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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

“THE LAST MAN RECUED” by My Wandering Words -

Submitted to Contest #27

Almost all the villagers had gone. I could watch them crossing the road and gathering around there. The army truck was standing there on the road beyond the last farm of the village. Soldiers were helping the old people climbing in the truck as well as bundling their belongings and putting it in the truck. The overloaded truck passed and left rest of the crowd to wait for their turn. In a while, the second truck arrived and people rushed into it. As that truck had gone carrying people and their stuff, another truck came. This cycle had been ...

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“Withering Heights” by Daniel Brown

Submitted to Contest #27

My eyes flit between the dregs of coffee in this mug and my watch. I’ve spent roughly fifteen minutes or so in this cafe waiting on my briefing and the cappuccino wasn’t remotely worth it. The watch is though, roughly $40,000 worth with a diamond-studded face and gold hands and the charcoal suit, tailored by my employer’s finest from imported silk, makes a solid case for the costly timepiece. The pants are kind of riding up my ass, as the tailor must have taken a wild guess at my measurements without so much as observing my figure in a photo...

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“Uno, Dos, Tres, BOOM!” by Ann Parker Burgess

Submitted to Contest #27

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon in the city. The temperature was warm for the winter season, but according to the ground hog, spring would arrive early. Vendors had parked along sidewalks through the park selling everything from balloons to ice cream. Children ran and played as their parents watched with smiles. Everyone was enjoying the day.The peace was suddenly disturbed by police arriving on the scene urging everyone to leave the park immediately. Some didn’t want to leave, but the officers said they would have to so park keepers ne...

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“Make Way for the IT Professional” by Leigh Victoria Fisher

Submitted to Contest #27

I was back at my desk in the research lab when someone I vaguely recognized from upper management burst in through the door. Her dry cleaned shirt was pristine and her high heeled pumps shined like beacons of opulence, but her expression was stricken. I looked up instinctively at the intrusion and she was upon my desk in a flash, as I was the misfortunate soul to sit closest to the door. At first, I couldn’t remember her name. I smiled awkwardly as she approached and desperately scanned my mind to remember more details about her. She was imp...

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“Shots” by Almost Integrity

Submitted to Contest #27

It was a Sunday afternoon and I had had a rough week. I drove into town and decided that I was going to get myself a drink. It was about 8:00pm and I had no other prior commitments, so I could be here as long as I wanted. I walked in, ordered a drink from the pretty girl behind the counter, and sat down on a black barstool. After the girl handed me my drink (with her number on the napkin under the glass,) I decided to go play some pool with some other guys there. I asked politely if I could play and grabbed a stick. They agreed and started a...

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“The Shadow Man ” by Hannah Bee

Submitted to Contest #27

I'm certain we've all heard tales of adventure, fantasies and magic. This particular tale happens to be about a convict; condemned to the rope, escaped and then disappeared.Gerald Mastos was a man of few words. Suspicious demeanor, cool tempered and was never seen dressed in anything but a black silk suit and a tall hat. He stood six feet even, with a lean build and somewhat lanky. He gained a reputation similar to that of a shadow.He often trapsed from town to town, here one day gone the next. Nobody really knew much about him other than hi...

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“Pod Ship” by G. K. Derickson

Submitted to Contest #27

The ship’s in ruins. Crise couldn't be sure it was a ship, if he hadn't seen it before. The hunk of metal is beyond repair, but he has to fix it, he can’t afford a new pod. He's not sure he can afford to fix it either. He saved for months to get it, then months more to find someone selling. At least he still has his life. The wind blows snow over the small pod. He sighs and pushes his goggles off his head. He has to find someone willing to tow it to town first. Maybe Stella would k...

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“The Specialist” by Amanda Knapp

Submitted to Contest #27

I live in paradise with the girl I love. The view is great, the ocean is great, the time off work is great, but something is missing. We made a big change moving here. We just wanted more time to do what we love. I didn’t realize it would mean me giving up so much of what I loved to do. The new job, well let’s just say its not really my thing. Very stagnant and stationary with coworkers that think they know everything, but they have no clue. I’m sure those types are everywhere nowadays. Don’t get me wrong, I like our change, I just really mi...

