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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#231: A New Leaf

The year is almost over, and a new one begins in just a few days. With that comes the traditional time of reflection, and of projection. As well as looking back over the year that's just passed, we're looking ahead to a next — and even the most cynical among us have to admit there's something pretty exciting about that.

A new year is an opportunity for self-improvement, exploration, and even complete reinvention. This week's prompts are all in that vein; characters who are all looking for a fresh start, in one way or another.

This week's prompts

Write a story in the form of a list of New Year's resolutions.

Adults – 54 stories

Write about a character who has reinvented themselves, but realizes it's not always easy to outrun your past.

Character – 62 stories

Write a story about hope.

Short Story – 78 stories

Write about someone trying something completely new.

Character – 34 stories

Set your story on New Year's Day.

Holiday – 50 stories

Stories

“The Gift of Hope” by Britni Jay

Submitted to Contest #231

“Today, it is going to happen,” Jake said as he straightened his bow tie and looked in the mirror with a glee of hope in his eyes. Jake has worn the same classic black tuxedo daily for almost a year and thought he looked better in the suit each time. He grabbed the wide toothcomb off the dresser and combed his silky dark brown hair to the back. He wanted to ensure every hairstring was intact and he looked handsome. Looking at his watch, Jake saw it was almost 4:30 in the evening and knew he had to leave home now to beat traffic. He needed to...

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“Sweaty Strangers” by RJ Kerr

Submitted to Contest #231

Research gyms in the area.Become overwhelmed by amenities.Check budget.Make spreadsheet.What’s the point of a sauna?Look up purpose of a sauna.Socialize with sweaty strangers in a hot box? No.Massage chairs? Yes. Hot tub? Yes.Pool? No.Realize pool and hot tub are a package deal.Fine. Yes to the pool.Classes? Not a chance.Wait, included with membership.Analyze spreadsheet and pick a favorite.Work up courage to visit the gym. Make excuses not to go.Realize everyone in the photos looks on-trend and fit. Question how Gen Z works o...

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“New Year's Possibilities” by Andi Leitz

Submitted to Contest #231

Diary of Andi LeitzJanuary 1, 2024New Year's Resolutions Goals PossibilitiesLearn to sew.Remember when you were a kid and you stepped on a needle because it was dropped on a dark carpet in the basement?Buy sewing machine.Learn to use sewing machine.Sew a quilt for Mom for Mother's Day.How much fabric do I need for a queen-sized bed? How do you sew in the batting again?Look up quilting on YouTube. ✓Crochet scrubbies for everyone for Christmas.Buy scrubby and cotton yarn.Look up patternsGet started in July.Realize it only takes an hour to make...

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“My 2024 Resolutions” by E. K. Rebeles

Submitted to Contest #231

My 2024 resolutions Theme for 2024: Love and joy Relationships: Michael: Sexual: Have sex at least once a week Give him surprise oral at least once a month Send the kids to our parents for our monthly sex day Intellectual: Finish writing our book together Start developing our new tracking app Take an Arabic class together with the kids Adventure: At least one romantic getaway without the kids Monthly date days with new activities Go cycling weekly Connection: Quarterly happiness sur...

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“Last Roll of the Dice” by James Maxwell

Submitted to Contest #231

New Year’s Resolutions - 2024 #1 - Quit drinking Why: This is the root of a lot of these problems, it can all be traced back to the booze. Money problems come from spending too much in the pub. Health problems come from all the extra calories from all the beers, the junk food when I’m drunk, and the effects of the alcohol itself. Not to mention that Courtney never liked how I acted when I was drunk. How: Maybe go to some meetings with Paul, he’s 6 years sober. Find other activities or hobbies to keep myself busy. Watch the football at hom...

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“Mastering the New Year's Resolutions” by Ana M

Submitted to Contest #231

Today is the last day of the old year. I got up early and made a larger cup of coffee. I opened my journal and took out a pink pen. My intention is to write the New Year's resolutions. If for nothing else, so that at the end of next year, I can see all the things I haven't managed to accomplish. And all that, if I endure yet another year, which, by the way, has an additional day than the one passing. 1.Survive Another Year of Awkward Family Gatherings: Smile through the cringe-worthy moments, nod, and pretend you've got it all together.&nb...

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“I kept my resolutions because of her” by Mister Skulk

Submitted to Contest #231

They say you’re more likely to do something if you write it down. Maybe I just should’ve written things down earlier. Every year I make resolutions as December draws to a close. Every year, I inevitably give up on them. I know what you’re thinking, but it wasn’t my fault every time. There was that resolution I made about seeing more people in 2020 and…well, we know how that year turned out. I ended up seeing some people over the last couple of years, but it just never turned into anything serious. They’d always turn o...

