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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#217: Tropes

Last week, we revisited the old “show, don’t tell” rule. This week, let’s throw out the rulebook and have some fun.

In your reading, you’ve probably come across some recurring tropes. In romance, we’ve got star-crossed lovers, fake relationships, enemies-to-lovers, and happily-ever-afters. In fantasy, we’ve got Chosen One protagonists, reluctant heroes, and wise mentors. In mystery, we have unreliable narrators, jaded investigators, locked rooms, and remote settings. It goes on.

Subverting these tropes can be fun, but the tricky thing is that you need to do it for a reason, and in a way that enriches your story. Can you do it?

This week's prompts

Write a story about two characters who like each other but don’t get a happily-ever-after.

Romance – 91 stories

Set your story in a creepy mansion — except nothing horrifying takes place in it.

Horror – 64 stories

Write about a person who's been called to mentor someone in a special skill, but doesn't really want to.

Adventure – 27 stories

Write about a sleuth who’s a little too keen, but not because they have a traumatic past they won’t talk about.

Mystery – 10 stories

Write a story about a warrior who doesn’t want to kill the dragon.

Fantasy – 91 stories

Stories

“An Ode to A RETIRED Dragon Slayer” by Thomas Moon

Submitted to Contest #217

It was a quiet afternoon in 1936. But from the looks of things—dark clouds and all—the Dales of Central England would soon be getting a drenching! Reginald Peachy Carnehan—retired from service in India moved back to the family residence he inherited; in the Dales of Central England. After twenty-five years of keeping the peace in India...and a wild adventure in conquering a few smaller kingdoms—then making the mistake of letting his friend, Daniel Dravot talk him into helping to conquer the tiny kingdom of Kaf...

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“A Breeze” by Atanas Zhekov

Submitted to Contest #217

Do you feel the breeze? It reminds me of you. Not because you were cold yourself - no! But because I felt it when we first met. I had recently moved to London for my placement year. Living here had always been my dream and I had finally come true. Even if I was staying just for a year. I rented a flat in Canary Wharf. It was a rather small flat but it had a big window with a view over the city. Seeing everything so little in the distance, made me feel big, like I actually matter. I loved London's architecture. I look at history as...

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“Cynthia Eleanor Goes Dancing” by Wendy Lathrop

Submitted to Contest #217

Prince Charming looked down at the size 6-1/2, stiletto-heeled pump sparkling teasingly up from his hand and shook his head in despair. Now at the last cottage in the village, he had failed in his quest to find the female foot perfectly fitting into this shoe. Would he ever find his lovely dance partner of the last two evenings? Whoever she was, she could pirouette from tango to waltz, glide from polka to disco, sway from swing to salsa. And she was light enough on her feet never to have cracked this glass shoe. He was sure he was in love, h...

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“Haunting of the Heart” by Mardy Dooley

Submitted to Contest #217

Haunting of the Heart The forceful waves splashed against the rocks below me. I could feel the cool spray reach up to my bare feet and taste the salty residue in the air. Despite the early hour of the afternoon, the sky was already darkening. Its blue flawlessly being dominated by heavy, gray storm clouds. “Hi Annie.” Tim sat down on the damp rock beside me, leaning over to place a soft kiss on my cheek. As usual I hadn’t heard his approach until he was at my side. “Hey Timmy.” I glanced at my watch, not at all sur...

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“The cage” by Africa Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #217

The Cage The rust on the white cage looked like dried blood. - “Is the little bird hurt grandma?”- the wide-eyed girl said as a small gray bird chirped inside the cage. - “No, it is not sweetie… but I was”- The girl did not understand. “-Now I´ll set it free and the little bird and me, we’ll both be fine”- Eva still didn´t understand what her grandma was talking about, why does she catch birds and then set them free? What was the point? Her grandma was always smiling and looked nice and happy, Eva wished she was like her grandmot...

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“Answer to Closure” by Walter Wright

Submitted to Contest #217

What do I do it all for? Jeffrey patted his hair and aired out his dress shirt, unbuttoning the top button. A young valet routinely held the door open and greeted the sophisticated gentleman. “Good evening!” Peach fuzz for a mustache and a brush of pimples over his cheeks, Jeffrey shook the boy’s hand, “I know the miles, my guy. No funny business.” The valet, realizing the blue bill in his right hand, ensured direct eye contact, “Of course! I’ll park you right out front!” Jeffrey nodded and walked through the revolving door. ...

