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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#25: Resolutions

Did you know that the ancient Babylonians are reported to have been the first people to make New Year's resolutions? In March, when the crops were planted, a 12-day festival known as Akitu took place. During the festival, the Babylonians made promises to their gods, and believed that if they kept to their word, they would be bestowed good favor in the coming year.

This would have been about 4,000 years ago, and while the format may be different, New Year's resolutions are still going strong!

This week's prompts all revolve around resolutions. Oh, and for that last prompt, check out this blog post for some of the most popular self-help books to inspire you.

This week's prompts

Write a short story about someone writing Valentine's Day wishes.

Valentine's Day – 49 stories

Write a short story about someone reflecting on their previous year's resolutions.

Holiday – 33 stories

Write a short story about someone who refuses to write New Year's resolutions.

Winter – 37 stories

Write a short story about someone accomplishing one of their resolutions.

Holiday – 54 stories

Write a short story about someone in the self-help aisle of a bookstore. What book do they pick up?

Short Story – 90 stories

Stories

“Remembering Down Under” by Kate Strong

Submitted to Contest #25

Sunshine streamed in through the bookstore windows, the late afternoon light falling through the slatted blinds and onto the short gray carpet. Barely a sound could be heard in the small bookstore but the padding of footsteps several aisles towards the back. A tall man with striking gold-blond hair strode back and forth in the row, his gray-green eyes scanning the shelves and roaming across each and every spine of each book. Inhaling a deep breath, Lachlan blinked several times to clear his finally blurring vision and shook his head. &n...

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“New Year’s Restitutions ” by Matt Strempel

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #25

She’s late but Christina remains in the Uber. Salim wishes her a happy New Year while he taps away on the phone for his next job. Christina asks if she can just stay a minute longer to hear the end of the song even though it’s the new Ed Sheeran song she can’t stand. She just needs another minute to compose herself. “I’ll give you five stars and the maximum tip if you let me sit here til this song finishes,” she says. Salim squints in frustration but, perhaps sensing her unease, replies, “No problem.” Christina can see the silhouettes of Jes...

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“Mr. Happy” by Pamela Saunders

Submitted to Contest #25

The counter assistant is busy today. The latest book of a popular author is selling well since it came out just last Monday. Today is Saturday. It's 2pm and he must have checked out at least 5 copies since he got back from his lunch break. He greets each customer cheerily and politely and they go away happy with their purchases or Christmas returns. He is aware of people around the aisles and knows that other assistants are ready to help if needed.2. In the children's section, a girl in a pink velour tracksuit sits in an armchair with her le...

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“Really, Really Hopeless” by Grey Oberst

Submitted to Contest #25

You ever notice how terrible self help books are? Like, look, I get it, sometimes they can help if you’re really, really hopeless, but come on. You’re really going to turn to a five hundred page book by some rich author who succeeded thanks to Daddy’s money and dumb luck? You really want to read what someone like that has to say about living life and being happy? They’re all the same book anyway, so why are there so fucking many of them? They’re all “take risks!” and “have a positive outlook!” and “believe in yourself!” etc, etc. You can get...

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“Thanks George You are my hero” by Shifa Asif

Submitted to Contest #25

My dear Katherine I am sorry for what I have done to you. And I know these will sound like empty and contempt words leaving negativity in your heart more than hope! I wanted to say not in a classic Romeo and Juliet way but there is no other way in Which I could tell I love you. You unlocked the door to my heart and it will never be locked for you again. This speck of life will anon leave me and I shall be a lifeless body who you liked. I have an advice for you leave this town, please there is a long reason for this statement but trust me and...

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“Must. Make. New Year's resolutions.” by Sam Kirk

Submitted to Contest #25

December 31st, New Year’s Eve.Work was one big paradox. While many people were off today, those that were not needed stuff done ASAP. Since my mom always told me to take care of everything before the clock struck midnight on the last day of December, I made sure that my desk was cleared by the end of the day.The streets were quiet but busy at the same time. While some people were at home getting ready for the upcoming party, others were out running around, trying to accomplish last-minute tasks.As I walked home from work, I wondered what I w...

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“A Life Well Spent?” by Bruno Lowagie

Submitted to Contest #25

Peter couldn’t believe his eyes. He had finally found the book he was looking for.For twenty-seven years, he had searched for it in every library and every bookstore. He dedicated the first half of his adult life almost entirely to his quest. It didn’t take long before he was considered being the expert on rare books. Kings and beggars, knights and knaves, scientists and wizards, they all turned to him if they needed to find a book of some sort, whether it was a book that could help them make someone fall in love with them, conquer the world...

