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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#3: Calling All Bookworms

This week, each of our prompts is loosely inspired by some of the most beloved literature of all time. Can you match every prompt to the book it takes its root from? Hint: the five novels are included in this blog post of books to read in your lifetime.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a teenager visiting the place where they grew up.

Dramatic – 31 stories

Write a story about a matchmaker.

Romance – 27 stories

Write a story about a parent putting their child to bed.

Adults – 32 stories

Write a story about an ordinary day in a person's life. Use their internal dialogue to make the story interesting.

Dialogue – 26 stories

Write a story about someone who wins a contest and the prize of their dreams.

High School – 14 stories

Stories

“Oregon Rain” by Kate Heesemann

Submitted to Contest #3

Sadie Jamison was excited. Not only did she just turn 16, she was about to step on the plane from LAX to PDX. She was happy because she grew up in Oregon, loved the great outdoors and the smell of the rain, and she hated Los Angeles. She missed her home in Dallas, Oregon, her friends she had made, and owning a horse on the land the Jamison family had owned. Her father had moved the family to Hollywood when he wrote his first script for the big screen. Her parents seemed to love the life in LA, but Sadie hated it.&nbs...

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“Long Deserted ” by Fiona Kerlyn

Submitted to Contest #3

The old rusted bus waggled to a halt. Clarisa wasn't surprised at the emptiness of the bus. She grabbed her cross-body handbag from the seat next to her and slung it over her shoulder. She stood up, her body stiff from apprehension and moved about the chairs."Hurry with it!" the driver barked at Clarisa and she visibly flinched from the harsh impatience in his tone. She could tell he was nervous about the surrounding and she didn't blame him.She stepped out the bus and her leather sandals slapped the pavement whose bits had been chipped away...

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“Death of a Patriarch ” by Tawni Winns

Submitted to Contest #3

“He’s dead.” That was her first words to me, no Hello or How you doing. There was no need for pleasantries. I didn’t care two shits about how she was doing and she felt the same way about me. But no matter how little we cared for each other she knew how much this news meant to me. “How?” I asked knowing there was only one “he” she could possibly be talking about.“9 millimeter to the forehead.” “Who?” “Auntie Doris,” she said it with zero emotion like we were talking about the weather. “Guess she finally got tired of ...

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“Half of A Man” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #3

The essence seems different but nothing has truly changed. The crisp autumn leaves become ash under the souls of my shoes as I walk to touch the wooden porch that stretches out in front of me. I reach my hand to touch the cracked paint on the wood. The feeling brings memories flooding back to a time where the world seemed so generous. A roof that looks as though it'll collapse with even the faintest slam of a door. The sun hits the steps, so inviting, almost as if it draws me to come closer. I place my hesitant first step towards something t...

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“Just Leave” by Catherine Caprio

Submitted to Contest #3

Jenna, the friend I was crashing with, drove me back to that house right after school. I told her I would call when I needed a pick-up. If I timed it right, work wasn’t over yet and I had some time for either a rescue or a confrontation. Whichever one, I was ready. I shouldered my heavy backpack and knocked on the door. Rule of the house, the door didn’t open unless both of them were home, but I knew they would make an exception for me. It had been three months since I’d packed up my things and left. Both of them had probably been waiting fo...

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“Memory of a Youth” by Sahani Perera

Submitted to Contest #3

It's been 5 years, I find myself, seated in a train cubical, traveling back home. As I look out through the window: I was drawn into the glimpse of my past taking me to the place where I once grew up — a memory worth preserving. It was a beautiful village toward the north, surrounded by paddy fields and rubber forests. As the day began, my mother would shout "Get up! You're getting late for school". We lead a simple life. I rode on my bicycle everyday and cherished every moment I spent on the road. Ah! Yes, the beautiful road that ran in bet...

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“The Wanderer ” by Mililani Manaoat

Submitted to Contest #3

Chapter 1: Laura Laura had always loved the fresh clean air of Washington; growing up in California near big cities, she never realized the difference until moving there. “There's just something about the vibes here”, she would say. She loved the way it made her feel at least for the time being. It was an impulsive decision you see- to move. Laura has never been the best at making decisions or feeling grounded in some way. “There has to be something better” she would tell herself after feeling discouraged on most days. ...

