree she once climbed. After 30 sections of black, she cautiously opened her eyes to let the light in. Looking upwards, she wagered she had fallen about 5 meters.“What a klutz”, she muttered, scolding herself as she attempted to move and sit up.As she inspected her body, she could see red welts begin to form and faint bluish-purplish blemishes against her brown skin. The palms of her hands were caked in dirt and leaves,...

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“Fix It” by Diana Glenn

Submitted to Contest #216

“Well, if it’s up to me—” “It is up to you!” “No, I can’t. You know I can’t!” “Silvia!” No! John! The sound of shattering China brought Silvia back to the present. “Oh, come sit down Silvia,” said her therapist. Silvia dazedly reached for the broom next to the kitchen doorway, “No, I’ll clean it up. Tasha, her therapist, put down her notebook, “Silvia, you should sit. I’ll get it.” Silvia came out of her daze as anger bubbled within her, “I can do it!” she snapped, seizing the broom handle. Tasha’s voice was firmer,...

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“Merlot & Flo - Things Can Get Progressively Better” by Deborah Kellogg

Submitted to Contest #216

Late afternoon sunlight oozed through the partially open blinds and grimy windows of the office, flung itself like spider webs through the stale, fuggy air and splattered in pee-colored puddles on a desk littered with empty Starbucks cups and Brueggers Bagels wrappers. Hunched over the desk was a man with a cracked cellphone hanging from a limp hand and mouthing the words to the recorded message yet again: "Bonjour! You've reached the cell phone of Anoinette Dupuis. I'm sorry I'm not here to take your call personally. At the tone, please lea...

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“Making Friends” by Luisa Nenadovic

Submitted to Contest #216

The sandwich was mocking her. Leah stared at the bread, lost in thought, hoping no one would approach her. She had been sitting alone for twenty minutes, watching the other children chatter away. Their laughter and animated conversations sliced through the air like shards of sound, but Leah remained in her cocoon of solitude, invisible among the sea of faces. Days like this, when she felt the sting of loneliness the most, were the hardest to endure. As Leah trudged through her thoughts, a voice unexpectedly broke the silence that envelop...

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“Interactive Lesson” by Captain Henson

Submitted to Contest #216

Her students commonly stopped paying attention to class when the clock was close to 2:30 p.m. The end of the school day was a joyous occasion for students and faculty alike. But Holly was too busy finishing up her equation to care. Even when the bell sang its tune and her students dismissed themselves, she diligently continued the lesson. Her shoulders tensed up as she saw how little space she had left on the blackboard. But it was just enough. She took a few steps back and basked in her handiwork. And what else was there to smile about? ...

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“The Spy Game” by Fernando César

Submitted to Contest #216

A couple. Caucasian. Probably Eastern European. Dark hair. I'm guessing Russian. Oh! They have a small person with them... But they're spies. No question about it! The short man passing as a kid: fabulous disguise!"Three tickets, please.""Certainly. Nine euros, please," I reply.I take my time, meticulously cutting the perforated pieces of paper. I am, of course, just provoking them. Rattling them into an involuntary lapse. I discreetly slip the money into the open drawer below the counter."From Russia, are you?" I ask, already teasing them w...

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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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