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“Silent Revenge” by Gail Lemin

Submitted to Contest #231

SILENT REVENGE# ‘Thou shalt not kill’ How do I not kill? I only know how to kill. How can I stop what I was born to do? All my life I had wanted to be a nurse, caring and nurturing those in need of care or help. My parents told me it would never happen, that I needed to study and that I had neither the inclination or aptitude to put in the long hours required. In reality they thought I was dull and stupid! but I was determined to prove them wrong. I enrolled on a nursing course and sailed through al...

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“Just a Job” by Heather Zoppetti

Submitted to Contest #231

CW: Language, blood, suggested violence Jason closed his laptop and sipped his coffee. He enjoyed coding; it was much cleaner than his previous profession while providing the same level of planning and strategy. Every job was a puzzle to solve—without the blood. Functions, loops, recursion—a beautiful symphony of parts coming together in an elegant orchestra. Transforming the esoteric symbols in his editor into delightful images and functionality on a screen made him feel clever, magical. He also enjoyed the social aspect. Today he was...

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“Quiet Spaces, Loud Noise. ” by Cherise Walters

Submitted to Contest #231

I used to search for quite spaces. Small nooks where I could hide and close my eyes. Relinquish myself to a trance, a deep meditation. In that subspace I felt calm, nothing could harm me. No emotion was too grand to take over. In the small quite spaces lived a world all to my-self. I faced all my fears there, had therapy there, found forgiveness for my-self and for others. There too is where I started to change. I was 13 when I started to re-invent myself. Some of my deepest fantasies in the quite space, were about me dominating people with...

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“From Riches to Rags” by Richard Zahra

Submitted to Contest #231

Greg Balfour sat back on the ancient couch that had been thrown out by the neighbours years ago, and which he had dragged the length of the alley to replace its woodworm-riddled predecessor. He had been watching “Lawrence of Arabia” from a secondhand DVD he had bought at the street market. After three long hours, the motion picture was nearing its conclusion, and though he had watched this movie at least three times before, it still enthused him. The box-sized living room of his partly renovated old house was dim and stuffy. He took one la...

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“New Year's, Las Vegas” by Honey Homecroft

Submitted to Contest #231

No surprise that table 10 left the worst tip of the night. Alice grimaced as she opened their check. Should’ve put a buck or two on it. Would’ve been more than they tipped. Not that she really blamed the girl — barely 19, with upper thighs about as thick as her stilettos, glossy mouth turning down as they walked in. She'd probably hoped for a nicer joint than Walkman’s, given the glitzy parties taking place at the casinos just a few blocks away. Walkman’s was certainly open on New Year’s Eve, but that was its only winning f...

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“Trapped” by Mabel Gray

Submitted to Contest #231

My life hasn’t always been this bleak. I used to feel the grass on my toes and the sun on my face. I used to feel the leather of a steering wheel under palms and the feeling of control. I used to go to bed every night thinking about my friends and what I would do with them on the weekend. I used to be alive. Now I am just living. He took me when my life was about to begin. When I could remember the feeling of a warm embrace from my mom, and the sound of my dad’s laugh. It was the summer before my freshman year of college. I had just graduat...

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“Woes of Sin and Strife” by Molly K

Submitted to Contest #231

The heavy door swung open, ushering in a vacuum of cold air that settled in the bones like a bird landing on a perch. Radio chatter sifted through cinnamon-laced warmth and a freshly purchased fir tree stood proudly in the center of the festively-adorned living room. The hollow patter of little stockinged feet on the dark wood floor coincided with a muffled cry from several rooms away. Suddenly, the home became alive with fumbling footsteps and hurried words exchanged behind a closed door. The stockinged feet propelled themselves into the ar...

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“"Hope For A Better Future"” by Domika Stewart

Submitted to Contest #231

I hope for a better future in this world. We live in a world where war is more important than living. There are still different stereotypes of different situation. We are up against legislation laws on who decides for who. "Man, every thing is changing more each day." I grew up in the ninety era and I guess tables where turning then. The world was gradually changing with new technology. I remember when I use to get on a computer and words were all you saw. I never thought that we would now have the chance to see a picture on the screen. I al...

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$250

Prize money

278

Contest entries

109

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 05, 2024 EST

Won by Mary Lynne Schuster 🏆

Title: No Junior League

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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