#39: Earth to Writers

This was a big week for celebrations. Wednesday was World Earth Day and yesterday was World Book Day.

But to us voracious readers, doesn't every day feel like Book Day? So for this week's prompts, we're giving a big shout-out to the little blue dot in space we all call home.

(And if you'd like to combine your World and Book Day celebrations, here's a sci-fi reading list that's out of this world.)

This week's prompts

One day, the sun rose in the west and set in the east.

Fantasy – 72 stories

Write about a person experiencing the 'overview effect' (a feeling astronauts report having when they first view Earth from outer space).

Science Fiction – 48 stories

Write a story about a Google Street View driver.

Adventure – 39 stories

Write a story that begins and ends with someone looking up at the stars.

Teens – 388 stories

Two people who thought they were the last people left on Earth end up meeting by chance.

Science Fiction – 147 stories

Stories

“The Shift” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #39

We kept watch for decades. The prophecy said it would come. And soon. But the sun set in the west and rose in the east like every other day since I was born. When it happened when the sun rose in the west and set in the east we barely noticed. Why would we? The slight increase in wind speed felt like any other oncoming storm. As long as the sun was up it was all that mattered. It looked like any other summer day. Corn and grain, fruits, and vegetables. Even flowers for fragrances. The planting season was past. The hard part was done. An...

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“I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth” by Ruth Porritt

Submitted to Contest #39

“I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on Earth!” That was what I said to Lewis, the moment before I threw a drink into his face. We were at Freddie’s Place (in Columbus, Ohio, if you must know) and we were on a blind date. The year was 1945, and Lewis and I were sitting at a big table by the window.Anyway, before the drink-throwing incident, the date hadn’t been going well. Lewis was a handsome fella, (still is) but he kept getting on my nerves.Wait a minute, though, (as Lewis keeps saying to me) I have a tendency to keep getti...

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“Awake” by Maggie Deese

Submitted to Contest #39

A shrill, screeching sound awakens me from my sleep. My head immediately throbs at the sound and I flinch, heart pounding. There’s no telling how long it’s been; the evacuation was short and to the point, giving no one a clue of how long it would take to arrive in Seroria. People were initially upset with the lack of detail, but I didn’t mind. As long as it took us away from the plague, I couldn't care less about the time frame.I squeeze my eyes together tightly, attempting to drown out the still shrieking sound and pounding headache. It’s n...

29 comments 29

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“Putting Earth on the Map” by A. Y. R

Submitted to Contest #39

"Why does the moon keep following me?" I began to ask with great curiosity"Ah, that's just an illusion you see!” my father began to explain, “the moon is so big and so far away, compared to you, it doesn't ever seem to move, which only makes it look like it's following you". Of course, for a child my age the concept of far-away was an hour’s walk to grandmother’s, who lived outside the city. I turned my back and began to power walk, looking briefly behind, hoping to stealthily escape its sinister omnipresence. It was still there. ...

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“Orbiting Saturn” by Izzie Q.

Submitted to Contest #39

The sky was dramatically clouded and smudged the dark colors, as though someone had taken a pom-pom and dotted paint throughout the dark canvas. The sky resigned above a tangle of wild, sitting on its’ throne; the vines curled like snakes around the thick bark of every tree and only fierce predators thrived in their misdts. Speckled across the sky were thousands if not millions of stars, mocking out the moon’s luminous shine. Eva rested in the thinner area of the woods, gazing intently upon her warrior's movements. The sword rose ...

24 comments 24

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“Good-Bye” by Holly Pierce

Submitted to Contest #39

A movement in the bushes caught my eye. I was up a tree in a flash with my bow and arrows in hand. I pulled the large leaves gently to cover me. If I ran into another person, I would simply do what I had done to the rest of them. I nocked an arrow and aimed my bow toward the bushes. The rustling continued. A foot poked out of the bushes and was immediately followed by a man. He looked like he had never done a day’s work in his life, and I was very surprised to see him in the forest. I might as well talk to the guy. I have nothing better to d...

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“Billy” by E. Jude

Submitted to Contest #39

Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like without me. Am I nature's spiritless, monotonous experiment. Drab and lifeless. I hate myself. Time ticking on my blue clock on the wall of my kitchen. Suspended in mid-air, swaying steadily to the rhythm of my life, my footsteps. I like to imagine life being taken in footsteps. Leaps, bounds, tiptoes, jumps, skips, strides. All of the above and more. Presently, I am guardedly seeking baby steps. Pawing obstacles gently, then obtusely retracting and cowering in dumbfound shame, each time closin...

