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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#54: Second Chances

"Third time's the charm."

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

"Rome wasn't built in a day."

The English language is full of aphorisms that get at a universal truth: human beings aren't perfect, and oftentimes we need to keep trying (and trying again) in order to get something right.

This week's prompts all revolve around the theme of second chances. Whether your characters are circling back to something from their past, getting a start on something they put off for a long time, or simply in the process of learning after a swing and a miss, we're looking forward to the 'second acts' you come up with!

And speaking of layered characters, on August 12th, bestselling novelists Caroline Leavitt and Gina Sorell are hosting a free webinar on creating believable characters. RSVP here!

This week's prompts

Write a story about high school sweethearts coming across one another after many, many years apart.

Romance – 283 stories

Write a story about someone going back to school as a mature student.

High School – 88 stories

Write a story about someone looking to make amends for a mistake.

Adults – 223 stories

Write a story about someone struggling to learn a skill that in no way comes naturally to them.

Funny – 154 stories

Write a story about a TV show called "Second Chances."

Novel – 108 stories

Stories

“Space Age Sorrows” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #54

Oct 22, 2087. “Losing control!” Lt. McCoy shouted as alarms and red lights went off around the interior, “Colonel Thompson, what do we do!” “She won’t make much longer, sir, we are dangerously close to Io’s gravitational pull, if not in it yet,” Major Kane said. “Everyone check to ensure their suits are tight and follow my lead out the hatch,” the Colonel ordered. He sounded calm but inside was a raging panic. “All th...

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“Divided By One ” by S. F. Brooke

Submitted to Contest #54

Twin One The groom, Ryan, had been waiting for this day for a long time. Since the day that he had met her, he knew that she was the one. Now, they were finally here. Their wedding day. The music started and the procession began. He frowned slightly, there was one face that he didn't see, sighing he put a smile back on his face. Ryan watched as the groomsmen and the braids maids finished their walks down the aisle. The world shifted beneath his feet as he saw his bride for the first time. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Ryan...

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“Dear Frenemy” by Faith Hunter

Submitted to Contest #54

Lucas took a hold of my hands. “Olive, I—” Eve walked out of the clearing. “Olive, I can’t believe you would do this to me! You are the worst friend ever!” I got up and ripped my hands from his. “It’s not what it looks like!” I protested. “It’s exactly what it looks like!” Eve got up and ran away into the woods back to camp. I got up angrily and left Lucas behind. I scurried back to my cabin. Arriving back at my cabin, I saw that Eve was packing her stuff. “I am so sorry!” I cried as Lucas walked int...

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“Unimaginable Fate” by OPHOKE LEONARD

Submitted to Contest #54

It would be me as it could be you too. January 2003 just after the New Year celebration, Donald came back from London with a lot of gifts for the community. Some of the packages include clothes, shoes, and smartphones. Donald offered everything to the community members present that what left for himself was nothing. The wife, Maima, was not at peace with it and she said, "How could you do that? Are you Father Christmas? Even Father Christmas doesn't share gifts in January." In reply, "I am blessed and what I came home with are just a f...

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“BOOKSTORE” by Ahunna Ike-Njoku

Submitted to Contest #54

You breathe in. Slowly, steadily, letting the loud roar of laughter evade your earlobes. You breathe in because you just have to. You remember. Not the laughter, of course it can't be the laughter. It's the mouth odour. You remember because forgetting is not an option. It has never been an option. “You never forget things” His words blare through your ears like an unstoppable alarm clock.It’s the odour that proudly clings to the one man that hates the sight of your closeup, and of every other toothpaste you own. You turn around. Slowly,...

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“Staying put or leaving? Episode one and two of Second Chances!” by N C

Submitted to Contest #54

“Will you give him a second chance to become a loving father?” “No I will not.” ……………… “Welcome to tonight’s show of Second Chances. Please take your seat, and the show will begin!” I sat down with dry cereal in my lap, ready for the first episode of “Second Chances”. Social Media has been advertising it for a few months now, making everyone hyped for the show. It was supposed to be a show where people talk about their problems, try to solve them, and hug it out. I think it’s going to be good, the ads have given us little clips, and from my...

