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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

“Fireworks” by Joanne Phanh

Submitted to Contest #29

It was an average summer day nothing was out of the ordinary. Teresa went to work, she worked the night shift like the 30 other people worked with her. Her break time for her dinner was it 8:30 pm. She was sitting with a group of friends and co-workers at a long bench just you chatting about the day. Sam, the new mechanic sat down right beside Teresa. He offered her some of his dinner but she politely declined. The next words out of his mouth were shock...

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“My Move” by Kate E

Submitted to Contest #29

I tried to sleep on the plane, but the memories that turned into dreams and the dreams that turned into memories kept my mind racing the entire flight, making any semblance of rest an utter impossibility. There we were on our first date pretending to give each other a tour of a place neither of us knew anything about. Do you remember that statue of Sir Johnny Plurplington? I think you told me that he was the first person in the world to discover oranges. And there’s the grand archway that everyone else just walked through without so muc...

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“Finally Falling” by Alexis Campos

Submitted to Contest #29

I can only remember the romanticized version of our first date. It was a humid Spring afternoon. We walked side by side through a thrift store, I mentioned how much I loved exploring old stores and you were quick with a suggestion. We took the bus to an ugly little place with the cutest stuffed animal collection. I was in love. We left without buying anything – I didn’t have cash and wouldn’t let you pay for me. Feeling accomplished with our window-shopping we smiled as we headed to our original destination. The sun was setting, bathing the ...

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“Tough Choice!” by Jason Scharf

Submitted to Contest #29

Tough Choice!At the time of my last arrest I had only been out for three months. All my plans of going straight and staying out of jail had gone out the window and I found myself in front of the judge, once again. I was nine years old when I was arrested for the first time. I was just a dumb kid who didn't want to face the consequences given for sneaking out, so I ran away from home. To me, this just meant that I would find a place to hang out for a few days until I thought Mom would not be so angry. At some point, I got tired of walkin...

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“Losing What You Never Had” by Debbi Bushee

Submitted to Contest #29

The majestic sized wooden door adorned with stained glass windows was heavier than I anticipated. I tugged on the brass handle aware these were not their normal business hours, but doubtless the door would open. I was greeted with an overwhelming, intoxicating and nearly nauseating aroma of flowers.The entrance room was dim but after the staggering moment it took my eyes to adjust, I could see a wide hallway directly in front of me through a large, heavily carpeted room. Sound was quieted, acoustics purposefully muffled with velvet drapes...

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“Bask and Sting” by Garrett Hastings

Submitted to Contest #29

Effortlessly, with one final brush stroke, his greatest masterpiece yet was complete. The sun spilled its most resplendent colors over the edge of the Great Desert, most prominently a deep shade of red. A wide smile cracked his face, as he admired his work. The dark fell fast, so he grabbed his work and scuttled back home, skating across the sand. When he had reached it, the moonlight illuminated his home. A glow flickered from inside, and he could hear his wife, Georgette, idly talking at their son, Ernie. “How’d it go, my dear?” asked Geor...

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“To Kill a Hellkite” by Yanni Chan

Submitted to Contest #29

Hal: I woke to see Abel staring at my face. So I felt my upper lip. I thought I’d grown myself a stubble overnight, you see, and Abel’s got his but he’s older; Lori had one too, but he’s a dwarf and it ain’t fair, but there wasn’t the bit of hairy roughness I was expecting. And then I noticed I had this great red mark etched on my left cheek, probably where I lay on that old sack yesterday night as a pillow. Bummer. Well, anyway everybody was making breakfast and hitching up their horses, so I figured we’re pressing on early. Helene passed m...

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“Stitches” by Emilee Paulson

Submitted to Contest #29

I feel like writing a piece. Out of pure pleasure and free. My bf hates that. But here I go. I don't have much right now. We went out last night. I looked nice. He was proud to have me by his side. We can't wait for the apartment. More clothes...he wants his office. I the kitchen. We dream of these materials that matter. If only for a season. I started thinking about this shirt I found and wore last night. .y favorite. Looks good 👌 on me. And certain outfits stick out my whole life. Things I remember having. That dotted dress I wore navy blu...

