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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

“Doubles” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #257

The twinkling lights strung from the trees made the patio a magical experience. Light music from the acoustic trio filtered up to them. Mark and Sandy’s favorite restaurant, they always came for their anniversary and often throughout the year. While waiting for the hostess to escort them, Mark discreetly placed his hand on Sandy’s bottom. She swatted it away with a laugh. “Mark!”“I couldn’t help it. It begged me.”She flashed her smile. “Did I tell you how great you look in that dress?”“Yes. Thank you, again. Your hand confirmed it… Thought o...

15 comments 15
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“The Prince Of Cats” by Sean Early

Submitted to Contest #257

"Your coffee, sir." She said, cringing at the honorific. . Melody had started the day in hopes that she'd stand up for herself, she'd even practiced in the mirror. But only ten minutes into today's rehearsal and she already had caved in. She felt pathetic. "It's about goddamn time!" The director snapped while snatching the cup from her grip with force. Melody felt the eyes of the entire cast falling onto her. Some searing with hate, judging her as a kiss-ass, some looking with pangs of sympathy. Mercutio was laying across the stage, mock eat...

4 comments 4
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“Labour's Lost Love- a drunken tragedy in three acts” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #257

CW: Shakespearean bawdiness!****Act 1 ****——Scene 1——(Enter Lord FARRINGTON and Sir MONTRAY, two young lords of lofty houses, both in a drunken, rambunctious state of dishevelment and good humour.)FARRINGTONThis night have I been greatly entertained with such delightful hospitality delivered with such grace and charm and wit… (Farrington stumbles drunkenly.)MONTRAYGood faith, dear Farrington, we have been charmed, Such hospitality knoweth no bounds, Nor bonds nor aught whi...

7 comments 7
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“LEAF BLOWER CANTATA ” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #257

ACT I-Scene 1-SETTING: A small neighborhood cafe.AT RISE: SAMMY, 30's, is seated at the central table.BEN, 30's, agitated, enters.BENYou won't believe it. I am so fed up to here.SAMMYYou're late.BENI know. Where's David?SAMMYI don't know. He's late too. Have a seat.BEN          (Moves about)I'm going to file a lawsuit. They are a plague!SAMMYWho?BEN      Leaf blowers! Don't you know what they are doing to this city?SAMMYLeaf blowers?BENThey kick up dust. They're ...

13 comments 13
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“The Calvaryman” by Kim Olson

Submitted to Contest #257

Wisconsin 1861It was several months before Grace received her first letter from Joseph. She knew that it was hard for letters to get through, however. It was one of the many problems of war. She was ashamed to admit that she didn’t know if she had forgiven him for enlisting in the Union Army. While they both agreed that slavery was inherently wrong, it seemed like it happened so far away that it didn’t affect her or anyone she knew. Still, she knew Joseph was a moral, upright man and in good conscience, he couldn’t allow the South to secede ...

9 comments 9
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“Spilled Dreams” by Sakiya Alex

Submitted to Contest #257

I’m not a very honest person, and I’m not a very open person, so I’ve put off the telling of this story for far too long. I don’t know how many times I’ve considered opening up, but every time, fear gripped my heart like an ice-cold vice. Every boy, at some point, wants that feeling of being a hero, of doing something important, of being powerful. As I got older, that feeling faded with many others and passed like the seasons fade into each other. “I’ll miss you, Andre. I’ll miss you so much.”“Aw, Mom, I’ll see you every break I get.”“Promis...

2 comments 2
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“Romeo and Juliet Twenty Years Later ” by Kathryn Minicozzi

Submitted to Contest #257

An Interview With the Star-Crossed Lovers Historians poking around some old archives in Verona, Italy have made a surprising discovery. The city’s most famous couple, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, miraculously survived their bungled double suicide attempt, escaped from Verona, and took up residence in a combination vineyard, pasta factory, and olive orchard near Florence. For twenty years they kept their identities secret. Not even their crazy relatives knew where they were. This was wise, because some...

8 comments 8
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“Ruins of Jealousy” by Fern Everton

Submitted to Contest #257

CW: The piece contains some profanity and themes of someone going insane. It also has spoilers for Othello if you do not know the full story. Viewer discretion is advised. (Full disclosure, I am not someone who participates in theater, so I apologize if my depictions are inaccurate)  “Duke, if I hear you say ‘we have’ instead of ‘have we’ one more time, I’m taking you out of the show. You know the line! Say it correctly!” I bite my bottom lip to resist shouting at Duke as the director chastises him yet again. The sour taste of bloo...

