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!

#29: Bildungsroman

Often, the stories we read in our youth end up sticking with us well beyond adolescence. We vividly remember our first encounter with imaginative Anne Shirley, the nail-biting rumble between the greasers and Socs in The Outsiders, the fierce camaraderie shared by the Harry, Ron, and Hermione trio, among many other memorable moments from the young adult books we read in our formative years.

This week, all five prompts feature popular elements that are frequently at play in coming-of-age novels. While you are certainly free to write a short young adult story, you can also choose to incorporate these prompts into any other type of fiction.

If you want to revisit some classic YA fiction to get your creative wheels spinning, check out our freshly published list of some of our favorite young adult books!

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone dealing with family conflict.

Nonfiction – 82 stories

Write a story about someone discovering something new about themselves.

Nonfiction – 52 stories

Write a story about two best friends.

Teens – 73 stories

Write a story about someone falling in love for the first time.

Romance – 80 stories

Write a story about a character struggling to decide how to handle a problem that is morally gray.

Short Story – 41 stories

Stories

“The Eulogy ” by Joselynn Watts

Submitted to Contest #29

"It was my first year of school in the great state of Texas, I was going to be a third grader. Not that I even kept up with anything that wasn't rolling down grassy hills and running around San Angelo barefooted and in dirty clothes, I was one for the wrestling and playing rough like little boys. My mother had made Texas Leadership Character Academy, or Torture Little Children Academy as I soon had grown to call it, like an adventure and, boy, was I the little girl for that! However, I was woken up a little too early for my liking...

Read story

“Magic Pockets” by Preeti Hay

Submitted to Contest #29

She left just as the school bell rang at three o'clock sharp, without saying goodbye. Who in the world would not say goodbye to her best friend? Sometimes Aanya drove me crazy.As Aanya walked out the open gates beyond which parents stood to fetch their children, I was reminded of her mother. So alive, so vibrant and tangible, not at all like the figment of imagination that sudden death had rendered her to. I remember the day it happened. We had a history test. Aanya loved history, whether it was the battle of Bastille or the Versailles pact,...

Read story

“Built-In Best Friends” by Clara Rosemary

Submitted to Contest #29

Born twenty-two months, four days, fifty-seven minutes, and 3 seconds apart from each other. The girls lived twenty-two months, four days, fifty-seven minutes, and 3 seconds apart from each other, so when people asked, yes they had lived apart before.Jane was born a Tuesday, Belle a Thursday, Belle during rain, Jane during sunshine, Jane had brown hair, Belle blonde. The fact that the two were polar opposites didn't make them any less close. They were sisters and sisters are built-in best friends.Growing up together, Jane learned to walk fir...

Read story

“Upon the Overpass- Sadler Slate” by Sadler Slate

Submitted to Contest #29

A cold summer afternoon cloaked by rain found my best friend walking alone. His head pointed at his feet as he wondered where they would take him. His thoughts smothered him and he begged for an escape. The concrete yellow-brick road turned to a trail of tears and sorrow as he began to question his life and its meaning. Everyone seemed to have turned their backs on him. Their words and their criticisms echoed inside his conscience and they seemed to get the best of them. Who is “they” you may ask? Friends. Friends former and friends ev...

Read story

“The Scrapyard” by Jeffrey Griffith

Submitted to Contest #29

* feedback is greatly appreciated!A young kid sat alone at a table; head flopped backwards over her chair.“Uncle Pete!” She yelled, turning a few heads. “I’m bored!” This morning Pete had woken her up early, declared it was bring your kid (or any young person you happened to be in possession of) to work day and handed her his old pistol. Uncle Pete owned a saloon and it was his pride and joy. He lived for the tales travelers told on their way through, his laughter often travelling far beyond the walls of the saloon. Therefore most ...

Read story

“Storey” by Sarthak Raghav

Submitted to Contest #29

Blue disco lights dangle everywhere. A loud and enraging song plays and the beats reverberate in frenzy. A crowded stage lies, a crowd of drunk maniacs, who in the day are sophisticated, right now dance and shake like there is no tomorrow. And they call this music! Real names apart, let us call me Trill. I am standing by the drinks counter, just alongside the stage. The bartender is looking at me, the only person who is as disinterested as me. "Come on Trill! Join us! Whoo!" A lady shouts from the other side of the stage. The bartender hands...

Read story

“That's What Friends are For” by Kim Smyth

Submitted to Contest #29

That’s What Friends are ForEver since the day you saw her through the chain-link fence in your back yard, in the summer of ’68, you knew she would be your bestie. From the elfish grin to her long, blond hair you felt you’d found a friend to the end. You somehow made an instant, life-long connection with this person, even at the tender age of seven, you could feel it. No matter her first words to you should have been taken as an insult (are you Chinese?) because of the shape of your eyes as you squinted in the sun, your heart opened up and le...

