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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#27: Agatha Christie

It's no secret why one of the most-repeated writing tips is: to read. You can learn endless craft wisdoms by reading the works of literary greats — and also lesser-known authors, too. Reading, in general, is simply a valuable way to improve your skills as a writer.

This week, we're pulling inspiration from the author behind two of crime fiction's most beloved sleuths: Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Yes, each of the below prompts relate in some way to themes, symbols, or other common elements in the writings of Agatha Christie.

Want to learn more about the Grand Dame of crime fiction? Check out our Agatha Christie reading guide!

This week's prompts

Write a short story that takes place on a train.

High School – 128 stories

Write a short story about a jury of people tasked with making a decision. (It doesn't necessarily need to be a court jury.)

Adults – 29 stories

Write a short story in which a specialist is called upon to carry out a job.

High School – 36 stories

Write a short story that ends with a twist.

Mystery – 155 stories

Write a short story that takes place in a quaint, idyllic, English village.

Fiction – 31 stories

Stories

“One Last Train Ride” by Gabrielle Marie

Submitted to Contest #27

Charlette sat gazing out the window, legs delicately crossed under her skirt. The world flew by in a blur, the greens and yellows of the landscape melded into a watercolor painting that was ever changing, and never stopping. The wide brimmed hat on her head blocked her view of the rest of the train and created her own private viewing of the gallery. If she focused hard enough on the background, she didn’t have to see her own reflection staring back at her. She quickly shifted her gaze down to her lap before her eyes could adjust to the windo...

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“Do you see me? ” by Bonnie Imeson

Submitted to Contest #27

I slip through the train doors just as they are about to close. Relief floods through me, I just made it in time. I go in search for an empty seat, one that is close but not too close. I don’t want him to notice that I am watching him, yet. Not that he would recognise me, he has no idea who I am but I know everything about him. He isn’t in the first carriage but I spot him in the second, sitting by himself on the right-hand side, so I sit on the left-hand side one row back. Lucky for me, it was empty. I watch him out of the corner of my eye,...

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“The Path She Chose” by Iris S

Submitted to Contest #27

Living in a semi-large house with a wife or husband and two kids had most likely always been the ideal lifestyle for most people. Maybe that house could overlook the vast ocean and the setting sun sinking below the horizon would create such magnificent colours in the soon-to-be night sky. It would be a wonderful sight to see, especially for those ignorant and naive of the world’s cruelties. But also to those who are curious and inspired by the beauty of nature. Or perhaps your preferred manner of living is the bustling and hustling city...

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“Danny” by Sally Monroe

Submitted to Contest #27

The first thing to come into focus was the red and gold deco design on the surprisingly plush carpet beneath me. There was a sharp pain in my side. I blinked at the light coming in from the open windows. I pulled myself up and peered out. There were swiftly passing pastures and green fields, as far as the eye could see. The sky was a gorgeous yet eerie smearing of purples and reds, oranges and golds. Where was I going? When had I gotten on a train? &nbsp...

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“What The Conductor Saw” by Kim Smyth

Submitted to Contest #27

What The Conductor Saw "Write a short story that takes place on a train"Jack and Marsha Dore boarded the train along with one hundred other souls that day, he forgot just what it was that made this particular couple stand out in his mind. The conductor kept noticing them though throughout the four-hour trip, and the police would later be grateful for his excellent attention to detail. As they made their way to their seats, he followed them so he could take their tickets. Jack was perspiring even though the day was cool, something like sixty-...

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“Identity Theft” by Jennifer Denning

Submitted to Contest #27

Closing the door silently behind her she slipped out into the grey dawn. She slid the wedding ring from her fourth finger, hid it down the side of a pot of crocuses and drew a deep breath of free air.She loved them all with a gut twisting ache, but she had to be free.The station was near. She boarded the first train to London, then traversed the narrow ribbon of water. She would go to Prague. Then on...on and on. At Paris she changed trains, settling herself in an empty compartment. Presently an elegant young couple also entered an...

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“Search and Found” by G. K. Derickson

Submitted to Contest #27

The dining car is mostly empty, save for the young woman quietly eating chocolate cake and ice cream. Her hair is white and fluffy as snow with braids tightly pulling the side of her hair back. A black trench coat covers a gray tank top and camo cargo pants. She sighs, stirring the crumbs around the plate. There's only a day left before the train arrives at her destination, and Diana is no closer to finding her hunt than when she came aboard. It was suppose to be simple; find a thief. Easy. But it’s not. All she...

