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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

“London and Lenore” by Jay Stempin

Submitted to Contest #24

Write a murder mystery with an amateur sleuth who must navigate a fantastical world in a quest to discover the truth. Snip, snap, zip. Just like that: dead. He believed, as a hired contractual specialist, in sealing his kills in a bag, helped keep loose body parts from falling off as he hauled them away, no sense in littering, too; he was all for a green planet. Also ran a recycling shop: selling used body parts: heads, hands, elbows, ears, the whole shebang. More on that some other time. He dragged the body under a willow tree, a little b...

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“Dungeons and Detectives” by Eve Chrysalo

Submitted to Contest #24

Myrilius raised his Staff of Fire towards the Ancient White Dragon and started muttering his incantations. Once finished, his eyes glowed as he brought his Staff down into the ground. He smiled as the flames rippled outwards from him like an apocalyptic tsunami. The ice dragon screeched as it fell from the skies, Myrilius’ party staring in awe as- “Oh, shoot! My phone’s ringing. I’ll be right back.” I left as my friends shouted out complaints. I went into the bathroom and answe...

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“Death in Colour” by Melissa Massey

Submitted to Contest #24

Amelia felt equal parts repelled and entranced by the sight of her first dead body. Even in the dim wooded light of dawn, the purple bruises bloomed on the dead man’s pale skin like crimson roses climbing a white-washed wall. The limbs of the corpse were bent to awkward angles, the skin torn and taut over broken bones. Amelia winced, but stepped forward an inch, dry twigs cracking underfoot, and crouched. She raised her lamplight and looked through the lens, as she’d been recently taught, and pointed her camera at the deceased’s ...

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“The World of Paranormal. ” by Emma Knight

Submitted to Contest #24

I get home from my job annoyed. I have to find a missing kid who knows I have two ghosts in my house. If my job finds out, I’ll be fired. And since I actually like my job getting rid of ghosts, I don’t want that to happen. I get home and Christine, one of the ghosts, says, “Hi, honey. How was your day at work?”She notices the gloomy look on my face and continues, “Did they find out about me?” “No, but I have to find a kid who knows about you. If I find him and he tells, I’m fired and you’re going away.” “Please, make sure that doesn’t ...

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“The Reader” by Taylor P

Submitted to Contest #24

She had done it again. She truly had planned to avoid this; taken steps to ensure that this wouldn’t happen. That morning, when her grandpa’s ancient alarm clock had begun its shrill cry, vibrating the worn wooden nightstand upon which it sat, she had reached out and firmly quieted its bells. She had lain beneath her duvet, breathing quietly with focused deliberation. Her legs had itched. Outside her bedroom window, the sparrow that lived in the beech tree had chirped obliviously, singing the same morning song that usually found her halfway ...

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“Number Seven” by Silver Sadofski

Submitted to Contest #24

Patricia Welmore, Agent 509 of the Seventh Lot-a private company much like the FBI however more open to the public- sat at her desk slaving away on her computer as she looked through all the files sent to her by her Supervisor Alexander Altor. All of them read of boring cases speaking of bursts seemingly of dull energy throughout the desolate country. Supposedly the agency believed that it was perhaps shock waves from the Ukraine as an attack of potential war.Welmore sighed softly as she stood up after hours of having to sit. She walked, get...

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“Amos In The Wind” by Betty Koch

Submitted to Contest #24

AMOS IN THE WIND Andrea was considered unique. Not many were able to move up to the rank of special agent before they were 30 years old. In addition to graduating in the top 5% of her class as a police constable, she chose to take additional classes to specialize in investigation techniques. The constable program was heavy enough for the average student. Many of her fellow “students” in the evening investigation courses, that were already seasoned officers wishing to upgrade their skill set, were impressed that she would...