Read story

“I must get on that ship?” by Trish Tyler

Submitted to Contest #29

We sat down in our seats. We were in the front row of an old Broadway theatre, so sitting in the front row literally meant you had to watch the show looking up the entire time. We were so close up that, although we were in the front row, our sight lines were awful. We were so close that, in order to light the edge of the stage, you had to light us. Everyone could see us, from the chorine to the patron in the back row of the balcony. To the common person’s eye, you would think we must have known someone to get these s...

Read story

“To Jake” by Sarah Oakes

Submitted to Contest #29

To Jake This year marks fifteen years since the day we met. I’m so glad we did. Life wouldn’t have been the same without you. Do you remember that day? I know I do. It was one of the best days of my life. It was the summer of 2005. A Saturday afternoon. I’d been talking about taking clarinet lessons for months, after that old friend of ours Mr Brunton had that Open Day. Do you remember him? The kind Canadian? You smile at his name. Yes. I liked him, you say. He was kind and funny. We learnt lots from him at school. Yes, that Mr Brunton. An...

Read story

“The Day Gwendolyn Green Came Back” by Sophie Garman

Submitted to Contest #29

I had a best friend. Best friends braid each other's hair, make friendship bracelets, bake cookies, and stay up all night spilling juicy secrets with each other. And me? I'm spending my Sunday having quality time with my best friend. At the Common Burying Ground. Sitting by her grave. Martha Green taps my shoulder. "Hey, sweetie." I turn around to face her, along with Mr. Green and Danny. Their faces are white and sickly, their arms veiny, "Hi, Mrs. Green. I-I should go." It feels awkward to be intruding o...

Read story

“Two Primates, Two Sides” by Isabella Cassai

Submitted to Contest #29

"No, you can't come to school with me. I'll get in trouble." This is what I had to tell my best friend, Boone, right to his face the day after winter break. Of course, I only talked to him because I didn't feel so lonely talking to him. He wouldn't understand me."Ooh-ee-a-a!" He chanted back with his high-pitched voice. I rubbed the brown fur on his head and replied, "Sorry, bud." I gave him a banana to try to cheer him up. Also, yes. My best friend Boone was a monkey. Do you now get why the heck I can't bring him to school? I would get in t...

Read story

“Different Directions” by Joanna McMillan

Submitted to Contest #29

It had been over a week since I talked to Becca. It was weird, typically we'd usually talk a lot more, even every day sometimes. I decided to call her. "Lila! How are you?" I could hear the smile in her voice. "Hey, Becca! I'm good, how about you?" I asked. "Good, just been so busy. Trying to figure out all this college stuff and with finals coming up.... Plus, my parents want me to keep going to all these stupid extra curricular things so it looks good on my applications. But I’m good. How are you?" "I'...

Read story

“Ivory Tuesdays” by Megan Raisch

Submitted to Contest #29

“Yesterday was Tuesday. I usually don’t keep track of the days. Up until the last few years, anyway. But starting 6 years back, I always knew when it was Tuesday. Because Theodore was always there on Tuesdays with his smile and an overly packed folder of sheet music. Some people who live with me always remember Sundays, because all the residents are wheeled down and lined up to listen to someone who preaches too loud, as if we can’t hear him. He speaks slowly, painfully enunciating each syllable like we’re foreigners. Surely speaking i...

Read story

“A Week in the Life of a Friendship” by Tonnye Fletcher

Submitted to Contest #29

On the way to the hospital, Ariel thought about her friendship with Kenneth -- and with Sarah. The three of them had been friends for over 25 years -- Ariel had watched their 3 children grow up before her eyes. They had played countless games of Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit, put up many Christmas trees together and downed lots of pizza and Dr. Pepper at the local Pizza Hut. They lived about 5 hours apart, but made it a point to get together a couple of times each year -- usually Christmas and summer. This summer trip was...

Read story

“Blossoms of the Heart” by Ann Parker Burgess

Submitted to Contest #29

You could only describe Beth Hairston as alluring. Her dad called her Snow White after the 1937 cartoon classic because of her black hair and ivory complexion. The first quality you would take notice of was her bright, azure eyes. Tall, her shapely, long limbs carried her with grace. She ran with the most favored cliques who included the cheerleaders and the stars of the basket and football teams. When she turned fifteen, her father allowed her to date. Several, male students asked out, but the dates never ...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

328

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 21, 2020 EST

Won by Megan Dang 🏆

Title: Time Bomb

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 ⭢