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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

“Care and The Clock” by Madeline Connor

Submitted to Contest #22

There’s a story in all these homeless people; Seattle is a cold place and winter’s a beast whose jaw has an insatiable appetite. These people are just as human and just as smart, these homeless people have jobs and passions and everything in the world but a state capable of lowering housing prices.The trench coat around me felt hardly capable of keeping the chill out when I watched one of the saddest effects of Seattle’s cost, a woman lying on the sidewalk, loud sirens and medical examiners wrapping the body in a human-sized-bag. Dead. Died ...

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“Seeing Things in a New Light” by Laura Besley

Submitted to Contest #22

I stand on the doorstep. In one hand I’m clutching a carrier bag with a medium-priced bottle of wine and two tubes of Pringles in it, and with the other hand I ring the doorbell. Around the doorframe is a string of flashing multi-coloured lights. You’d be forgiven for thinking they were Christmas decorations, but I can assure you, they’re here all year round. The door is opened and someone who doesn’t live here, someone I’ve never met before, beckons me in. For some reason this is perfectly acceptable when you’re going to a house party ...

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“Not for me” by Sam Kirk

Submitted to Contest #22

“What are you doing, Sweetie” – Rhonda asked her daughter, who she saw put on gloves.“I’m going outside” – Martha replied.“Outside? Why? It’s cold out there.”Before Martha could reply, Arthur, her father, and Rhonda’s husband walked through the door.“Where are you going?” – he asked Martha.“Outside” – she answered without hesitation.“It’s cold out there” – he announced, taking off his hat, gloves, and scarf.“Yes, I already told her that” – Rhonda said, taking the winter accessories from her husband’s hands and putting them on the shelf in th...

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“A Whole New World” by Elaine Leet

Submitted to Contest #22

Frankie gazed down from a second-floor balcony overlooking the ballroom. Her burgundy evening gown, that cost a month’s salary, flowed above her new satin slippers. Her gold necklace complemented the blonde highlights in her auburn hair. For nearly a year she had worked to create a New Year's Eve bash that would get environmental scientists rubbing shoulders with the financial powerhouses of the United States. The location had been a sure shot: the most exclusive hotel on a California beach north of Monterey. The oceanside amenit...

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“Queens Passing” by E.J. Katigbak

Submitted to Contest #22

The party was drawing to a close. Barry had never met someone as gorgeous and illuminating as Regina. “This night is no ordinary night,” Barry thought to himself. There were a quiver and restlessness in Barry’s stomach. He was wondering if Regina felt it too. A traditional New Year’s Eve party always ended with a kiss, but this kiss was different. Barry and Regina’s kiss would surely be something to remember. “3… 2… 1… Happy New Year!” Barry and Regina kiss. “Happy New Year your grace!” Barry whispered. In the h...

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“Just Breathe ” by Allie Pittman

Submitted to Contest #22

I walked into the Ballroom and immediately felt like I was being assaulted.The music was too loud, pounding my eardrums until I thought they’d surely bleed.The lights flashed brutally into my eyes, so forcefully ,that I thought they had penetrated into my brain.Then came the abuse of hundreds of people, coming from all directions, talking, to me, to each other, each one seeming to echo off the walls and scrape my already frayed nerves, like nails on a chalkboard.Everyone felt too close to me, I could smell each one’s sweat, their deodorant t...

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“New Years Party” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #22

Kim Plasket5602 Silver Star RoadApt 529Orlando, FL32809 New Years I really hated going to parties but my best friend Grace told me I had to go to this one since nobody wanted to spend New Year’s eve alone. Little did she realize I preferred my own company, it was so much easier to say “I’m going to bed” when I was alone.Nobody cared if I sat on the couch and ate a bag of potato chips while watching earthquakes ruin someone’s plan. Going to a party meant I had to get dressed up and act as if I wanted to talk to people but I ow...

