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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#233: Dry January

Like many of my friends, I'm participating in Dry January this year. After the end-of-year indulgences (which, alongside many enjoyable beverages, included far too many forms of potato), spending a month abstaining from drinking feels well overdue. May as well slay one dragon at a time, right?

With that in mind, this week's prompts are inspired by Dry January, and other challenges of endurance — whether taken on by choice, or by chance.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a character participating in Dry January.

Character – 33 stories

Your character, having abstained from their worst vice (big or small), finds new clarity.

Character – 49 stories

Write a story in the form of diary entries, written by someone who has set themselves a month-long challenge.

Narrative – 49 stories

Set your story in a bar that doesn’t serve alcohol.

Fluff – 61 stories

Set your story during a month of drought — whether literal, or metaphorical.

Dramatic – 38 stories

Stories

“Dry” by Zain Deane

Submitted to Contest #233

“You’re giving up what?” Mary asked.“Milk,” Dennis said with a smirk that asked for a smacking.“For Dry January,” Mary prompted.“Yep.”“You don’t even like milk.”“I know,” Dennis said, shrugging like that wasn’t his fault. “Should be relatively easy to stay dry, right?”She gave him a shrewd glare. “I know you want me to say it, so I’m not gonna say it.”Dennis raised his beer, a double IPA with notes of orange peel and coriander, and took a slow, indulgent gulp. Mary watched in disgust.“So what movie are we going—"“You’re missing the whole fuc...

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“A (sort of) Dry January” by Josh Stenseth

Submitted to Contest #233

I knew that I wouldn't be able to do it. Even as I agreed to try, that deep intuition in my stomach told me how it was going to turn out. Should I feel depressed? Disappointed? I wasn't sure how I felt except that my heartbeat didn't speed up or slow down. Dry January is a month long, and I would be surprised if I made it to 6pm without having another drink. But sure. Let's give it a try. I should probably give some context so this all makes a little more sense. I'm from a big, loving family that lives in a fishbowl filled with aged bourbo...

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“A Fresh Start” by Mia Hammond

Submitted to Contest #233

When I opened my eyes I saw a bright, fluorescent light. Am I dead? I pondered that thought for a moment and pinched myself to determine whether I was dreaming. That was inconclusive. Maybe I’m in the hospital and they gave me painkillers, so I can’t feel much of anything. That would truly be a dream. As I came to, the pain in my head began to subside and I realized I was in a hospital bed. How did I get here? A nurse came in, presumably to check my vitals, and saw I was awake. “Mr. Adams, you’re awake!” She seemed surprised....

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“6-3-0-7” by Emmanuella Eledu

Submitted to Contest #233

Jungle justice in Nigeria—anywhere—is an earthly simulation of hellfire. A curse. A great affliction. A dearth of empathy. A near-death experience. Although God would be shaking His head up in the clouds, this act is the lovechild of the Old Testament's passion, the New Testament's persecution and Lagos' perspiration, and as I sat in one of Mama's threadbare couches with the silk off-white chair covers, having my wounds examined, I resolved not to endanger myself again. Whenever a jerry can of petrol or diesel (it burns more efficiently) emp...

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“Meeting my Muse” by Kristen Dunn

Submitted to Contest #233

Melody sat in her college advisor’s office, feeling the late afternoon sun coming through the window. October in the city always has a strong feeling of the impending winter to come. “How is your Junior year going so far?” asked Judith. “Do you feel like you are making progress? Your midterm grades look good.” “I feel good! I know that it is time for me to start moving forward and I’m ready to take this leap into installation and presentation.” “Ok! I love your enthusiasm. Most pain...

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“Old Habits” by David Cantwell

Submitted to Contest #233

Well, that was an undertaking! One month of my life without a single taste of my extracurricular past time. I never would have guessed I could have made it, and can’t imagine trying again. Jesus, one whole month, unbelievable! Sitting in my minivan, outside of my office, my second home, I’m pondering my last month. If anyone ever asked, “What was the hardest part?” How would I answer? I don’t know. I pretty much had to tie myself up, not literally, don’t worry I’m not that crazy. But it was longer than I’ve gone in probably twenty years th...

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“When the addiction is over” by Bee ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

Submitted to Contest #233

Ever since I quit smoking, I think about my 7th grade health teacher often. More specifically, I think about the day she said this in class: “Nicotine is still found to cause mental withdrawal symptoms even after 7 months”. I can still recall her matching colored tracksuits, her loud voice that she projected to the class, her ridiculously red face that managed to get redder every time she had a point to illustrate. I could never seem to forget her intimidating demeanor, or her thinly drawn on eyebrows. A child's mind in the eyes o...