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“The Hundred Year Train Ride” by Barbara Mealer

Submitted to Contest #27

So far, this trip was a total bust. Not only had the excursions been boring, they didn’t even come close to the promises of the brochure my parents had given me. Then again, my expectations were always above what I got. “Hey, Virginia, aren’t you going with us on the train?” The tour guide stood beside me, a slight frown creasing his forehead.“Tell me what I’ll see beyond rocks, a big hole and sky.”Sid let out one of his I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-you sighs. “You might want to try…oh, never mind.” He must have seen I wasn’t receptive to an...

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“The Last Train Home” by Jemima Forrester

Submitted to Contest #27

The flowers felt heavy in his hands as the doors slid shut behind him. They started to over-balance, clasped by the stems as they were, leaning in increments towards the window. The train pulled away from the station, and he pulled the flowers upright. He thumbed at the small card tied round the neck of the flowers, the callous edge of the card rubbing against his fingertips. He could feel where the biro had pressed into it, the outline of the words Yours always, Tom rubbing against the flat of his fingers. He’d written it before boarding th...

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“Overboard” by Geoffrey Archer

Submitted to Contest #27

Overboard The train, like a missile on magnetic tracks, shot through the fog. The wind whistled at its back. The windows crystallizing with ice as the sleek silver passenger car passed through the Appalachian range. On one side the shadows of mountains rose up in the distance, and on the other a lake of water stood glimmering. The occupants inside, lying on luxurious red velvet, were submerged in darkness as the train moved into a tunnel. People of all kinds settled into the crisp cabin air. There was plenty of leg room for everyone and spac...

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“Hungry Ghosts” by Matthew McLean

Submitted to Contest #27

“Is this seat taken?” Joel looked up from his copy of The Brothers Karamazov to the person asking. Of indeterminate gender, with a slight female cast, s/he wore a natty suit cut well to their slight frame. S/he was smiling with small, perfectly white teeth, a bob in their hair swooping down to frame their mouth. That was all fine and well but Joel had picked the empty train car so he could read his book in peace. Too many people brought up thoughts about the failings of his life and for a short period, while he travelled to his third shift j...

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“Done to Death: A Rail Tale” by Garrett Hastings

Submitted to Contest #27

“Murder!” The word pierced the loud machinery of the train and echoed into everyone’s ears. Within seconds, the narrow hallways flooded with the passengers pouring out of their rooms. Even Princess Johanna was crowding the space with her wheelchair and servant Claudia Razorbill. Claudia was on her quarter life, but her wrinkles from years of hard labor masked that. She hid behind her lady who rather resembled a decorated prune with a white veil over her face. At the end of the...

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“Woman of The Train” by Gianna LaMar

Submitted to Contest #27

“Are we there yet GranGran?” Lilli asked impatiently. “Not yet, but I could tell you a story that will make it go faster, if you want.” Mimi laughed. “Yay! But I gotta go to the bathroom!” Screamed Lilli. Ashley sighs, “This better not be that story you used to tell me when I was a kid.” “Once there was a beautiful girl named Emma.” started Mimi, “She was riding on this very train. Now Emma just rode, she didn’t know where she was going, nor did she care, she just rode till the last stop came. One day, she was getting on this train, but no o...

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“The Destination ” by Michelle Jauregui

Submitted to Contest #27

I remember the cold cloud of fog coming from her breath as she turned to look out the window. Her eyes gazed towards the inexplicable greenery before us. She was not aware. She was not aware that I’d do anything and everything for her. We always took this train. I always saw it as an opportunity to spend time with her. She just saw it as another train ride, with another friend, on another day.His eyes were always wandering off someplace else. His strong hands covered in tattoos gave me an odd sense of comfort. It was always like this. He was...

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“Train to Heaven” by Angie Schirck

Submitted to Contest #27

Train to HeavenBy Angie SchirckClickity clack, clickity clack, clickity clack. The sound soothes me as I look out the window and watch the world pass by in a blur. My mind is adrift on the events that brought me here. Today is the day my world changed. It started like any other day, as do most days that change the world. I awoke to the sound of my alarm clock at 6am, showered, ate, navigated the madness that is rush hour and arrived at work 10 minutes early. As I sat in my office on the 83rd floor of the south ...

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$50

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379

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0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 07, 2020 EST

Won by Natalie Frank 🏆

Title: Seaglass

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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