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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#283: Seasonal Twists

Don’t forget to use the hashtag #ReedsyTwist to share your stories (and potentially get featured on our social accounts)!

It’s Christmas week, and if you’re celebrating, I hope you’re surrounded by everything that brings about festive cheer: twinkling lights and decorations, catchy holiday pop songs, the aroma of family recipes passed down through generations…

The familiarity of tradition grounds us in a world that’s always on the move. But as every storyteller knows, change is what makes narratives interesting. This week, let’s shake up some cozy Christmas traditions and add a little surprise to them. What will your characters do when the unexpected takes center stage?

This week's prompts

Write a story that ends with a huge twist.

Dramatic – 84 stories

Write a story about two characters who surprisingly end up spending a holiday or event together.

Short Story – 53 stories

Write a story about someone’s first Christmas after a major life change.

Short Story – 54 stories

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — except your character can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.

Short Story – 37 stories

Write a story with the line “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Dramatic – 65 stories

Stories

“The Postman did it!” by RHONDA ADAMSAM

Submitted to Contest #283

The retirement village was nestled amongst rambling gardens and native trees with winding paths throughout. It was a pretty village with many facilities for use by residents and had the added bonus of being a secure village – which meant it was surrounding by walls and gates all of which blended in with the garden. There were security guards too, tho they didn’t really need the extra security, but it made the residents feel safe.Until the robberies that is. Seven houses were robbed of all their jewellery, homeowners were aghast. How could th...

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“#ReedsyTwist# A Best Friend’s Betrayal” by Esther Ruth Ezra

Submitted to Contest #283

The chilly autumn wind swept through the streets as Emma clutched her scarf tightly around her neck. Her best friend, Chloe, walked beside her, guiding her through the park they often visited during happier times. Emma's face was pale, her eyes swollen from endless tears shed over the past week. “It still doesn’t make sense,” Emma murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “How could Jake just end things like that? Everything was perfect.” Chloe wrapped an arm around Emma’s shoulders. “Some people aren’t who we think they are, Em....

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“The Unopened Gift” by Laura Hunter

Submitted to Contest #283

The Ungiven Gift Held by surrounding mountains, Turtleback, Spencer’s Ridge and Big Pine, Grace had never experienced The Narrows that would lead her out of the valley. Not that fear kept her back. She had no curiosity to guide her nor tempt her to lessen the rope-like confinement. Late each afternoon, she locked the front door of the women’s clothing store which she managed and jiggled the knob to know the latch was secure. A black metal bench had stoo...

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“The Coming Out” by Tamara Shaffer

Submitted to Contest #283

“That dress is kinda tight.” Greg watched as Tasha, his wife of nine years, studied herself in the full-length mirror. His tone was sour, his expression sullen. Tasha, on the other hand, was almost giddy, as she turned this way and that, seeing how her new outfit accentuated her svelte, curvy figure, the result of over a year of strict dieting and exercise. She’d been taking tucks in her clothing, bigger and bigger ones, and bought several loose, a-line dresses to wear while the fat melted away. She’d waited until her goal of eighty-five p...

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“The Christmas Date” by Annie Chibesakunda

Submitted to Contest #283

It all started with a phone introduction from a mutual friend. I agreed to go on a date with a tall, young man from my department. He was my senior but not directly in my team, so I didn’t have any HR concerns. I had heard that he was a Christian, and as a practising Catholic, I didn’t see any issue in dating a Pentecostal man. This was our first date— a Christmas date, to be exact. On Christmas Day 2015, I slipped into my white V-neck shirt, which hugged my chest just right, and paired it with a jean skirt that clung to my hips before...

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“A Day to Remember” by Sarah Adewolu

Submitted to Contest #283

Francina Tuttiliogi sat up in bed, holding onto dear life the photo of the man who melted her heart: Troy Edwards. It was the night before the big day, the biggest day in her life, where she was going to walk down that aisle and say, “I do”, officially becoming Mrs. Troy Edwards. It was the moment her family had been awaiting, including all her cousins–distant and close–from all over the town. As she glanced at the photo of the striking young man–his golden hair that was slicked back, and ocean blue eyes that possessed serenity in them–with...

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“When The Ball Drops” by Gabby Spindle

Submitted to Contest #283

Tick. Tick. Tick. If the clock took any longer to change hours, Liam was going to throw it from his thirty-seventh-floor window. Besides, who had to work on New Year’s Eve anyway? It was completely ridiculous. He peeked over his cubicle to see who else was stuck in the office for the evening. From the looks of it, it was only him and three other unlucky souls. Tick. Tick. Tick. He groaned and shoved his keyboard aside, staring up at the clock again. It felt like he was back in high school waiting for the last class of the day to ...

