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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#46: Write It Down

Whether you've been composing stories for years, have a number of published books under your belt, or are just getting started on your craft, if you're here to write — you're a writer.

Like our community, our prompts this week are all about writers at different stages. Maybe you'll pick the one that most relates to you at this time, one that provides a retrospective into previous legs of your writing journey, or one that looks ahead to future goals. In any case, we're looking forward to reading your words, writers.

🥇 Winning story

“Turf Wars” by Cmf Wright

Submitted on 06/20/2020

They don't want to reconcile. They don't want to like each other. They can't even share a pen without fighting. For the sixth time that morning, I separate the bunnies, stroke their foreheads, and whisper the universal mantra of bunny bonding: This is a happy warren. You are happy bunnies. Happy bunnies don't bite their friends. "I think you should bond them at my place," says my sister. She sits behind the pen, her trademark Moleskine in her lap—black, of course...

103 comments 103 WINNER 🏆

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This week's prompts:

Write a story about someone experiencing a lightbulb moment of writing inspiration.

General – 155 stories

Write a story that takes place in a writer's circle.

General – 83 stories

Write a story about an author who has just published a book.

General – 95 stories

Write a story about someone returning to their craft after a long hiatus.

General – 202 stories

Write a story about someone who has just finished writing their first story/book.

General – 149 stories

Stories

“Turf Wars” by Cmf Wright

Submitted on 06/20/2020

They don't want to reconcile. They don't want to like each other. They can't even share a pen without fighting. For the sixth time that morning, I separate the bunnies, stroke their foreheads, and whisper the universal mantra of bunny bonding: This is a happy warren. You are happy bunnies. Happy bunnies don't bite their friends. "I think you should bond them at my place," says my sister. She sits behind the pen, her trademark Moleskine in her lap—black, of course...

103 comments 103 WINNER 🏆

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“8:46 Peaceful Assembly” by Emily Nghiem

Submitted on 06/13/2020

“Single-file! Whoa, buddy, back up. Around the barrier. Everyone, Single-file!”The line captain herded us like cattle, directing traffic toward four separate sound stages. I didn’t expect a mixed team of volunteers and police to handle such a diverse crowd of thousands at the Houston rally.“How did they organize all this in three days?” I asked my friends, who had talked me into videotaping the event. Justine and Paula showed off for the camera, blowing kisses in full body paint. Justine flashe...

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“Blood, Sweat, and Tears.” by Batool Hussain

Submitted on 06/13/2020

‘Mama’s decisive girl,’ her mother used to say. ‘You got it from your daddy. A tenacious soul he was.’ It was her daddy’s dream, after all, to see her become a writer, but God willingly, both of them left her early, too early thought Rosé. A tear streamed down her face, then another. Quickly, she wiped them away.It was when the clock struck twelve that Rosé realized it was the meeting day with Mr. Danniell. Grabbing the essential documents, she hurried down the staircase straight into the car. The hippocampus i...

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“The white space between the black letters” by Roshna Rusiniya

Submitted on 06/19/2020

When Mrs. Wilson, our creative writing professor announces the topic for the new writing project, there is a collective snicker all around the class. Cloud? Is she serious? We are in University, not in kindergarten!As if sensing our thoughts, she adds in a stern voice. “Now listen everyone! I am expecting a realistic portrayal of the concept. Be creative. Take risks. It’s entirely up to you. But when you bring the story tomorrow, I want to h...

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“Silver Crown” by Sophia Rose

Submitted on 06/19/2020

The cold bit at his skin as the breeze hit its hardest smacking in and out tearing through the very fabric of his leather vest. On a mine in the land of the Neroshi, the snow was falling again. He looked up to the sky and felt a shiver go through his spine. He tightened his fur coat around himself. Even after spending all of his life fighting through the cold in the land blessed by Thirel, the god of the sea. Even with the blood of the First Gods running through his veins, the cold still hammered his skin and dried his lips....

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“Half the Truth” by A. y. R

Submitted on 06/18/2020

It was on the day the stars began to die when I first met him. He knew of my future, yet I had no recollection of his past. Somehow, strangely, I knew him. Like one knows a reflection they see in the mirror. Even though he looked nothing like me, I recognized a part of myself as I looked into his eyes…*** I began trapped in the time rift, slowly decaying in my prison, the ship’s oxygen depleting. My reality was fading, and I would soon be erased from existence. I could only hope that happened...

