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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#240: In the Wind

Wind is something of a contradiction. Powerful yet invisible, it’s nothing but air, but can influence the shape of landscapes, sway trees, and carry whispers across vast distances. This force of nature can be a calming breeze or a raging storm, offering comfort or unleashing destruction.

It’s always around us, whether you’re laying on a warm beach with a relaxing breeze cooling you down, or in awe as a storm passes by while carelessly throwing debris. With that in mind, this week we delve into the wonders of wind and bring attention to its influence within our stories.

This week's prompts

Begin your story with the sensation of a breeze brushing against a character's skin.

Narrative – 139 stories

A crumpled piece of paper holding an unexpected message is carried by the wind. Where did it come from, and where is it going?

Mystery – 63 stories

Set your story on a sailboat, large or small, and entirely at the mercy of the winds.

Adventure – 32 stories

Craft a story where a character finds themselves swept away by the wind, either physically or metaphorically.

Angst – 60 stories

Set your story in a lighthouse surrounded by powerful gale-force winds.

Dramatic – 37 stories

Stories

“Tower of Strength” by Kathy Walsh

Submitted to Contest #240

The day began with the sun peeking out over the horizon of the sparkling bay waters. A soft breeze floated gently over the waters, as the tide began to come in. Billowy clouds were scattered through out the morning sky, moving westerly and changing shapes as they were caught in the higher winds.The young girl scouts ran across the island to try to be the first one to enter the doors of the sleepover destination. Excitement and enthusiasm surrounded them as they carried their overnight backpacks across the rocky and shell filled grounds. Sitt...

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“Eline's Story - Swept by the Wind” by Brenda Clur

Submitted to Contest #240

Submitted into Contest #240. THE WIND Begin your story with the sensation of a breeze bushing against a character’s skin.Eline’s Story – Swept by the Wind.Eline felt the sensation of a breeze brushing against her skin as she opened the back door to let Snoopy out into the garden. Then, just as she bent down to pick up Snoopy, there was an unexpected crash of thunder. The force of a strong gust of wind swept open the gate, and a terrified Snoopy ran out into the street."Snoopy come back!” Eline shouted in vain, as Snoopy disappeared from...

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“In the Wind” by David Townsend

Submitted to Contest #240

IN THE WIND The warm northerly breeze drifts across my skin rippling the hair of my body. I wriggle my toes in the dry soft sand and feel alive—a man on a lonely beech in comfortable sunlight. I lift my arms and twitch my shoulders in the magic air. The beech is lonely but I am not. My twin sons play wrestle in the sand, exploring the texture of the sand as much as the strength of their arms. They have exhausted themselves rolling down a sand dune and consume their remaining time at my feet. They ar...

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“Memories in the wind” by Judith Green

Submitted to Contest #240

The cool night breeze gently brushes against my face as I stand outside on my back patio, marveling at the stars that appear to be shining more brightly while the moon hides behind the clouds. The breeze delicately caresses my cheek, creating a tingling sensation on my skin. That small gust of wind seems to awaken old memories of the nights I used to spend with friends. I close my eyes and allow the memories to envelop me. I can feel the warmth of the firepit against my skin, hear the crackling sound of the logs breaking free into the air, a...

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“My Next Chapter” by Jessie Garza

Submitted to Contest #240

A light breeze kissed my skin bringing me back to the real world. The rustle of trees nearby light music to my ears while the tweeting of birds completes the chorus of nature around me. I slowly lift my eyelids to take in the view of my sun-covered backyard from where I lay on my hammock under one of the trees. I wasn’t quite ready to come back to reality but Mother Nature was ready for me to wake up. I go out to my hammock to calm my mind when I need it most. Today has been a rough day for me mentally and it’s barely 11 am. ...

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“Just the way the baseball crumbles!” by B. D.415

Submitted to Contest #240

It had only a been a few hours when my husband and two small children left for the weekend to visit his family up west to Middleboro, Maine. This will be the first time in nearly a year since I was left to my own devices. I could not wait to get outside and get my hands into some dirt. We had only been in our new home in Provincetown for less than three months so I was ready to explore my surroundings and make this old Cape house our own. It really was a steal having getting it at auction. Apparently, the home suffe...

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“Winds of Change” by K. Audrey Leto

Submitted to Contest #240

winds of change: winds/əv/CHānj/plural noun.forces that have the power to change things, used generally to mean change is going to happen.*** She sat on the edge of the cliff overlooking the water as it crashed against the rocky shoreline. She had been here before, both metaphorically and physically. All of the other times that led her here- not necessarily at this exact location, but in this frame of mind- she didn’t follow through. There were different reasons each time, such as the first time she had been really hungry and her stomac...

