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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

“The Cottage” by Isabella Ciccone

Submitted to Contest #27

The cottage sat at the end of the lane. It had sat there for decade upon decade, alone and unheeding of the world around it. It had watched generation after generation live, grow, and flourish within its walls. Parts had begun to crumble with age, its stone walls once painted a pristine white, chipping to reveal the stone beneath. The vines that crept up the walls had been removed over the years by countless hands, but there was no one left to clear them now. It had originally been built by a farmer for his wife. He had begun labouring on th...

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“Fixing a Friendship” by Ruby Elizabeth

Submitted to Contest #27

Lora beat the dough with all her might. She and her friend were having a fight, and she didn’t even know what it was about anymore. So she was baking bread, one of her favorite things to do when she was mad or sad or just having a bad day. She was trying to end this fight one step at a time. So this was her first step, beating her anger into the bread dough. Her second step, she thought, would be to buy a basket and blank cards and write a note to Eleanor. She would also buy a dishtowel, just a small cute one, to put into the basket. Then th...

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“A Little Bit of Magic” by Madison McCoy

Submitted to Contest #27

Truth be told, there’s a lot more to magic than incantations. One must be connected to the very earth, her flora, her fauna, and her people. Not many folks are aware of this fact, but everyone is born with the ability to use magic; just some have more liberty to practice. They blossom with time, grow with the flowers and adapt their gifts with the changing of the seasons. Magic claps like thunder, padders like rain and burst like fire. Sorcery is stronger in a select few. Those people can spin the world the other way, can move mountains, can...

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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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