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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

“Getting to Know Homeless Joe” by Wanda Fields

Submitted to Contest #283

The clouds in the sky looked like fluffy pillows. The air smelled of Lavendar and Bryson was with the girl of his dreams, Tara. This is too good to be true, he thought."Bryson! Bryson! Wake up!" Huh??? He rolled over and opened his eyes to find his mother red faced standing over him. "What? " He asked wearily. "Surely you picked up the party tray from the market, right?" He jolted straight up on the bed. It was 1:30 in the afternoon. he was supposed to pick it up at noon. "Oh, gosh Mom! I'm sorry! I was studying earlier and got sleepy!" Actu...

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“A Walk Around the Block” by Sammie Jeanne

Submitted to Contest #283

A Walk Around the Block By: Sammie Jeane Going on a walk on Christmas in a snow storm wasn’t the smartest decision Shane had ever made, but she had to move or she was going to go insane. She could feel the pressure building in her chest, the antsy feeling making her shoulders twitch. So she bundled up in walking boots, a parka and a sparkly purple beanie, a gift from her Aunt. Matching purple sparkly gloved hands wrapped around a thermos. Tea, not coffee. A fact that had always disappointed her Grandma. She had no idea wh...

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“DELAYED ” by Candy Burrowbridge

Submitted to Contest #283

The coldest of December mornings, they dreaded trudging through it all just to get to the airport, yet it was the family thoughts and traditions that warmed the heart and memories tickled the soul. Tomorrow was going to be Christmas! Tracy and Lenny were waiting to board flight number 222. Flight 222 to Los Angeles was delayed due to weather issues...oh what they meant was the blizzard that had came in this morning. DELAYED, DELAYED, DELAYED...who thought one word could be so soul crushing. Temperatures in New Hampshire, in December, were r...

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“Stranded at Gate 32” by Adrian Wolfpack

Submitted to Contest #283

What shall this event be called? “Miami International: The Great Christmas Blackout?” No, no, that’s too newsy of a title. Maybe, “Stuck Stranded on Christmas?” no, there’s no pizzazz in that line. Oh wait! I know “The White Christmas That Went Bla-" “Excuse me, sir,” Ace's eyes motion down to see the face of the person who interrupted my thought proce- “Can you please sit properly? We do not sit with our back on the seat and our legs hanging over the top back” It was an airport service worker due to the blackout that left every ...

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“Unconventional Christmas” by Justin Diaz

Submitted to Contest #283

The ground was dusted with freshly fallen snow as the crunching sound of footsteps filled the air as Connor, a teenager in high school made along the path up the large house. Stopping to look around he noticed the walkways were all coated in a thin layer of snow since it started up again a short time ago. Ahead of him was a house decorated with Christmas lights and decorations ranging from reindeer to Christmas trees. Music could be heard from inside the house as others all around his age were celebrating the holidays. Lifting his phone and ...

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“Christmas in Ruins” by Michael Palmieri

Submitted to Contest #283

On December 25, Franco Danowitz woke up to the news that didn’t quite feel real. The announcement crackled through his beat-up radio, clear despite the static: the war was over. A treaty had been signed late last night, putting an end to a war that had gone on far too long. Franco sat up slowly, still clutching the rifle he’d slept with. He wasn’t in a bed, of course—just a corner of what used to be a hotel, half its walls blown apart by artillery. The other half was rubble, offering little protection from the cold but just enough cover to h...

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“Przełamać ból” by Klaudia Dudek

Submitted to Contest #283

Zbliżał się dwudziesty drugi grudnia, a Anastazja czuła rosnące napięcie. Wychodząc z pracy, rozglądała się dookoła, by upewnić się, że nikt za nią nie idzie. Uśmiechnęła się do siebie i wsiadła do samochodu. Z piskiem opon ruszyła i dotarła do domu. Był mały i przytulny. W dużych pomieszczeniach czuła się niekomfortowo i źle. Tyle lat minęło, a ona dalej ma wrażenie, jakby to wszystko wydarzyło się wczoraj. Wzięła szybki prysznic i zaczęła sprzątanie domu. Nie lubiła bałaganu i otaczającego ją chaosu. Ceni sobie spokój. Zmęczona położyła si...

