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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

“The Night Before” by Martin Ross

Submitted to Contest #229

Disclaimer: This story does not reflect my spiritual or cultural views. It attempts merely to examine the pull of faith when Man gets involved. “Merry Christmas,” John grunted. The doctor looked up from the man’s chart, and did a half-turn back into the room. “Excuse me?” John analyzed the man’s dark face for signs of offense, belligerence. He didn’t know the physician – or for that matter, at this moment, anyone in the conceivable world -- but he realized now his sarcasm was misdirected. “I’m, ah, I’m sorry,” John offered, waving the p...

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“Happy Holiday Headaches” by Dave Stanley

Submitted to Contest #229

Tom wakes up with a headache. The stubborn alarm clock and the morning sun don’t help matters, either. Normally, this would make a random Tuesday in August a bad day. Yet malaise is compounded by the fact that this is Christmas Eve. The holiday ringer awaits—a big party with fake smiles, pretending to enjoy the company of others, trying not to drink too much, and coming up with superlatives about gifts that he doesn’t care for. And he hasn’t made one purchase towards his Christmas shopping yet. He does, however, have an engagement ring...

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“She Calls Me From the Cold” by J.D. Jacobs

Submitted to Contest #229

“The winter here’s cold, and bitter. Its chilled us to the bone. We haven’t seen the sun for weeks. To long to far from home…” Someone suddenly shook Matt’s shoulder. “Sir, we have begun preparation for landing. I’ll need you to turn off your electronic devices and put your seat in the full upright position.” Matt nodded compliantly and took out his earbuds before pushing the button to straighten his seat. He looked out the window and could see the overcast sky encasing the outskirts of T.F. Greene Airport. The weather personified the Sarah ...

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“He with the Green Eyes” by Devi Ran

Submitted to Contest #229

The train trugs loudly along the snowy track of the vast countryside, as the winter snow rushes across the outside of the windows of each car. Resting an idle finger on the cold surface of the window, sat a woman in a red winter coat. She peered outside at the fallen snow as the thought of heading back home fill her thoughts with joy. She was finally able to come home to see her family for the holidays. Especially since the pandemic had finally allow her to see them. The lady sat in her train car, while drawing a tree on the frost of the wi...

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“Love at Second Sight” by Molly Layne

Submitted to Contest #229

Cartersville, West Virginia The door to her office squeaked and she swiveled the chair around. Her friend and co-worker, Sayla, popped her head in. “Hey, Lorena,” she began, the dimpled corners of her mouth quirking up, “Whatcha doing for the holidays?” The holidays. Christmas. New Year’s Day. Everyone was always asking the same question around this time of year. Truthfully, she wished she could forget the holidays or at least spend them catching up...

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“Meet Me at Donovan's” by Kate Kenneth

Submitted to Contest #229

Main Street in Branchton, New Jersey has remained relatively unchanged over the years. It is untouched by the version of capitalism, that is chain restaurants and department stores. Instead, the cute store fronts are still occupied by family-owned businesses, passed down from generation to generation. I walk the street now, sent by my mother to pick up a take out order from Donovan’s Pub. Rosie’s Attic, an antique store, still has a lavender facade. My grandmother likes to tell the story of Rosie painting the building herself decades ...

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“And Even the Stars Listened” by Sydney S.

Submitted to Contest #229

For the record, my brother dragged me into this. I never really hung out with his college friends, despite their filling the house with shouts and laughter for the entire first semester, but this time he wouldn’t let me lock myself in my room with my guitar. This time they were going all out — a week-long vacation at some lakeside cottage in Maine near our hometown. In his words, a “glamping trip.” “Come on, Ethan. It’ll be fun!” Max said with a wide grin. “There’ll be campfires, outside ice skating, s’mores, and who knows, you might actuall...

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“Chapter 16.5 from Testing For Hope - New Tidings Week Breaking” by Amelia McCarthy

Submitted to Contest #229

Hysteria never expected anything from life. She was a kid after all. She didn't really expect anything as far as she knew. All she could even depend on was her mom being there and the cold nights when she would stare at her ceiling for hours on end long after her mom had tucked her in for the night. She has always done this, or at least she has since she met her. The most beautiful girl in the world. Sofia. Even though she was as mysterious as she was gorgeous, Hysteria still fell hard and fast. The girl would call her over for tea and so...

