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!

#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

“The Phoenix” by A O

Submitted to Contest #48

*Author note* I wrote this some time back for a contest where one had to fill in their own story between the first and last lines of Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. *** It was a pleasure to burn. That isn’t the issue. It’s just plain unfortunate for you that you brought me up here to “[your] farm” to douse me and light me up. Surely you see? I’m The Phoenix. No hoax. I’ve got bonafide super-powers and everything. Now, what would the innocent citizens of our community say if I let you get away with creating a nationa...

Read story

“Her Dark Secrets” by Raquel Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #48

Gabriella Almasi. I've always had an off feeling about that girl, every moment she strode by with that suggestive smile, as though she was aware of something that nobody else was. Whenever she entered one of the classrooms in the ivy-covered, tall school building of Silver Creek High School, everyone noticed. They recoiled in their tall wooden seats as if wanting to hide from a Strzyga. I was new, so I didn't understand the danger that Gabriella could cause when she wanted to. All I understood was that nobody ever communicated with her ...

Read story

“Monster” by Raquel Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #48

You are nine years old, a scrawny, introverted boy with one friend, the daughter of the Greene's - the family who's lived in Greene Haven for the largest amount of time. That's why the town was named after them. Ever since you were born, all you've ever heard are stories about 'the Chosen One' and their special abilities. All the stories that have ever been read to you are about the Chosen One, and you have many things memorized about them, including the fact that a new one is chosen every year. Although you admire the 'Chosen One,' everyone...

Read story

“The Fourth Child” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #48

It isn’t always easy being the youngest of four children, especially when they’re quads. And at the festivities for naming and bestowal, I think our fairy godmother Donnabella (who is neither a fairy not our godmother) ran out of steam somewhat. This is how it went: She took my oldest sister in her arms, held her heavenwards, and proclaimed, “Great spirit, look with mercy and generosity on this thy daughter Rosanna and grant her the power of reading thoughts.” Those who were present swore that rosy...

Read story

“Marvel Freak” by Raquel Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #48

I stare at the comic in my hands, the one I just got from a huge yard sale across the street. The smell of fresh, crisp paper fills my lungs, and I take it all in. I stare at Superman, who's on the somewhat faded front cover, and try to imagine being him. Being handsome all the time, a red cape flowing in the wind behind me, and my confidence off the charts. Plus, having superpowers. It seems awesome to have a secret that nobody else knows about, or having something that nobody else can have. “I don’t care what you say!” I suddenly yell...

Read story

“anjela” by Masha Kurbatova

Submitted to Contest #48

“I’m not very good at talking about this stuff. So. Nevermind.’’ She buries her face in the pillow. I mean, I’m very good at talking about it either, but I wish she would at least make an effort. Aren’t poets supposed to put their feelings into words? I can’t tell if she’s actually asleep or faking it. Sometimes she’s so still, I worry she’s died. I squint in the dark, stare at her belly, make sure it still rises up and down. It does I crawl out of the bed, feet hitting the cold linoleum. Bed may be too generous a word, reall...

Read story

“Fire” by Catherine MacKenzie

Submitted to Contest #48

The flames climbed higher along his body, his screams dying as he chokes on the smoke before he collapses in a heap of dead, charred flesh, still smoking even after the flames die. The flames seemed to cease with his heartbeat, snuffing out as abruptly as they began. The remaining screams of his young lover and newlywed wife, echoed in the air, carried on with the wind. Birds flew overhead. The crowd that had gathered as the poor bastard burned looked on in horror at what they had just witnessed. Some of them lost their stomachs. Others pres...

Read story

“ The Birthday” by Deepti Kumari

Submitted to Contest #48

It was midnight. The clock was approaching to "12:00". She was sitting on her bed and waiting for the call from her mother to wish her "Happy Birthday". This is the first time she was so excited to celebrate her birthday even though her mother was not with her. Since childhood she didn't have a great experience on her birthday. She doesn't have that much friends because of her unique behaviour. Children usually abandon her and don't wanted to be her friends. She always felt alone in this world but her mother was always standing by her side. ...

