Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

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 More Step” by Ay Jay

Submitted to Contest #27

The wind howled over the lonely, rainswept sands, the ocean joining its song. The chorus of frigid and stormy noise on the beach accompanied the single being that walked on two legs amongst the birds and the sand fleas. It was a young girl, soaked as the sands that sank under her bare feet, hair stringy as the grasses that danced in waves behind her. There was a reason she walked alone, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her raincoat, chin tucked into her sweatshirt collar. It was great, and it was frightening. The girl-- whose name is Ol...

Read story

“The Planted Pot Murders” by Cheryl Fulton

Submitted to Contest #27

Stella Stanhope rode her bike habitually into town like she did everyday. As she glided along the narrow, barely paved road with the same scenery no matter which way she looked. Green fields as far as the eyes could see, and sheep, lots of sheep. Some might think pretty, and it was, but so boring. Nothing ever exciting happened in Hambleden, it did at one time, but not lately. Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, Band of Brothers, and my favorite Sleepy Hollow, among others were filmed here. They even used our church for a scene in the Agatha Christi...

Read story

“The Wisdom of Queen Bee” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #27

“I don’t mean to be unkind,” said Edna Cummings (which usually meant she was going to be) “And I know it’s something you’re not supposed to mention these days, but – well, Jeanette is a NICE girl, but you could hardly call her regal, could you?” “At least she has some brains and a bit of dignity,” Glenda Gove pointed out, “And she’s not likely to turn up at the parade with her hair dyed some colour the Lord never intended and her toenails painted purple. Not like your precious Patsy.” ...

Read story

“RED IS THE COLOR OF MY TRUE LOVE’S BLOOD” by Margie Ricca

Submitted to Contest #27

Red is the color of my true love’s blood. It also was the color of the walls, the floor and my new starched white dress shirt. Damn!Pressure! Pressure! Pressure!Now, I am pacing. I hate when I pace. Barbara should not have said the things she did. Now look at the trouble she has gotten me into and the trouble I am going to have to go through to clean up this mess.I must admit though, I didn’t see this coming. How was I to know she wanted to break things off? After all, I apologized f...

Read story

“Happy Bird-Day” by Jonathan VanRy

Submitted to Contest #27

I slid over a patch of musty papers as I rapidly turned another corner, nearly sending me crashing into the third-story window to my left. I regained my footing without losing much speed, though. And good thing I did, too, because whatever bird-demon-creature was behind me was right on my heels, and I was barely making any headway getting away from him. The longer I ran though, the farther I got from it. Slowly, I built a distance between us.Finally, I skidded to a halt and dashed through an open door to the side of the hallway. I pressed my...

Read story

“Murdering Abroad” by Robyn Welborne

Submitted to Contest #27

Here, nestled in the Westmeiser Valley, sat the quaint little village of Dorchester, England. A shy and cozy little place with an average population. It was a fair day with a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. The sun took its place over the horizon. It was the beginning of a new dawn and a joyful start to their annual village fete. The village roared to life as the people hopped out of their beds to get the day under way. The Baker, as usual, stirring up the coals inside the brick stove to warm up the racks of freshly kneaded dough. The...

Read story

“The Train Ride” by Vera Kearney

Submitted to Contest #27

Here she was Claire. Alone riding this nosy train to the West, not knowing where she was going or anyone who might live there. How had it all come about? One day she was living the best life in a quiet part of town, and the next she was running for her life.Johnny, her older brother, had seen something he shouldn’t have. Reporting it to the authorities had not been the best thing to do. They had planned to hide him away for protection. Failing to act rapidly enough, Johnny had been shot and killed. Knowing she was his sister and not sure how...

Read story

“Freedom” by Paige Weber

Submitted to Contest #27

After twelve years of imprisonment, Kelvin is now free. Holding his bag, he went straight trait to a house. The house that gave him the most unfortunate memory of his life. The cold breeze gave Kelvin shivers, but the pain and anger make him more tremble. Mixed and unexplained emotions are what Kelvin felt as he walks inside their old abandoned house for almost twelve years, tears were falling through his eyes as he stands at the doorway.The whole house was covered with dust and putrid smell as Kelvin crouch and wipe the side ...

