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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#32: This Magic Moment

Last week, we challenged you to write stories about life's ordinary moments. This week, we're thinking along the same lines... but with a twist. And that twist is: magical realism.

Magical realism is a literary style that weaves threads of fantasy into depictions of everyday life. For instance, a story might be about someone sitting on their couch and channel-surfing — that's the "realism." Then they might walk up to their TV and step right through it like a portal into a fantasy land. That's the "magical."

An important distinction of magical realism is that it doesn't explain the fantastical elements or occurrences. The magic that's woven into the story just is: a character turning off the rain with the snap of a finger is as commonplace as another character opening an umbrella.We hope you enjoy the prompts — and if you're looking for a more in-depth explanation of magical realism, as well as some of the genres best reads, check out this blog post!

This week's prompts

Write about someone who works an average job — but incorporate elements of magic into it.

Fantasy – 76 stories

Write about a person who meets with the ghost of an old friend for tea every so often.

Fantasy – 111 stories

Write about two people in a relationship. One of them has special powers, the other does not.

Fantasy – 77 stories

Write a story that includes characters who are aware they are a work of fiction.

Fantasy – 74 stories

Write a story about someone who can pause time or re-live old memories at will.

High School – 65 stories

Stories

“Flowerian Resin” by Felisha Bradshaw

Submitted to Contest #32

Thoughts of her hovered over him as he lay in the bed of Lilac petals had him feeling nostalgic. He wondered if she would be there. Armen knew love like theirs would always be. But since their tragic separation, he was beginning to doubt everything about them. She said she would love him a lifetime, but for their kind that could be anytime. "You need to grow up, Armen." Her harmonic tone tickled all over when he recalled her sound. "Although I do fear that you will. I know we were destined by the Flowerian God's to be a part of one another's...

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“A Memorable Date At Tenaria” by Priyanka Agrawal

Submitted to Contest #32

On one fine morn of June, Gary woke up from a phone call. He picked up the phone and answers the call, "please call later", and cut off. Repeatedly he was getting a call one after the other. He was so much annoyed by the time that he turned the phone silent. After a while he woke up with a sudden thought that it might be an important one and so receive the phone. After chit chatting for a moment, he was more happy than usual. He was sta...

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“Birthday Tea” by Deb Kyle

Submitted to Contest #32

“Move out of the way, Henrietta!" I tell the tabby cat curling around my leg. "I don't want to be late. Elizabeth is coming today!" I pull on my pale lemon yellow tea-length dress and smooth out the wrinkles. This is my birthday party dress. Today is Elizabeth's birthday and she is coming for tea in barely a few minutes from now. My hair is pulled into a very neat little bun at the nape of my neck. I put on my very stylish hat - well, stylish for the 18th century. It is resplendent with ribbons and ostrich plumes.&...

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“So You Won’t Be Alone” by Faye Adams

Submitted to Contest #32

“Alice, I’m popping on the kettle, you want a cuppa?” Rebecca called out to her friend.Alice sighed as she sat on the kitchen table, rolling her eyes at her forgetful friend. “You know I can’t have tea anymore.”“Right, right, the diabetes.” Rebecca said with a smirk.“You should really throw that kettle away.” Alice told her as Rebecca mopped up the mess made by their leaky kettle.“I should really do a lot of things.” Rebecca muttered as she chuckled humourlessly.Once she had made her tea, Rebecca sat down with her friend and gave her a warm ...

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“Not as Easy as it Used to be” by Adam Richard

Submitted to Contest #32

"How's life?" Caspian started every single one of our little chats like this. Some morbid humor."Can't seem to catch a break. Lost my job the other day. How's death?" Jake sighed."Well, remember how it was the last time you asked?" Caspian grinned, "It's pretty much like that. My only entertainment is coming down and hearing about your misery.""Am I sufficiently miserable for you?" asked Jake."Not yet, you haven't told me about losing your job. Spare me no details, this is literally all I have going on."Jake sighed, rubbing his stubbled face...

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“Tea For Three?” by Sarah Butland

Submitted to Contest #32

“No, not that tea, that’s still her favourite and I’m low on it.” The look Reid gave me was not unexpected. We both knew she passed away four years ago, almost to the day. “I know, I’m crazy but please, just save it.” Thankfully he put it back on the shelf and searched for another. “Try this one. I think you’ll love it.” I took the Lemon Meringue tea from the back corner, hiding it to have on hand just for this moment. “Lemon meringue tea? Have you tried it?” “Tastes just like the pie!” The distraction worked as Reid brew...

