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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#28: Narratively Takeover

This week is a special edition of the Reedsy Prompts contest because our friends at Narratively are taking it over with their own theme and prompts! We'll let them take it from here...

Narratively is a media platform that celebrates the diversity of humanity through authentic storytelling. At Narratively, we know that truth is sometimes stranger (and more interesting!) than fiction, so we’re switching things up this week and asking for your TRUE stories. For this week’s prompts, we’re looking for your very best creative nonfiction — the fascinating true story that only you can tell, the one incredible tale you just have to share with the world.

We like stories that surprise and delight us, and that are full of dramatic, active scenes with lots of colorful moments.

To that end, each of our prompts for this week takes on an issue that never goes out of style… love.

The winning story will be considered for publication on Narratively.

This week's prompts

Write about someone (or something) you loved that you shouldn’t have.

Nonfiction – 90 stories

Write about a date that was so terrible you’ll never forget it.

Nonfiction – 46 stories

Write about your most unique experience at, or in, a wedding.

Nonfiction – 34 stories

Write about a time when a broken heart led to something you’d never have expected.

Nonfiction – 58 stories

Write about a secret that you’ve never told to the person you love.

Nonfiction – 41 stories

Stories

“Him.” by Wykiddia Jacinto

Submitted to Contest #28

I had no idea who he was. We weren't even friends. But the first time I was introduced to him, I felt my heart skip a beat. He was charming and charismatic. The more we would spend time together, the harder I kept on falling. It was such a scary feeling and I would try to keep my distance from him but, he always managed to pull me back in. He always hugged me and held my hand. One of his friends came up to me and told me he was going to ask me out that day. I was so excited and couldn't wait for him to pop the question. The day went by lik...

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“Rule Breaker” by Raisah Hussain

Submitted to Contest #28

It was that time again. Monday at 4.p.m.I’d set my eyes on him for the first time every week.He’d walk by with those black trousers and that long, blue trench coat that made people look like they were walking into an interview - but he was a teacher and he didn't have to dress like this. His black, tight curls were shaking a little as his baby blue eyes were aimlessly searching as we waited.And yes, I’d divert my gaze onto my surroundings, hoping he wouldn’t catch it – although sometimes I’d often wonder that he did. My heart was beating out...

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“Strength” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #28

At a hard time in my life I found him again. Like fate. I knew Bob from high school, and we had gone out on a few dates. Now it was 25 years later, and we had reconnected on social media. If this was Reader’s Digest the story would go on to say old lovers reunite. One would almost be able to hear the “aww’s” coming from the countless readers around America, probably the globe. But it doesn’t tell you the rest of the story. I was two years post-divorce and lonely. I’m sure he was too. At that time my boys were nine and six. ...

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“heros are the best ” by Valeria Ruiz

Submitted to Contest #28

Once upon a time there was a pretty girl named Valeria Ruiz. He was on his way to see his best friend, Candy of Eleanor, when he decided to take a shortcut through the Greenwood forest.It was not long before Valeria was lost. He looked around, but all he could see were trees. Nervously, she searched her purse for her favorite toy, Molly, but Molly was nowhere to be found! Valeria began to panic. I was sure I had packed Molly. To make matters worse, I was starting to feel hungry.Unexpectedly, he saw a friendly dog dressed in a purple jacket...

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“To Hell In A Handbasket” by Pete Zenz

Submitted to Contest #28

It was early 1992. I was 29 years old and up to this point I had been batting about .001 when it came to girls/women. I say it that way because it started as early 2nd grade. In any case, this was at a time in my life when my only goals were getting high and finding a female companion. Unfortunately, I was a thousand times more successful at the former goal. I am a fanatical music lover. Since 1984, after I joined the Marine Corps, I had started collecting music, always expanding on my tastes. While I am not a huge fan of Opera, I do like so...

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“Worse than Bad” by Cara H

Submitted to Contest #28

Worse than BadI almost didn’t write this.I slagged off my ongoing story project while arguing with myself about whether I should write this. I’m sick of wasting my own time.Whenever people see a prompt like “write about a date that was so terrible that you’ll never forget it,” everyone expects comedy. They expect to hear from the gal who was under the impression, judging by her date’s profile picture, that he bore a strong resemblance to Tom Selleck. However, instead of being her deliverance he had a strange resemblance to a cat named Franke...

