Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#245: Heavenly Bodies

On Monday, a total solar eclipse will pass directly over North America. Dubbed a "Great American Eclipse", huge areas of the continent will be plunged into darkness for four minutes. Miss it, and you'll have to wait another 20 years to see the next one.

Just like the millions of people who will watch on Monday, we've been looking up at the sky and asking questions about what we see since time immemorial. We've explained the movements of celestial bodies through myth, science, and ritual, and shaped our lives around them. This contest's prompts are inspired by this week's astronomical event, and the way objects trillions of miles away can impact us here on Earth.

This week's prompts

Set your story during a total eclipse — either natural, or man-made.

Fiction – 72 stories

Write a story in which a character navigates using the stars.

Adventure – 24 stories

Imagine an origin myth that somebody might use to explain an eclipse, or some other celestial event.

Fantasy – 48 stories

People have gathered to witness a once-in-a-lifetime natural phenomenon, but what happens next is not what they expected.

Mystery – 42 stories

Set your story in a world where astrology and the movements of celestial bodies deeply impact the lives of inhabitants.

Fantasy – 35 stories

Stories

“Father Sun and Mother Moon” by T.J.E. Hostetter

Submitted to Contest #245

The Sun is our Father, providing the light for our days. The Moon is our Mother, looking out for us in the darkness. The Earth is our caregiver, providing us with the means to go on living. The Sky and Stars, our older brothers and sisters, forever watching out for us, protecting us from the wicked. When the Moon blocks out the Sun, we are reminded of their eternal love. Eons ago, the ancient gods ruled over the cosmos. They shined with colorful light. Any luxury was theirs as time had no effect on them. The universe was their canvas....

Read story

“The Land of Perfect Dark” by Ioan Muntean

Submitted to Contest #245

It stood in front of me... The darkness fell from the sky and spanned to the left and right of me into the horizon. It formed a wall of black ichor, dead yet alive, and impermeable by light. It stood here for generations... Impassable to time and invincible in form. All magic, from flame to light, fazed through it, eaten by it, forgotten in it. It stood expectantly, gnawing at my curiosity and boldness. What if my finger touched the darkness? Would it gobble me up in a hungry whirlpool of shadow? Or would it let me pass into its fold, show m...

Read story

“Soleil and the Eclipse” by Crowley Foster

Submitted to Contest #245

(Warning for very minor mentions of abuse, and being ill. Marking as sensitive content just to be safe, but none of these things are in-depth.)The eclipse does not originate from natural causes.I’d understand your conflict reading that statement. To the average man, a total eclipse is just a product of our solar system, the moon centering itself in front of the sun to block the light of day. What if I told you that this comes from something more unreal, however? That the moon and the sun align in honor of two people in love?My mother told me...

Read story

“The Prophecy's Great Eclipse” by Indigo Simmons

Submitted to Contest #245

Date: Shamash, Ayyāru 1Time: 5;45:30Five Days before the eclipse.I have spent my entire adult life mapping and studying the heavens, determined to find out exactly why the moon covers the sun at such precise coordinates and time. The history of my kingdom was established when our ancestors met The Protector and ever since, the eclipse has been an unexplainable phenomenon.When my mother came face to face with The Protector, before I was born, he informed her that one day a natural wonder would occur to mark the beginning of a hundred-year-old...

Read story

“Eclipse of the Old Gods: Twilight of Humanity” by Magnum Tenebrosum

Submitted to Contest #245

A group of people, including Dr. Elias Hargrave, gathered at a remote ancient site to witness a rare celestial spectacle. Dr. Hargrave, a scholar in the esoteric and astronomical fields, was excited yet fearful about the event. The chosen site throbbed with excitement and anxiety. Locals whispered about its historical significance and power. Elias alone sensed the weight of the occasion, as something ancient would breach the veil tonight. Voices filled the air as the crowd settled - laughter, debate, and speculation blended with different ...

Read story

“The Harmonic Eclipse” by Cesar Puello

Submitted to Contest #245

In a small town nestled between rolling hills and meandering rivers, excitement buzzed in the air like a swarm of bees. People of all ages had gathered in the town square, their eyes fixed on the sky above. It was a day they had been anticipating for months—a total solar eclipse, a rare celestial event that promised to paint the sky in shades of wonder and mystery.Among the crowd was Lily, a curious 10th-grade student with a passion for science and a love for exploring the unknown. She stood with her family, a pair of eclipse glasses perched...

Read story

“God of War” by Thomas Wetzel

Submitted to Contest #245

Mars had gone rogue. At least that’s how all the scientists and the talking heads on TV were framing it. It started just over three years ago when something unexpected and still not fully understood by astronomical experts had happened on Jupiter. Metis was the first to fall and Adrastea was pulled in directly behind it, and since then at least seven more Jovian moons came crashing down into some unknown landscape of certain oblivion.Shortly after this all began professional sky-watchers quickly noted that Saturn’s orbit had gone off co...

