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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

“Dawn Treader of the Mystical Coast ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #257

Part I. The Dawn Treader Arrives at the Lighthouse in 1898Years later, on the other side of the world, Elsie stood on the deck of the ship, watching dawn rise over the waves. She pictured the woman traveler named Aurora, the dawn treader and time walker, who was surrounded by tiny winking lights. Elsie was twelve years old then, growing up at the remote lighthouse station, with her older brothers. It was 1898 on the Mystical Coast, during midsummer's eve solstice celebrations.The pleasant, mild weather, when spring meets summer, caressed th...

17 comments 17
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“ROMEO AND JULIA: A MODERN RETELLING” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #257

Romeo Montague was not your typical star-crossed lover. In fact, he was a nerd. A bona fide, Star Wars-quoting, Dungeons & Dragons-playing, comic book-collecting nerd. With his glasses perched precariously on his nose and a pocket protector filled, Romeo's greatest adventures usually involved battling trolls online rather than courting ladies. So, his life took an unexpected turn when he, a self-proclaimed nerd, fell head over heels for Julia Capulet, the smartest and coolest girl in school. Their love story began in the most modern of...

25 comments 25
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“The Capulets versus the Montagues, in year 2525” by Lena Solomon

Submitted to Contest #257

No setting or language is more effective than Shakespeare’s in putting across the most beautiful and memorable love story ever written. However, times change and the fragment below transports this story into modern times and modern language, a futuristic approach. I am not sure how effective any other language can be, compared with that of Shakespeare’s, but this is the 21 century and computers rule today, and robots will rule tomorrow and communication will remain electronic. It is sad to think that all the beauty that came with centur...

10 comments 10
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“Top of the Class” by Karen Hope

Submitted to Contest #257

Marcia looks at her watch for the 10th time that morning. The carpool will be here soon, and Josh wasn’t anywhere near ready for school. So typical. That boy lives in his own world. Janie, her pride and joy, Sat eating her fruit and yogurt at the kitchen table as she reviewed the notes for her history exam.“You ready for your test?” Marcia doesn’t even need to ask. Janie is always prepared, and consistently earns straight A’s .“I think so,” she sighs. “This class has been really hard.”She walks over and squeezes her daughter’s shoulder. Jani...

18 comments 18
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“Survivors of Shakespearean Suicide” by Emily Nghiem

Submitted to Contest #257

Through the door, STAGE RIGHT, DOCTOR BACON, a university professor in his late sixties, enters his small office clinic, with a globe and lamp next to a bust of Shakespeare and stack of books on the desk, UPSTAGE CENTER. DOCTOR BACON picks up his clipboard and pen from the desk, but notices his executive chair is missing. He turns to count three PATIENTS, seated CENTER STAGE, including the culprit who has commandeered his swivel chair.LORD HAMLET, a clean-shaven man in his late thirties or early forties, seated STAGE RIGHT, is tied fast in a...

10 comments 10
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“Juliet and Romeo” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #257

She laughs as the song comes on the radio and in that laugh he sees the girl she once was. He wants to be young again. To know her through the ages. To be with her and share his life with her. All of her. To know her from the very start and onwards, into an eternity which he could not bear if it was not for her, and a love he had not thought possible. Not for him. Not for them. He supposes the song is a classic now, but he remembers when it was first played on older, crackling radios. Those radios were new back then, now they are obsolete. R...

20 comments 20
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“A Serpent's Tooth” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #257

All I wanted was for her to tell me the truth. That’s it; nothing more. Rapunzel, Rapunzel, tell your father he’s not crazy. That, and a third of it all would be hers. My darling, Cathay. Cathy named after mother. Cathy named after her grandmother. Cathy and not Katherine, because my wife--may she rest in peace--hated the named Katherine for some reason. Maybe because her entire life people had said-- “Cathy like Katherine,” and she’d have to correct them, and she always did. My Cathy never tired of correcting people. Is that why her younges...

11 comments 11
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“I am not John Fernsby” by Sophie P

Submitted to Contest #257

I should not be here. I should not be here. What are the chances of two blokes with the same name ending up in the same place at the same time? Sure, John isn’t all that original, but I’ve never met another Fernsby in my life and now there’s two of us at once? It had to be a joke. But sitting here in the makeup chair whilst the hair stylist calls me ‘sir’, it’s starting to feel like this isn’t a joke. I hadn’t planned this, honestly. All I did was win a radio contest, and when the radio host said: “Congratulations, John! Come on down to the ...

