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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

“"Close Encounters of the Brief Kind"” by Sam Hendrian

Submitted to Contest #22

“Close Encounters of the Brief Kind” Should auld acquaintance be forgot? Harold Baxter found himself answering this question in the affirmative every New Year’s Eve. Taking a match to his cell phone contacts (with the exception of his mother and anyone else he would be burned at the stake for deleting), he was determined to start each year fresh relationship-wise, moving on from past pains and embracing new ones, whether they be of the heart or of the ass. Now, this wasn’t technically a New Year’s Eve ritual, as Harold always waited until af...

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“To see you” by Aminatta Kamara

Submitted to Contest #22

The bright lights pounced across the city like a leopard. Hearts leapt at the sound of voices and cars bristling against the tinsel. People were ready.Nothing could stop the roaring or souls and the need for company. It was as if it was every bodies last chance to connect before time went. Parties were everywhere.They found each other in a tiny club. Intimate and quiet. Like a mini-riviera in the midst of hell. They danced. The music pulsated around them like pools of delight. They couldn't even see what each were wearing- such was their tra...

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“More Stars than I can Count” by Charlie Braune

Submitted to Contest #22

10 PMI ring the doorbell. Through the milky glass in the little window of the door, I can see blurry figures. They waver and melt into another. One of the figures grows larger and larger as someone nears the door and opens it. “ Welcome, my darling.” Sabina greets me, champagne glass in one hand. She giggles and pulls me inside. There are about 20 people in the entrance area alone. I know the house is huge and so are the gardens. There must be around 200 people at the party. Sabina has already disappeared back into the crowd. I smile at...

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“Girl Code Rule #1” by Azizza Stephens

Submitted to Contest #22

Shit. I can tell he’s attracted to her. I don’t blame him. She’s conventionally pretty with an aura that implies an adventure. Her dark brown hair has golden highlights in it. She’s wearing red lipstick. The makeup enthusiast in me knows it’s MAC’s Ruby Woo. I’m convinced she knows someone important at all the popular clubs, and could jump the line with her four girlfriends. She probably has six guys that call and text her everyday. They take her out on dates and brag to their friends afterwards. She didn’t even bother to dre...

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“A Spirited Evening ” by Santosh Bakaya

Submitted to Contest #22

A New Year eve party was in full swing in a huge, sprawling house in Green Park, Delhi. There was a fog outside, and animated chatter and liquor were flowing in profusion. “Over 300 flights were delayed on 20th December and many fights were diverted. I had to go to Pune, but was not even informed about the cancellation of the flight, I came to know of the cancellation only on reaching the airport.” A man in a blazer was talking in indignant tones, the vehemence of his wrath matching the vigor with which he took huge sips f...

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“Little Truths” by Bailey Brown

Submitted to Contest #22

She's standing by the cheese tray. Long, black hair dips just below her waist. She's wearing a gray T-shirt, and maybe, it's the only shirt she owns. Threadbare, stained, sitting right at the top of her ripped jeans. And yet, I'm compelled to introduce myself. My nana said it was always bad luck to go into the new year alone, and all the years leading up to this would attest to that little truth. She feels my stare and looks over her shoulder. Gray eyes to match her gray shirt. Her cheeks bulge with cheddar cheese. I watch as she swallows, d...

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“Swans” by Rhys Clarke

Submitted to Contest #22

I met her one hundred years ago. My hair had a little less grey in it and my eyes still danced with the youth of a freshly turned vampire. It was at a party-the last New Year's Eve party that I have ever bothered to attend amongst the mortals. I had selected a meal for that night. The virgin neck of the Mayor's daughter. I was something of a connoisseur, back in those days. I had been following her for nigh upon seven nights and was prepared to make my move. My fangs, oh, how they ached for her blood!I weaved my way through shadows and sweat...