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“On the Nature of Revolutions” by Arthur Tiberio

Submitted to Contest #25

Gray clouds obscured the new day. Below a sweeping vista of postcard mountains, the last of the smoke cleared above the new commonwealth of Ans, fading into the nascent breeze. There was a feeling of anticipation.Lord Elisworth, second to his title and first to the House of Assembly, stroked what little was left of his sandy beard. Some of it had burned off. About half had been sheared away by an overly zealous swordsman. But what remained was enough to calm his racing heart, if only for a few minutes."I'm not sure I understand," he said. He...

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“The Unexpected Bounty” by Brittany Gillen

Submitted to Contest #25

Pam stood at the end of the aisle and took a deep breath. Only one book, she told herself. Only one book.“Excuse me,” a voice said from behind her.“Oh, sorry,” she apologized, stepping to the side and pushing her hair behind her ear. “I didn’t mean to create a log jam.” Pam laughed nervously.“No worries,” the girl behind her said. She walked into the aisle and stopped about halfway down, slowly scanning the titles with her finger.Pam couldn’t help but stare. The girl was way t...

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“A Resolution for Resolutions” by Caroline Ryder

Submitted to Contest #25

It’s not my fault. It truly isn’t. New Year’s Resolutions are too difficult to accomplish. In past years I, Angelica Lector, used to kid myself into thinking I could use my gym membership or finally read those books I promised I would read or simply make an effort to be a charitable person… It’s too hard. I know, the resolutions I listed sound easy and maybe depending on the person you are, these things are second nature. However, I am not a good person. I mean, I try my best to be a good friend, daughter, and human being, but I am no saint....

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“Help or Helpless” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #25

Adele Macdonald didn’t “do” self-help. It wasn’t that she had any deep-rooted moral objections to it. Indeed (and sometimes clichés just happen to be true!) one of her best friends was a counsellor. She felt her hackles at least twitch a little, if not rise, when folk started on about stiff upper lips and manning up and snorted when they heard a community, school, or whatever, hit by tragedy, was to be offered counselling. She’d never had cause to consult such persons herself, but that was still aware that there but for t...

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“Confidence Is Key” by Kate Widrow

Submitted to Contest #25

Let's get this straight, I hate this self help crap. Nothing in this God forsaken world can save my cursed soul. This is exactly why I don't understand how I got myself into this situation. I stand face to face with the spines of self-help books. Cutesy self-help section bullshit. But, this is besides the point. This whole situation started about four hours ago. When I wake up, my tired eyes try to focus in my dark apartment. I get up from my daybed. My feet touch the cold wooden floorboards. They creak under my toes. I feel like the w...

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“The Red Rice ” by Mariah Tyndall

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #25

For the last 4 years, I’ve measured my success in designer coats. January of every year, the suppressed monster of unreasonable reinvention rears its head and makes me buy a coat. Last year’s coat was orange, it’s predecessor was pink; lavender, white, leather, fuzzy, double-sided, windbreaker, even sleeveless-- some even bought through the year, different in every way except for one: they were all two sizes too small. I’m an avid believer in corporate America despite its reputation, the reward and punishment system really ...

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“Resolute” by Courtney Myers

Submitted to Contest #25

What better way to start a new year than with a knife in your gut?The blade, a crude meat knife rather than a proper dagger, had stabbed into Yonah’s stomach beneath and to the left of his navel. He intended to catch the accursed thing with his right handーforged from meteorite iron and skeletal in appearanceーbut someone else swung at the eight-year-old girl hiding behind him and clutching at his left arm. At that moment, Yonah’s protective instincts decided both his and her fates; his steel hand grabbed the incoming sword and shattered it wi...

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“The Year” by Kat Gruszka

Submitted to Contest #25

It had been the worst year of her life. She couldn’t even remember when the good ended and the bad started. Everything seemed to just roll into one long period of time. Thankfully, those little white pills just made everything nothing. It made her forget about the cold draft that filled her new apartment. It was new to her since, maybe May. When had she met Jon? It must have been warm outside because she remembered sunshine coming in through the window after the first night she stayed over. Did the sun shine during the winter? When was ...

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$50

Prize money

263

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0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 24, 2020 EST

Won by Emily Sperber 🏆

Title: 10 Things To Do Instead of Writing New Year's Resolutions

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.

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