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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#48: Superpower

The faces of superheroes have long emblazoned everything from our t-shirts to our lunch-boxes. For over a decade, the Marvel movies have dominated box offices, and for almost a century, superhero comics have remained prized possessions.

A Smithsonian article describes the broad appeal of superheroes: "At their best, superhero origin stories inspire us and provide models of coping with adversity, finding meaning in loss and trauma, discovering our strengths and using them for good purpose. (Wearing a cape or tights is optional.)"

This week's prompts are for anyone who's ever wondered, "If you could have one superpower, which one would it be?" And as always, our prompts are open to interpretation! Whether your entry includes familiar superhero tropes, or ends up being a piece of literary fiction about someone who just so happens to move faster than the speed of light is up to you.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who has a superpower.

Middle School – 333 stories

Write about someone who always comes to the aid of others.

Teens – 108 stories

Write the 'origin story' of a person who goes on to achieve great things.

Fiction – 128 stories

Write about a person who collects superhero comics.

Middle School – 89 stories

Write a story that features a protagonist with an archnemesis.

Character – 112 stories

Stories

“A Mom Called Dot” by Linda Rossi

Submitted to Contest #48

My two brothers and three sisters idolized our mother. She could do no wrong in our eyes. She was beautiful, kind, thoughtful and seemingly tireless. People couldn’t keep up with her. “Dot,” people would say, “what is your secret? You never stop. With all those kids and all your volunteer work, how do you do it?” Mom would just smile. And she was the best cook in the world. And what a...

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“Bouquet of Lies” by Estelle Bookwalter

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #48

Oliver always smiled. He always smiled, and he never said a word. He sat there with his grin lighting up the room and his eyes sweeping over the other people inside, listening to conversations whether or not they were directed towards him, and silently smiled. Amaranth had always found it a bit disconcerting. She had never spoken to him, personally, but she had seen. His desk was in her direct line of sight after all, so she was able to clearly see everything he did. And one thing he had never done was stop smiling, at least while at school....

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“Nightshade” by Sadie Black

Submitted to Contest #48

The handwriting is mine, the notepad is mine, but I have no recollection of writing this. My penmanship is jagged and hurried. The notes cut off mid word, ending with a smear of ink. Yawning, I review the sparse notes I’ve apparently scrawled in a hurry.Tall woman. Blue cape, covers face. Sleep ch--I rub my bleary eyes and search for my ever-present thermos. The bitter brew is tepid, but I distinctly recall heating it up - again - just moments ago. I check my watch and it’s much later than I expected. I must have fallen asleep on the job. I ...

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“A Dedicated Undertaking.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #48

“I would think twice before jumping off of here, Laddie. You’ll no doubt hit the ground and smash a few limbs, but may not kill yourself. Try the cliff over there, you’ll be guaranteed to do the job. What’s gone wrong, anyway?” I wasn’t immediately prepared to answer him, I wanted to get it over, but his words had a salutary upon me. Months, maybe years in hospital didn’t appeal to me one bit. “My life is over,” I replied. I didn’t want to be uncivil towards him, so I added that I had lost my wife and three children to a drunk driver. “I alw...

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“A Second Chance” by Jessie Nice

Submitted to Contest #48

*Content Warning: Mentions of su*cide“In, and out. In and out. Breathe. Deep breaths. There you go. Keep going, you’re doing amazing.”The nurse speaks kindly to me. Her soft brown eyes reflect the harsh light of the room. I hear the noise of machines around me, beep, beeping, whirring and clicking. A familiar harsh sterile smell fills my nostrils and I blink lazily, my vision swimming, the white overheads blinding me slightly and bringing tears to my eyes. I feel something soft and warm in my palm, and glance down to realise I am gripping ho...

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“Firefly” by Kay Mira

Submitted to Contest #48

It wasn't anywhere special or a faraway realm or another dimension or a different galaxy. It was a simple little town, with little neighborhoods and friendly little neighbors. In fact, the only thing that made the little town special was a little known secret. Do you know the secret? Well, the secret is, everything, every single living thing, has a purpose and a story. In one of those little neighborhoods, if you peeped into a pine framed window, you would find the Cottons. Mom, Dad, and their son Fin Cot...

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“An uncertain Hero” by Faleha Hakim

Submitted to Contest #48

“From many pieces of earth do they make themselves strong” Grandma used to say. These words are imprinted inside my head in such a stirring way that I cannot get over it. Her stories still beat in my heart. Power, heroism, honor is what she used to start with. Well, these are just fake, heroes of my childhood; I’d laugh at it now. Those who build up my memories are just fictional. Few moments escaped and then came a beep from the smartphone which lay stationary beside me. My eyes dropped at it and I saw a text which I never expected in years...

