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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 – 154 stories

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

Fiction – 31 stories

Stories

“Route 34” by Priya Madan

Submitted to Contest #27

As Jacob stepped off platform 12 and on to the route 34 train, his thoughts momentarily faded to nothing. The numbing buzz of codeine began to cloud his senses and make his fingers tingle as it did every time Jacob took this lonely train ride. The jolt of the train pushing away from the station bought Jacob back to reality. Although, the images racing behind his eyes were as loud to him as the scraping clunking wheels on the tracks.The flash of passing dilapidated suburbs comparably dull; obscured by the fluorescent lights. Lights ...

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“Please, mind the gap” by Maria Rafoncel

Submitted to Contest #27

A red curly strand of hair interrupted Christine´s line of vision. She blew a breath of air upwards to remove it, trying to shuffle as little as possible, not wanting to make physical contact with anyone or anything in this crowded space. The air smelt of bodily odor and a hint of pee. She could feel drops of sweat starting to pool in the nape of her neck. That´s what you get for sleeping in for too long and ending up taking the busiest train of the morning. She cursed at herself internally, swearing that it would not happen again. The robot...

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“The Woman on the Train” by Frankie Jackson

Submitted to Contest #27

I’ve always loved trains. The smell is awful and the crowds make me claustrophobic, but something about being nobody in a sea of nobodies brought a sort of tranquility which could only be found on places like the internet. There were dozens, maybe a hundred people confined in a single small space, but at the same time, every train was empty. Everyone’s attention was focused elsewhere, in a different place and time.The train rumbled loudly, winding out of a tunnel and into the open sunshine as light streamed in through the windows. I too...

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“The Time I Spent on Train Car 8” by Kate E

Submitted to Contest #27

As I walked into the station, a crowd of school children swarmed the nearest train; excitedly running and jumping onto it as if imagining themselves outlaws riding the rails in the dead of night to towns unknown, or else having just narrowly escaped the dreaded clutches of the law after robbing the nearest bank. A flustered school teacher followed behind, attempting to corral them into a single car like so many unheeding sheep. I couldn’t help but think that if the day continued on as it was clearly starting out, the battle of wills that wou...

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“Big Hearts Big Moments ” by Manon Jean

Submitted to Contest #27

Of course a plane ride home to Edinburgh would be faster. That's of course if you have the ability to blend in a crowd. If this were any other day Dave would gladly take a flight home. Heck, he would pay the extra 200 Pounds to travel first class. But today was not one of those days. Just yesterday his face was plastered all over London, on every news channel imaginable and every Facebook page. He is a Cardiac surgeon at one of the best hospitals in the city. Everything about his life was normal, if not spectacular un...

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“Questions” by Terry-Ann User

Submitted to Contest #27

How did I end up here? Why do I have to be on this stupid train? I ask myself, my chin resting on my knees. My arms locked around my legs tightly to keep them in place, rocking myself slightly back and forth in a motion I’ve always found soothing. I hate trains, I always have. It hasn’t even started moving yet and I’m dreading the terrible rumbling sound it makes and its horrifyingly fast speed. I’ve always felt trapped whenever I had to take the train, the stations being underground and the fa...

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“The Harder they Come” by Martin Leigh

Submitted to Contest #27

I used to abhor these evenings. Hours of incestuous arse-licking by a load of self-congratulatory hacks and terrible food. However, I’ve been looking forward to tonight’s ceremony for ages. I watched Carla this morning in the reflection of my laptop screen, adjusting the scattering of minor journalistic awards to make space on the shelf for the big one. She must have been fairly confident and rightly so. I have to say she looks particularly gorgeous tonight in her glad rags, sat next to me clutching her champagne flute and making small t...

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“All in a Woman's Struggle” by Kingsley Alfred

Submitted to Contest #27

The evanescent oval moon had just completed its cycle to become the long awaited full moon after a skirmish with the darkened clouds. The people of Ekori community believed that after the monthly tug of war, the clouds would release enough oil that supplied light to the stars through the next full moon. On nights like these, the people stood outside their huts to admire heaven’s lamp and talk about the woman trapped in the moon because of her refusal to honor the goddess of the sky, Atai. The woman is rumored to have been pounding on a...

