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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#47: Second Person

Writers are often cautioned away from using second person point of view. And that's because it can be tricky to get right. But as writers like Junot Diaz, Lorrie Moore, and our contest's very own Hayley Igarashis proves, second person POV can also provide for an incredibly immersive reading experience.

This week, our prompts challenge you to write a story using second person POV. In other words, the story should address readers as "you," pulling them right into the narrative. You don't need to use the prompts verbatim in your stories — as always, they are meant to get your wheels of creative interpretation turning! (And for additional tips on this unique point of view, you can check out our guide to second person POV!)

This week's prompts

As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks.

Thriller and Suspense – 213 stories

"Just say it," you silently reminded yourself. You knew you'd regret it if you didn't.

Nonfiction – 218 stories

You looked out the window and, not for the first time, thought about how wrong the weather forecast had been.

Nonfiction – 146 stories

Suitcase in hand, you head to the station.

Adventure – 188 stories

You check the time. Perfect. As intended, you've arrived fashionably late.

Funny – 116 stories

Stories

“One Of Us” by Deborah Angevin

Submitted to Contest #47

Hey, you!Have you ever thought about your ability to sight colour?To be able to see the yellow line marking on the train station.To be able to see the green signage that shows the track and the departure time.To be able to see the silver vehicle that will bring you to your wished destination.To be able to see the brown from the leather where you will be seated for the next three hours.To be able to see the bright blue sky out of the window.To be able to see the black sleeveless dress that the lady beside you are wearing.To be able to see the...

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“Mission Rebound” by Authoring Studio

Submitted to Contest #47

You are sweating profusely. You know that it is not time to jest. Suitcase in hand, you head to the station. "Argh," you mutter under your breath and check the huge clock on the wall desperately. There are about fifteen minutes left. You screech to a halt on the platform and catch your breath. That was one bumpy ride back then to reach the station. You recall your horrendous morning. You flinch as that alarming phone call swims into your memory. **** "Are you alive over there?" your boss shouted earlier that morning. You remember keeping y...

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“Face Full Of Concern ” by Lata B

Submitted to Contest #47

You hear voices that aren't yours. They come from your head. They invade every inch of your mind. Demons and shadows live inside. They talk to you and you talk back. You can only trust me. Die. Die. You drown in an ocean of self-doubt and despair. The voice captures you and holds you hostage. Everyone is trying to kill you. Die. Die. Of course, you believe that everyone is trying to kill you. You believe everything this voice says. You're lost in your own...

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“It Only Makes Sense to Us” by Alby Carter

Submitted to Contest #47

Your eyes have run dry, and your spirit is slowly fading. You play last night's fight over and over again in your head. "I'm done with you. I'm done with your crying, and your screaming, and your indecisiveness, and I'm just done. I tried so hard to make you feel better, all the time, and you just sat there and cried. You go ahead. Run away. I'm staying here, and I'll finally be free of someone like you. But you, you'll never be free of yourself. You'll always look to others for validation and hate yourself and cry but I can't be there to ...

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“Her” by BRoOkE HAs A COwBoY HAt

Submitted to Contest #47

As you check your mail, you notice a letter that makes you stop in your tracks. Your free hand covers your open mouth and you drop the stack of mail. You start shaking. You drop the ground, wrapping your arms around our knees. You rock back and forth. Before you can stop them, tears run down your face. You start to rock back and forth harder; furiously."Ida? Ida! Ida, is everything okay?" You look up to see your neighbor, a retired man in his early 60's, leaning over you."Are you okay, Ida? It's me, Harry. Is everything alright?" He puts his...

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“What Made my Life Change” by 🐬ᴬᴬᴹᴱᴺᴬ ᴷᴴᴬᴷᴵ🐬

Submitted to Contest #47

You're having a perfectly normal day when you decide to check the mail. On the way to the mailbox, you pass a dog eating a envelope. You think this is strange, but it's nothing compared to what you'll find later. When you get to the mailbox, you see something that catches your eye. It's a letter, like any other, but it has the logo of a school. This was no regular school, it was a spy school. This was a letter you had been waiting for, and the day it came changed your entire life. When you open it, it makes you stop in your tracks. It's a le...

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“Just A Dream” by 𝔸. Triangle

Submitted to Contest #47

You're scared. Admit it. You're fearful of many things, most of them bleeding into your regrets and hardships. Just say it. No regrets, right? They lurk in corners of your vision, seep through small holes that dot your vision. They control you. The fear controls you. It's the truth, and you know it. There are many things you don't know though. Many things that line along the thin lines of reality just waiting to be discovered. Does that scare you? Well, it should. Look around you an...