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“THE WHOLE STORY!” by P. Jean

Submitted to Contest #48

(Write the 'origin story' of a person who goes on to achieve great things.) How seldom we know or understand the origins of people whose names we have come to recognize for having done “perceived” great things. Why would I use the word perceived? It is because the person defining “great things” can be a preteen girl frantic with hero worship for the latest and greatest singing idol, or a family member whose doctor just saved a son, daughter or wife. It can be someone who thinks it must be the first per...

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“The king's return. ” by Emmanuel Adanegbe

Submitted to Contest #48

There's lot to say about my past but I wouldn't bore you with details. Just know I wasn't the brightest, boldest, smartest but definitely the sickest. I wasn't fatally gifted with the pen, I sucked at soccer and basically every sport known to man. The dyslexia I had as a kid was blamed for my poor grades but my grades didn't get better when it stopped. With all this many called me a loser but not my mom, never my mom. She took me as someone I couldn't think of myself; a king beloved by all. She always tried to cheer me up with stories of me ...

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“The Man with the Only Hand - Karoly Takacs” by POOJA SARMALKAR

Submitted to Contest #48

Since our childhood we have heard many different stories of the people achieving their aims in life, getting high salaries, having cars, and a lot more, but have ever bothered to think or to check that what they have done in their lives is just to get their dreams? Let's talk about a person who got everything after losing almost everything We are going to talk about "THE MAN WITH ONLY HAND". I can promise you that after reading his story, you’ll never forget him… Karoly Takács was born in Budapest and joined the Hungarian Army. By 1936, he...

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“Internal Power” by Brandon Johnson

Submitted to Contest #48

The world is often cruel and unforgiving. Your luck in early life is as random as someone rolling a dice. It just so happens that I rolled a one. John thought about this as he woke up. The state of his dingy apartment used to bother him but he has since become numb. His standards have lowered to a crawl and he was stuck in auto-pilot.Another day another grind, he said to himself. John groggily went through his daily routine and was ready for work soon after. Just as he was about to head through the door, he saw a letter for past-due rent. Al...

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“The Guy Who Couldn't Say No” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #48

“Ask Tim,” or “Ask Mr Sands,” people would say, depending on how well they knew Timothy Sands. But even those who didn’t know him personally at all (though in a small town most peoples’ paths did cross) knew about his reputation. Tim was the man to go to if you wanted something doing. Whether it was organising the annual carnival, or booking the British Legion’s trip to the war graves, or making sure that the children’s centre had a decent Christmas party, Tim would see to it. He was one of the regular drivers on the...

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“Vasudha- A quintessential woman” by AJIT SINGH

Submitted to Contest #48

Vasudha sat in the Starbucks café in Connaught place, sipping her coffee and staring out of the window. The bloodstained knife lay next to her handbag, covered with her blue silk scarf. The knife has the blood of her father. She wanted to begin the most awaited journey of her life with the memory of her father by keeping the blood of his father close to her by keeping the knife, which has taken his life. She suddenly remembered something which she wished had not been true. There exist two different worlds in the life of Vasudha. The ...

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“Versus ” by Rhonda Allen

Submitted to Contest #48

It is said that there is a fine line between genius and insanity, between good and evil and that absolute power, corrupts absolutely. I don’t think anyone really knows what the tipping point will be that makes you cross the line, until it happens. Like most people I had always stayed in control, stayed on the right side of the line, but then suddenly I found myself on the other side, or was I. In the beginning I questioned myself whether I was good or evil, was I a protector or a villain, I rationalized my actions with the thought of “...

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“The easy child” by Alma B

Submitted to Contest #48

The easy child. It came up in every description of her. Oh, she’s the easy child, a parent might say with a small smile, reaching down a hand to ruffle her red curls. She’s an easy student. No surprises, teachers would confide with a charming laugh. Pixie hated it. Every time she heard a variation of those words, it was like a slap, a sharp reminder of her dull non-power. Little Nora could bounce higher than the Statue of Liberty. 10-year-old Devin could ride clouds at speeds faster than any plane. Natalie could shoot lasers from her fingers...

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$50

Prize money

770

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 03, 2020 EST

Won by Jeff C. Carter 🏆

Title: Primum Nil Nocere

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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