Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#43: Kidding Around

Want a quick way to lift your spirits? Revisit the books you loved as a child.

This week, we got a chance to do exactly that while writing a blog post on 100 Classic Children's Books, and we quickly found our minds swirling with imagined places and whimsical characters.

While our prompts this week are inspired by those same children's books, whether you write a children's story or not is up to you. Pick up your pen and let your imagination do the rest!

p.s. – Are you interested in coming behind the scenes of the Reedsy Prompts contest as a judge? Head here for more information!

This week's prompts

Write a story about transformation.

Nonfiction – 172 stories

Write a story about the relationship between a parent and a child that spans several years.

Adults – 122 stories

Write a story about someone who discovers a mysterious object in their home.

Kids – 118 stories

Write a story about an average day turned upside down by an unexpected visitor.

Kids – 111 stories

Write a story about an unlikely friendship.

Kids – 113 stories

Stories

“Glass Jar King” by Jubilee Forbess

Submitted to Contest #43

The umbrella in our yard was bright pink and had a giant slice torn out of it the morning I went to the porch after the rains had hit our town. I recalled my mother had bought the umbrella at an estate sale for around three dollars; how excited she was to bring it home and plant it on our back porch. Well. Now it was in tatters, not unlike the rest of the yard, which had flooded last night in the storms. I didn’t want to tell my mother her prized umbrella was broken now, but she would notice soon enough. She managed to notice everything. I w...

Read story

“Memory Box” by Kelechi Nwokoma

Submitted to Contest #43

She reaches under her king size bed and lets her hand search for it. She doesn’t need a flashlight to locate her hidden treasure among the loads of rubbish under her bed. Occasionally, her hands brush some junk away, like the cool metal of empty soda cans she finished some days back and promised herself she’d throw away, but didn’t; the soft fabric of the leg of a woolly sock she’ll go on a rampage in a week or two looking for to no avail; and some pieces of crumpled up paper containing failed writing attempts on an essay whose deadline was ...

Read story

“Tongues As Black As Midnight” by 𝔸. Triangle

Submitted to Contest #43

I remember the first time I saw him. The glint in his eyes malicious as he took my brother. I was nine at the time. Nine when he walked into his bedroom, grey flesh slowly peeling from his forearms and neck as he slowly crept towards my brother. He wanted him, wanted him badly. He took my brother by his neck and slowly opened his mouth to reveal a wide smile and tongues as thick as my forearm. My brother was too shocked to speak as his tongues slowly slithered around his eyes, slowly drawing them out. They hit the floor with a thud, the loos...

Read story

“The Visitor” by Aarshia Ray

Submitted to Contest #43

“Ding-Ding” the alarm clock started beeping, “Ding-Ding”. “Yes, yes, getting up…,” I murmured. I lazily got up to ready myself, took a bite of toast and eggs for breakfast, and finally got inside my study, locked myself in and settled down for a busy day. I was completely absorbed in a very serious and interesting article when suddenly the doorbell started ringing in an abruptly loud volume which almost knocked me off the chair.“Who can it be?” I thought as I glanced at the watch and went to open the door. “Nobody is supposed to come now. Oh...

Read story

“My Diary” by Lata B

Submitted to Contest #43

THIS IS PRIVATE!DO. NOT. READ.Dear Diary 4/11/2018 I hate her. I hate her more than anything. Life would be so much better without her. Everywhere I go I find drugs; under the couch, in the drawers, and especially in the bathroom. I can't live like this. She's a monster. The other day I was going to teach my little sister, Isla, how to ride a bike. We were out on the sidewalk in front of our small broken-down house, and this man came up to us. He had a grey hoodie on and a beard. “Hey Val! Give this to your mom and tell her I need ...

Read story

“The Red Apple Tree” by Sayujyaraj Ghimire

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #43

Babu moshai!That’s what my Baba used to call me. As far as I can reminisce, I was called upon by numerous nicknames, but somehow I always knew those slew of names didn’t have a robust meaning. Babu moshai was meticulous, a two-syllable word that adumbrated a complex Sanskrit phonetic. Baba wasn’t much into the Vedic literature, but his prosaic artistry was unfathomable. Contrarily, Aama loathed the name babu moshai. She was cocksure that the name had a diabolical derivation and always ended...

Read story

“Different Kinds of Magic” by Dalyane Deblois

Submitted to Contest #43

On a warm and sunny morning, the slight wind blew Dalhia's long and soft golden hair while she was reading a book. She was 16 years old and she was the most beautiful girl according to many. She had always been joyful, spreading light and happiness to those around her. It amazed others because it seemed so special. She was in fact special; beautiful magic ran through her veins. Wherever she passed, the grass would look greener, and the flowers would bloom. Life followed her, her magic bringing nature around her to life. Focused on her readin...

