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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#229: Mistletoe and Meet-Cutes

As someone who loves getting in the festive mood once winter arrives, you’ll likely find me curled up on my couch on cold December nights — with a cheesy holiday film on the go. What can I say? There’s just something about so-bad-they’re-actually-good movies that I can’t get enough of this time of the year (much to my family’s dismay).

This week, let’s pull out all the stops and write stories that play with the common tropes in popular holiday films, from secret royals and sudden cases of amnesia, to disastrous celebrations salvaged by some last-minute magic. Whether you lean in to the warm fuzzies in earnest, or subvert your trope entirely, is up to you...

This week's prompts

Write about a festive party gone wrong that’s saved by some holiday magic.

Holiday – 24 stories

Write a story in which a cynical character gets amnesia on Christmas Eve.

Christmas – 28 stories

Write about a character who visits their hometown for the holidays and reconnects with a former love interest.

Holiday – 65 stories

Start or end your story with a character finding out the love of their life is actually royalty.

Romance – 19 stories

Write a story in which a character is stuck reliving their worst Christmas ever, over and over again.

Christmas – 35 stories

Stories

“North Pole Drama ” by Daniel Mueller

Submitted to Contest #229

Content Warning: Language, Crude HumourSNOWFLAKE SCANDAL: SANTA’S SECRET AFFAIR UNDER THE MISTLETOE — MRS. CLAUS CALLS FOR SLEIGH GPS CHECK!The North Pole Herald newspapers were scattered across the hands of thousands of elves in Gingerbread Town Square. The entire village was in a high-pitched uproar. “Who dared to write such a spiteful article? Santa would never do such a thing!” “I have a friend in the Ministry of North Pole Surveillance, and she said Mrs. Claus’ request is real! The elves are supposedly sneaking drinks of cocoa to ...

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“Lumberjacks and Louis Vuitton” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #229

Maya dropped her monogrammed Louis Vuitton duffle bag on the wide front porch of the old Victorian house belonging to the Myer’s family. Maya gave her older sister, Trina, a hug, embracing her niece she had never met, propped on her sister’s hip. “Welcome home, sis,” Trina said, bouncing the baby up higher on her hip. Trina dressed herself in blue Wrangler denims and a blue sweater that likely came from Sears over a decade ago. Maya noted her own attire, a Fendi velour sweatsuit and Gucci sneakers. It was the first ...

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“HOME FOR CHRISTMAS” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #229

The end of the year is here. Christmas is here. I'm going home to Southport. I haven't been to Southport in a long time. I can't count how many times I dreamed of going back home. Like always I've been too busy but not this year. This year is my time off. My time to reconnect with my friends and family, to see Chase Sommers who I never stop thinking about. Too reconnect with Christmas and too reconnect with my home. Southport is so beautiful during this time of the year. I'm excited. The smile on my face is getting bigger and bigger with e...

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“ A Tale of Love, Rediscovery, and Second Chances in Whitehead"” by Brian Hastie

Submitted to Contest #229

Diannе could not hеlp but fееl a rush of nostalgia as shе stеppеd off thе train onto thе familiar platform of her small hometown of Whitehead. Thе air carriеd thе scеnt of wintеr and thе promisе of a holiday sеason. Thе town, adornеd with twinkling lights and wrеaths, lookеd likе a scеnе from a grееting card. It had bееn yеars sincе Diannе lеft for thе bustling city to pursuе hеr carееr in law, lеaving bеhind thе mеmoriеs of hеr youth, including a lovе that had nеvеr quitе fadеd from hеr hеart. As shе walked through thе quaint strееts, еach ...

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“After You” by Kaitlin Cranor

Submitted to Contest #229

*Contains themes of death and grief.* I know I shouldn’t be here. I just needed to feel you again. Your parents are out—they’re with my parents at the Carsons’ Christmas party across the street. I snuck over here because I saw the lights on your house flickering while I was out back smoking a cigarette. They’re disgusting. I don’t know why I smoke them. No, I do. They’re the only way people will leave you alone outside for a few minutes, so I mostly just hold them to the side and pretend to smoke them if anyone comes out. Anyway, I was...

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“Snowflakes & Second Chances” by Jessey Rankin

Submitted to Contest #229

Anna “Why me?” I groan. I’m heading home for the holidays, and of course, a deer runs out in front of me, and I swerve right into a deep snow bank. This is my first Christmas home since I moved to San Diego three years ago. Even though I grew up driving the snowy roads of Colorado Springs, I forgot how bad they can be. “Now what am I supposed to do?” I say to no one. I check my cell phone and see I have no service. Of course, it’s freezing out, I can’t get my car unstuck, and I’m on the smallest highway known to man. I suppose I will just ha...

