Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#22: Auld Lang Syne

From the Times Square Ball drop to the old Spanish tradition of trying to fit 12 grapes into your mouth at midnight — New Year's Eve comes with a host of different rituals and traditions.

Maybe a new one of yours will be submitting a New Year's-themed story to the Reedsy Prompts contest? 😊 In which case, we don't want to keep you any longer! So...

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1... write! And have yourself a Happy New Year.

This week's prompts

Write a short story about a person who goes to bed on Valentine's Day and wakes up in 1920.

Holiday – 41 stories

Write a short story about someone with unconventional New Year's traditions.

Holiday – 44 stories

Two strangers meet at a New Year's Eve party. They spend the party together, and then never see each other again.

Winter – 79 stories

Write a short story in which the last line is the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve.

Winter – 97 stories

Write a short story about someone who does not spend December 31st celebrating New Year's Eve.

Winter – 77 stories

Stories

“Above the Rest” by Joe Newland

Submitted to Contest #22

Can you imagine going to sleep early December 31st because heaven forbid the weariness of aging didn't affect you. You're not as young as you used to be so staying up past midnight is a struggle and before you know it you fall asleep and you've missed the ball drop, missed the opportunity to go out with friends, you even forget about that New Year's kiss.(Big deal, most of the men I've kissed weren't good at it anyhow) Now, as I get older the odds of missing the ball drop get better and better. Excitement has worn off, time is catching up, a...

Read story

“Return to the Roaring Twenties” by Obsidian Eagle

Submitted to Contest #22

Ida Termagant couldn’t believe how unlucky she was. She’d cried herself to sleep on an antique sofa at her grandmother’s house cradling a copy of The Great Gatsby. She was all gussied up in vintage vestments but had nowhere to go. Her boyfriend Tommy had called just before midnight to bail on her, so Ida never made it to his retro themed New Year’s Eve party. Possibly the worst timing for a breakup (aside from someone’s birthday).Ida was woken by a ring of the doorbell. She wiped away smeared mascara with a tissue and descended the her...

Read story

“No Time to Lose” by Edith Boyd

Submitted to Contest #22

No Time to Lose When I woke up, I regretted the jello shots I pounded back at Dylan’s New Year’s Eve party. At least I took an Uber before midnight and didn’t drive here. The room seemed very old-fashioned as I started to get my bearings. The framed etchings on the wall across from me were charcoal and a little blurry. As I reached for my i-phone, I figured the hotel had a retro theme for these prices. A mounting feeling of panic overtook me when I couldn’t find my phone. I needed to text Amanda to tell her where I was. I pushed the pi...

Read story

“19200” by Marianna Yezak

Submitted to Contest #22

The T.V blared with ridiculous music; the bands this year weren't that good. I walked past the kitchen and poked my head into my living room. Valerie was fast asleep clutching her favorite Christmas doll, mom and dad's eyes were glued to the screen. A quick image of the New York ball flashed on the screen. I wrinkled my nose, nah I was good and planning to go to the skate park tomorrow with my crew; it was time for bed. I went up the stairs at a leisurely pace. I could feel the cold wooden wood through my socks, I looked down and slipped. my...

Read story

“Where Will You Be When The New Year Comes In?” by Thomasina Rushing

Submitted to Contest #22

One night my cousin and I had asleep over and it just happen to be New Years Eve, 2019. My cousin Brenda loved to party but I was not too much of a party person. Namely, because my parents did not allow me to go to wild parties. Well you know how you get the feeling something is going to happen, but you can’t put your finger on what it is? Just like with anything else if you don't ask what's going to happen maybe it won't. But we were just two curious teenagers having a sleep over with a few friends. We played games, ate all of our favorite...

Read story

“19 or 2020” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #22

19 or 2020Memories bobbed on an ocean of Captain and Coke; music, people laughing and dancing, the New Year count down. But those shifting, disconnected images offered no clues to explain where he was or how he got there. What year had they even counted down? How long had he been walking around outside? In the snow?Except for the anemic glow of a few bulbs burning on building-mounted fixtures, it was quite certainly dark. Leaning against a wooden fence for support he muttered, “Man, I must have...

Read story

“A Happy Old Year” by Camilla Johansson

Submitted to Contest #22

She hadn’t had anywhere to go when New Year´s arrived. It felt as if she had spent the previous months to either decline the parties she didn’t want to attend or alienating the hosts of parties she could have considered. And now she had become her very own version of a wallflower; she had nowhere to go. Julia was staring at her reflection in the mirror while clasping the neck of the bottle of cheap champagne she had bought, just in case something turned up when the phone rang. Her heart was racing with excitement she tried hard to quench; if...