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“The Reaper in the Marsh” by Robyn Welborne

Submitted to Contest #27

Fifty-two-year-old Michael Michaelis was never considered to be a normal person in the modernistic London society. By day, he was a simple factory worker making a decent living for himself, but by night, he was called upon by the nightlife to deliver his services around the Baytown District of Westminster, London. Michael’s latest job led him to an estate on in a well-known neighborhood on the north end of the Nuse River owned by bank teller Jarod Wayman. Michael had received his task one evening, in the form of a black-enveloped letter, abo...

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“A Study in Perfection” by Arielle Friedman

Submitted to Contest #27

“Unit 8-0-3-4, Codename DRAX: You are deployed.” Drax rose to his feet, an android standing in a line of reclining robots. An atom filtered across the Central Workstation of his mind, unravelling into an image of himself throttling the human Deployment Officer, before dissipating into the fluid motion of his joints approaching and holding out his hand, politely, for his work order. “Of course, Sir.” This was hardcoded—deference to humans. It existed outside the teeming democracy of his neural networks, where atoms lived and died, debated and...

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“Life Choices” by Jason Burchfield

Submitted to Contest #27

I had never dreamed I could be so happy being a dad. Before I was a father it was all about me and my wife, doing whatever made us happy at that moment. Now I spend all of my free time doing anything that puts a smile on my little princess’ face. At six years she’s my entire world. When Laura was pregnant I wanted a boy, most men do. But when they handed me my little Emma the world stopped spinning. She looked up at me, and that was it.I sat there at the kitchen table watching my beautiful six year old eating he...

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“SKY LIKE RED WINE” by My Wandering Words -

Submitted to Contest #27

HEMINGWAY EDITORENGLISHHindi**They were hiding behind the tall steppe grass, spread across the rocky slope of the foothills. And the golden grass was moving swiftly in the crispy wind. They could relax their backs against the grey rock hanging over them and covering them from behind.Rohit observed the burned over stretch of the hillside in the east and moved his gaze far to the mountains across the hills. The orange sun was slowly climbing down towards the white ridges of the mountains. The wind was getting bitter and was flowing in the west...

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“Another meeting with Glory” by Ovidiu Bocsa

Submitted to Contest #27

Another meeting with GloryHe always tried to mix business with pleasure - though he was not a hedonist. He had the talent to move above to unpleasant things with passion, ready to turn them into a new hobby. This is what happened when he was about to drown in the pool, where all the company money had been thrown - in a crisis of nerves of the cashier, who, after removing all the money from the bank, also jumped into the water, ready to die, too, covered with money and an unexpected glory.His name was Zorba. Her name was Glory.He saved her fr...

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“Cliffside” by Gabrielle Aben

Submitted to Contest #27

It was half passed midnight and the moon hung low over the cobblestone streets, shadows of buildings cast darkness where the moonlight couldn't reach. Each house nestled in a patch of green trailing off towards the Cliffside where only one lone building resided, not nearly as modern as the others it stands out against the stark background, a void of darkness where the sea meets the earth. The village smelled of salt and during the day was bustling with life, all manners of peop...

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“An Incident In The Parking Lot.” by Ashish Chawla

Submitted to Contest #27

Now.Ayesha is sitting on the floor, in a parking lot near her car, her head resting on the door of the driver's seat. She looks numb, emotionless.~~~One hour before.The sound of a car approaching the parking lot can be heard, as Ayesha is sitting inside her car, her hands on the steering wheel. She is sweating profusely, while looking toward the entrance of the lot. Her hands are trembling.The car enters inside, and halts at a parking spot, a few feet away from Ayesha's car. Ayesha's gaze is fixed over the car that can be seen through the re...

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$50

Prize money

379

Contest entries

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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