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“Three Years Ago to the Day” by Katherine Stevens

Submitted to Contest #39

‘At least I’ll have a nice view as I die’, that was my first thought as I stood here, three years ago to the day, looking up at the stars. I remember it was a warm August night, I had just moved here that day from Mexico, and I was to start my sophomore year at the local high school in a week’s time. Three years later and tomorrow I am to move to the east coast to start college in a week, the irony does not escape me. I open the music app on my phone and click on the same song I had blasting at full volume I my headphones that night, so long...

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“The new age of information” by Goblin King

Submitted to Contest #39

Clouds present during the day have since hidden away somewhere as if afraid of the dark, allowing an unimpeded view of the abyss above. Far off stars look like minuscule specks of yellow light dotting the sky like a splatter of paint across a dark blue canvas. The sun has fallen below the horizon, and instead of its usual bright energy, its brother provides a pale glow. The few trees surrounding me grow from small patches of dirt, with their roots often sticking out from the ground. Their trunks are narrow and cover themselves in a smoo...

6 comments 6

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“Soul Stones ” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted to Contest #39

I gaze up at the stelliferous sky, entranced by its simplicity; the way a black canvas with sparsely placed blotches of white can evoke emotions that are ineffable. Not only do I want to be intimate with this black hole that engulfs me entirely, but I want to do it with the person next to me. I only ever want to do it with her. The majority of people that I’ve come across believe that a soulmate is your significant other, but that’s only a fraction of the defintion. To me, a soulmate can be anyone, but also, not just anyone. It’s the person...

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“Friend” by Zea Bowman

Submitted to Contest #39

The sunset is a wonderful thing. Crimson, amber, and tangerine beams are thrown into the dusty sky, its beautiful colors embracing the heavens gracefully. A lustrous orb of blazing flames sinks steadily beneath the horizon, bright pink wisps of clouds partially cloaking the sky. And yet sunrise is a new beginning. The sun blooms on the horizon, golden petals stretching ever outwards into the rich blue. It is the brilliant flower of the sky that warms our days. It is the invitation to a new day. I debated the two as I sat cross-legg...

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“Reach for the Stars” by Allie Mae Sakry

Submitted to Contest #39

Hundreds, thousands, millions more. Billions upon billions of lights line the shore. All so far, but to reach out and touch just one, maybe two? Impossible! Inconceivable! That’s what they say. But I know I will reach the moon and count them all someday. Someday. “Will you come in here already? It’s freezing out, and you’re not wearing a jacket.” A father’s voice rang heavy and low to his sweet little daughter. She put her pencil down and looked back up at the sky, counting. Counting?&nb...

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“Sunrise” by Holly Pierce

Submitted to Contest #39

I walked outside and looked out the window on the eastern side of my house. The view of the sunrise was always best from that window. But there was not any light coming from the window. Instead, light came from the western window. That can’t be right… “Dean, what’s going on? Is it night and this is a sunset? Why is this happening?” “I… I don’t know. My clock says it is 5:30 a.m. so this should be a sunrise. I have no idea what’s going on,” I can’t believe this is happening. “Are we on a different planet?” “How would...

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“My only witness ” by Nunga Dorcas Mirande Amalia

Submitted to Contest #39

Most of the times in the movies, the apocalypse is violent and have mercy for no one, rich , poor, king, shoe mender , they all feel the same fear before dying. This one is quite different, i can't decide if I am simply dreaming or if this is real.The first day I woke up in the middle of my loft, sweating, overwhelmed and crying. I tried to remember what happened the previous day, but everything was blank and the only memories I have are those from my wake till nowThe second day after weeping around like some mad bitch i realized everyone wa...

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“A howl of love” by Derrick Kakooza

Submitted to Contest #39

The evening thunderstorm blew through Pavory Street downing some trees but living a lovely sight. The sky turned glowing orange with soggy grounds below. But the night skies were even grander. Quiet and starlit with the silvery-white moonlight sprinkled on the ground. The moon will not be lonely tonight. Charlie thinks this is the night he has been waiting for. It’s the first time in months that a thunderstorm yielded orange skies and a starlit full moon night.Charlie stared hopingly at the bright sky. Not even the soggy grounds and a cool b...

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$50

Prize money

694

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 01, 2020 EST

Won by Masha Kurbatova 🏆

Title: sole mate

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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#39: Earth to Writers

This week's prompts

One day, the sun rose in the west and set in the east.

Write about a person experiencing the 'overview effect' (a feeling astronauts report having when they first view Earth from outer space).

Write a story about a Google Street View driver.

Write a story that begins and ends with someone looking up at the stars.

Two people who thought they were the last people left on Earth end up meeting by chance.