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“Countdown to Love” by Mylinn Martin

Submitted to Contest #22

As I stood on line at my local coffee shop waiting to talk to the barista that I’ve been crushing on for the past year and a half my stomach had been doing somersaults. I came into this coffee shop almost every morning for my fave caramel latte and blueberry muffin. I also hoped for the chance to see Tyler. He had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. They were like small pools of water and I always found myself drowning in them. The line was typical for a Tuesday morning and I don’t know why I expected it...

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“Heinz Dilemma” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #22

Lewis' tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, his brows knitted together, and sweat glistening the palms of his hands. This next part was the most important. If he didn't get this right, he could kiss his freedom--and his family--goodbye. Outside, snow fell from the sky, the reflection of the moon glistening off the little flakes. Families gathered together, celebrating with open bottles of wine, board games, and more. Televisions glowed in living rooms around the country as one year came to a close and another began.Lewis should have b...

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“A Cowgirl's Epiphany ” by Frances DeWitt

Submitted to Contest #22

Curt's cell phone rang. Lanie could tell by the conversation it was Martin. Lanie was slipping her boots on to help feed cattle with her half-brother. She could hear the cold rattling engine of the John Deere tractor and knew her half-brother, who lived across the way, would be about ready to feed."Yeah, buddy... Sounds good," Curt was saying. "We'll be there. What does Nan want us to bring? Sounds good. Bye.""So nice of Curt to ask me if I even wanted to go over there..." Lanie thought to herself as she took her old feeding jacket from off...

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“New Year New Me” by Keri Ault

Submitted to Contest #22

New Year New Me Holidays at Dammasch State Hospital were the worst. I mean, most days at the hospital were pretty hard, but at least if it was just a random Wednesday in the middle of March, you weren’t feeling so awful about the fact that everyone else in the world was celebrating. Everyone else was sharing a big meal with their families, or opening presents, or giving their sweetie a kiss at midnight. Everyone else was content and warm and happy and not in a weird place separated f...

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“A Day for the Future” by Alice Park

Submitted to Contest #22

It was that time of the year again.A day filled with resolutions to improve yourself. A day of dreams and aspirations. A day for the future. At least, for everyone but me. I woke up with the sweet feeling of ignorance that lasted for a few seconds until I realized what day it was. New Year's Eve. The day Sophie passed away. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep the misery away but my brain decided to focus on a familiar sound that filled the room.I sat up and stared at the clock. Half-past three. It was taunting me, I swear. The second hand sn...

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“Mythic Troubles” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #22

Missy stared at herself in the mirror as she dressed up in her favorite witch outfit. She used to be the average run of the mill vixen, who became a real witch. At first, she was hungry for power and battled with Priscilla to become the coven leader. Finding a phoenix, she tried to get the girl to fight for her. It was obvious that she wasn't made for fighting.Her thirst for power ebbed and she became more interested in making plays. She tried to get her boyfriend to do them with her, but he seemed to see her less and less. She could see her...

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“The Countdown” by Stephanie Li

Submitted to Contest #22

It was December 31st, 1969. I was 18, and I had just finished my shift at my father’s grocery store, where I had been working for the past five years ever since my parents died. It was 11:14 PM when I stepped out into New York’s frigid winter. My exhaled breath froze midair as I felt my bones shiver and quake inside of me. I wrapped the strands of my worn winter coat tighter around me as I trudged through the inches of freshly fallen, icy snow. My shoes, barely with a sole, were handed down to me from my brother, 14 years my senior. He was c...

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“Countdown” by Arleen Mariotti

Submitted to Contest #22

Another year over. When I was a kid, Christmas couldn’t get here fast enough. Time dragged. Now, it seems everything is in high-speed, especially my birthdays. And now another new year. What will this year bring? More gray hair, more wrinkles, more nightly bathroom trips. Margaret asked me yesterday what I was doing for New Year’s Eve. I’ve learned not to go out on that day. Too many crazy drunks on the road. I gave her my annual response, “I’m going to my cousin’s house. She lives down the street, so I won’t have to drive far.”I’ve been giv...

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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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