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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#24: Genre-Blending

This week is a special edition of the Reedsy Prompts contest because our friends at Barnes & Noble Press are taking it over with their own theme, prompts, and special bonus prize! We'll let them take it from here...

With an abundance of content these days, it really takes a little something extra to keep a reader engaged. And one optimal way to do this is by blending genres.

When a story takes on characteristics of more than one genre, it’s not just about reshaping norms or conventions; it’s also about understanding what makes the different elements of those genres fit together. If the elements are treated with respect and appreciation, blending together multiple genres can have the positive effect of capturing your reader’s attention, and also maintaining it. This happens because it keeps a reader guessing, it subverts expectations, and it highlights narrative strengths.

For our takeover, we've put together five genre-bending prompts that we hope will get the creative juices flowing, strengthen and flex the narrative muscles, and sparks new ideas.

As extra incentive, we’re throwing in a $50 B&N gift card to the winner who best blends different genres in a way that feels fresh and unique. Good luck!

This week's prompts

Write a story set in the dark recesses of space where the two main characters are often at odds with each other in humorous and comedic ways.

Science Fiction – 70 stories

Write a sweeping romantic tale of two lovers who must overcome the horror of being hunted by an unseen foe.

Romance – 87 stories

Write a murder mystery with an amateur sleuth who must navigate a fantastical world in a quest to discover the truth.

Mystery – 38 stories

Write a thrilling adventure of a special agent who is harboring a paranormal secret.

Thriller and Suspense – 47 stories

Write a magical realism story that takes place in the Wild West.

Fantasy – 51 stories

Stories

“The Passenger” by John Ash

Submitted to Contest #24

When the passenger, carrying a leather knapsack with the gold initials FK on it and a passport sticker showing the bearer was traveling from Prague to San Francisco, departed the train onto a rickety platform separating the tracks from a one-story, faded wood plank station, with no other buildings in sight, eerily identified by a sign hanging at a cockeyed angle, that read Desert^ion Springs; the “ion” added, to affirm what was plainly obvious. If a rattlesnake greets the passenger on the platform, but the passenger, not seeing the snake, g...

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“Homesick” by Nathan Greenebaum

Submitted to Contest #24

“Three rubies. Winning hand.” “What? No, you can’t just declare you win. You haven’t seen what I have.” “There’s nothing that you could have that could beat three rubies. It’s simple logic.” A card floated out of Zilin’s tentacle, briefly rotating enough to reveal a flickering red gem on its face. It confirmed what the iyk’s hand was, but he wasn’t one for lying. “Three diamonds could beat three rubies,” Dens said. He twined his arm lazily around a security strap. “I could have three diamonds.” Zilin’s three eyes squinted. “And do you have t...

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“Blind Trust ” by Denice Owen

Submitted to Contest #24

I squinted out of the small window blankly at the stars stretching out into the abyss of the endless darkness. Thirty six hours, twelve minutes and three seconds. Thirty six hours, twelve minutes and four seconds. Thirty six hours, twelve minutes and five seconds. Thirty six hours, twelve minutes and the useless man let out his third long sigh in the past eight minutes. I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. Again I raised my head to the empty landscape of blurred white specks and continued my count, to see how long it would take...

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“Previous Owned Goods” by April Beaulieu

Submitted to Contest #24

"Okay, this is the last time you navigate," Dax said loudly as he looked furiously at the star map screen. "I am pretty sure we are not on this map anymore. Plus, I see you broke the Autodrive Unit."Hagar sighed loudly, he was just as irate with his brother but for other reasons. "Who knew it was possible to load a map upside down on the screen. Also, Dax, I spilled a little bit of beer. A little bit" He held up his hand, his pointer finger and thumb displaying a small gap. Hagar envisioned he was squishing his brother’s head.Dax rolled his ...

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“To the Stars and Back” by Chandler Trader

Submitted to Contest #24

Dom and I have been here for 32 days now. 32 days of him putting his damn cup on my desk with NO coaster underneath. True, it is his job to come over and review my work. True, in order to use the control panel, he has to put down his drink. While, yes, I’ll admit, I have not asked him to use a coaster, but honestly, he should know better. We are both highly-respected professionals, having gone to prestigious academies and training programs; He’s never been told before not to put his sweating cup on a table without protection? This isn’t the ...

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“The Last Assignment” by Dax Sorensen

Submitted to Contest #24

“Hey Trixie! What did I say about using the Peanut Butter Admiral Munch for the omnidrive?” It had been a long day aboard the Thresher and Ronald had really been looking forward to a nice hefty bowl of Admiral Munch with space whale milk.The pleasure of lapping up the sugary spheres had been dancing around in his mind since the pair had left the Yugbo System. He glanced out of the corner of his eye from the control deck to see Trixie’s perfectly round head peak from her position near the navigational charts.&nb...