Read story

“Our Last, Tonight” by Tiaja Gundy

Submitted to Contest #27

It was the middle of the night. Maggie couldn't help but toss and turn as she forced herself to sleep. She was too emotional. She had just broken up with her boyfriend of three years and was taking it pretty hard. The tears continued to fall on her pillow as if rain to the ground. She felt broken. She couldn't put into words the pain she had felt and wanted them to end. Finally her eyes had closed. A deep sleep is what she was in. She was dreaming about her current state of mind. Dreaming about the fact that her heart was smashed into a thou...

Read story

“Jurors, Do The Math” by Tom Moser

Submitted to Contest #27

“The judge writes everything down by hand,” Juror 1 observed, as she looked out the courthouse window of the jury room. She was a middle-aged woman with a matronly figure. “We don’t get to take notes. What’s with that?” Juror 4 responded as she sat at the table across the room. “I think we’re supposed to use our memory,” Juror 2 suggested, without looking up. He was a casually dressed young man, with a beard and a ‘Semper Fi’ tattoo on his right forearm. He wore black Harley Davidson boots every day of trial and jury selection. It was a six...

Read story

“Fantôme Manner” by Kara Knight

Submitted to Contest #27

At some point every little kid has an imaginary friend, this is the story of how I found out my imaginary friends weren't so imaginary.Every corner I turned someone new appeared. Their shimmering form barely visible. Often when I spoke to them, they would disappear. It took a long time to gain their trust. The shimmering figures were never quite the same. Some were dressed just like I was, others were dressed similarly to the old paintings that hung all throughout the manner. The one thing that never changed was the lost look in their eyes. ...

Read story

“Every Step” by Mattilyn Stewart

Submitted to Contest #27

The lady was sweating profusely. She was trying to wipe off her face but both her hands were engaged in dragging the big suitcase and the handkerchief in right hand had fell down somewhere. As soon as she had got down from the hired taxi, a swarm of coolies had surrounded her but she plainly refused-“Thank You bhaiyaji , I will manage.”The train was supposed to arrive at Platform 11 and covering every step seemed difficult. But she did not want to stop or leave the suitcase even for a second and bravely managed to reach t...

Read story

“In Between” by Jennifer Riley

Submitted to Contest #27

It’s hard to find work these days. At least it is for those of us that don’t actually have what are generally referred to as “skills”. For years I worked at a nice, mindless job at a factory where I was, frankly, resigned to work for the rest of my life. A place where I could basically check out mentally for eight hours a day and get paid for it. But the factory closed and everyone lost their jobs and I was reduc...

Read story

“In a village . . . ” by Lisa Weissel

Submitted to Contest #27

Nothing ever takes place in a village. Or so many would think. This was the phrase that came to mind most readily when Miss Eugenia Sprout thought fondly of her home, in a small village in the English countryside. Miss Sprout was getting on in years, almost seventy four if you could believe it, and enjoyed pottering in her garden, weather permitting. This allowed her untold opportunities for observing her neighbours and the comings and goings at the Vicarage, which sat opposite her home on the lane at the Nort...

Read story

“Etched” by Callie Bennett

Submitted to Contest #27

A million scenarios flitted through Addie’s mind. Why she had accepted Chace’s offer of help to break into a building and take money for him was quite against her conscience. “I’ll take it Chace, but what do I need to do?” Addie whispered with an exasperated sigh. A smile smeared across Chace’s face at Addie’s words.“Your gonna make it into the CIA someday Adds, I just know it.” His voice revealed sincere thanks as he continued, “Monty said he’d persuade my parents to send me to a military school in Maine if I didn’t pass this emp...

Read story

Load more stories

$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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