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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

“New Year, New Me” by Najwa Zandlo

Submitted to Contest #22

Trigger warning: this story depicts rape. I read somewhere that every cell in the human body is replaced every seven years – which isn’t entirely accurate. Some cells take upwards of ten to fifteen years to replace themselves. Some cells, like the ones in the eye, never replace themselves. But, it’s still a nice thought. It’s comforting to imagine that every seven years, the human body erases like an Etch-a-Sketch, leaving behind a clean slate that hasn’t been touched. I was raped seven years ago. I went to a New Year’s Eve party with ...

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“The Nineteen-Twenty Essay” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #22

Sophie A. Westin could not believe she was grounded over New Year's. This was a consequence of potentially failing her English class. Now she had to spend the evening writing an essay while her friends celebrated. The assignment was given ahead of a unit studying turn-of-the-century stories like The Secret Garden, The Metamorphosis, and Ethan Frome. So its topic was to discuss what life was like one hundred years ago. "As if Shakespeare and Pride and Prejudice weren't far enough in history." Sophie sneered at the th...

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“If I Knew You Better” by Ariga Arkian

Submitted to Contest #22

He was standing there, all in a gentleman position, with a black suit. I really wanted to go to him and say hi (and of course, introduce myself), but I didn’t have the courage. I had never been shy before, except for this time. I was feeling stupid and ugly. Why wouldn’t I? he was so gorgeous and happy, and a real businessman. How did I know? Well, I had my own research. He was Becca’s husband’s best friend’s friend. I know you don’t know him at all, I reminded myself. Who car...

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“Never a New Year” by Sjan Evardsson

Submitted to Contest #22

The diner hummed, packed with people eating a quick meal before heading out to New Year’s Eve parties, leaving only one seat at the counter. The man entering took the last seat next to a tall, thin woman nursing a cup of tea and waiting on her meal.“Happy New Year,” he said as he sat down.“Hmph.” The woman offered as a non-acknowledgment of his sentiment.“Sorry,” he said. “Hi, I’m—” she cut him off with a raised hand.“You’re you, I’m me, pleasetameetcha, blah blah blah.” She picked up her tea and sipped while he ordered. “This isn’t a bar, s...

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“The Year of the Aux” by Christian Garduno

Submitted to Contest #22

I had been going to school up in The City and it had been over a year since I left. Over the holiday break, out of the blue, I decided to head down without telling anyone. I got my bag together-one change of clothes, I travel light. I headed to the Avenue and picked up a ride with a chick that was headed to San Diego. I kicked her a 20 dollar bill and 2 tabs and she dropped me off at The Silent Alarm. It was 2 PM and they had just opened, I was the only one in there with the bartender, whose name was Sheyla. I asked her for c...

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“Party Crashers” by Kira Krieger

Submitted to Contest #22

“Boys! Breakfast!” a young woman shouted as she wiped her hands on her waist apron. Two sets of pattering feet sounded through the quaint home. But an addition set crept up behind her without a creak from the wood flooring. The figure made its final approach. It spread its arms wide surrounding her. With a slight squeeze around her waist, he whispered into her ear. “How’s your morning, dear?” “Plato!” she laughed, “what are you doing?” “Loving you.” He kissed her on her cheek. “Plato,” she said, letting his name fade from her lips as she mov...

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“someone who does not spend December 31st celebrating new years eve” by Sadia Imtiaz

Submitted to Contest #22

‘’Good morning janeman(sweetheart)‘’ I said to arousa lying beside her. She kissed on her forehead.‘’Hmm… don’t... let me sleep’’ arousa said in a sleepy voice. ‘’ I am going to make breakfast get ready ‘’ I said slipping out of the bed.‘’Ok,’’ she said yawning.I went into the kitchen, made some boiled eggs sandwiches and served it With hot cups of coffees. I settled breakfast on the table and called arousa to come down. After some time she came down wearing a new suit. She was kind of choosy in brands. Her favourite brand was IDEAS. I...

