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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

“Married In And Separated Out” by Robyn Welborne

Submitted to Contest #29

He is always forcing me to socialize with her. To see if she—and himself—can win over my approval. I do not mind it as much as I did before. She is an awfully nice girl. Maybe a little too nice, even for him. As far as “gaining my affections”, she is sadly far from it. *** Hi, my name is Margot Monroe, and right now I’m trying to cope with the aftereffects of my parents' divorce. I never wanted this, but did anyone ever stop to ask me? My once free life is now restricted by the words on a crummy piece of paper that was signed by s...

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“Slow Burn” by Joshua Copus - Oxland

Submitted to Contest #29

Cham stared at the photo of himself and Mum as he took the bus to Draggington: the city where humans and monsters co-existed. He would arrive soon, but first he needed to remind himself why he was moving there.The picture was a snapshot Dad took of Mum holding Cham’s younger self in her claws. As an adult drigi, she was as big as an adult human, and her white feathers shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Cham was as small as a human child there despite being in drigi adolescence. He still waited for his growth spurt to this day. He cheris...

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“Marlene’s Gift” by Laura Simmons

Submitted to Contest #29

Marlene Smith was an ordinary person in every way. She was of medium height and weight, had brown hair and eyes, and wasn’t bad looking, but certainly not beautiful. No one looked twice at Marlene. She was a good cook, a decent singer, poor in math, like many people, and good at creative writing. But how she wished she had an ability, a talent, to set her apart from others! Just one, so that she could be known for something special.Marlene’s parents often told her that she would find the talent to make her stand out from the rest. They said ...

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“Sophie's Retribution” by Holly Starlin

Submitted to Contest #29

Sophie Mason looked around warily, finding herself standing in the center of a deserted operating room. The bright lights overhead illuminated the shiny metal operating tools and metal table—the table she had just been lying on as the anesthesiologist had her count backwards from ten. She had only made it to seven when her world went dark. Now she was alone, and everything in the room looked to be untouched, still prepped, sterilized for an operation. Had her worst fear come true? Had she died during her spinal surgery? “Hello?” she called o...

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“Friendship is a Free Lunch” by Maureen Tupaea

Submitted to Contest #29

“Get over yourself Lana. You can’t spend your life in the doldrums just because you haven’t got any money.” Married to brothers, Moira and Lana were not only besties but were sisters-in-law too. Moira thought their lives were pretty good. The couples each had a son, both husbands had good jobs and provided an okay living for their families, and Lana and Moira could both be stay-at-home mums. Lana had a problem. She was a shopaholic. It was as if she needed to spend. She believed her spending was both wise and necessary. She b...

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“My Life as a Would-be Hardy Heroine” by Jane Andrews

Submitted to Contest #29

I fell in love with Thomas Hardy’s novel ‘Tess of the d’Urbervillles’ at the age of fifteen Written and set in 19th century England, it tells the story of a young and innocent country girl, Tess, who is romantically torn between two men: a moustachioed, upper-class villain, Alec d’Urberville, who rapes and impregnates her; and Angel Clare, a seemingly gentle and virtuous young man who marries Tess but then rejects her on their wedding night after she confesses to her past. My passion for Hardy’s novel later impacted my own love life so that ...

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“New Beginnings ” by Randi W

Submitted to Contest #29

Alberta, Canada1889 Caleb hoisted the heavy bag of flour over his shoulder and slowly picked his way up the cellar stairs; the stairs creaked beneath his weight as he slowly made his way to the open door. As he made his way back towards the kitchen he smiled as he heard his mother ordering his sisters around. His mother was trying to prepare a grand feast for her childhood friend and was frantically rushing around the house to prepare rooms and food for their guests. “Mother,...