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“Tapeworm” by Mariusz Marciniak

Submitted to Contest #283

'Starter' – crossed my mind. "Bzzz... dzzzz... tzzz" came from above. A sign of the end. Tiny flies and mourners buzzing around, taking turns in their vigil for the dying. The flickering light cast shadows of the thick cable—or rather, an attempt to hide it. The ceiling morphed into a wall at a strange angle, drawing the eye to the top edge of a cabinet. From its white surface, I slid down to a neglected wall, where dingy white paint met tired green. This border rushed left until it stopped at the pale pink hue of a balding man bent over a s...

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“NOA AND HER FAMILY” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #283

Christmas week is in full swing at my parent's house. The entire Rios family is coming. I'm excited to see my family I haven't seen in years. This is not just the Rios family Christmas but also the Rios family reunion. The Christmas week started early Monday morning with me and my sisters helping mom fix the house while the men folk my dad and brothers set up the decorations. Once me and my sisters finished fixing the house, we went to help mom prepare dinner for the next day. Then we helped mom bake. Baking is my favorite thing to do. Plus,...

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“Lean Greetings” by Steven Baker

Submitted to Contest #283

Carter had arrived early to dinner and already taken his seat. He wanted to get the end of the table that was towards the kitchen doors and away from the doors to the entryway. He would have more room to get in and out that way and less people trying to shuffle behind his chair to get to the bathroom. Plus, if he arrived early, leaving earlier would be more appropriate. He loved his family, but they were a bit much. Not obnoxious in the traditional sense, but they could be rude with an eyebrow raise or a sharp exhale timed just well enough t...

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“HOME IS A CEMETERY.” by Madison Porter

Submitted to Contest #283

Content warning: This story contains themes of grief and self-harm.My brittle bones tremble as I trudge through the cold chill of the supposed summer which never seems to form. My hands cling to the warmth of my pockets and my heart thumps along as I breathe in shaky gulps of air. It was supposed to be a dry summer. The kind of summer which you feel deep within your soul. That you taste in the strawberries that stain your skin and teeth. The kind of summer where you could meet someone and fall down the rabbit hole of the back seat of their c...

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“One year, one month, one week, one day, one hour, one minute, one second” by David Nutt

Submitted to Contest #283

One year of tragedy, one month, one week, one day, one hour, one minute, one second. I was born into a military household. My father was a well known and respected General. My mother was the chief administrative officer for pensions concerning officers above the grade of Major. I was their only child. The household was run like a well oiled Swiss watch. Attention to discipline, high standard of moral and ethical behavior with a sense of duty and respect for your parents and the common good. After a first class education at West Point I was d...

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“Wigilia” by Janis Parker

Submitted to Contest #283

Wigilia In the 1950’s and 60’s, Christmas for us was not focused on Santa Claus. Every ethnicity had their own particular traditions, as well as their own languages. Our family celebrated in revered Polish customs and traditions. We did hang red felt stockings on a fake cardboard fireplace and exchange presents on Christmas morning, but there was more of a focus on the aspects of gathering and sharing with family. The Christmas Eve meal was the most significant part of the season. Bread baking started days befor...

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“Condemned” by Brian Rohrig

Submitted to Contest #283

Four hours until midnight. Then it’ll all be over. Thank God. Death Watch officially begins seven days before the execution. That’s a long week. It’s been forever since I’ve seen my family. Once this is done, we’ll make up for lost time. The decision to schedule the first execution of the year at precisely 12:01 a.m.—midnight leaves a nagging doubt as to what day it actually is—puts quite the crimp on the holiday plans. Hard to enjoy eggnog around the tree with the fam when you know what’s about to go down. One minute aft...

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“Crossing Revisited” by James Barrett

Submitted to Contest #283

Why is Church Street filled with police cars and flashing lights?My name is Kathleen Kelly. My age is eighty-seven. I was born in Belfast but am currently in Dublin, Ireland. I am standing on the corner of Church and North King, holding a reusable bag of groceries from Morton's. The bag is mostly empty. Octogenarians like me only have a smidgen of disposable income to spend on sustenance. I’m next to the old Jameson distillery. Jameson. One of the things God gave to mankind to help deal with this endless suffering called life. Sex is a close...

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$250

Prize money

293

Contest entries

123

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 03, 2025 EST

Won by Maisie Sutton 🏆

Title: Can You See Me Now?

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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