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“The Guilt of Living in a New Year” by Tori Routsong

Submitted to Contest #22

"Chill out." Melinda smacks her lips together, smudging her brilliant ruby lipstick a little. "It's a party. You look like somebody died." “Your lipstick is smudged.” I look dubiously around the room. Everyone already looks wasted—a good sign, I suppose. Even though I’ve always lived in this city, the college life is so different than the townie life that it shocks me that this frat house is only a block away from mine. “It’s dark, nobody will notice.” “I did.” “Nobody fun will notice.” It’s a subtle jab, and she smiles so the impact is soft...

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“Dating Dilemma” by Suzanne Kiraly

Submitted to Contest #22

It's New Year's Eve but it sure doesn't feel like it. I am drinking champagne but that's just because it's what you're supposed to do, isn't it? You're also not supposed to be alone on New Year's Eve either. As I sip champagne in front of my companion, the television, I am thinking, this is the worst New Year's Eve I can remember. I stay up for the final countdown but as I have no one to kiss I spend half an hour sending messages to all my friends and family, who are no doubt enjoying themselves with their ...

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“Tricks of the Trade” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #22

“I saw you with Mischka and Dru last week,” says Calvin. “You just start with the agency?”“Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. Name’s Gia. Word is you were on your way to Brazil, and yet here you are in Atlanta.”“Nothing like ringing in the new decade with fireworks and finger sandwiches,” states Calvin.“Who are you following? Who’s your assignment?” asks Gia.“Maybe it’s you,” says Calvin tapping her wine glass with his. “Who’s your assignment? Who have you followed here?”“I followed you here,” states Gia tapping his wine glass.“You were here befor...

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“ THE NIGHT BEFORE ” by Hillary Nwaigbo

Submitted to Contest #22

Birds clattering while sitting on electricity wires. Our caged parrot had found a new word of the day, “Hurray”. Not to be left out, Richie, our new kitty that recently became my alarm clock , caressing my cheeks and got me woken. Our dog, Beethoven, had been bathed clean and the lawn, close by the house, mown neatly to the ground level by the gardener.It was a hazy, sunny atmosphere at the brisk of dawn. The weather devoid of humidity that one’s lips could bled open on trial to extend his/her chin. The trees that claps its leaves and bade u...

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“Numbers” by Cassidy Caldwell

Submitted to Contest #22

The pizza had arrived at her door exactly 6 minutes earlier than expected, which was the first good omen of the new year to come. Bonnie had smiled as wide as she could when she answered the door, probably scaring the delivery man, but she couldn’t help it – when food came 6 minutes early, it was always good. 10 minutes meant they had rushed it. 5 minutes meant it was basically late (as her dad said, “Early is on time and on time is late”) and it was already hopeless if her doorbell rang right when it was “supposed” to. But 6? Not only was i...

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“Room 306” by Heidi Slowinski

Submitted to Contest #22

The Christmas decorations hung from every corner of the care facility. The staff had put on a little New Year’s party during the residents’ lunch. Most would be long asleep by midnight that night. They wore party hats, had noise makers, and were given a glass of sparkling juice with their mid-day meal. The staff made the rounds at the tables, asking them to share stories of New Year’s Eves gone by. The stories ranged from times their children all gathered around for the evening to neighborhood parties in decades past. For a few, it was the n...

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“The Appointed Time” by Keri Dyck

Submitted to Contest #22

“Great job with the play, Keri! You planning on doing one next year too?” I laughed, packing a garbage bag with dropped costumes, broken props, and my narrator’s script, then climbed down the stage steps. “I don’t know, Susan. These kids…” I mimed pulling my hair out of my head. Susan smiled with all her “pastor’s wife” grace. “I thought you did very well.” “Thanks. Where are you going for the countdown tonight?” “We’re planning on going to the Penner...

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“THE PAINTING” by Kate E

Submitted to Contest #22

Rose knew it made no sense whatsoever for her to be at a New Year’s Eve party that was being held in a nondescript manufacturing-building-turned-art-gallery in the heart of Brooklyn; And yet, here she was.Although the party was held in a gallery, everyone seemed to be completely oblivious to the art that lined the walls. Having not stepped foot inside an art gallery or museum of any kind since failing out of her Art 101 class in college, she found this fact surprising. Making her way around the room, she began assessing the other partygoers,...

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$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!

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