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“ TIME FOR US” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #28

As I stepped out of the pool, I noticed a young man speaking to my mother's best friend Joanna Miller. Walking, hurriedly toward the table where my mother sat reading the morning newspaper, I tripped over a lounge chair. Strong hands caught me around my waist, as I turned to thank the person responsible for breaking my fall." You may thank me by going out to dinner with me Saturday night," by the way my name`s Andrew Moeen." " Yes,! I would love to, before I revealed who I am, Laura Lambert. His dark black curly hair complimented his big bro...

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“You're Next” by Jessica Briggs

Submitted to Contest #28

You’re Next Never a bride. Never a bride’s maid. Heck, I’ve never even been in a wedding party before. But, my sister was getting married, and I would be there for whatever she needed, which was in fact, the cake. Yep, I was solely in charge of the cake. Everyone else had other responsibilities. All I needed to do was buy a couple dresses for the day, and show up with a beautifully decorated wedding cake. &...

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“Second Time's a Charm” by Karen Quick

Submitted to Contest #28

The mirror regards me coolly, telling me bluntly what I already know: The dress is too big. Nevertheless I push on, determined to look somewhat tasteful on my impromptu wedding day, and continue stuffing crumpled towels from the dispenser into the bodice that was cut too generously for someone my size. My friend, who was not selected as a bridesmaid and will be sitting in the crowd, finally declares that unless I want the horror of wearing a bra under my strapless dress I should plaster my arms to my sides and just get on with the whole mess...

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“The Wisdom Tooth Wedding” by Ann Parker Burgess

Submitted to Contest #28

Your wedding day is supposed to be magical, romantic and the most memorable day of your life. You are excited and can’t sleep the night before. You and your bridesmaids sit up all night talking. Every bride wants it to be perfect, right? Nothing can go wrong.For my friend, things were working out perfect. The wedding date was set. We had gone together to pick out her wedding dress. Oh, it was beautiful and she couldn’t have looked more beautiful wearing it. I helped her with invitations and picking out the wedding cake. She and the groom met...

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“The T-Shirt Toast” by Sean Reiley

Submitted to Contest #28

“Sean, where are you?!” Good question. I was walking around town towards a restaurant I frequented throughout any typical week. Saturday happened to be fish-fry-special night and nothing was more delicious than the fresh caught fish from Lake Mwanza. “Heading towards the Uhuru Monument. What’s up?” Sunsets in Arusha can be borderline nirvana. There weren’t too many lights illuminating the city sky so as to block out the emerging stars against the increasingly pink and orange horizon. If you looked during the right time frame, ...

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“My Top Five” by Emma Preston

Submitted to Contest #28

I've been a bridesmaid six times, so when it came to my own wedding I was pretty sure I knew what to expect. For the most part I was pretty spot on, but I'd be lying if I said there weren't a few surprises. If I had to narrow it down, the top five biggest surprises of the day would be: 5. The (friendly) scuffle over who got first dibs on the pork pie cake, which ended with two members of the wedding party rolling around on the floor. This takes last place on my list because I only associate with people who take buffet food ver...

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“MARRIAGE REPLAY” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #28

Sulochana aunty had to go apartment no. A Block 234 and inform the ladies that her daughter in law, Hemamalini, would not be able to attend this fortnight’s kitty party cum get together, arranged in this house. She could have very well telephoned and told them. But then, she was not sure who would pick up the phone. Sulochana aunty was not good at conversing in English nor in Hindi. By going in person and telling the ladies, it was expected that one or the other woman would understand her dialect. By the way it was neither a far away place, ...

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“Lost Girl's Odyssey ” by Dakota Red

Submitted to Contest #28

We’re laughing, singing to the radio, and watching the mountains fly past on either side. There’s five of us squashed into the same vehicle, but we’re happy. We don’t care if our voices are loud, and terrible. Peter smiles at me, with that innocent smile of his, and I know that there is no greater joy in this life than to love and be loved. Then his hand strays from the steering wheel to rest in the space between us, and suddenly my mind curls in on itself as I remember a scene so parallel to this one. It began when she broke hi...

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“We choose our own path” by Alex Ferguson

Submitted to Contest #28

“Tell me why you’re here.” The woman in front of me looked like Mrs. Claus, minus the cheer.“Because I have to be,” I said shortly. She knows exactly why I’m here.“You know that’s not what I mean, Sam. What events lead you to my office today, take as long as you need to collect your thoughts, then proceed.” She eyed me over her spectacles, chained around her neck to keep them from getting lost. Do old people lose everything that’s on their head, or is it just grandmas? I took the opportunity to look around the small room, filled with inspira...

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$50

Prize money

269

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 14, 2020 EST

A winner will be announced soon.

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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