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“12 Steps in July” by Josue Silva

Submitted to Contest #233

July 2nd, 2013 My therapist told me this would be a good idea. I’m not entirely convinced. It’s obvious I have to try something though. What I’ve been doing hasn’t been working. The choices available to me are pretty clear. Dr. Martin says writing down my thoughts will help me focus on what I need to do. My parents have been worried about me. I get it. I’m just so angry all the time. What even is the point? You think your life will go one way and then it U-turns into oncoming traffic. Boom. Crash. 10 car pileup. Everything got s...

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“0%” by Ellie Rendel

Submitted to Contest #233

"Hello, hello, is anyone there?" Grace screeched at the top of her lungs. She desperately needed her vice, so when she spotted the Little Hollow, a new "bar" opened a little over a week ago, her heart jumped slightly. It was an ungodly morning hour, far too early for bars in her area to be open. She was initially perplexed, but her need for something over 20% was burning in her heart. Her skin started to crawl at the thought of not being slightly drunk as she crawled into her 9 till 5. Though that was in little over 3 hours...

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“Fairytale” by Emily M. Reiser

Submitted to Contest #233

The frigid wind whipped through Halle’s hair as she wrapped her arms around her chest. She was still three blocks away from her apartment. It was getting late so there were not a lot of places for her to duck in and warm up for a few minutes. A few buildings ahead Halle watched as three girls strolled out onto the sidewalk, hugging each other and giggling so loud it echoed off the concrete. Halle looked above them. FAIRYTALE it read in a loopy font on the sign that hung above the door. As Halle got closer one of the girls with...

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“The Sober Revolutionaries ” by Ashley Anon

Submitted to Contest #233

The first day I waltzed into this new, alcohol-free place on the outside of town (The Lion's Paw), the first thing I noticed on swinging open the stain glassed doors, was the absence of the familiar nostril assault of old, spilt alcohol soaked into the cheap paper, thin carpets and upholstery. I can't begin to think of all that booze I spilt and wasted over the years during outbursts of jovial cheers and toasts, and drunken stumbles, pint in hand, bumping into walls, slot machines, and half-caked patrons like myself. In place of the reek, th...

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“The Dry Pub” by Kate Walsh

Submitted to Contest #233

The cold wind made me want to seek warmth from whatever harbor I could find. I pulled my jacket tighter around me and bowed my head against the wind as I hurried down the walkway. As I glanced up to make sure I was still heading the right way, I saw a wooden sign swinging wildly. I could only make out the word bar in its lettering. The thought of a warm beer and possibly some fries made me pause in my path. It...

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“The World As It Is” by Ryan Carrion

Submitted to Contest #233

Funny, I remember a world where these places sold a variety of food. People complained about inflation, but they never knew where that argument was heading. After that short period of time, everything went downhill. Cars were just about obsolete for us ordinaries; they were hollowed out and stationed in major hubs, or as we used to call them cities. These stationary homes that used to be cars are now used by entire family units at a time to live in and get through the ferocious overly heated nights. Apartments were over the tenant occupancy....

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“Drought” by Zachary Thomas

Submitted to Contest #233

The Earth was visibly barren, its skin cracked and burnt by the unyielding sun. The vast inland river, that brought life and prosperity to the valley, was powdery and crumbling. It’s throat was parched, its banks collapsing without the grass to hold it tight. A rustle and occasional scurried sound betrayed the assumption that the land was dead, but Her womb had certainly run dry. In the distance, a broken figure, bowed not just by the years but also by despair. A memory glints in his eye when viewing the river bank, a memory of yestermonth f...

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“Dry As a Bone” by Marly Bellard

Submitted to Contest #233

The sun beats down on my bare shoulders, causing the sunburn I already have to ache and burn. I pump harder on my bike, wanting nothing but to reach home and hide from the sun and dryness of the area. This year, the summer weather has been ferocious, killing plants and drying up water. We've had to conserve water because it's so scarce nowadays. We haven't had rain in a long time, and all our crops are dying. Some people are dying because of the intense heat and contaminated water that brought sickness and health issues. The rain stopped...

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$250

Prize money

230

Contest entries

78

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 19, 2024 EST

Won by Ariana Tibi 🏆

Title: Vegan Hamburgers

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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