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“Hawaii's First Christmas” by Joy Ogawa

Submitted to Contest #283

Hawaii’s First Christmas: A Short StoryBy Joy Ogawa Christmas Eve 1858, the influential widow, Mary Dominis, opened her Honolulu mansion to lucky local children, child princesses, and Santa Claus for the island’s first modern holiday celebration. A large Christmas tree with European ornaments, presents, lit candles, carols, a grand luau of Hawaiian delicacies, and treats common in Europe were highlights of the party. Imagine horse-drawn carriages pulling up to a Grecian style mansion with garlands of sparkle and firs lining the ...

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“Christmas After Nam” by James Mckinley

Submitted to Contest #283

The clock on the wall said 6am. I could hear the sound of boots outside of my barracks. I didn't want to get out of my bunk, but I couldn't sleep forever, and my head was killing me. I had one too many to drink last night at the Enlisted Mans Club. As a staff sergeant I should know better, but when your buddies want to remember the guys, you left behind, what do you do? So out of the sack and into the shower. I can't believe that I have my own shower. That is one of the privileges of being a co-company commander. I share a barracks with anot...

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“Snap Crackle Pop” by Lou Jayne

Submitted to Contest #283

Snap crackle pop This story mentions mental and physical health problems Snap, crackle, pop, went the Rice Krispies, snap crackle, pop, went her bones, especially her knees. She wondered if there was a connection? Those old adverts did used to make the statement, ‘Rice Krispies, full of snap crackle and pop’. Maybe she’d eaten far too many of them over the years? After all you are meant to be what you eat, Aren’t you?She coughed, spluttering and wheezing from laughing over her own little joke. Her health wasn’t what it used to be...

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“Wednesday” by Victoria Hillis

Submitted to Contest #283

I woke on Christmas morning to a quiet and dark house. My first thought was that I was alone, but when I got out of bed to make myself a cup of coffee, I found my roommate’s door to be cracked open with her asleep in the bed. I stared for a moment, and then my eyes went to the tree that stood in the living room. It was unplugged, and there were no presents under it. I looked back at my roommate; though she was there, at home for now, I knew it would soon be just me. I tried my best to move silently around the kitchen, so I would not wake he...

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“Christmas Trees” by Julian Hickman

Submitted to Contest #283

For all the worry, our cobbled together family started well. Every weekend, my sons and I went out to Cindy's house, with its creek, hillside of brambles, a massive hemlock tree, and across the county road, woods, and a maze of abandoned Christmas trees smothered in honeysuckle. The boys, Peter, 13, Ian, 12, and Brendan, 9, built forts in the woods, dammed up the creek, and chased our dog, Marley, through the house. Steven, Cindy's son 5, wanted to be in their mayhem, but they weren't sure about Steven. He cried a lot. Cindy's cat, Cody, hid...

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“A Different Type of Christmas” by Rachel Ermutlu

Submitted to Contest #283

Laura was sitting on the couch at 2 a.m. Christmas morning, snuggling her newborn baby and hoping he didn’t wake up again. She was parched so she grabbed her water bottle to take a drink. Yuck! She thought. She was so exhausted she accidentally drank her baby’s bottle instead of her water. She was struggling to get in the Christmas spirit. Laura, her husband, Chris, and their baby, Remy, were supposed to visit family later in the day. But if Laura was being honest, she didn’t feel like being with anyone.&n...

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“Silent Night” by Lapanda Mason

Submitted to Contest #283

I rub my eyes as I walk down the stairs, the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air. Momma’s sitting at the kitchen table with a full cup sitting in front of her. “Good morning, Momma! Merry Christmas!” I say to her with a smile. She looks at me and smiles. “I’m so glad I’m off for the rest of the week. I didn’t want to be bothered with people right now. You know?” I sit at the table next to her and slide the coffee cup so it’s in front of me. “Your gift is a surprise! And before you ask, it’s not a ...

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“Sororal Reflections” by Eric E

Submitted to Contest #283

In the darkness of her room, within the perfect stillness of Christmas Eve, Sarah Dawson’s darkest thoughts were dragged up from the recesses of her mind before she drifted off to sleep. She thought about her mother and the almost-born baby inside of her and Sarah’s thoughts formed words, and those words were: I wish that her baby were never born. * Now, before any snap judgements are made about Ms Dawson, some context is in order. Sarah Dawson, 12, had actually adapted quite well to a difficult life. Her mother, Leila, and stepdad, Pa...

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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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