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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#5: Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway's novella The Old Man and the Sea was published for the first time in Life Magazine on September 1st, 1952. The story went on to win the Pulitzer Prize the following year, turning Hemingway into a bonafide international celebrity. And remember, this story was published decades after some of his now most famous works, like A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bells Tolls. A good reminder that it's never too late to achieve literary acclaim!

To celebrate the last full-length work published during Hemingway's lifetime, this week's prompts reflect topics and themes from some of his best-known works. (No need to have read any of Hemingway's books to use these prompts, but if you're looking to get better acquainted with his works, check out this Hemingway reading guide!)

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone who finds life meaning in an unexpected place.

Fiction – 34 stories

Write a story about two unlikely people falling in love.

Romance – 40 stories

Write a story about someone who decides to confront their fears head-on.

Character – 35 stories

Write a story about someone striving for a "comeback."

Adventure – 11 stories

Write a story about someone who is tired of their day-to-day routines.

Sad – 36 stories

Stories

“HAMMER MAN” by Chuck Waldron

Submitted to Contest #5

Milton couldn’t stop tapping a cigarette pack in his shirt pocket. His foot drummed an uneasy rhythm as he watched digital numbers on elevator display. Why’s this elevator so darn slow? It’s taking forever. Using his fingers, he worked a stranglehold of his shirt collar and tie free. Milton grimaced, feeling sweat soaking his shirt. Looking back at a sign on his office do...

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“A Break in My Routine” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #5

A Break in My Routine I’ve always lived my life through routines. It saves me a lot of trouble and worry. I live in a world where having to make unnecessary little decisions affects my calm. Following routines has brought me success. I am 27, run my own accounting firm, own a mini-mansion and have a nice girlfriend. My daily routine involves doing everything I can at the same time every day: eating, leaving for and arriving from work, and watching television. And all my family and friends are familiar with all t...

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“The Many Lives of William Foster” by John Gaus

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #5

It was a sticky day in July when William Foster’s heart decided to stop beating. He was tending to his tomato plants when his heart muscles contracted and his body broke into chaos. The steady stream from the watering can began to shake, and he fell to his knees as his body shut off. The last thing he saw was the summer sunlight dancing off the window of his studio apartment. * * * He was floating. His body was lighter than air—no longer burdened by loneliness and old age. His eyes were closed, ...

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“Unexpected Knowledge” by M.D. Smith

Submitted to Contest #5

“No, it’s not me. I’m tired of you blaming everyone and everything for what’s not going right in your life,” screamed Peggy as she went into the bedroom and slammed the door. He heard a click of the deadbolt lock. A moment of quiet and then, “You’re the one always telling me what’s right when I’m just a pawn,” Robbie yelled through the door. Then he paused, didn’t hear a sound from the room. “Fine, cut me off. That’s how you solve all our problems, just slamming a door on it all. I’m going for a walk.” With that, Robbie stormed out the back ...

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“darkness through dawn...” by Kiera Russell

Submitted to Contest #5

She took one glimpse at his fragile yet stable face. His crystal, Emerald eyes sank deeply through her unravelling, beaming smile. Her intentions were over the limits of expectation; her hour-glass body spoke the words of her exceptional mind! She knew one detail but he knew every last ounce... THREE YEARS BEFORE... The beginning... It all began on a traditional evening; he would wake up, throw on his off white shirt and his blood red trousers. He would grab his Raven jet black jacket and sneakily tumbl...

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“The Arrangement” by Sandra Lester

Submitted to Contest #5

Francesca Aldridge, hands clenched tightly together paced her bedroom. The gown she was wearing felt stiff and heavy. She had resigned, already, that her parents had arranged for her to be married to some guy from people they knew as friends. She had never met the family, as they had lived miles away. Today, however, the family was going to be arriving for dinner. It certainly was an important affair, as Francine gathered by the numerous preparations going on around the house. Everything w...

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“The Maid's Daughter ” by Nicole S.E.H.

Submitted to Contest #5

“Amelia! Amelia! Amelia!” Benjamin burst through the cafe’s doors. Every customer’s head snapped in his direction as he pushed past two people to the counter. Amelia’s manager glared at her. She lowered her head, blushed slightly, and walked to the last stool where he sat. “Benji! Benji! Benji!” She hissed through gritted teeth. Benjamin reached his hand into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small maroon ring box. He placed it on the counter with a thud. Amelia noticed his hands shaking and the sweat...