8 comments 8
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“Opposition” by Linda Kenah

Submitted to Contest #257

Some references to incarceration, death and/or execution.Charity Chambers involuntarily shuddered as she walked toward the imposing edifice. She took a deep breath and forced her gait to be strong and steady as she approached the guard tower. With her head held high, she glared at the guard, her eyes piercing his, looking for any sign of life in his blank stare. He stood at attention, stoically acknowledging her presence as she scowled.“Here,” she said, her voice firm as she gave him her paperwork. The slight tremble of her hand wa...

12 comments 12
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“Romeo and Juliet” by Kathryn Bidwell

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #257

“Please, come into my office.”“Yes, Prince- Principal Escalus,” Juliet couldn’t keep the tremor out of her voice as she toyed with the bottom of her plaid skirt and entered the unfamiliar office. She had been in here a few times seeing as the Academy was like a second home to her. She’d been enrolled in Kindergarten before she could even tie her school uniform tie or shiny black shoes. She sat on the hard plastic chair across from the Principal’s oak desk.“I hope you are having a good morning,” Principal Escalus said, although Juliet knew th...

7 comments 7
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“Is Jerry a Ghost? ” by Zoe King

Submitted to Contest #257

Narrator: Jerry was different, very different. He had a strange house and acted weird. But nobody seemed to notice that something was off about him.Scene 1Setting: Classroom.Characters: Jerry, Suzanne, Veronica, Jeff, Mrs. Roberts.Suzanne: (Whispers) There goes Jerry again.Jeff: Do you think he’s a ghost? I mean - he has pale skin.Veronica: You really think that? His ghostly features … they don’t seem real.Jeff: (Rolls eyes) Yeah, right. Those can’t possibly be fake.(Mrs. Roberts enters room and quiets class down.)Mrs. Roberts: Everybody in ...

9 comments 9
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“Mayor Michael Macbeth” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #257

“Unrest, distress, disrespect and detest       The Sacrifice then Fallen Crest” “He will perish.”  “They will all perish if we don’t intervene. He must be placed in power to overcome the evil that already exists.” “Our powers of premonition and persuasion may not prevail. However, we have been left with no other choice. Now, stir, and say it with me, sisters.”  “Unrest, distress, disrespect and detest       The Sacrifice then Fallen Crest” “Who will deliver our mes...

25 comments 25
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“Fairly Twisted Tales” by Ruth James

Submitted to Contest #257

TW: contains mentions of physical abuse The dimly lit set is of a side of a tunnel that is a mix of purples and earthy browns, it is littered with pages from books, some ripped, some crumpled, both big and small. The biggest page, that is visible to the audience, says ‘Once upon a time…’. Stage left stands a Man in dark green smoking a large cigar and looking particularly bored. Sound effect of book pages being riffled. Enter Girl stage right. She slowly walks to centre stage exploring the tunnel. Girl: Where am I? (rubs head) I must ha...

7 comments 7
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“The Tempest” by Summer Larson

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #257

Promise turned in her bed, pushing at the snake that had settled its weight across her chest as it did every night, "Move," she commanded, heaving the monster with all her strength. The snake slithered off her chest and pressed up against the length of her body. When she had first enslaved Caliban in her empty home, it felt like a guardian. She had welcomed the monster; it had kept her safe from the reporters and intrusive acquaintances, all hungry for a piece of her story. It was a comfort. She had begged it to protect her and never leave h...

4 comments 4
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“The Summer's Tale: A Professor Deshpande Mystery” by Martin Ross

Submitted to Contest #257

 “I’m Posthumus,” Ethan explained.“My disconsolate sympathies,” Saanvi murmured. “You certainly look healthy.”“Posthumus,” Assistant Professor Cooper clarified with a crooked country boy grin. “Posthumus Leonatus. Husband to Imogen, ward of vassal King Cymbeline’s court.”“I suppose this means the University cannot proceed with selling off your larger pieces? And we could so have used a new multimedia wing.”“I know – I put in the original proposal, remember?”Chairman Deshpande raised an imperious brow. “Yet you are unwilling to make...

15 comments 15
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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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