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“Snow in our hearts” by Violetta-Valerie Gallee

Submitted to Contest #229

'Uff, damnit!' I cursed under my breath after I took a wrong step and fell face-first into the half-a-metre snow. At this point, I would do anything for a hot bath. My original plan was to visit my family, which meant returning to the dump I call my home town. It was a cute little village with only a few houses splattered across some hills. Everyone knew everyone, and you surely couldn't keep a secret without the whole village knowing it in at least a week. I often considered it annoying, especially as a teenager trapped in a hormonal roll...

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“Admire from afar” by Livvy Charleston

Submitted to Contest #229

The news was simple: at least for the holidays, she was coming home. I was ecstatic when I heard the news, though I knew she wouldn't have come to see me. I waited for her at the train station, the snow falling heavily past my shoulders, yet I didn't feel the bitter chill of the air as the breeze picked up. Everyone was in brightly coloured coats at the station, fairy lights hanging from pole to pole with paper candy canes hanging from the cords. Instead of the usual emptiness I felt, a subtle warmness omitted from my chest and flowe...

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“Sometimes a delusion can turn into reality” by Mari AL

Submitted to Contest #229

Clarissa remembered the first time she saw him, five years ago, it was not in person. She was looking at some pictures her friend Amanda had posted on Instagram. She had never been an enthusiastic surfer but remembered those mini trips around Vancouver Island all too well. They were often followed by drinks, music, and talks. Clarissa had left Victoria, BC to go study Finances at the University of Toronto. She truly believed that would fulfill her ambitions. Now, she missed her friend group and wanted to know every new face in the pictures, ...

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“Prince of Articia” by Amanda Cedeno

Submitted to Contest #229

I, Holly, my boyfriend of three years, Axel, and my adopted daughter, Kiku were at Axel’s apartment watching a cartoon Christmas Carol movie for a date. Axel and I were in our thirties. Kiku, who was six, out dressed the both of us in her purple unicorn dress. She was also the most active by tending to a doll while Axel and I just cuddled on the couch. I met Axel while I was adopting my daughter. He was a volunteer helping. He wasn’t ever adopted, but he wanted to give back to the facility that took care of him for many years. Just whe...

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“The First Date Secret” by Alexandria Lucius

Submitted to Contest #229

Since Katie had moved into this new community, she had developed a routine. Today though was not going to be the same. She got ready for work and walked outside to get into her car for work but it did not start. She had enough time she called for a ride share and made moments after the start of her shift. She tried to avoid dealing with her boss but shortly after she started, the store manager approached her. The store was a small health food store which, was nice because normally they were not busy all day. The holidays we...

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“A Royal Lesson in Love” by Stephanie Santana

Submitted to Contest #229

Present Day Jacinda Jordan squints hard at a tall, broad-shouldered man across a ballroom filled with silver tinsel and fake snow. Beside her, a vivacious woman, adorned with a glittery cougar mask, can't contain her excitement. She’s gushing about the enticing stranger – a foreigner with deep pockets, known for his love of cooking, languages, and postmodern art. “Folks say he’s looking for his ‘amiroella,’ the word for perfect love in Aquilonan. Are you familiar with it?” the loquacious lady chirps. “With love?” Jaci...

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“Resilience in the Rain: Jasper's Journey to Revive His Legacy” by Becky Allred

Submitted to Contest #229

Tiny Tim Crachit couldn’t have had it worse than Jasper Quincy Vaugn. The icy winter rain was pounding on his head as he climbed out of his 1965 Ford Mustang that had been passed down to him by his father who was now in eternal rest. He slammed the door on the broken down vehicle, which was the only legacy his father had left him. In truth, he hadn’t left it to him, but had made him purchase it from him. In fact, if Jasper had ever driven the car while his father was alive and had crashed it his father would have been more worried about the ...

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“A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE IN PIRTLEVILLE” by Michael Gigandet

Submitted to Contest #229

“This is too good to be true!” George swiped his shirt cuff at the tears streaming down his cheeks as his friends and neighbors stuffed wads of cash into a red Christmas stocking. Arms swarmed and swirled around him, stretching over shoulders, reaching around people, all of them extensions of joyful faces shouting “Merry Christmas George!” and “You da’ Man”. “I can’t believe it. Shucks folks.” Holding his daughter FooFoo on his hip, George blubbered, “It’s…it’s a Christmas miracle! That’s...

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“Half a Rose” by Bobi Neher

Submitted to Contest #229

A forlorn and withered face peered through the frosted flake design on the only unbroken window of the chapel. His breath painted a new design on the inside, which never matched the design on the outside. Our voices rang through the night, and we strolled from door to door, hoping someone would place a shilling or two in our cup. We were nearing the local pub. Customers were celebrating in style. They just received their Christmas bonuses. It was time to party. It was a nightmare every year when we came to this door. Some in the pub ...

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$250

Prize money

171

Contest entries

64

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 22, 2023 EST

Won by Aaron Chin 🏆

Title: The Gingerbread Cookies

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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