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“The Queen of Mean Is Here” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #229

“Pearls, please.” Hyatt “Hy” Rhodes fastens a string of pearls around his wife’s neck. Lane Rhodes stands back from the mirror. Sucking in her stomach and fluffing her auburn hair, Lane asks, “How do I look?” “Just as beautiful as that pretty freshman cheerleader I brought home to Christmas dinner eleven years ago.” “I looked like a scared rabbit being led to the slaughter back then. Did you remember to get the dinner rolls?” “Yep. The King’s Hawaiian brand, just like mother recommended.” “You mean demanded,” Lane replies. I thought ...

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“Let's Enjoy the Party!” by Oscar Lozano

Submitted to Contest #229

It was Christmas Eve, and Stacy was in a random man’s apartment, hooked up to what looked like an electric chair while her cousin Genie waited down the street. “Santa!” Stacy cried as the machine flared to life, a halo of sparks around her and the ceiling lights flickering, while her maddened, wide eyes stared at a can of Coke on the table. “Yes! Yes!” a man in a lab coat shouted excitedly, jumping up and down. The dingy, ancient apartment had peeling, faded, ornate wallpaper from the 1920s and was so small that even Stu...

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“Last Minute Christmas ” by Angela Tyler

Submitted to Contest #229

I get the idea for the blue soup, omelet, and marmalade from Bridget Jones’ Diary. At the time, I’m sure I’m being clever, celebrating my 29th year and the upcoming Christmas season this way. It’s the perfect way to give my twenties one last hurrah while demonstrating my vast maturity—one can’t have a dinner party if one isn’t mature, after all. If I’m being very honest, I also hope, desperately hope, that this small reenactment will attract my very own Mr. Darcy. I prefer the Colin Firth Mr. Darcy for his wavy hair and moody je ne sais...

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“The True Meaning of Holiday Magic” by Alexa Pei

Submitted to Contest #229

“It’s Christmas Eve!” said ten-year-old Maria Roger cheerfully. All her siblings shouted in excitement. Christmas was their favorite holiday of the year. Two weeks away from school?! What a deal! But not just that. They get to open gifts and enjoy time with family. The Roger family thought it would be a good idea to host a skiing party with friends and relatives. Around twenty people arrived at the spot where the party started, Hansan Ski Main. After they had gotten all bundled up with sweaters and put on their skis, everyone w...

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“Angel in a Red Dress” by Curtis Doucette

Submitted to Contest #229

The office buildings towered over him, a frozen tidal wave of glass and metal threatening to crash down. A herd of vehicles left clouding fumes in their wake, their passing lights unveiling sacred crystal structures. Alone, with a naked vulnerability, he was a dust mote floating at the mercy of the frigid wind, flowing with the breath of the city. A tall woman wearing a tight evening dress, the colour of blood, sashayed over and yanked him into existence. Her smile triggered a sugar sweet sensation that trickled down hi...

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“forgetting.” by Lara Deppe

Submitted to Contest #229

Derel couldn’t wait for the weekend to be over. Christmas mocks the lonely with its promises of joy and peace on earth. The blinking lights remind her of the flashing ambulance lights the night they came for her mom and never brought her back. She stood in the large family room window and watched the policemen load her father into their car with those same flashing red lights on the top of their cars. Derel balanced the fourth plate on her arm near her shoulder so she could get the entire order out in one trip. The floor of the diner was p...

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“My Long Lost Love” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #229

My Long Lost Love I am so excited. After thinking about it and talking about it for years with my friends and family, I am finally going back to visit my old home town, the place where I grew up, but never have returned to. What makes such a trip exciting is the thought that perhaps I will get to see and meet with the one that I have long called my first love. I was only twelve when I first met Ellie. She was an inspiration to me, and she was always happy to see me, as I was to see her. As a teenager, I did not get...

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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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