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“A Day in the Life of a Princess” by 🐬ᴬᴬᴹᴱᴺᴬ ᴷᴴᴬᴷᴵ🐬

Submitted to Contest #47

You sigh, in a couple minutes, you'll have to go to your daily lessons. After begging and begging and begging, you've finally convinced your mother, the Queen, to give up the history lessons. You don't need to know whether you're uncle was 80 or 85 when he died, and how that changed his use in life. You don't need to know what jewels your aunt wore when she went to one in about 100 wedding or balls. That was your main argument. The queen is now really mad at you, and reprimands you for everything that you do. "Dear, I know that you try, but ...

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“Just say it ” by Anja Z

Submitted to Contest #47

Your 29 years old and in a relationship with the most perfect guy you could ever think about. You guys don’t have much, but you have one another. Your parents don’t always get along, but you guys make it work. You met him when you were only 19 and you have known each other now for 10 years and a few months. You know the next step is coming in your relationship and you’re so excited about it. His currently at work and you’re getting dressed for a day out with your family. You reach for your favourite black pants and green crop top. You kno...

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“SCINTILLATING SMILE ” by Khizra Aslam

Submitted to Contest #47

It was the ball night. Something was strange about it. The stars were shining extra brightly making the magnificent sky extremely beautiful as if white pearls are all around this glamorous moon captivating attention towards itself. It was so calm to listen every little detail of heart thumping in the chest and thoughts striving to make those words popped out of your mouth as the time was right. You took a glance over the view to reach out the one you have been waiting for almost 5 years. " what if I didn't get the answer I'm looking for...

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“Time Commander ” by Skyler Woods

Submitted to Contest #47

You know that it's a simulation, but it still bothers you to see the bodies of people and babies lying beneath the rubble. It's all a virtual 3D simulation, but the tragedy still looks real to you. The collapsed building simulation is a possibility of what will happen if you fail your mission. You know that failure is not an option for us. My name is Franklin Delroy. I am your chief commander and you're a new member of my team. You've joined my team of elite soldiers and your job is to stop assassinations and terrorist acts before they happe...

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“Who's Kidding Who?” by Shirley Medhurst

Submitted to Contest #47

“May I be of any assistance?” You swing round from the row of adverts in the window to see a handsome young salesman dressed in the inevitable crisply-pressed suit and tie, towering over you. The most startling turquoise-blue eyes twinkle down at you and the term ‘stunning’ springs to mind. No doubt a result of reading too many romance novels, you scold yourself. Stop it! After all, you are here on business.“Erm, yes please. I’m looking for a…. I need a… erm… I want to buy a car,” you say and immediately want to kick yourself. Nothing like s...

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“The Wondrous Wish” by Sayujyaraj Ghimire

Submitted to Contest #47

You look at yourself in the mirror, which lies just an inch away from the ticket-counter. You are in good shape. You notice your black, rumpled hair all covered in tiny, whitish flakes of your scalp's epithelium. Some might say dandruff, but you despise that word. You stroke your beard, relentlessly with your left hand, to give an impression as if you're pondering the reason behind your hairy look. You know shaving would have killed your masculinity, so you don't snip it. Instead, you keep it all shaggy and messy as it successfully hides you...

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“You Jump” by ℤ ℍ☮️

Submitted to Contest #47

You need to jump. You have to. The sea looks grey and stormy, it's splashing and screaming and yelling. But you can make out a little spot of mundane yellow sand, with a small pearly cove - where you will be safe. You slide your warm hands at the base of the window and slowly pull it up, feeling the ocean winds kissing your face.You cringe as you wipe off the green grime at the tips of your fingers.The bedroom behind you is almost begging you not to leave. You say goodbye to the faded pinstripe couch and the dangling orange lamp. You wave to...

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“Rainy Days and Lemon-Yellow Umbrellas” by ℤ ℍ☮️

Submitted to Contest #47

Dear You,The sky was grumpy. The clouds were shaggy like the grey mane of a wolf. Underneath the shaggy clouds was a glowing red button. The clouds would cry occasionally and freckle the yew trees with thick water. The tree-scented droplets would drip onto your lemon-yellow umbrella.I watched you.I watched you as you curled into a little ball, and tucked yourself under the eaves. I wanted to run to you. I wanted to hug you and comfort you and tell you that you'd be alright.But I couldn't.So I watched you from afar.I love you because when you...

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$50

Prize money

881

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 26, 2020 EST

Won by Miranda Carter 🏆

Title: My Mother's Sky

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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