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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

“Writer's Block” by William Hargrove

Submitted to Contest #32

New York City, New York; 6:04 PM “Mr. Greenwood,” the velvety voice of the interviewer began. “There have been numerous delays on the release of your latest novel, A Week In Paradise, and I was wondering, as I assume most of the audience is, too, what can you tell us about its release?” “Well, you see,” Daniel Greenwood began nervously. “This particular story… it’s quite gruesome. The most morbid and foul I’ve yet written, in fact.” The audience, as enamored as ever with his style of gory and vile books, cheered and whistled. Daniel smi...

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“Memory Manipulator” by G. K. Derickson

Submitted to Contest #32

Mia leans against the steering wheel of the midnight blue 1967 Chevy impala. It’s old but reliable- mostly. It was about the only thing the gang could afford. Ah, the life of a super villain. She sighs, tapping her fingers. The dashboard clock flashes 1:38 a.m. To think this is taking so long. Mia isn’t going to wait around much longer, she's only waited this long because of the pay. She checks the time again. 1:39 a.m. Five minutes. And 30% more. Mia has...

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“Some days never come back again.” by Aasin M

Submitted to Contest #32

"What are memories if they did not bring back more memories!" she thought as she tried to open her eyes. The night is long if you cannot sleep and only think of the good things that happened to you and realize that it is never going to happen again. She smiled because she knew even the memories make her happy. Some moments are worth a lifetime. She closed her eyes, gently and let her mind float to some smiles back in her college hostel.She had some beautiful people because they loved truly and laughed; those moments were honest. She remember...

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“Life's Little Moments” by D_Velani K

Submitted to Contest #32

The first time it happened, it was like a dream. Seeing you standing there like the years hadn't hadn't passed us by, young and strong still lively. The light still shining brightly in your eyes. Surreal. We sat at the train station you had your dufflebag at the ready, looking sharp as ever in your army uniform. Freshly starched. I couldn't have you walking around in wrinkles. I can smell your cologne and feel your soft breaths on my cheek as we embrace. The wind blows and my powder blue dress flutters around my knees. I grab hold of my hat ...

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“9:21; A Time When Loss Asserts its Lethal Power” by Leonora Lo-oy

Submitted to Contest #32

She sits in front of her computer, staring blankly at the articles she should be done editing by now. It’s already fifteen minutes pass nine in the evening and most of her colleagues already headed home leaving few of them to conclude what needs to be done. Three staffs and her was left remaining in their division. Together with the cartoonist, the layout artist, and the proof reader, they had to stay and overtime to meet the production’s deadline because their news print had to be published the next day. They had to publish their ...

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“Always Forget to Never Remember ” by Seth Gustafson

Submitted to Contest #32

We were sitting in my room. Tyler was on the floor, leaning up against the wall. He was turning an old looking pocketwatch over in his hands and the lines of sunlight filtering in through my upturned blinds were crossing over his face. I sat up on my bed, buried in blue and pink galaxies that twisted together with red cheeked pikachus. We were supposed to be going out to eat, but I decided at the last second that my bed was quicksand and not even god himself could pull me free. Unfortunately Tyler was somehow more powerful than the big G. He...

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“Change” by Fay Kern

Submitted to Contest #32

I was staring at the golden leaf necklace on my bed, a memorial. I missed them all so much. I decided why not, I closed my eyes and transported myself back to the summer of 2018. 7am, on the dot, my phone dinged, my best friend at the time, Ella. I choked back a sob as I watched my 13 year old self slowly wake up and answer her text, she lived in a time zone two hours ahead of me so I woke up at almost exactly 7 am every day that summer. Tears streamed down my face as I watched myself laugh at her text. Our moms made us stop talking to ...

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“Beginnings” by RJ Greene

Submitted to Contest #32

Egan distractedly elbowed the door handle, pushing it downwards, his arms laden with books and term papers. After minutes of struggling and bruising his elbow, he shouldered the heavy oak door, his glasses threatening to slide off the tip of his nose as he continued to read the paper placed precariously on top. His lips moved silently with the words as he maneuvered through the library and towards the stairs. He turned a corner and ran into a solid wall of black, papers and books tumbling and scattering across the floor. A black-gloved hand ...