Read story

“Mind-Reading...Seahorse?” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted to Contest #48

“-as FUCK,” she enunciated those last words, presumably to either piss me off, encourage me to end the session, or both. Of course, I knew that she was in fact trying to do all this, with an added desire of getting me to probe. Like the mind reading counsellor that I am, I do exactly that. “And why do you think that seahorses are…” I pause to squint my eyes, treading carefully, “magical as fuck?”Her own brown almond eyes widen slightly. She’s surprised that I would mirror the casual profanity of Gen Z, and she’s deciding whether my resp...

Read story

“Waterpark” by Zan Lexus

Submitted to Contest #48

So, how did I end up on a sprawling oasis in the middle of the Kalahari Desert? It’s a wet story, and it starts with a waterslide. A waterslide in a waterpark, to be exact. Now, I’m not a bad guy, but that day I somehow ended up a felon. Go figure. But probably the youngest, fittest, handsomest felon tho...

Read story

“Fun Facts about Fleas” by Dustin Softman

Submitted to Contest #48

Saul Mattis accepted a copy of Fun Facts about Fleas stale-faced and slipped the volume into his bag. “I’m sorry for its tone, but this really is all we have on fleas,” said the doctor avoiding Saul’s eye “it’s actually quite incredible what they, or rather you, are capable of” “I’m not a flea,” said Saul bluntly. There was a knock at the door and a nurse waggled a bundle of children’s shoes through the gap in the door. “Thank you, Mr Mattis can collect them on his way out…” “I’m not a flea.” “Not entirely, no, but the skin test...

Read story

“A Little Bit Off” by Joshua G. J. Insole

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #48

1We all knew there was something a little bit off about Hugh. He was a single man who collected comics, for a start. He called them his “research”. He also had black silvery skin, purple eyes which he kept perpetually hidden behind a pair of oversized pink glasses, a ridiculous fake white moustache and no nose. Oh, and the glasses he tried to hide his eyes behind? They were regular glasses — not sunglasses, not the kind with mirror lenses, just plain old glasses. Hugh didn’t seem to be aware of his error, however.I’m not quite sure exac...

Read story

“Motive” by Abigail Romick

Submitted to Contest #48

“Mommy, Daddy” a little girl called out gleefully as she bounded down the stairs. Her parents stood smiling in the kitchen as their daughter rushed towards them. “Hello kiddo,” her father said, ruffling her messy brown hair as she wrapped them in a hug. He lifted his coffee to his lips taking a leisurely sip. “Anything on your mind?” he queried. The girl let out a little giggle. “I dunno,” she said in an innocent tone while leaning against a nearby chair. The father let a little grin show. “Your mother and have been talking and we think go...

Read story

“Jeopardy” by Kathleen Doidge

Submitted to Contest #48

My steel shackles thundered against the walls of the prison carriage, the horse behind me rearing. The heavily armored knight who was supposed to be riding the massive beast flew through the air. He couldn't have weighed more than a feather by the way he was flung off, crashing into the dead tree beside my cage. The force of the impact shattered the dry wood, the entire trunk toppling onto him. The dead plant consumed him, and moaned. I agreed with the tree, I would cry too if I lay atop him. That knight stunk terribly.The caravan stopped, h...

Read story

“Questions and Answers” by Elaina Goodnough

Submitted to Contest #48

Every sibling relationship varies. In children’s stories you read of a picture-perfect duo that either fights crime or goes on a simplistic adventure where they bond and love each other with Philia (deep friendship). In young adult’s books siblings fight each other almost to death or they reluctantly band together to defeat a villain and eventually grow to create a flawless and (again) perfect relationship. Do you see the repeating fact? Hurt, climax, love and happily perfect ever after. This is true of most stories. I started out ...

Read story

Load more stories

$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!

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 ⭢