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“What a Sunny Day!” by Christine Hungerford

Submitted to Contest #5

Beau sat on her sky-blue plastic beach chair, watching as the waves crashed again and again against the sandy shore. It seemed to shiny up the seashells prettifying the beach as well as erase the footprints left by the walkers passing by her and the other attendees. She sighed, digging her bare toes into the lighter sand that expanded itself like a colonial empire in front, behind and on either side of Beau. I don’t want to know that I have to clean my apartment or serve ice cream or pick up Piggy’s poop or any other mundane activity anymore...

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“IOTA” by Jay Kasperbauer

Submitted to Contest #5

Just west of Socorro, New Mexico where the highway splits from the interstate due south west, the soapweed yucca and sage brush screens the vast flat land as far as sight allows. Yellow wild flowers grow in the shade yearning for the hot desert rain. The arid sand floor is alive with creatures, indistinguishable from far. At a blurry distance the surrounding earth appears pale terracotta.He shifts his big rig downward as he approaches the paved descent. The inside of his cab smells of stale air. The pine-scented air freshener bought in Amari...

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“Trapped” by Charu Vashishtha

Submitted to Contest #5

I was my usual self that day. Silly, goofy and terribly stressed out.There was an urgent project delivery to be carried out that next day and I had to complete my bit by the 'End of the day'.Just as I was struggling hard to meet deadlines, I received call from one of the most important ladies of my life.My lifeline and yet the bane of my existence.My maid.And I rushed back home. I rushed home from work because my maid said that she would visit my place little earlier than usual. You see, she told me sharply, that she had a family, babie...

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“FEAR.” by Bianca Andrade

Submitted to Contest #5

I walked down the corridor. I couldn’t see in front of me at all, but the door I’m walking towards is burned into my mind. I don’t have to know how many steps it takes to get there. My body knows already.I turn left and open the door. The room is dark, like it always is. I close the door behind me, knowing if someone heard me or saw me, I’d be taken away and humiliated in front of thousands of people. I press a syringe into my neck and drop it. A few moments pass and the ground shifts beneath me and turns into soft earth, tall yellow grass b...

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“More” by Covadonga Botas

Submitted to Contest #5

A quick transaction. Money from one hand to another and, in an instant, I'm getting a shot of Heroin.I've missed the feeling. The heat throughout my body, the peace, my mind floating. I’m not broken when I’m with Her.I can almost hear the blood flowing through my veins, intoxicated with that brownish liquid, from which I can obtain so much pleasure. I don’t know how long I'm on the floor. This is the last one, I promise myself while I try to sit up. But I know it won't be the last, it never is. I can spend some time without Her, of course, b...

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“The Friendly Neighbor By Albert Zygier” by Albert Zygier

Submitted to Contest #5

I won’t lie to you, after my forth divorce I packet it in. There will be no more husbands in my life. I am 47 years old, with one daughter and a good career. I am chief editor of a large book publishing firm and I live in a condo I purchased with my second husband’s settlement. OK, so he fooled around with my young assistant for two years before I wised up but I made him pay for it. He was the CEO of a large trust company so I made out quite nicely.I won’t bother you much about my third and forth husbands. One was an artist without talent. T...

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“Rosbif and Frog” by A. Tahsin

Submitted to Contest #5

My hands were buried deep in my pocket. Head down. Chin hidden behind the worn-out scarf. The tittering December cold left my face in bright hues of red.I shuffled my wrist around in my oversized Christmas jumper enough to hitch up the cloth over my LED watch that I got from my brother Fat. Get up. Work. Oversized. This will let you keep track of how long you work out. but still allowed my hands to remain in the radiating sanctuary: 1:17Lovely. It has been precisely two hours and nineteen minutes since I stormed out of the house with a ...

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“Shuffling” by KD Live

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #5

6:15. Wake up. Everyone has some sort of ritual in their life. 6:20. Wash face. Brush teeth. Jeremiah Lee was no exception. 6:25. Stretch His days had been the same everyday for many, many days. Most of the time it was like running on auto-pilot. 6:40. Morning run around the block. It was simple, comfortable. Familiar. Predictable. 7:00. Return from run. Grab today's paper on the way in. St...

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$50

Prize money

156

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 06, 2019 EST

Won by Yves. ♙ 🏆

Title: World Got Smaller

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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