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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#30: Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami's books have been international bestsellers and translated into over 50 languages. His stories are often surrealistic and melancholic, frequently dealing with themes of loneliness, and giving readers the feeling of being in a dream.

After publishing a Haruki Murakami reading guide this week, we were feeling inspired by this fiercely imaginative Japanese novelist. And that's why this week's prompts all feature an element common to Murakami's writing. We hope you'll feel just as inspired!

This week's prompts

Write a story in which someone finds a secret passageway.

Mystery – 68 stories

Write a story about someone who loses their cat.

Sad – 62 stories

Write a story about someone who receives an unexpected phone call.

Dialogue – 63 stories

Write a story in which the lines between awake and dreaming are blurred.

Fantasy – 125 stories

Write a story about a character experiencing déjà vu.

Nonfiction – 39 stories

Stories

“Sea the Moon” by Joshua G. J. Insole

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #30

The seagulls were weeping again. They had woken her from her sleep. It was funny, now that she thought about it. She’d also fallen asleep listening to their shrill pleas. It reminded her of the song her mother had sung to her as a baby. Sunset and sunrise, bird calls and bird cries.Simone rolled out of her bed, feeling the tidal roll of the world beneath her feet. Circles and orbs, circles and orbs, she thought, inanely, as she wobbled over to the window on legs that felt made of string. It’s all just circles and orbs. Or spheres. Is ‘sphere...

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“House of secrets” by Liena Croquette

Submitted to Contest #30

Jane stared at the screen, eyes wide, bright blues and greens flashing on her face. On the television, a little boy and his grandfather rowed along the shore. In the distance, smoke danced out of a chimney, melting into the bright blue sky. The boy smiled at his grandfather as the pair turned the little boat, nestling it into a nook in the rocky shore, just below the house.“Here we are, Tony. You do the honours,” said the old man.Beaming, Tony reached out and grabbed a jutting stone. It gave way, sliding downwards, and the roar of rushing wa...

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“The Escape” by Artemisia Pearl

Submitted to Contest #30

“Please, don’t! Todd, I’m serious!” I cried, as my older brother, Todd, balled his fists. My twin brother and I always cower in the corner, as he beats us up. There had been a few times where one of us had stood up against him, but he just beat that one up harder. Our parents had died a year ago. Aaron and I were sixteen when they died. Todd was twenty-four, so he took custody of us. “Oh, stop it, Ana. You’re fine.” He replied. Aaron was shivering next to me. He never played sports, so he blamed his bruises on his clu...

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“Dial Up My Sister” by Libby Carter

Submitted to Contest #30

There are some phone calls you just don’t expect to get. For instance, where your told that you have a long lost sister? Yeah, definitely a scam. But here’s the problem, she didn’t ask for any money. I was sitting in the living room, watching a movie and eating popcorn. Typical thing to do while my Aunt Jilly was away at work. My other aunt, Jewel, was supposed to come pick me up later so I could stay the night at her house. She was going to call when she left her house. I already had my bookbag packed, so ...

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“Luna ” by Kari Hyp

Submitted to Contest #30

There was once that day.That day that melted into the background of the clear, crisp crust of sunset. It (the sunset) sort of had puffs of clouds that seemed to give off vibes of toy-story-perfection, the colors that swirled behind it (of course) were so extra to the POINT that no one even (as heck!) would notice such cloud-like-wonders. The wonders didn't end there: in fact, they HAVE only begun. Beginning with the sunset and ending… With her smile. Streams of golden waves of hair that flowed: down her back. Blue-blue eyes; but not the type...

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“Mrs. Goodwin's House” by Gabrielle Gerstley

Submitted to Contest #30

She lived at the top of Toucan Hill in a mini mansion. The front entrance was designed with bushes in intricate swirls and a small fountain made of fish spouting curls of water. Quinn walked up the porch and rang the bell. Mrs. Goodwin answered in a long black silk robe which reached the floor. She hugged Quinn, purring Quinn’s name into her neck, sooo good to see you. The house was freezing. Mrs. Goodwin walked ahead of Quinn, her robe traipsing the floor, floating behind her. They passed the curved staircase adorned in a long red carpet, a...

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“Living Nightmare” by Lee Kull

Submitted to Contest #30

Inhale. Exhale. A wet tree limb smacked my face; feet sucked on moist earth with each step. Inhale. Exhale. Sunlight flashed through the treetops and vanished just as quickly, a giant strobe light in the sky, as I ran forward. Inhale. Exhale. Just breathe, I told myself. Stop running, and just breathe. They won’t find you now.It took a while for my legs to respond to my mind’s plea. At last I stilled, muscles quivering, the adrenaline rush gone and weariness setting in. My daytime desk job had not prepared me for this; my body was not used t...