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“SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER” by Debbie Curtin

Submitted to Contest #240

"Hey, Anne. H-e-l-l-o, H-e-l-l-o!" Holly yodeled down from the attic with her famous sing-song voice everyone knew from every corner of the library. Walking over to the open door, Anne's face peeked up to witness the black space above and said, "Uh, Holly? Why are you upstairs in the dark. We do have a light switch you know.""I'm just trying to see the light, Ha, ha. If you know what I mean." Holly was always one for making a dull and quiet, rainy day somewhat better. We all thought, more than once, that she should try out for the upcoming m...

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“Bagong Taon (New Year)” by Zephýr B

Submitted to Contest #240

December 27th, 1:09 PMWind PaperThe spirit of the windguides a piece ofpaper softly to awindow sill,where I am sitting.I feel the smoothlines in the paper,as though it hadbeen crumpledup several times,and then finallyreopened.On the paper wasa story, not with words,or sound, or atelevision screen,but a story of pictures.The first picture is of araven, soaringthrough the sky.It has a slick, blackbeak, and featheredwings. It lands on apapaya tree andsteals one of theseeds. The seedsare black andslippery, likea snake eye.In its beak,it takes it...

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“Sea-Spray” by Stephanie STEVENS

Submitted to Contest #240

Sea-Spray With a diesel engine back up, the three-sail fishing smack, ‘Sea Spray,’ yawed and rolled in the violent storm winds, throwing Nick from the wheel to the deck. Nick got up and tied a rope around his waist, fixing the other end to a nearby capstan. As he struggled to stand, he heard an ominous crack and, looking up, saw the topsail mast snap. It fell on his radio antenna, which buckled like a dehydrated flower. Then the boat viciously rolled, and much of his precious cargo of...

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“Dancing in the Clouds (Part 2)” by Aeryn Goodspeed

Submitted to Contest #240

The crowd jostled Tsiella like its own localized hurricane, and she wasn’t yet sure how she felt about that. It seemed like the whole of Tsaurre had turned out for this one show, though logically she knew that if that were the case no one would be able to move. She pushed through the crowd, then rolled her eyes as that got her nowhere. Well, nothing else for it. She turned her gaze upward, willing the wind to carry her upward. She heard a couple of gasps–were ñæchiæ really so unheard of in Tsaurre?–and continued to sail into the sky, eventua...

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“The Way of the Wind” by Marquita Reed

Submitted to Contest #240

Note: This story contains themes of death by disease and may be deemed sensitive in its nature and/or expressions. Water rushes forcefully into a white porcelain bathtub filling to the brim with essential oils and rose petals floating around. The scent of relaxation fills the small bathroom in an even smaller apartment on the west side of a big city. A thick, feminine hand opens the bathroom’s window and places a binder between the window and its pane to hold it open. A train screeches past, rattling the entire room and...

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“The Winds of Change” by Stephanie Canaway

Submitted to Contest #240

The deliciousness of life, a baby’s first breath drawn deeply into their lungs and an outward cry as they instinctively connect and draw in their next to announce their arrival into this world to all who have the grace and presence to be there. That once was us. Unique in every aspect, yet all connected. The element of air and the gift of life. Sustenance for the body as it’s drawn inwards, circulating throughout the inner landscape and expressing outwards into the world of creation. So Hum. Breath, thoughts, and beliefs, li...

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“Playground Lessons” by Allison Winstead

Submitted to Contest #240

Maria pushed her daughter on the playground swing, though her assistance was hardly needed anymore. Lara, she knew, simply wanted the attention, the interaction, and to be able to bend her mother's ear as she pumped her legs and rose higher and higher, feet pointed toward a blue sky filled with puffy white clouds. "Look, Mama! I am going so high!" The refrain was repeated several times as the morning slipped away, minute by precious minute. They had the place to themselves, with most children already back in school. It was one of the reasons...

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“Chasing The Wind” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #240

Sitting in the rear of a vehicle that looks remarkably like a tank is where I find myself. I thought I had dodged all the hail until a sudden, excruciating ache in my arm told me otherwise. My terrified inner child gazes across the open field and sees the massive Supercell looming. Despite the agony and the risk, I hold my fear in check as I press on my wound. My cohorts are silent, waiting for a response. I meet the inquisitive gazes of my companions. They are wondering whether I will give up or persevere. Weeks before the storm, my husband...

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$250

Prize money

331

Contest entries

134

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 08, 2024 EST

Won by Jonathan Page 🏆

Title: Lost and Found

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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