6 comments 6
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“A Tragic Hero Remembers” by Peter Wallace

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #257

It was a lot like being in jail. Some people called him a hero, but he sure didn’t feel like one. He just did what seemed like the right thing to do at the time. That’s all. The worst part is that he could remember it all in startling detail. Stuart was born with a surprisingly good memory. It was a help when he played card games, but it made the games too easy for him. It helped him in school, all the way through college. He didn’t need to study much. Information just stayed with him. He was pretty sure he didn’t have an eidetic memory, li...

3 comments 3
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“Two Gentlemen of Verona” by Debra Tillar

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #257

Two Gentlemen of Veronaby Debra Tillar In fair Verona town one festive day As flags and cheers and trumpets rent the air, Party boats festooned the waterway And singing crowds adorned the central square. The regiment had rallied in the street, Called to arms and ordered to defend Their northern border cities and defeat The French aggressors to the bitter end. With hope and pride the town folk celebrated The soldiers as they mustered for the cause. With kisses, handshakes, hugs unmoderated, Roses, garlands, fanfare, songs, applause. On th...

3 comments 3
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“Romeo & Juliet 2024” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #257

People at the LGBTQIA demonstration for gender recognition were livid on both sides. Deafening screams rose from one side to drown out the preachings of the other. Hand-made signs bounced through a sea of angry faces as each party passionately voiced their opinion on the matter, each one trying to make the other one see their side. Separated by a fence, two former friends, Brian Capulet and Jason Montague, vehemently argued their positions on the subject. Brian’s daughter was once called Julian and recognized as a boy. Brian supported her th...

4 comments 4
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“As You Like It” by VJ Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #257

Far away in the city of Thunder Bay, two brothers, Duke and Fred Jones, owned and operated a trailer park. Duke, the elder brother, was sly, scrawny, and a whiz at customer relations. Fred was beefy, strong as a moose, and could kick out undesirable tenants faster than you could say, “Hit the road, Jack.”Big changes were afoot in King’s Court Trailer Park because one night, while listening to a televangelist, a lightning bolt of revelation hit Fred Jones: “The meek shall inherit the earth.”“The meek? That’s me!” Fred shouted. His burly physi...

6 comments 6
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“Mistaken Identity.” by Joan Of Arc

Submitted to Contest #257

Note: This story contains themes of mental health and demonic possession.Mistaken Identity.""That defense is not going to get us anywhere."The guy in the suit started to pack his briefcase, defeat written all over his face after spending the next minute staring at the top of my head, desperately looking for my eyes, well, actually he was looking for a response that would make his life easier. Much of a lawyer you are. He let out a sight of disappointment, and look, now he's rolling his eyes at us, the poor dear. I feel sorry for him.Sorry......

4 comments 4
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“An Elegant Evening in Mount Miffsberg” by Daryl Kulak

Submitted to Contest #257

Three of my balloons look like they're ready to fall off. We had a group crafting party just to glue them all on and I think some of the participants were a little too high to get each adhesion completely right. Luckily, I brought some chewing gum to paste things on again. There will be a lot of that tonight, lemme tell you. Chewing gum and safety pins. The Spruce & Stone is having their first annual “An Elegant Evening in Mount Miffsberg.” Nobody knows what to think about it, except the farmers, and they just complain about everything. ...

4 comments 4
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“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Ted and Alice: An Alternate Ending” by Drew Herman

Submitted to Contest #257

Act V: Scene 1A graveyard. Elsinore castle on the horizon. Music: Gyuto Monks Tantric Choir(Enter GRAVEDIGGER and ASSISTANT, carrying shovels. The music fades.)GRAVEDIGGERHere another as died of slings. Hark ye, that maketh three this se’nnight alone, far more than e’er arrows took ’count of.ASSISTANTAye, outrageous, as hast oft proclaim’d. Yet of sling control can good Claudius hear no word, without the National Sling Association stone the sayer to death.GRAVEDIGGERAnd so be the ill cured, for as none shall speak ill of the dead, so le...

7 comments 7
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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 | Many Hands | 2024-09

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Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

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