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“The magic of rain” by Helena Bosch

Submitted to Contest #3

As she got out of the train station, the raindrops hit her face and the wind made her hair stick to her red lips. “My bad,” she thought, “to believe the weather would be on my side this time.” She ran across the street to reach the bus stop for cover, but the five seconds were merciless. Her feet were wet inside of her ankle boots, and her carefully chosen top was stuck to her skin. She sunk onto the bench in the stall and quickly glanced to the screen announcing the next bus. Even after six years, she still could find her way blindfolded ar...

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“Relived” by Nusayba A.

Submitted to Contest #3

Haunting truths are never prepared for. They may affect the way we reflected at childhood or even at the lies our minds have convinced our soul to believe in. But Peter has always been prepared for lies that seeped into him just like the storm seeping into his clothes. Just like the anger of memories had seeped through his mind.The obstinate doorknob doesn't show any signals of life, but perhaps it may have been the man's slippery grip. Sighing against the storms of rain and the gales of cold that encompass him, Peter fishes around his pocke...

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“Centralia” by Nuha Syed

Submitted to Contest #3

We stared at the highway, adorned with colorful graffiti, marred with cracks. The old section of Route 61 had been shut down for over a decade, and neither one of us had been back since when we’d left, forsaking the place of our youth, our home. Now, we stood upon deceiving colorful pictures and words, the silence surrounding us suffocating. Eerie. As if in just one more moment, the world would warp, or the ground would give out and we’d plummet into the darkness, our screams growing fainter until they went silent altogether. Or perhaps, we ...

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“Paulie's Dad at Work” by Rhonda Krol

Submitted to Contest #3

Three-point-four-year-old Paulie and his dad are at the supper table finishing off their hamburgers.“When is mamma coming back home?” Paulie began, looking up at dad with those big brown eyes.“We’ve talked about that, honey.”“But the hospital is so awful. It smells yucky.” a persistent son went on, shoving his remaining fries around the plate.“I know, your mom said the same, but it won’t be long now,” his dad looked up with a tired grin.“Why did she have to stay? You said she’d be back soon.” the youngster’s whine creeping in.“That’s what I ...

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“The Ritual” by Jennifer Todd

Submitted to Contest #3

“Sweetheart, please go upstairs and put on your pajamas. It’s bedtime,” I yell from the kitchen as I scramble to finish the nightly chores. With my ears perked up waiting for the sound of his feet defiantly stomping up the stairs, I unintentionally do my best Yorkie impression, cocking my head to the side, registering the silence. “Now!” I yell with a little more oomph. Still nothing. I throw the dish towel down on the counter and sigh, somehow surprised that what has become our nightly routine is now playing out yet...

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“My Daughter, Princess Wonder Woman” by Anna Blass

Submitted to Contest #3

For all those who risk their lives every year, every month, every day, every hour, every minute, every second. We will value your memory, honor your sacrifice, and help fight for your cause: freedom. I yell loudly, hoping that a louder volume will catch Olga’s attention. “Olga, time for bed!” No response. I walk over to her playroom and open the door slowly. Pink clouds and unicorns float in a hazy room that see...

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“A Father's Vow” by Kyle Chambers

Submitted to Contest #3

“There you are, nice and dry,” I said, as I finished drying my son off after his bath. Sammy was only 5 months old, and someone decided that I, with only 5 months of parenting experience, was perfectly qualified to take care of this little guy. As I had learned over the years, most jobs won’t hire you with less than a certain amount of experience, but taking care of and raising a human being? Nope, totally fine. I was about to grab Sammy’s pajamas, when I remembered to put his skin moisturizer on. My wife wouldn’t be too ha...

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“An End to a Day” by Sarah Hawkins

Submitted to Contest #3

"Milo Lorenzo Jacobs you come here now!" Emily Jacobs chased her four-year-old son around the couch in the living room, pausing only to take off her work heals and improve her speed. As she caught up with Milo she swung him up into her arms. She brought him back down on the couch as he giggled and laughed, her fingers dancing across his small stomach."Mommy stop! Tickles no fair," Milo cried pushing at her hands and forcing a pout onto his face. The pout didn't stay for long as he grinned wildly and leaped from the couch, dashing down the ha...

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$50

Prize money

130

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 23, 2019 EST

Won by Joshua G. J. Insole 🏆

Title: The Things That Do Not Float

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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