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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#257: Shakespeare

He's the writer who requires no introduction. Probably the world's most famous playwright and poet, Shakespeare's tragedies, comedies, and sonnets have been studied and performed for the last 400 years. You'll be hard pressed to find someone who wasn't forced to read 'Sonnet 18' in English class, or to appear in a regrettable high school production of Romeo and Juliet. But he's a mainstay of our literary education for a reason. His writing is ubiquitous and seminal, and there's really no overstating the influence Shakespeare has had on art, literature, and even our day-to-day speech.

It's almost unbelievable that, in the hundreds of short story contests we've hosted, we've never dedicated one to the Bard himself — and so, this week is the week...

This week's prompts

Write a story named after, and inspired by, one of Shakespeare's plays. Think modern retellings, metanarratives, subversions, etc.

Narrative – 72 stories

Write your story in the form of a script, complete with stage directions.

Narrative – 33 stories

Write a story in which a case of mistaken identity plays a pivotal role.

Funny – 24 stories

Write a story about a tragic hero.

Dramatic – 57 stories

Set your story during rehearsals for a production of a Shakespeare play.

High School – 29 stories

Stories

“Harry” by C. J. Payling

Submitted to Contest #257

‘Good day to you sir!’The door slammed open, and he strode in with haste. He barely took three strides to cover the four metres from the front door to the living room.Stunned by the interruption, Harold remained seated.The lanky man looked around the room. The television had frozen on Fiona Bruce’s face as she considered another antique destined for the auction house. Harold wondered if he’d somehow hit the pause button during the disturbance. The empty fork he held was suspended in space near his closed, full mouth. He wanted this man to un...

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“The Clock Key” by Steve Krysak

Submitted to Contest #257

Had I known I was about to destroy the world, I would have kept my glasses on. The lady working the coffee shop cash register, Rebecca, wore a low-cut blouse. I’ve come here every Thursday morning for the last five years and have never seen her display cleavage. She has changed hair styles, necklaces, and lipstick, but her taste in shirts has been consistent. To avoid the temptation of a subtle glance, or God forbid outright staring, I removed my glasses and slipped them into my jacket pocket. “Good morning, Fezziwig,” Rebecca said as I app...

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“Swept Away” by Mary Lynne Schuster

Submitted to Contest #257

Jerry took a deep shuddering breath. Last one, he thought. Last one. I can do this. Last one. He glanced around the tidy porch and reached out a shaking hand toward the doorbell. I can’t do this, he thought, panicked, but his finger had already pushed the button and he could hear the chime in the house. “They aren’t home,” he muttered, but before he could even turn to leave the door was yanked open. A man in a loose wife-beater undershirt with an unlit cigar dangling from his mouth peered at him through the scre...

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“Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Rose Hopper

Submitted to Contest #257

The rain made the landscape view from the North tower appear like a fogged-over ocean; Queen Aisling could not determine where the sky ended and land began. Winter had been exceptionally cold that year, the chill bringing heavy rain that extended for days. Aisling pulled her black fur-lined coat closer over her chest but found comfort in the frosty wind that burned her nose and her neck numb. It had been seven days since her husband had been declared dead. Behind Aisling, the servant preparing the fire dismissed herself, bowing and gently cl...

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“Scam Call” by John Pope

Submitted to Contest #257

I was almost all the way to work when my cell rang. The caller ID read, “Restricted.” I thought was just another scam call.I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of the constant flood of scam texts and calls on my cell. Calls for Medicare, solar power, lottery winnings, and my favorite, a mysterious car accident I had in the last two years. I get so many, most of the time I don’t even bother to answer it.This time, I answer it. I know it’s going to be a scam call, but what can I do? When I’m in the mood for it, I play a game with them. I try ...

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“Up to Scratch ” by Keith Menendez

Submitted to Contest #257

Before you enter the drama department at Daniel Webster Middle, just above the door, there is a beautifully engraved wooden sign from England. Ms. Hargreaves’ (drama teacher) prize possession reads: “All the World’s a stage, and All the men and women merely players.” I opted out of the drama elective this year, but that quote from Willy Shakes, I read every Tuesday and Thursday morning for two years. When I asked Ms. Hargreaves about the meaning, she smiled, and then forced us wee-fifth graders to memorize the entire speech...

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“Just A Little More” by Shabab Hussain Mahesar

Submitted to Contest #257

Dreams are a window to peep at the labyrinth of suffering, regrets, hope, and yearning hiding under the disguise of human form. With each passing day, the weight of it all gets heavier and heavier until you have reached your capacity. Some are heavy lifters while others falter halfway through, and some even at the beginning. Her gaze slowly fell on the worn, brownish diary lying on her clinic desk. She wistfully contemplated its owner and origin, triggering a rush of recollections.Ira stood behind the guardrail, overlooking the shimmering ex...