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“Gila Bend” by Will Zeilinger

Submitted to Contest #24

The clock on the dash read two a.m. and Christmas music had been the only thing on the radio since Denton Kline left his sister’s place in Gila Bend. He reached over and shut it off, hoping to get a grip on his thoughts and maybe… just maybe the voices in his head would shut up. Why the hell did he even think of surprising his older sister by driving all the way to Arizona dressed as Santa? He shook his head and pounded on the steering wheel. Ardell left home when Denton was fourteen. She moved to a commune way the hell out in Gi...

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“Help From Beyond” by Lee Allton

Submitted to Contest #24

As the alarm sounded off at 4:30 AM, Special Agent Clare Higgins lazily reached for the alarm clock to stop its incessant chirping. It was a rainy Monday morning and she had not been able to sleep very well the night before. It seemed like she had just gone to bed when the alarm clock started its obnoxious aria. After hitting the snooze button, a couple times, Clare decided to get up and start her day. As she showered, she could not ...

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“Gingerbread” by Isabel B

Submitted to Contest #24

"How big was the spacecraft?" Agent Holloway asked the jittery young man sitting before him. He and agent Meadows were at the man's house--his parents home. The man wasn't quite so young, though, maybe early thirties. He just appeared younger than them. Perhaps because he was unemployed and still lived with his parents. Agent Holloway’s eyes skittered around the room. The man owned the latest gaming equipment and accessories. Hell, every game known to the human race was strewed on the dingy living room carpet."I don't know, man! It was big!”...

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“She” by Priy Singha

Submitted to Contest #24

Another pick-up tonight in a bar. How original. Just once I’d like the Boss to send me some place unique. Like the frozen foods aisle at the supermarket, or the drama/theater section of a bookstore. Instead I’m always in places where it’s too dark to see what the person you’re flirting with looks like. It’s where the men that we pick up do their most despicable work. I think they like going back to their roots. Before they were powerful and it was more of a challenge felt like more of a game. The organization got a tip on his location and on...

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“A Rift in Reality” by Stephen Isham

Submitted to Contest #24

The constant glare of the florescent lights revealed a department that never slept. At nearly eight thirty, the morning shift was slowly arriving; only a few people remained from the previous evening. Special Agent Sarah Diekman sat at her desk and rubbed her eyes. After a fourteen-hour night shift consisting of paperwork, a pointless stakeout, several useless interrogations, followed by more paperwork, she wanted nothing more than to go home and climb in to bed and sleep. She pushed back her chair and stood as though energy and moment...

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“One of These Days” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #24

Charlie sat on the annoyingly uncomfortable fancy sofa, failing to loosen his tie. “Carter, do you know why my mother drags me around to all of these gatherings?” He leaned his head back onto the couch and turned to look at Carter, his hired bodyguard, who was standing against the wall of the right side of the couch, keeping Charlie and the nearest door in his line of view the way he always did. “Still following the rules, huh? Y’know, I’m sure you’re a lovely, hilarious, person underneath all that brooding.” He paused, but Carter just blink...

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“Ghost in West Berlin” by Phillip Whitney

Submitted to Contest #24

West Berlin, 1982 The roulette wheel spun with a dizzying rapidity as the ball clicked and clacked between the blurred numbers of red and black. As wheel slowed, it was clear to see that the ball had landed on 56 black. It was a solid win for, Louis Weber, the portly man in the tux on the other end of the table, with his blonde left arm, Mila, and his brunette right arm, Sophia. He gave a low and drunken laugh that the two ladies followed with bubbly giggles. Louis’ gut c...

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“Under His Iron Boot” by Olivia Gilbert

Submitted to Contest #24

On a dry and hot day, one where dust clouded the streets and folks remained inside, two men stepped through a rusty gate. Miguel and Paulo, two immigrants seeking prosperity, looked upon the sign that read “The Town of Sand Springs.” “The name suits it, eh?” said Paulo to his partner. “Sure does…” he replied with a nod. They headed through the quiet town, more resembling a ghost town. Crickets chirped, and whinnies sounded from horses in their stables, but otherwise their footsteps were the only sound that could be heard. As the they trod o...

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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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