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“ Deadly Writers” by Abigail Airuedomwinya

Submitted on 06/17/2020

They tell me about rivers; declare it so wild and urgent until I, too, become like the river, restless, wild, important. It isn't obvious but sometimes the feeling sparks inside of me and when it does, I climb up to the hill and watch the sky and humans who look like tiny dots on the ground. There, I spread out my hands and wave out to the world and dangle it like flames, untamed. They tell me about life;...

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“Kin” by Illisha Flint

Submitted on 06/19/2020

Muddy shoes dangled above the trickling stream. Attached to the shoes was a trio of voices, badgering and exclaiming and remarking. Their discussion was disturbing the peace of the forest- or so an outsider would say. To them, they were entertaining the trees. “See, I have the perfect relationship between the protagonist and her friend. And yet, every single backstory I try to come up with for eithe...

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“Old Things ” by Abigail Airuedomwinya

Submitted on 06/14/2020

It wasn't dark but it looked as though the world had died. The air smelt of garlic and a tantalizing mixture of pain and half relief. A man, troubled by the darkness from within, gazed up and let out a groan. For a moment, he stayed where he was, unmoving, dead. The sun came up and died down in one long stride but still, he sat there, as silent as tomorrow. When he moved later as the darkness settled over, it was not not...

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“To my dearest brother” by Sophia Rose

Submitted on 06/19/2020

Dear Lucas, I don’t know what to say here. I feel really stupid but you know me and you know that I can’t leave spring creek town without finally letting go of all my pain. I’m sorry that I have been running away for so long. First I want to tell you how much I love you and miss you. It’s been six years since I have seen your face. But I still remember that untidy red hair that mom always told you to comb and how dad always said you were kissed by fire, your beautiful almond-shaped eyes, your daring dimpled ...

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“Enemy of the State” by Nandan Prasad

Submitted on 06/17/2020

The woman was nervous. She was constantly fidgeting; crossing and uncrossing her legs, adjusting her hair, glancing at the thin sheets of paper in her hand.Her name was Aishwarya and she had come here to get her first book published. Her name was called and she jumped up and hurried to the little booth at the end of the corridor.“Close the door and sit down.” The person inside was a tall, thin lady. She had high cheekbones and expensive silver earrings. Aishwarya thought she looked rather like a Victorian era noble or a famo...

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“Everything Aiming Toward You” by Zilla Babbitt

Submitted on 06/18/2020

Dear Simon, I just had to write to you. Today is cool and clean and I can smell the bees humming in the wisteria garden just outside. Their hives are so big now, so big and slick and thrumming, you would love to see them. They come buzzing out of their hives in the early morning and flood off out of the garden to the lanes beyond, winding through the yew trees and the bayberry bushes. Soon it will be ready to harvest. The little boy G...

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“Life Saving Gift” by Corey Melin

Submitted on 06/15/2020

“You have been given a gift,” Thomas said to his son, James. “The Maker has picked you.” James, who had just turned ten, looked up at his father. “You think so?” he asked him. “Definitely so,” Thomas replied and gave his son a hug. It was a couple of years ago that James started to help his father on crafting doors. Many people of the...

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“Lucky For You” by Abigail Airuedomwinya

Submitted on 06/14/2020

When her mother died, it was on a night when lovers got lost in complications and misunderstandings and she was standing in a chair, laughing and crying. There had been the need to write something worthwhile, the significant inspiration she had always hoped for. So at the funeral, she wrote a story that in the end, tasted sour and sweet at the same time. It wasn't a story that needed to be remembered as beautifully real ...

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“Enjoy This Time” by Sarah Greenwood

Submitted on 06/14/2020

JournalDay #1 My therapist said I should write stories about my feelings/experiences as part of a cognitive behavioral therapy. So here goes. I’ll try anything.One of my favorite activities when I was young was dragging my old things out to the curb for someone to haul away as one of their new possessions. I’d find a piece of cardboard in the g...

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$50

Prize money

718

Submissions

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 19, 2020 EST

Won by Cmf Wright 🏆

Title: Turf Wars

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