Read story

“Ice Blue” by Laurentz Baker

Submitted to Contest #43

It was like any other late spring day in May. If any other late spring day started out at 75° degrees and dropped to 0° degrees. The official holiday celebrating our service members was yesterday and today was the day to wind down and burn the extra calories I scarfed down with a bike ride and run.It was still early⎯5 a.m. My plan to be out of the house by six...six-thirty to avoid being cooked liked the shrimp, green peppers, and pineapple on the kebobs I consumed the day before. Before I left the house I could feel the heat rising like any...

Read story

““Motu and I – Unlikely friendship”” by Alkaa Sharma

Submitted to Contest #43

“Motu and I – Unlikely friendship”They say that dog is the best friend of mankind. But a pet is also likely to save lives at times. Such had been the case after the demise of my father ,when I was only 13 years old. Those were the dark days of my life, a teenager who was supposed to blossom like a flower , was all mushroomed up with darkness , fears and insecurities. A father is a true friend in all possible terms that can be , and to be departed from such a loving soul ...

Read story

“Always our 'candy bar'...” by Harshini Jivaratnam

Submitted to Contest #43

The first rays of sunlight lit up my room. The dawn chorus of melodic birdsong drifted in. I rubbed my bleary eyes and walked to the window. I was bewildered to see the busy city view in front of me. I put up my messy hair into a high ponytail. As usual I went downstairs to drink water and was doing my workout, when out of blue I heard the phone ringing.“ Mom….phone’s ringing”“Pick it up, honey. I will come around in a short while.”“Okay, sure”. My body was sweaty and tired from doing the workout. With an exhausted feeling, I walked tow...

Read story

“The Monster Above The Bed” by 𝔸. Triangle

Submitted to Contest #43

He climbed into his bed that night, his warm brown eyes filled with happiness and light as his father tucks him into bed. He asks for a story, but no story appears. Its too late and the boy needs some sleep. With a kiss on the cheek, the father leaves the room, and with a flourish, the door is shut.The boy's breath holds as he listens for his father's footsteps to fall away before he asks the question that came every night."God, may you please protect me?"Under his bed, an audible whisper escapes my lips. "Thomas?""Yes, God?" The little boy ...

Read story

“Ava and Daisy” by BRoOkE HAs A COwBoY HAt

Submitted to Contest #43

I pet her side one more time and then started to walk back up to my house. I heard her whinny."Daisy! I can't stay. I'm sorry, I have to get to school. I'll come see you once I get back, okay?"I asked. Daisy closed her eyes as I pet her side one more time, and then I walked all the way up to my house. I walked in through the sliding glass door, to be greeted by an annoying boy."You know Mom doesn't want you going to see that-that-that creature,"Alex snarled. I narrowed my eyes at him, and I could tell that he knew I was upset."She is not a c...

Read story

“Sophie?” by BRoOkE HAs A COwBoY HAt

Submitted to Contest #43

I woke up to yelling. It was my older brother and sister, fighting over the bathroom. My sister was in the bathroom, probably putting her makeup on, and my brother was pounding on the door, yelling at her. "Oh, jeez,"I said as Oliver pounded on the door harder. I rolled my eyes as I threw back the covers on my bed and got up. "Can both of you just shut up? Julie, just finish your makeup in your room!"I yelled. The pounding and yelling continued, so I knew they were ignoring me. I walked over to my closet and threw the doors open. I grabbed m...

Read story

““Daddy and I - Relationship between a parent and a child”” by Alkaa Sharma

Submitted to Contest #43

“Daddy and I - Relationship between a parent and a child”A child holds a very loving and warm relationship with the parent. A parent is a whole institution for a child , the relationship has a huge impact on the whole personality of the child. I also shared a very special relationship with my father. It is believed that father-daughter and mother-son bonds are meant to be very special and my relationship as a daughter was no different. Yes, it was very...

Read story

“The Warrior Princess” by Lynn Penny

Submitted to Contest #43

“Listen up subjects!” The little girl announced to her people, the toys scattered around the floor. “Today is the day I become a Warrior Princess!” She dug up an old sword from her closet full of toys. She coloured two paper towel rolls with a magic crayon she bought from a merchant at her school and taped them with magical tape.“Come with me, Sir Cuddles,” She grabbed her loyal bear. His arm almost was falling off, but it was from a battle wound that came from a fierce war with her cousin’s toys in the washer. Up the stairs, they trekked, r...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

636

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 29, 2020 EST

Won by Guilherme Copati 🏆

Title: Reunion

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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