Read story

“Last Supper in Atlanta” by Brody Petree

Submitted to Contest #245

I turn the news on my little television box in the kitchen every morning while I brew my coffee, not to pay attention to the world revolving around me, I just need something to break the silence. I am finishing my last few sips when my inner thought is interrupted by the breaking news musical intro and the headline “ Asteroid Aphosis Changes Direction For Atlanta ''. The newscaster gives a brief description of how scientists initially had a 3% chance it would collide with Earth, however just yesterday the ISS captured film of Asphosis ...

Read story

“Kapilco” by Ivan Cervantes

Submitted to Contest #245

"Come one and all! I have the best water pearls for the Kapilco festival!" "Fresh tarvar! Caught and cooked within the hour!" "Get your paper lanterns! Perfect for the Kapilco festival!" The street bustled with vendors and customers of the Kapilco festival. I couldn't be more excited. This year is my twelfth Kapilco festival! In other words, my coming of age festival. Mine! Sure it was a village celebration, but when it is your own time it suddenly becomes special. Even if I have seen it eleven times before I can't help but look around in wo...

Read story

“The Hunt” by Joshua Murray

Submitted to Contest #245

Joachim wove his way through the tangled forest brambles like a jungle cat, following the narrow game trail cut through the undergrowth. Overhead the Green Moon hung full, and lit his path with its lambent glow, casting dull shadows that made it difficult to tell real from illusion in the thick midnight, and reached out in an attempt to snare his hide-wrapped limbs. He had spent his entire life in this forest, and ones like it, learning how to track, to hunt, to walk silently in the fallen leaves. This was his domain, and he moved through ...

Read story

“Sir Fredrick's Discovery of the Damned Village ” by WRL Battle

Submitted to Contest #245

I, Sir Fredrick son of Dal, knight of King John, Ruler of Edinbrough, do hereby solemnly swear by Mary and all the Saints that my testimony is the truth and nothing but the truth. If I should fabricate my account in any way, may the Good Lord Almighty strike the ground on which I stand.In the Year of Our Lord 1354, I, Sir Fredrick son of Dal, was ordered by King John, Ruler of Edinbrough to scout the lands in the West for enemy outposts and to report back by the end of the year. I traveled many months over hills and mountains, fields and mea...

Read story

“All the Fortunes Are Bad” by Jacob Levin

Submitted to Contest #245

In the Night Market, you can find your future. Some nights, when the moon is full, fortune tellers will lay out their black blankets and their star-charts and they will call out to you or singsong the fortunes of babies born in this hour, at this time, on this day. And while the fortunes of infants were always sweet as chai, it seemed to me that my own fortunes got worse the older I became. When I was ten, I went to the Night Market on one of these occasions with my girlfriend, Atia. I call her my girlfriend, but the truth is that she was a ...

Read story

“The Ingdalapet” by Paulo Sayson

Submitted to Contest #245

The monsoon rain had at long last rested at the time when the sun should’ve been at its highest. Liriko searched for the biggest banana leaves he could find. He had the idea of using the underside of the leaves as platform from which he could set up his portable gas stove and get his lunch started. The clouds above were still thick though there were already spots where the blues of the heavens could be seen. Liriko’s face grimaced and his hand went up to his tummy. The grumbling began two hours into the downpour which commenced at 5 AM....

Read story

“The White Cat” by Angie Sherwood

Submitted to Contest #245

The white cat appeared while everyone from the coffee shop was outside, looking heavenwards through cardboard glasses reminiscent of the three-D glasses moviegoers in the ‘50s wore. Everyone was standing on the dark sidewalk except the waitress, who was behind the shop’s counter rummaging through a purse. She continued to rummage under the bar and through order pads and apron pockets until the sunlight returned and the eclipse watchers, chatting amongst themselves, strolled back inside. Merging into the group, the cat slunk through the door ...

Read story

“THE SECOND COMING” by Glenna Agnew

Submitted to Contest #245

THE SECOND COMING The morning was crisp and cool but the sun was shining brightly as Celeste walked down the hill to the creek below. In her hand, she carried a small wooden bucket lined with pitch to make it waterproof. She clambered onto the flat rocks of the riverbed until she finally reached the spot that she was looking for. The rock was flat from countless years of water rushing over it. It jutted out further into the creek than the surrounding rocks which made it the perfect place to fill her bucket. She held the bucket tightly in on...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

221

Contest entries

88

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 12, 2024 EST

Won by Olivier Breuleux 🏆

Title: Everything is Connected

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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