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“Turns Out, Self Help Books About Necromancy Aren't That Helpful” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #30

The second coffee grew cold as my sighs grew old. It rested on my kitchen counter, mocking me, right next to the trash can. I should just knock it over and let the whole thing be gone. The five bucks I spent on it were already gone, so there’s nothing to lose. But I didn’t. Originally, I wasn’t even planning on buying a second coffee. But when the barista said, “your usual one coffee just for yourself,” with a sneer smile--he didn’t actually have one of those--as I held up the line of people ready to spend twenty pus dollars on beverages for...

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“Into The Faerie Realm” by Tim Maddox

Submitted to Contest #30

"Hey, wait up!" Matthias called to the fleeing figure. It was his responsibility as one of King Thaddeus' huntsman to patrol his forests for poachers. He had originally spotted the young woman getting a drink from the stream. She had long blonde hair, a yellow tunic that complemented her lithe form, and she carried a bow. When she had spotted him, she had fled. True he had approached her with his bow drawn, but he couldn’t be too cautious. A pretty girl was a pretty girl, but a poacher was a poacher. He knew these forests like the back of hi...

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“Requiem Of The Split” by Amanda Chan

Submitted to Contest #30

Celeste was at her desk, about to doze off.The lecturer was talking about Thomas Hardy and John Keats. She knew nothing of poetry except for their names."Who was the person who broke off the yoke of slavery?"Celeste looked at her lecturer.She had no idea, but she would never admit it."Excuse me, what does that have to do with poetry?"One of her classmates raised his hand to ask."Five hundred dollars and twenty cents! Sold!"The cage was open, and the lioness pounced.She had been to the circus, and she was not ever going to return. On all four...

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“9 to 1 odds ” by Bree Kokiri

Submitted to Contest #30

“Darla! Daarrrlllaaa!” I hear Caitie calling for me from the doorway of our little suburban townhouse. Part of me wants to turn around. To forget the mission and just go home to 12 Darling Drive and play the “good kitty” role forever. But I know what I have to do. I just hope Caitie can forgive me if I don’t come home this time. Please don’t judge me too harshly, it was never my intention to break a little girl’s heart. I guess I should probably start from the beginning. My real name is Alexandra Rogers. I am part of a secret organization ca...

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“The Library Doors” by Ariel Kalati

Submitted to Contest #30

The door said “Library Elves Only.” Aline hated this. She hated that there was a part of the Library to which she didn’t have access. To be fair, she probably shouldn’t have even been able to see it. She’d waited until one of the elves left a book-ladder unattended, then scrambled up it and leapt from shelf to shelf until she reached the great scaffolding that the elves used to get around. It was such fun up there, until she found the door that forbade her. &n...

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“Tobb's Mission” by Charlie Murphy

Submitted to Contest #30

“I can't believe this!” Derrek said. “I can't believe I have to write an essay on forest fires in three days!” He walked across Mr. Wooten’s lawn while his Converse crunched the brown leaves. “Hey, you miserable cockroach. Get off my grass!!” “OK, sorry, Mr. Wooten.” “If you were really sorry, you’d stay off!” “OK, I will. Go back in your house now.” With a grunt, he complied. “Jerk,” he uttered as he walked in his driveway. As he trudged up to his house, a cold gust of air blew on him. “Figures. It’s gonna be a warm day, so ...

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“Corpse unscathed between worlds” by Kari Hyp

Submitted to Contest #30

You see me, that creature whom died committing suicide off the bridge near the pub. The creature whom-every twelve o’clock midnight- would creep ‘round the paved roads in agony. I was once human you know… Humans, humans. They betray their friends, stabbing them when they aren’t looking; they are so prideful as to storm their way out of the parking lot cause your ex-husband has cheated on you, but you’ve cheated on him also. What I ask is: why? Why would you out of all things in reincarnation, see ME. Me who’s left unscathed though I’ve been...

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“Wishbone ” by Dustin Softman

Submitted to Contest #30

A long triangular shadow had formed between the wall and the mirror. The closer I got the darker it became. By the time it was in arm’s reach the shaft had lost any discernible tone and the wall behind completely vanished. I reached out and picked it up. The shadow was surprisingly warm and soft to the touch, it reminded me of the old wishbones we used to leave out on the kitchen window sill to dry. It had that porous malleability of bone, it was strong but could be broken with enough intent. Nothing replaced the shadow, the area behind the...

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$50

Prize money

357

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 28, 2020 EST

Won by Marte Van Der Linden 🏆

Title: The Traveller

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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