Read story

“New Years Ever 2019 or 1919...” by Lindsay Spindle

Submitted to Contest #22

"I can't believe it's going to be 2020!” exclaimed Joseph. Little did Joseph know that he was in for a surprise of the decade! Joseph's wife, Bethany, was a nurse who worked at the hospital in the small town that they lived in. Bethany worked until 11:00 PM most evenings she always made sure she was home before the clock struck midnight. This had been their "tradition" since they've been married. Even though others thought it was seemingly a hassle, it was a perfect plan for Joseph and Bethany. In fact they made it work for the l...

Read story

“Anywhere In Time” by Lori Wahls

Submitted to Contest #22

The snow was falling softly blanketing the trees bushes and streets with pristine white. The snow sparkled with millions of diamonds.Meg walked along the sidewalk slowly, savoring the beauty of this first snow. She was so happy she chose to move to this quaint town. Everyone seemed friendly and exuded southern charm. It was small enough for people to recognize one another, but large enough to have a art district, lovely restaurants, boutiques, antique shops and plenty of museums. A new mall at the edge of town drew people from smaller surrou...

Read story

“Happy Old Year's” by Ryan Gould

Submitted to Contest #22

My phone says it’s 2:21 a.m., which is probably a good time to go to sleep. I don’t want to be tired tomorrow for the start of the new year. Flicking off the lights, I settle into bed, with thoughts of my resolutions dancing around in my head. I chuckle to myself for my poetry and gently close my eyes. It’s not too long until they open again the next morning, but not to find myself in my small, New York apartment. Instead, I am in a strange place with detailed purple wallpaper and a matching carpet. I sit up in alarm, the bed creaking undern...

Read story

“Happy Old Year” by Chris Markham

Submitted to Contest #22

"You want another round, Nicky?!" The voice behind me repeated itself even louder, a centimeter away from my ear, even though I'd already heard it the first time. "No thanks, I've had enough for one year," I told the alcohol-soaked voice.And yet, I found a drink shoved into my hand by another hand. Both the hand and the voice belonged to Jim, my best friend of twelve years. We were spending our twelfth New Year's Eve together at the same loud and dirty dive bar. And with a pretty girl clinging to his side, it...

Read story

“Don't Burn The Car” by Kemmy Blue

Submitted to Contest #22

Sarah woke to the loud slamming of Justin trying his best to be quiet. Sarah slowly shuffled to her feet looking at her husband, David, still sound asleep. Sarah headed into the kitchen to find Justin swallowing his meds. Sarah was still confused why David wanted a child so badly. She never realized how it was just going to be worse when they become teenagers. Especially a Bipolar, superstitious teenager. “Hi mom.” Justin said, putting the pill bottles back in the cupboard. “Did you take all of them?” Sarah asked taki...

Read story

“Ringing In The New” by Carley Julian

Submitted to Contest #22

Routinely a smile falls into place as I make my way through the house and toward the back patio to mingle. Though the smile isn’t present for my own account. It’s a mask for the passing faces of my friends and family gathered around my home to bring in the New Year. A false statement, like many resolutions made at this time of year tend to end as. I’m submerged in a sea of happy faces, washed over with waves of their genuine laughter and splashed with the musical clinks of crystal glassware. And yet, as usual, around this time I start ...

Read story

“The Honeysuckle Letters” by Michelle Cook

Submitted to Contest #22

31st December 2019Dear BenMy love. Another New Year’s Eve. Another twelve months without you.I should be accustomed by now, but the void you left behind is hollow as ever. Always this season, it grows into a black hole, a swirling horizon extinguishing all light inside, and every scrap of joy.Can you believe, I still fantasize you’ll return? I know it’s impossible. Yet on a summer evening, I swear your scent of musk and spice drifts on the breeze. Like you’ve visited, staying out of sight, squeezed behind the backyard honeysuckle. Our flower...

Read story

“Ivona Meet Your Family” by Jay Trifkofić

Submitted to Contest #22

"Not it!" Brandon pressed his finger to the side of his nose so quickly that he was sure he heard a crack.Lee sighed, eyes leaving her phone for the briefest of moments. "They're not even my kids, dude."By the time he looked away from the road, Lee was back on her phone. Of course she was right, and Brandon hated that."Give it back!""It's mine!""Daddy! Liam's being an ass!"Brandon could practically feel Lee bristle. If he kept staring at this bright red light in front of him, she's forget and the kids would come to a diplomatic solution. Abs...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

338

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 03, 2020 EST

Won by Emily Hemmings 🏆

Title: Pagliacci on the Q Train

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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