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“Running From Himself” by Steve Kaye

Submitted to Contest #29

The whistle blew signaling the end of the first half. Turning towards the pool in his backyard, Bob watched as the sun was sinking on this November Saturday.His wife was behind him in the kitchen, seasoning a turkey. “Can you lower the volume please?” He muted the tv, reached for the empty glass in front of him, and stood. “What’s up? Is that for tonight?”“I thought since it’s Thanksgiving weekend and we went to the Miller’s on Thursday you’d like a turkey. I need you to take Tommy to Dylan’s house. He’s going there for dinner and prob...

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“PASTOR HANTAMBO REPENTS” by RADIUS HAVWAALA

Submitted to Contest #29

“We are sending Pastor Hantambo to deposit the tithe money into the bank, Amen church!” Elder Munaumba concluded the business meeting at the venerated Chazanga SDA church one afternoon. “Amen! Alleluia! Amen! Alleluia!” the church exploded in a standing ovation. Pastor Hantambo was thirty four years old, slightly short and completely brown in complexion. He did not waste time after the dramatic announcement by the elder. With bubbles of elation at being honored with such a delicate task, he...

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“Whatever Works” by Adrienne Odele

Submitted to Contest #29

The first time I saw it, I was twelve years old. Ms. Ashley came over in the afternoon, a change from her usual night time visits, but it was just my dad and me at the house that day. My mom and my brother, Craig, were at urgent care getting his ankle examined. He had jumped out of the tree in our backyard and had been limping for two days. He was three years younger than me and always getting into something. Even with his limp, it was hard to keep him still. Dad and I were just hanging around, tossing a softball back and forth in the yard. ...

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“Judgement” by Sharon Felicia Acheampong

Submitted to Contest #29

The law. It was something that had fascinated Kim Da Eun since she was a child. Her father had been a lawyer before a heart attack killed him two years ago. She missed him; He had been her idol, her main reason for getting into law. She was however grateful that he had lived to see her graduate, start working at a prestigious firm and win her very first case, that had been four years ago. She wished he was here now. He had always been her go to person when she had any issues and more so anything work related. Like now. She got up from her de...

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“Cookie Indulgence” by Alexandra Carcich

Submitted to Contest #29

Frozen pucks of chocolate cookie dough lay heaped on the baking tray. The aluminum tray was 18” by 26” and lined with parchment paper. Addison counted out nine cookies and put the rest back in their bag, back in the box. She had examined the chart of how many cookies were baked off every day, as well as how many were thrown away. Experience taught her that on a Monday sales were slow at the small store. Unless it was a school holiday, people ate the sweets they had collected over the weekend. Addison wanted to bake off enough cookies so that...

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“It Happened After” by Tiare Barraza

Submitted to Contest #29

The girls looked at each other and grabbed the bottle of pills. That coupled with some alcohol, and death did its job, just as the girls had hoped for. Death came by much faster than they had expected. There was no magical light, no fluffy clouds, nor an angel in sight. The girls looked at each other confused and unsure as to where they were at or what was going on. They looked around but there was nothing. They both jumped as a voice said, “Ladies, if you could follow me.” The man did not wait for them ...

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“Slave of love” by VA Writes

Submitted to Contest #29

Her name is Sevasna. She’s 28 years old. She lived with her parents and three sisters. She got lots of friends, from different circles. From each of them, she believed she gained a nemesis. Nemesis, not because she can’t win over them, but because the animosity couldn’t be settled. Each of them has a silent war waged since Sevasna corrected a grammar, called out their bluff, or simply annoyed with her spirits. But then, they’re still friends. Sevasna pretends she doesn’t see their hatred, but she sees it, as clear as the blue sky. She snub i...

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$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!

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