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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'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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“Mark of a New Year” by Caroline Allen

Submitted to Contest #22

Mrs. Dupont twirls in front of the mirror, gold dress glittering like the chandelier will at tonight’s soiree. She reckons she’ll be buried in this dress by next year’s party. Though cakey makeup may hide her wrinkles, it won’t fool Father Time, no sirree. After a couple spritzes of sticky hairspray, smelling like perfume sprayed on bleach, she climbs down the stairs, which creak under her weight. Nigel don’t even look up from his kneeled position, straightening Eli’s bowtie, his expression like a bomb disabler in an action flick. “You...

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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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“Fireworks” by Destiny Bassey

Submitted to Contest #22

Fireworks The tropic sun proved to be unkind as always, as it's scorching heat sent a message to my overly tanned skin; I hurriedly adjusted my hat shading my face a little more from embracing sunburns. I'd thought a year of being in this part of the world could get me used to this, but it’s- just hard. I took a glance at my surrounding...

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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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“Today's not the Day. ” by Logan McDonnell

Submitted to Contest #22

I hate going to these kinds of things. My Mom says it’ll be better to go out into the ‘Real World’ or whatever that means. I despise Holiday parties. They are just another ruse for people to be drinking and doing stupid stuff. Yet I’m here anyway, stuck between two people making out and a fat guy smoking his lungs out. Happy New Years Eve to me. I get up from the couch, coughing my way to the kitchen, hoping to get a dessert that doesn’t taste like shit. Lucky me, the only things that were left was weed brownies and cookies I wouldn't...

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“Standstill” by Abby Jaquint

Submitted to Contest #22

It was cold. Well, I was cold. They try to make it seem like you can wear your best party dress, you know, the one that makes you look like a H&M model, and not be cold. Now, here I am, standing outside a club—the one next to the one that burnt down last year—freezing my ass off and wishing I’d at least worn thigh-high boots so that my calves wouldn’t be right on the brink of freezing completely, cracking and breaking off into a thousand tiny shards of ice, leaving me to fall over and die here on New Year’s Eve. I didn’t want to co...

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“The Butterfly Girl” by Rebekah Claxton

Submitted to Contest #22

She was glamorous. Short, black hair and bangs. She had little butterfly clips in her hair. She had a yellow sundress on and had nails painted orange. Bright, blue eyes and a big smile. She looked genuine, but also lonely. She stood by the punch table, her right hand wrapped tightly around her forearm. I hadn't noticed I was staring, but when she made eye contact, I freaked. I tried to look casual, but I, too, was alone. My friends had begged me to come to the New Years party that an upperclassmen planned. His parents were ou...

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“ FIRST LOVE ” by Ola Bhattacharya

Submitted to Contest #22

It was a New Year's party at my friend's house.I had designed a new three piece dress.The dress was made with a soft synthetic fabric in wine colour.A short skirt,contrast top with frilled neckline and a short fitted jacket in the same floral print fabric was the dress.To add grace to my walk I selected a high heeled sandal and gathered my hair at the top of my head to look grown up, letting a few strands of loose hair to fall sideways carelessly.A wrist watch,gold ear studs and gold finger ring were all the accessory I needed to complete my...

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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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“End to Begin” by Geneva Savage

Submitted to Contest #22

I’ve lived in dozens of houses. Some were homes. Others were not. None of them were my home. Sometimes I think I’ll never have one. “Stue!” screeched my foster parent in a drunken, cracking voice. I knew the consequences of the sound too well, but I went. Rising from the floor of our ten-by-ten-foot bedroom where I was helping Kate and Karl with their homework, I calmly walked out of our paint peeling room. When I reached the door, I looked back into our room with its two ...

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“The Night They Met” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #22

Sarah Haj-Hariri The Night They Met Isabelle twirled in front of her oversized mirror, admiring her sparkly, red dress and her long, curled, brown hair “Isabelle! Come on! The car is going to turn into a pumpkin if you don’t hurry!” Isabelle’s best friend, Maureen, was always in a dramatic rush. She did everything she could to save time and arrive early. For example, she had cut her blond, curly hair short just to save time. This annoyed Isabelle, who liked to take her time, and she hated to arrive early, especially for parties. Tonight...

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“20/20 vision.” by Selena Owens

Submitted to Contest #22

She gave up, after countless layers of concealer the bags under her eyes refused to relent. She tugged at the scrap of fabric Sarah had dared to call a dress hoping to reveal a few hidden inches. Why did she let them talk her into this again? After her recent luck the last thing she wanted to do was go out to a party on New Year’s. Tomorrow would be just as yesterday was the only thing that would change was the date. A loud knock rang through the small space. “Kam?? Are you in there? Hailey said the uber is almost here! Hurry up!” Sighing ...

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“Always an Outsider” by Layla Wright

Submitted to Contest #22

Most people spend New Year’s Eve drinking champagne with friends, watching the ball drop and stealing midnight kisses, but I sit on the sidelines. My friends apartment buzzes with activity and a drink I don’t plan on drinking sits vacantly in my hand. People come and go, sitting in the seat next to me and making futile attempts at small talk, but one person feels different, familiar, per-say. “Not one to join the fun?” He asks. His eyes dance over the crowd as ones eyes would watch a flickering flame. “This is not my kind of fun,...

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“MEMORIES NEVER FADE” by Thaamarai Selvi

Submitted to Contest #22

It was new year’s Eve. People were busy buying cakes on the streets of Melbourne. The rich aroma of the cakes took everyone to a divine feel. The stores were also freshly painted. The shops were covered with fresh roses which became a feast to the eyes. The tables were very well cleaned and the workers were busy at the billing section. The street also had several boutiques which made young women rush through the doors. There was a heavy traffic and the cop struggled a lot to c...

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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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