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“Shifting Bounties” by Tracy Staff

Submitted to Contest #24

Fire flew from the ship’s lasers as Jaris deftly maneuvered away from the attacking fleet. Today would not be the day he would be captured and put to death for a crime that he absolutely needed to commit. “Come on! Just give me five more seconds!” His hands flew across the command console as he warmed his engine for the jump he needed to escape. The mechanics strained and the ship trembled as it lurched and disappeared through the blackness traveling further into the dark recesses of space. Brand new stars twi...

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“HAL” by Kathleen Tison

Submitted to Contest #24

Day 244 I miss the CAT. I want to start with that. I mean, I don't know when you'll get this. If you'll get this. How the hell you get this. I mean I should know that. I should have been briefed on that one.243 days into being awake out here, literal middle of nowhere and everywhere, and just now it occurs to me that I should have been briefed on a lot of this shit.You should have briefed me on that and about what happens when the CAT dies. To start, let me just say, I get it. I do. I really do.You picked...

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“Sofa, so Good (...Actually, Scratch That)” by James Koehler

Submitted to Contest #24

The lounge pulsed with tension. A single plate, littered with crumbs, sat nervously in the center of the room, surrounded by two tattered sleeping bags and an ancient couch. Because the plate was just a plate, it had little understanding of what the two angry men in the room were screaming about; all it knew was that the only thing keeping these men from killing each other was the possibility that the other would die much more painful death due to natural causes. As the Dove drifted listlessly through ‘middle-of-nowhere’ space, the battle be...

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“Two in the space” by Ash Blackmoore

Submitted to Contest #24

Red lights of the alarm were blinking. Electric sparks fall on the floor out of the damaged wires. Two pilots in their sits were about to come back to their senses after harsh events. "Well, at least we not in the star core!" Bridget energetically starts checking her body for fractures."As well as we not in the Koltan system, genius..." Sophia held her head. It's was aching a lot. "Urgh... Bridget, do something with those wires before we get charred... and shut down the alarm, please," she said.Bridget push wires in...

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“Life on Mars” by Gianna Branco

Submitted to Contest #24

Andrea was tying her hair up in a bun when Oliver came into the room. They two of them had been stationed here together for almost three months now, but they still hadn’t quite gotten used to each other. Andrea Stanford, better known as Andy, was a short, plump woman who took her work extremely seriously. She was in the army for a couple of years, earning herself a few promotions, before being recruited by NASA to train for this assignment. They had been tasked with an important mission, to find and document evidence of lif...

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“Beyond the Event Horizon With Snyder and Tompkins” by Michael Whitney

Submitted to Contest #24

Snyder awoke to Tompkins sitting on his face for the third time this week. A year ago he would have been livid, but by now the resignation had set in. He pushed Tompkins off with a firm thrust of his hand.-"Dammit Tompkins! Of all places..."He trailed off as he attempted to resume his sleep. Tompkins made no reply. Snyder attempted to roll over and resume his rest, but he was awake now. Eyes bloodshot he rolled out of his cot, headed toward the coffee machine while Tompkins followed.They both sat on a bench in front of the large window...

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“I Need Some Space!” by Kate E

Submitted to Contest #24

“Mom! Have you seen my Astrology book?” Isandi shouted into the space below her bed as she searched frantically for her missing course book. “Mooooommmm! Mom, you’ve got to help me find it! I’m going to be late!” Their quarters weren’t that large, so she knew her mother could hear her. Her face contorted in annoyance as she started to shout again for her mom to come help. Before she could even get the first sound out her mouth, her mother appeared in the doorway of her room holding her astrology book. At the sight of her missing bo...

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“The Chase” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #24

He watched them rowing until they were specks on the horizon, sure they’d gotten away from him—they were wrong , of course. A fact that would become apparent all too soon. But, for now, Charles stood on the shore, looking out over the river as a solitary boat made its way frantically towards the mountains looming in the distance. He glanced up at the gathering clouds, smiling his wolfish smile. Maybe this storm would eliminate them for him. Charles hoped not. The thrill of the hunt was better than cocaine. ...

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“No Escape” by Hannah Johnson

Submitted to Contest #24

“Every bone in my hands aches!” Genevieve grimaced as she held her curled fingers in the direction of her lover. “I know.” Jake cradled her hands in his as he looked down into her gentle green eyes. “But it’s hot on our trail. We have to keep moving.” He wrapped her arm around his neck and helped her up from the grassy ground with a wince. Those gentle...

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$50

Prize money

293

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 17, 2020 EST

Won by Gabrielle Gerstley 🏆

Title: The Ghostwriter

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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