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

“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

“Rising Sun” by Danila F. Dias

Submitted to Contest #27

Rising SunThere’s something really special about a train ride in the morning. You can take a train in the middle of the day, the end of the day, the evening, or any other time of day, but a train ride in the morning is so different from all of those. There are so many types of people on the train in the morning. They could be going home from a night of partying or they could be heading to work. Or there could be a person like me. Just taking a train for the ride. I look at the far end of the train car. The smell of cigarette smoke is overpow...

Read story

“The Wisdom of the Wild and Free” by Lauren Ford

Submitted to Contest #27

Monday “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” The letter ‘n’ was obscured slightly by a dirt-caked fingernail. The sign was a typical one. Messy block letters in permanent marker emblazoned on a piece of cardboard that was once part of a box. Perhaps a box that this man had called home. The train screeched to a halt and I continued to watch the man with the sign. He stared straight ahead, his eyes unblinking, completely unfazed by the masses of people shooting irritated looks at him as they dodged around the space he occupied. H...

Read story

“Carry Me Back to Whole” by Kanisha Fells

Submitted to Contest #27

The violence of thudding thoughts swells in the mind after you have killed someone. At least for Aniya, it seems the grueling pounding of her heart is struggling to replace the emptiness she feels inside."Ticket" gruffs the inspector. One word summons her hand forward. She turns over the crumbling blue pass stamped Frankfurt One-way Express.People shuffle past her in regretful haste. The conductor signals passengers to take their seats. Aniya is still searching for her own. Incoherent with grief, her eyes jet back and forth between her...

Read story

“A Very Memorable Wedding Anniversary on the Orient Express Train” by Geraldine Treacy

Submitted to Contest #27

A Very Memorable Wedding Anniversary on the Orient Express Trainby Geraldine Treacy“Your husband sounds like a real keeper” I remarked to my co-worker friend. “How romantic of him to think of planning to celebrate your 25th anniversary on the Orient Express!” Wow! Trudy’s face lit up “Yes, I never imagined that he would come up with something so special and so romantic!” I was almost as excited as she was when we embarked on a shopping trip to get her outfitted with a glamourous wardrobe including cocktail hats, velvet fl...

Read story

“Last Train To Eternity” by Barbara Eustace

Submitted to Contest #27

David Ashworth was breathless when he slumped into his seat on the 7.17 train to Waterloo. He’d had to run, and his body, he decided, was not made for such activities.His wife Janice had surprised him with a full English breakfast this morning, and it would have been rude not to do it justice. “Just to celebrate your last day at work”, she’d said. Much as he’d enjoyed it, he’d sooner have had it tomorrow on his first day of retirement. Then there’d have been no need to rush. He breathed deeply as he rubbed his chest,...

Read story

“Eggshell White” by Jordan Bates

Submitted to Contest #27

With a wail, the train let off its final call for passengers. George was the only one still sitting on the platform. His hands gripped one another in his lap, and a foot tapped the brick. There was only a scattering of people to begin with; one for every two cars or so. Heaving himself from the stone bench with a visible huff, he walked toward the train, dropping into the black night briefly as he moved from the platform lamp to his assigned car. He’d be...

Read story

“From The First Glance” by Amelia F

Submitted to Contest #27

On the road to hell, there’s a lot waiting… waiting for the train. Getting there is no easy task brother. Well for those who go down the path. The path of which you will die down below. You can’t go through the brightness of the day but must wait through the cover night. There’s no map brother. Just a telephone wire and a railroad track. The platform of which you stand brother. You may ask about the platform number or where it is but brother that is something unknown to even the all-knowing. I give you tips and tricks on how to g...

Read story

“Things That Makes One Smile” by Perry Terrell

Submitted to Contest #27

Things That Makes One SmileBy Perry Terrell Lincoln and Kiera had been dating for a year and three months. Kiera called Lincoln on her loneliest night of all times. It was a Friday night and they hadn’t seen each other or had been out together for nearly a month. Lincoln had rounded out a whole month of excuses with the working late to his parents were ill. She knew his parents were not ill because his mother work...

Read story

“Number 7” by Jamie Shaw

Submitted to Contest #27

William Weasley was confused. How on earth had he become involved in this mess? He didn't know these people. William had been minding his own business, as usual, counting his cash drawer at the end of the work day. It had to balance perfectly, as was the custom for him. All of a sudden the bank manager announces all of the tellers were to report to the conference room immediately. "Really", he said to himself, "right now? My work day is over." As the others are passing him on the way to the meeting, William is pleased he's not the only one u...

Read story

“A Prudent Resolution???” by James Freeze

Submitted to Contest #27

A Prudent Resolution??? Most would believe it to be virtually impossible to laugh while being choked to death. Unless, you’re Henry's father, who spent his entire career establishing the fact anything was possible with the proper mindset. Henry Fletcher, on trial for murder, had placed himself in the hands of the aristocracy of 1959 Hillsboro, South Carolina, which could neither understand nor accept him as they’re equal.Henry Fletcher had watched his father die but seemed to feel nothing and wa...

Read story

“The Guilty Party of Two” by Megan Vigil

Submitted to Contest #27

“I believe he is guilty. Definitely, without a doubt. I mean, just look at his face!” “No, dude. That’s the look of pure innocence. There’s no denying it! I don’t think he killed her. I think he’s being framed by Lucy over there,” Davis says as he points in the direction of Lucy. “Well, whoever did it is going to have to pay for i...

Read story

“Boardroom” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #27

Boardroom‘And that’s why you don’t wanna fuck with me. Because my vengeance knows no boundaries.’ I couldn’t tell if he was serious. On the job two weeks and he’s already showing his true colors. No way. This has got to be some type of hazing ritual. I thought I left all of this behind in college. What my brother said must be true, you never really escape this sort of thing. He hovered above his chair and leaned over to confront me head-on, knocking over his barely touched salad. With his toupe obviously out of place and a smidge of ranch dr...

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

“Committee of Jurors” by Sarah Harris

Submitted to Contest #27

Zach Reid crossed the laminate floor in his cramped studio apartment. His black trousers were undone, waiting for a shirt to be tucked in. He carried two hangers with him to the tiny bathroom. He held up a blue button-down and checked the mirror. Unimpressed, he switched to a smoky gray one. Equally unimpressed, he held the two side by side. He contemplated which one was more professional, more mature. His baby-face often undermined his accomplishments, or at least that’s the way he perceived it. He had trouble believing that the same f...

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 ⭢