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“Bonds and Betrayals” by Cara H

Submitted to Contest #29

OnePaul Clifford held the phone away from his ear as if it had been dipped in a caustic substance. His sister-in-law’s angry voice blared from the receiver. “Do you ever bother using your brain, Paul?” Anne demanded. “Gerry’s the sick one, but I swear that you’re the one who ought to be institutionalized.”“Well, that’s right nice, innit?” Paul fired back. “Did someone surgically remove yer tact, Annie, or were you just born evil?”“I’m not the fucking idiot who told reporters which care facility Gerry was staying in, you fat-headed horse’s as...

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“Yours Truly” by Abby Widmer

Submitted to Contest #29

I am a prisoner. Not truly, but that’s what it feels like. I am Quentin Michael Astor III. My best and only friend calls me Princey. Being the youngest prince of Rytral I feel a bit useless. I’m too young to take part in any duties other than appearing at royal ceremonies and being an heir. That doesn’t even count since I have 3 brothers and 6 sisters who are all more fit for the throne and older than me. Age seems to make such a difference. Being royalty is luxurious and all, but there are plenty of setbacks. You have lots expec...

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“Oddworld: Exodus of Paradise” by James Marvin Taylor IV

Submitted to Contest #29

Odd Love: Exodus of Paradise By J.M.Taylor IV Once upon a time in the vastness of the cosmos on a desert planet some distance away known as Omayri lived a desert dweller named Flakierri. Flakierri was what we would know to be a greenish four-armed frog-like man who for all intents and purp...

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“When you can't actually fight” by Light Love

Submitted to Contest #29

It’s Monday night and she’s been in bed for a long time. She cries a lot. The dark curtains blocking out the world from her and her from the world. I come home alone. Her, my dirty little secret. The mom I had to take care of like a parent. I just paid the bills. There’s never enough. Her snores echo. There’s really no one to talk to. She has no friends. She used to cook every day, it was her favorite thing to do, to cook big meals for everyone around us. Now her pain and the medications don’t let her eat mu...

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“Never Wrong” by LzeroVE STORY

Submitted to Contest #29

The rooftop was the venue of a rain dance party. Fifty plus building residents, men, women, and children of all ages, were beating the gloom out of their troubled minds. Beautiful shades covered a large portion of the roof. The guests who wanted to avoid the rain took shelter under it. One covered area was for the open-air kitchen, another one had a bar, and a third one had a big battery operated music system. The party was on, the music was loud, and in the center were Surveen and a few of her friends, dancing in the rain.“I forgot that we ...

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““Jumping to Conclusions!”” by Dawn Mandzik

Submitted to Contest #29

Alice settled into the window seat as she pulled off her hat. Sighing deeply she was glad she had made the train. Thank goodness Mr. Green drove by just as her tire hit the snowy rocks causing her to crash. As she brushed herself off, he quickly picked up her bike and placed it in the back of his Suburban then hopped in the driver’s seat and raced for the train. “I’ll drop your bike at your home after work today,” he said as he sat down next to her. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt and it look...

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“Salty” by Katie Silverwolff

Submitted to Contest #29

My eyes were pricked with sharp tears. I stared down at the dirt and watched tiny puddles form from the raindrops. My mouth tasted like salt. I wiped my nose on my sleeve and pulled my arms tightly across my chest. My eyes burned with tears and my hair stuck to my forehead in clumps. “Elle!” Liz popped her head out and yelled over the splatter of the rain, “come inside. Please.” I stood and pushed my hands deep into my pockets. I was beginning to hate this stupid place. I returned to the hallway, greeted by my sneakers squeaking across ...

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“ CONFLICT RESOLUTION ” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #29

My childhood was blessed to have grandparents and cousins as I grew up being an only child. Weeks ago before graduation preparations were underway for the high school graduation. Formal photographs in cap and gown were taken for the seniors, as well as casual photographs from Allendale estates once owned by millionaire Harvey Brooks. With some assistance from my mom invitations were sent out to friends and family. Unknown to me my dad and Uncle Thomas after a day of drinking, made a decision to attend the ceremony. My cousin Lynn left his ho...

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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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