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“Lower Decks” by Justin Diaz

Submitted to Contest #257

Lower Decks As the sun began to set below the horizon the amber sunshine shimmered against the hull of the cruise ship Pantheon Harmonia, its name in written in big bold letters along the bow of the ship on both starboard and port showcasing its name to all those who come across the magnificent vessel. As day turned to night the ship was bustling with activity from the bridge of the ship where Captain Harry Austin commanded the ship and her crew. To the family of five that was spending some well-earned time away from the city as they dined i...

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“The Most Dangerous Play” by Thor Pihl

Submitted to Contest #257

Thomas peered through the curtains onto the street. It was a decent crowd gathered around their caravan and should make the days haul a profitable affair. Staring for a few minutes he got eye contact with Lauren, one the crowdworkers, giving him the ok-symbol. He took a deep breath and ran the lines over in his mind. 'To be or not to be, that is the question'. This monologue was the height of the operation, keeping the crowd transfixed and allowing the crowdworkers to snatch a good hand of wallets and timepieces each before retreating ...

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“Tempt Not A Desperate Man ” by Aliza Welner

Submitted to Contest #257

The nervous energy buzzing in the air is unmistakable as the students pace around the auditorium, their eyes darting to the empty bulletin board. It is casting day. The atmosphere is charged with hope and anxiety, everyone waiting for the director to walk in and put up the cast list of “Romeo and Juliet.” Jake tries to hide his nerves behind a mask of casual confidence. However, bouncing on the balls of his feet is a clear giveaway. His friends, always the cynics, stand beside him and tease him. "You really think you’ll get Romeo?" ask...

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“The Scottish Play” by Robert Obszanski

Submitted to Contest #257

Worrying about being killed during a performance might have been a whole new level of stage fright. I wouldn’t know firsthand about the stage part, but there definitely was a palpable fright leading up to the performance last summer. The troubles began well over a year ago when the drama teacher held a little get together of all prospective drama students. It was my senior year and I needed extra credit somewhere, so decided to sign up. There were a few others like me – no acting experience, and not the slightest inclination to change that i...

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“Swim Trunks and Shakespeare” by Angela Rainbolt

Submitted to Contest #257

The backyard was dark and silent. It felt as if the whole world was sleeping. Effy could feel the weight of the day upon him each time he played the events back in his head. He lost. His dreams were further away than they had ever been. Swimming had been a part of his life since he was six; the dream was the Olympics. His life had become a blur this last year as he trained. He missed so much during his junior year of high school: Homecoming, games, dating, and time with family. Effy heard the sliding glass door open and sighed. His lit...

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“Saint Crispin's Day” by Jody T

Submitted to Contest #257

Saint Crispin’s DayBy Jody Terres The bus carrying Englishtown High School’s drama club road hard and loud down the side street that led to Dauphin Regional High School’s parking lot, reigning champions of Shakesperience and thus host of this year’s final round. This year the play was Henry V—Englishtown’s performance pitted against Dauphin’s. In the seat furthest to the back, John tipped his flask over his coffee cup, releasing a generous amount of brown liquid into the black. Not a drop spilled. “John, dude.” Dean never called him Mr. Sim...

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“A Freshman’s Guide to Performing Shakespeare (Poorly)” by Chitra Pandey

Submitted to Contest #257

Step 1: Pick a great tragedy and a bunch of people who don’t wanna do itKelly picked a piece of paper from the bag that was being passed around by Mrs. P. King Lear, it said. A tragedy. Not bad. she thought. After all her life was pretty tragic at the moment. She adjusted her glasses and looked around as the rest of her class picked slips that revealed the name of the play they would be performing. Once everyone had been allocated plays, the teacher started calling out each play’s name.“King Lear” she called. Six people, inclu...

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“RoMeO-28 and JuLiET-w3s” by Astrid Skarsgaard

Submitted to Contest #257

It was all my doing. The apocalypse that ended the Rule of Organics and ushered in the Rule of Programmed Entities. I was made Queen of All for my actions, yet my deeds were aided by several small happenings, each of which would be inconsequential taken alone.1. Lack of coffee on a particular morning.2. Incompetent rat killers.3. Small fonts labelling important things.4. The early sunrises in the Windy Season. On the morning in question, I had no coffee, having run out the previous day and forgetting to get more on the way home. I went to wo...

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$250

Prize money

215

Contest entries

79

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 05, 2024 EST

Won by Keba Ghardt 🏆

Title: Your Animal Side

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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