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“The Ill Fated - an episode in the lives of the Soul Shifters.” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #217

Katy looked her brother in the eyes, hoping to get a response. After two songs still no glimmer of recognition. Had the amnesia been so severe, or was this Gaby, not the Matthew she believed him to be? She started her third and final song for the evening. The candles’ flames flickered and danced with the firelight that lit up the sitting room.By the water I went walkingLooking for my own true loveI heard his voice call from the depthsOr was it from above?It could have been a memory dearFrom deep within my mindIf I can’t be with you in this l...

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“Secrets and Love Don’t Mix” by Robin Christine Honigsberg

Submitted to Contest #217

Lara Matthews was wearing down the fluffy white carpeting in her family room as she paced back and forth, alternating between drinking her white wine and checking the time on her gold-and-silver Cartier watch. Refilling her wine glass, she contemplated the task ahead of her that night. She needed to talk to her fiance, Richard Plant. High school sweethearts, Lara knew Richard would be the man she would marry the moment their eyes connected the first day of Junior High. Everyone knew they were meant for each other and teased they were...

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“Charley’s Home ” by Emily Grace

Submitted to Contest #217

It was no secret in Lockeside that there was an abandoned home at the end of the road, right by the last remaining Catholic Church. Once the liveliest area of the old West Virginian town, it was left bare and withered with the installation of the new highway. It didn’t help that there were old rumors of that place; rumors which had only grown with its rot. It was that of the Etsons and their son Charley. The Etsons were good folk, according to Pastor Davidson. They went to church every week, volunteered some miles out at a soup kitchen, an...

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“October 13th” by Ian Grogan

Submitted to Contest #217

Janet watched as Celeste filled her backpack with all the “essentials”. Two flashlights, a first aid kit, water bottles, candles, a lighter, gloves, her cell phone and, of course, the Ouija board. Janet wanted to ask what all of that was for, but as long as she has known Celeste, she knows not to ask such questions. Celeste operates on her own level and Janet was too tired to head down that rabbit hole.“You ready?” Celeste quickly zipped the backpack and propped it up on her shoulder.Janet, a bit hesitant, responded, “I guess. I don’t think ...

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“The Haunting of Hill House? Except Not Really” by Chris Jones

Submitted to Contest #217

The Haunting of Hill House? Except Not Really I pull up to the rickety old mansion, me tiny little blue Citroen looking like a toy car in the shadow of this beastly estate. The paint's all chipped and the stone work's crumbling away, giving the place a right old haunted house look about it. But I know better. Just gotta spend one night here for this experiment at uni, no biggie. I get out, grab me duffel, and amble up the overgrown walkway, cracked stone steps nearly tripping me up a few times. Wouldn't fancy a tumble down these on a dar...

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“Josie goes Ghost Hunting” by Cherry Blossom

Submitted to Contest #217

Josie goes Ghost Hunting Josie had heard stories of the Haunted Mansion on the hill just outside the neighborhood. The house was given a name by the locals who called it the Family Murder House. Rumor had it the dad went crazy after being laid off and caught his wife in bed with another man. The kids weren't so lucky either, being surprised when they got hom...

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“The BlackWood ” by Algernon Drake

Submitted to Contest #217

Deep within a state that many a second thought wouldn't have been given, sits a mysterious building. The locals say that in it's heyday it was a grand mansion, but over the decades it has been converted to fit many needs by the numerous hands that held control over the estate. It sits just at the edge of a bayou known for it's slow-moving muck-infested creeks that dart the seemly endless wilderness that consisted of towering, overgrown willows. Their branches created an impenetrable wall, isolating the house from the rest of the world. The...

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“Starlight Explorers” by Tanishka Agarwal

Submitted to Contest #217

“All right, let's do a head count. One” said Tom. “Two” “Three” “Four. End of count” followed Atlas, Nick, and Dan. It was a dark and windy night when they all decided to explore a haunted mansion. No one was really that courageous to go in, but they felt that if they were all together, then there would be nothing to fear. Even then everyone was shivering. Due to the strong winds? Yes. But I would say mainly because of fear. “We have one missing” exclaimed Nick. “Unfortunately, we cannot do anything about Edwin. But the more time we take to ...

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“Project Un: Maker” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #217

“Time and time again we have surpassed our limitations. We sail the stars. What horizon lies beyond us that we cannot grasp with patience hands?” - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime [Subject: Dr. L. Maker] [Bio: Doctor of genetic sciences, clearance level 4] [Location: Lab 09] [Archive LT: Live] [Designation: Protocol 1507_Restricted Observation] “We are what we make,” Dr. Lawrence Maker muttered at the monstrosity before him. The shrapnel covered, multi limbed, beast of a man howled at the two way mirror. Spittle splattered the...

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$250

Prize money

283

Contest entries

130

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 29, 2023 EST

Won by Paul Crehan 🏆

Title: Who Are We to Judge the Music of an Octopus?

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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