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“An Old Man and his Friend” by Ella King

Submitted to Contest #32

“So you’re back,” the old Japanese man said, his face wrinkling as his cheeks turned up into a slight smile. His eyes drifted to a corner of the quaint traditional house and landed on a small, shimmery figure that was slowly materializing. The man sighed and, turning his back on the figure for just a moment, picked up a wooden tray containing tea things and some small Japanese crackers. He slowly walked forward, shaking a bit as he went, to a short table that was situated in the center of the small room. He cautiously set the tray on th...

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“Ashes” by Gina Iwahashi

Submitted to Contest #32

Caroline spent a lot of time getting ready for her once a month tea party. Her grandmother had shown her the proper way to make tea when she was a little girl. First to weed the garden, next to prepare the room, to always select the art with your guest in mind, to choose your tea based on the season. She knelt next to the old paper box (letter, not legal) she kept all her stuff in as she sorted through. The thick and mottle glaze of her grandmother’s favorite bowl? Or the delicate one? So thin her fingers shadow...

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“Tuesday, 10:24PM” by Gigi Cheng

Submitted to Contest #32

Tuesday night, 10:24 PM sharp, Little Collins on 667 Lexington Ave, New York. Same place, same time for five years, all without an interruption in the weekly tradition of Sam’s. How could there have ever been a hiatus in their promised meetup? It would not be of Sam’s character to allow such thing. After all, the value of friendship to Sam has never changed within the course of all these years from the very beginning when Sam and Mort first conversed. And while, after high school, their pathways have diverged—Sam to ...

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“Love and Fear” by Obsession Williams

Submitted to Contest #32

Brad first met Monica a few weeks ago when he was at a party over at his friend’s house. He had just turned 20 then, a good-looking, happy and enthusiastic man enjoying life and looking for someone to live his life with. The strong attraction between them was obvious from the start and they talked, walked, ate and laughed for hours. They lived 5 minutes away from each other, they both had a daughter but still went on a few dates. Brad didn’t understand what had happened at first. But soon enough, Monica wanted a safer bet. Brad was a wi...

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“The Girl Who Knew” by Amy McMahon

Submitted to Contest #32

I wake up, and I know. My parents think I’m crazy, and dramatic, and lie for attention. I can’t tell you how many times they roll their eyes when I say, “I just know.” I think they don’t want me to know. They want a normal, happy daughter, who doesn’t claim to predict things. They want another daughter like my sister, with her brilliant grades and motivations that align with theirs. It seems like a normal Tuesday, at first. I wake up, and the thought is instantly in my head, as it usually is when I have a prediction. The ...

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“You Cannot Safety-Proof the World” by Karen Avizur

Submitted to Contest #32

Something tickled the edges of Katherine’s senses. Katherine turned over in her sleep, her hand brushing against her husband’s body. Her sheets twisted slightly with her as she did so, wrapping her right foot in a bit of a knot, which her subconscious got annoyed at and she shifted her foot so she was free to move. She started breathing faster as her heart sped up and her face twitched as something continued to bother her. Her psyche dissipated her dreams into oblivion before m...

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“Pink Tights” by Wayne Scheer

Submitted to Contest #32

Elvin lived in a two bedroom ranch house on a street filled with alternating two and three bedroom homes, each looking almost the same and each lined with boxwoods, trimmed exactly three feet tall. A community ordinance required the use of a yard stick.The neighborhood association banned all planting other than what they considered appropriate. They also required approval before painting a house and the front doors had to be either white or for the daring, a sober shade of dark red.Elvin never felt confined or rebellious. He l...

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“FAITH” by Jean Lagacé

Submitted to Contest #32

He wasn’t much of anything, this Manuel Garcia. As a fourteen-year-old teenager, he was still quite small but that could change. One never knows for sure with teenagers and their power to transform themselves from one year to the next. Girls, he didn’t care for yet. At least that was what his mother thought. She was mistaken since Manuel liked a girl from his school but found himself too shy to say so and too proud to admit it. The girl lived in their neighborhood. Her name was Irma. Both she and Manuel had played together since the San...

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“Home” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #32

I have no idea where he has brought me. This man, surprising me all the time. I knew we were a way from home but I did not realize how far away we were. My boyfriend, Ted, surprised me on this trip right before my best friend's wedding. I had to leave soon though because I was one of the head bridesmaids and I could not miss it for the world. Ted is a painter who never gets off of work. He is always creating something in his own way. I have tried to help him before but that has never worked. Our relationship is new, but it does have its faul...

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$50

Prize money

403

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 13, 2020 EST

Won by Thiago Loriggio 🏆

Title: The Tragedy of the Trainee

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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