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“Tina's coffee shop.” by Marta Miralles

Submitted to Contest #32

“An expresso with three shots of charisma for Fred!”. He comes and picks up the small cup, takes one of the ices in the buckets and swallows down the cup in one huge gulp. He places the ice in his mouth and smiles at me.“Wish me good luck.”“Only one pound for a shot of it.” He laughs and leaves the coffee shop, smiling at the people in the line. The keys on the door frame jingles constantly as customers come in and out.“Hey Tina, can I get a shot of positivity in a frothy hot chocolate please?”“Sure thing, is your uncle giving you trouble ag...

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“On a Scale of One to Ten ” by Emily Vega

Submitted to Contest #32

In a world full of superheroes, what’s worse than having no superpower at all? Having the world’s worst superpower. Okay, I’ll admit, perhaps my power isn’t the absolute worst, but it certainly isn’t flashy. And nowadays, the flashier, the better. The Flash, with his speed. Wonder Woman with her Lasso of Truth and fighting skills. Batman with his… okay, Batman doesn’t really count, but the media is a sucker for those brooding mysterious types. &n...

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“Hexpresso” by Daisy Erina

Submitted to Contest #32

Krysta stood before the temperamental espresso machine with a frown tugging at her plump lips. Her hands were planted firmly on her hips, her weight shifting back and forth between her feet. The machine had been on the fritz as of late, burning espresso shots and growling loudly when left unattended, chilling milk rather than steaming it and shutting down when anyone commented on its malfunctions. Krysta, the café’s lead barista and local witch, was always the one called in to fix whatever crisis the inanimate m...

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“Cursive Charms” by Sarthak Raghav

Submitted to Contest #32

The walls of the cabin are peach colored. Caramel streaks line the wall, branches of a painted tree light and faded. A marble plastered table top is in the middle and behind it is a cosy desk chair. There is a dullness in the cabin as the lights as of now are switched off. The sliding door to the cabin slides open smoothly and the tree lights into a matchstick sheen. A formally dressed man in admiral blue coat under which a white shirt gapes from the gap and blue pants. He has a short boxed beard and charming, honey tinted eyes. He clos...

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“The Server” by Yvonne Oral

Submitted to Contest #32

Emily squinted her eyes against the swirling snow as she reached the top of the wet subway stairs. Shoulders hunched to her ears, she pulled up her hood and tightened her scarf. She wasn’t even sure why she was going. It had been a hellish day, as usual, and she just wanted to get home, climb into bed and pull the covers over her head. But she’d begged off last time and knew that Val would take it personally. She had been distant with her since Val’s cancer diagnosis, not really knowing what to say. So, braced against the freezing downtown g...

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“Unforgettable Ink” by S.S Bruno

Submitted to Contest #32

It was a lazy sort of afternoon, with hazy golden skies and the smell of cherry blossoms in the air. Sarah sat at the front desk with her headphones in her ears. Otherworldly Images— tattoo-artists, specializing in all kinds of tattoos and piercings, magical and regular— was open, though empty at the moment. Natasha and Samuel had dispersed somewhere in the shop, leaving Sarah to man the front desk. Sarah didn’t really mind. Her desk– more of a table, really— sat right in fat the top of the steps leading up the front door, providing her an e...

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“Life or death with blood” by Grace Lynch

Submitted to Contest #32

2029I wake up to the sun sliding in through the cracks in the blinds. My alarm begins to scream as expected, i roll over dreading work. See, a lot of people would be happy to be a surgeon, it has all these amazing benefits. But in this world a surgeon does a lot more than what you see on TV, especially when the world of supernatural and magic is involved. Upon arriving at work, I find I am 30 minutes early so I stop at the cafe and get myself a muffin and coffee, no cream or sugar. I hate the taste of it but I torture myself...

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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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