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“Strike” by Laura Atherton

Submitted to Contest #22

She needed to find him. In five minutes, the killer would strike. In five minutes, this New Years’ Party would turn into a war-zone. In five minutes, everyone could be dead.No one knew of Jay Lawson’s plan, apart from those who had read and been informed of the contents of a sinister note found on the desk of the receptionist at HQ. It would have been carnage to tell the public, but to inform them may well save lives. In five minutes, she would find out whether she had made the biggest mistake of her life.It had been her call. To not tell pe...

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“Borne Back Ceaselessly” by Chester Sakamoto

Submitted to Contest #22

The streets of Manhattan are deserted, though that's because most people are concentrated in or around Times Square tonight. It's New Year's Eve yet again and, yet again, I find myself with nowhere to go. Truth be told, the holiday's done little to excite me since what few friends I have have all moved away. Now, it's just like any other night to me, which is sad because I used to enjoy it. The camaraderie, the togetherness, counting down the final seconds ...

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“New Year's Wishes” by Jennifer Riley

Submitted to Contest #22

“Well, ladies and gents, that does it for this extra special New Year’s Eve edition of The Eve and Steve Show, but don’t you worry because Ravin’ Dave is on deck, ready to provide your soundtrack for ringing in the New Year. You ready to blow this joint, Eve?” “You have no idea, Steve,” I say, shaking my head a little at my cohost’s corny humor. “Take care out there, friends,” I go on, addressing the invisible li...

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“Mister Boom Boom” by Crystabel Lynx

Submitted to Contest #22

December 13, 2018 - 8:15 A.M. It wasn't the fourth of anything, certainly not July. Snow sparkled on every surface, lending magical stillness to the generally tranquil Willow Way Circle, a subdivision of Fairville, Illinois. Every lacy flake had yet to be disturbed by shovel, blower, or plow. Only Dulcie's boot prints on her back porch marred the perfect whiteness, and she was carefully retracing her steps to go back inside. A whistle and pop split the early morning silence. "Are you kidding me?" Dulcie whispered, breath fogg...

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“My Usual New Year's Day” by Beth Ann Doerring

Submitted to Contest #22

New Year's Eve 9pm. Everything is ready, loaded into the car. I have done this so many times on the eve of the new year that it almost takes no thought. The items I will use tonight before bed or first thing in the morning, I have on my bedside table, ready to use and go. The new journal for the year, the reference books, an extra jacket, the food that can get very cold, the diet cokes, and water bottles are on the passenger's seat, readily available for me as I need them in the morning.My diabetes kit, clothes for the morrow, boots, the bre...

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“Times a-Changin’” by Nancy Laflamme

Submitted to Contest #22

It was 9 p.m. on December 31, 2019 and Ash was relaxing on his favourite armchair. In fact, he had been on that chair for at least three hours with no intention to move. He loved the occasional attention that Michael and Emmy were giving him and the festive ambiance animating the house lately. Ash’s family had been home the past week or so and he felt lucky that they were spending more time with him. They had placed a large tree in the corner of the living room. It smelled good and had pretty things hanging off its branches. Alas, Micha...

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“Meaningless Numbers” by Elizabeth Guerrero

Submitted to Contest #22

Today I tried to tell them. I really did try. Maybe I need help. Maybe I just need to go home. That’s what I’ll do. It will be so simple. I can’t stop thinking about it. In just one second, I will finally be happy. My plan is to leave soon. I just need to decide when and how. I keep hoping that they will actually care when I do go. Maybe that’s why I can’t decide. No. I have to go. They won’t care. It doesn’t matter to them. Ok, maybe I shouldn’t go. Won’t someone miss me? And all the effort it took to get here. All those hours up late worki...

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“Intoxicating Beauty” by Sophie Davis

Submitted to Contest #22

What he witnessed upon entering the building was mesmerizing, he was hypnotized by the colorful lights and the hues of blue and pink that swayed around him. The room was an ocean of drifting people, swinging to the beat of music and socializing noisily. New Year's Eve, what an extravagant day of celebration! It was an understatement to say he was ready for the new year, he couldn't wait to throw the old times behind him and allow new opportunities to pour in. It was going to be a good year, he had a feeling, and who knows? Maybe he'd finally...

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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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