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“Trial” by KerrieAnn Pope

Submitted to Contest #27

Judge- Ticktock man. Though he is cruel by most standards, he can be trusted to not be too kind with the defendant. He can also be trusted to keep the discussion on track and be finished in a timely manner. Defendant- Lacie. She is placed on trial for disturbing the peace and public indecency. She comes to the story right after her display at the wedding reception.Jurors- Harlequin. This Harlequin came to the Jury right after his jelly bean incident.- Tessie. She comes from her story just after the fir...

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“Murder Count” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #27

Murder Count by Suzanne ElderAll rise for the honorable Judge Judith.Sometimes I think these people forget just who they are. Everyone stood except me. It looked like I had no respect for these proceedings and that just about sums it up. I sit with my legs extended feet crossed at the ankles, hands behind my head looking as if I wished I was in front of the tele.Judith entered the courtroom and the look she gave me had contempt written all over her face suggesting I wasn’t taking this seriously. I can give as good as I ge...

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“The Butterfly Still Affects” by Karissa Budny

Submitted to Contest #27

Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.-Book of Daniel 5:27The Butterfly Still Affects Purgatory: the place some faiths believe will be entered to purify the soul on the path to Heaven. A final cleansing. But some people can never be cleansed, and others can never be forgiven. Fall, 2020. They sat in a row at the table. Fittingly, a total of eight eyes filled with blame judged him, not undeserved. He imagined that purgatory felt a little like this. The brain being gutted for its mos...

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“Seven Cupids” by Amanda Newson

Submitted to Contest #27

Seven Cupids sat around a white table, each of varying age, and examined the new target that appeared before them. The figure floated in the tables centre as a three dimensional picture, name, age, and job hovering above his head like trademarks. He was mid-thirties, and the type of man that other men would nod at in a bar but avoid on the street. He wore cuffed blue jeans crumpled above black boots, and a leather jacket well-worn in companionship and use. Most of all, his hands were littered with scars of a job well done, and it was th...

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“Heads or Tails” by Nicola Campbell

Submitted to Contest #27

“Guys,” I say to my three friends, sitting around a game of Monopoly. “I have a dilemma. Completely hypothetical.” Jade, ever the sceptic, raises an eyebrow at me, pausing her silver dog’s trip around the board. “Hypothetical?” “Yeah, totally,” I say, suppressing the heat rising in my cheeks. I shift in my seat and pull the blanket tighter around me. The rain lashing at the windows gives me a chill. “Say, for example, I wanted to buy a house on Leicester Square, but I’d have more spare change if I bought one on Euston Road, what would you do...

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“The Gathering” by Monica Haynes

Submitted to Contest #27

Rev. Douglas Whitmore raised his five daughters alone following the death of his wife, Alma. She was the green pastures and still waters to his fire and brimstone. “Daddy preached hell and damnation, while Momma clothed the damned and fed the hell-bound,” my mother explained. “She didn’t deserve to go the way she did.”My grandmother died in a house fire trying to save her infant son, Douglas Whitmore, Jr. My grandfather had taken his girls to town to get ice cream. Someone told him they’d seen a fire truck headed down his road.&nbs...

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“The Agreeable Peggy Donlyn ” by Kellie Bucy

Submitted to Contest #27

Wrinkled hands brushed the plastic pages of a leather bound photo album. A girl no older than fifteen in a ball gown, gloves and a tiara waved, proud and teary eyed, at the camera. “Blanco County Rodeo Queen 1965” was scrawled across a sash that hung diagonally on her smooth slender frame. Now, Peggy Donlyn was long out of the running for the highest honor in the county. She closed the album, picked up her cane and step by slow step started toward the front door. It was time to open the Fair and Rodeo once again. She was being honored in th...

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$50

Prize money

378

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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