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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

“First and Last” by Benji SIlver

Submitted to Contest #29

Imagine a girl, blond hair, blue eyes. Capriciously placed freckles. Pretty enough to be likeable but not enough to be recognized. She goes to a school where good grades are easy to obtain, but good friends aren’t. The sound of the school bus echoed in her ears, waking her from her momentary daze. She grabbed her bag and ran out the door, reaching the bus moments before the door closed behind her. Ten minutes later, she was at school. Getting off the bus, she saw her boyfriend standing beside the building waiting for her. “Hello,...

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“The "Firsts" Curse” by Megan Burkhart

Submitted to Contest #29

I know it’s stupid, but I thought I’d have my first kiss by the time I turned sixteen. Not that I need the assurance that I’m loved or beautiful…I just really hate firsts. Well, let me rephrase that. I have a terrible track record with firsts. My first day of kindergarten I threw up all over Emily Frank’s lunch. To this day, she avoids me, especially during the lunch hour. On my first day of middle school, I blanked when the teacher had us share a fun fact about ourselves. In the midst of my panic, I blurted that when I get sick, I’m c...

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“In Bloom” by Jens Cubos

Submitted to Contest #29

Clarisse wasn’t sure when it started. She could only remember her bestfriend, Liam, look at her in concern whenever she would pound on her chest, the feeling of suffocation tight on her throat. She didn’t really want to worry him, so she pushed his concerns aside, saying that she was fine and that maybe the feeling would go away in a few days.It didn’t. It’s been two months and that feeling didn’t go away like she expected any cough or cold would, which scares the hell out of her but wouldn’t admit in front of Liam. She felt worse than the f...

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“Crickets and Peanuts” by KerrieAnn Pope

Submitted to Contest #29

"I can't take you home like this. You're sobbing Beth. Stop telling me nothing, what's the matter with you?" It's hard not to ache at the pain in his voice. He knows exactly what is eating my heart out, but I have to be the one to say it. As the minutes of silence wore on, the only noise being my choked out sobs, he pulls into the Griffen's Store parking lot. The moon is bright tonight; its light almost encourages me. I wish it would act like a real friend and swallow the words I know I have to say, never letting them be ...

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“Bleu When He’s Gone” by Lina Fulmer

Submitted to Contest #29

It was pretty much love at first sight when she saw him or, at least, all she knew was that she was instantly drawn to him more than any other boyfriend she had ever had. He was French with soft gooey brown eyes that made her head tilt every time she saw him. He barely spoke at all but was a true sweetheart and she could feel the connection. Despite his shyness, he was friendly, and their birthday was on the same day. To her it was fate. So, perhaps it was spur of the moment, but she brought him back to her apartment. Of course, he couldn’t ...

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“Where the Fireflies Grow” by Karen Jeter

Submitted to Contest #29

The stiff breeze lifted a strand of hair from her forehead, small sweat droplets causing the other strands to stick profusely to her skin. The sun glared high overhead as she stood there waiting on Tara. Ever since the two girls had turned sixteen, Tara had been obsessed with her appearance, refusing to so much as walk outside to get the mail without looking flawless.Emily sighed with relief as she saw her best friend’s front door open briefly and close, Tara emerging between the hedges that flanked the sidewalk as if she was on the red carp...

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“In Focus” by Isabelle Espaldon

Submitted to Contest #29

Roses scattered on the table waiting for their thorns to be taken away. In her nineteenth year, Avery never saw herself spending her summers after high school working for her mother. She did not mind the work even enjoyed the expected repetition of being a florist. Yet, she always found that she would rather be doing something else. Something that would be much more exciting and fun. The problem is she did not necessarily know what exactly she should be doing. That is why she took a gap year in the first place. So far, the only thing she has...

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“Lost Love ” by Julie Frey

Submitted to Contest #29

"Girl, are you ready yet?” Myrna impatiently asked through the phone. Thank goodness Myrna could not hear Janie rolling her eyes or else the control freak would peak its ugly head. Myrna was a long term friend since Kindergarten and now they were in the summer, before becoming seniors in high school. Even though it had only been a year Janie was gone from her hometown, her friend, Myrna now seemed a stranger. “I’ll be ready soon. If I’m not there, just go ahead without me. I’ll meet you there”, Janie said, tryin...

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“Date Night: attempt number two ” by Rachael Hudson

Submitted to Contest #29

Sally just finished her date with her best friend’s brother. It did not go well at all, he was so quiet and awkward. No more than five words were exchanged the whole date, which lasted an excruciating two hours. They had planned on meeting in a local bar that was open until one am. The date would have gone on for even more hours if his work had not called him because they needed him to come in earlier than usual the next day. So he had left and Sally stayed , she had thought why waste a good drink. “Oh wow!” she dragged her fingers thr...

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“Leila” by Amanda McNally

Submitted to Contest #29

Leila had had enough. She was constantly being left somewhere, lost. Until she was found and sent to another shelter. Always, lost and found, lost and found. Never kept. Leila was a Border collie with a beautiful, long, black coat and two different colored eyes. She was also missing one of her back legs because it got caught in a fence once when she was lost. Leila had thought the time she was found with her leg caught in the fence, the person would keep her. But she di...

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“Learning to Play the Game” by Grace Allen

Submitted to Contest #29

The rich and handsome gentleman held the stem of the wine glass and swirled the exquisite wine gently with disinterest. The look on his face suggested that he had no intention to be there. But if it wasn't for his sister who was one of the debutantes, he wouldn't be there at all.It is universally acknowledged that a man of his wealth and status is in want of a wife. His mother, the respectable Mrs. Darlington made dozens of attempts to acquaint her son with girls from all the kingdoms but it was all in vain.His son never paid heed to his mot...

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“Lost First Love ” by N N

Submitted to Contest #29

Anastasia's POV It was Friday night and I had gone out with my friends Agnes and Beatrice to the newly opened The Red Moon club.The music was deafening but I did not mind. I was tired of working the whole week. Finally my boss Miranda Welles gave me an early day off.I was a wedding planner and the last week was hectic. This time we were planning a very high profile wedding of the famous supermodel turned actress Jennifer Cruz. She was a nice and warm person,nothing like what the tabloids had told about her being a serial dater. Honestly I ha...

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“The Mountain Man” by Lauren Halliday

Submitted to Contest #29

A large wooden box shook in Spencer's hands. Raindrops kissed the engraved name on the box's lid. Charlie. Heavy breathes roared in Spencer's chest, tears mixed with rain. The top of the hill peaked from the surrounding forest, making Spencer look small. To himself, Spencer began to speak. "Dang it Charlie, you couldn’t go out without making a mess of things first, huh? I’m still cleaning up the mess. It’s everywhere!" Tears choked the lumberjack. Memories of his brother Charlie, soaked with the events earlier that we...

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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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