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“It Takes Two to Tango. ” by Abhishek Todmal

Submitted to Contest #54

It was a game of cat and mouse being watched by millions of spectators around the world.The prelude to the war that would dwarf all wars. They were planning on calling it 'The Final War'. An apt name given the stature of the two states.America and Russia had never seen eye to eye. The two were akin to an inseparable pair of siblings, who as much as they would have loved to go their separate ways, knew, that one would miss the other if either were away.America and Russia.Nate was now a big wall-street honcho who ran millions of dollars ...

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“Six million arrows” by Phil Manders

Submitted to Contest #54

I wait on my favourite cloud, all puffy, fluffy and white. Certainly my favourite cloud for this planet, in this universe. I sit and I wait. I’ve not really got time to sit and wait but I’ve been told this is where we’ll meet. Summoned here by a higher ranking Cupid. The Cupid that once passed on all his secrets to me. Me the apprentice him the master. Apparently there’s still plenty for me to learn. Apparently you never ever stop learning. Well, I’ve been a solo Cupid now for over six million arrows, which I guess on this planet equates to ...

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“The Diary of a Mad Man” by Nahyan Ameen

Submitted to Contest #54

During my stay over an uneventful new years in the mental institution, I was called to the office for a treat. Being carefully ushered in front of an uninconspicuous camera, a pleasant nurse handed me a ziplock full of kit kats and cookies that would go well with tea. I suspected that someone from my family was spying, but that was unlikely because my mother was meant to be in a country far away. Someone from my family must have been at the facility, but we were not allowed to have a meeting. I lustfully looked at a pile of release forms, wh...

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“Emma” by Anna Maria

Submitted to Contest #54

She looked down at her fingertips sticky with lemon juice. It was a feeble attempt at getting rid of her old habit of chewing them off whenever a problem arose, but she had to deal with it now, and conveniently many were staring at her head-on. She padded to the couch clutching her old Samsung as if it were a lifeline. A couple of candles flickered on the coffee table, spread a good distance away from the fake plastic flowers. She had learned her mistake from last time and it had taken a priceless hour to scrub the plastic off the pai...

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“Missing Your Brown Eyes” by Victoria Haneveer

Submitted to Contest #54

Martha woke early from a fitful sleep, dressed herself and made her way downstairs. She carefully drew back the edge of the flower-printed curtain and peered out of the window at another sunless English day. She saw James, one of her young neighbours, kiss his pretty wife goodbye as he set off to work. James spotted Martha and waved, grinning heartily. Martha returned the wave with a half-hearted smile which turned into a despondent sigh as soon as the curtain was back in place.Unfair as it seemed, life seemed to be just ...

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“Prodigy” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #54

A shriek like that of a tortured cat echoed around the room. Mrs. Lane covered her ears and scrunched up her face. “Stop!” She shouted over the screeching notes. “Sweetie, you don’t have to press the bow against the strings like that. Light pressure will do.” I looked down at the violin in my hands. I thought I was using light pressure. Would it even make a sound if I played any lighter? She sighed at the obvious confusion on my face. “Sweetie, are you sure you want to do this?” She asked cautiously. “Learning the violin isn’t easy, and I...

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“Back to Basics.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #54

Back to Basics. “Do you know, I find it quite refreshing to be sitting here with a bunch of six-year-olds? There tends to not be any obfuscation in their communications. They tell it like it is. Of course, the desk is rather small, but I can sit on the floor until my other one arrives. “Teacher. I know you don’t believe me, as I sound quite articulate to you, but I really don’t get this alphabet thing. I can’t see how these individual squiggles make up a word, even though I know they do because I’m using them to talk to you. Ever sin...

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“This Is How I Make Amends” by Saron Mengistu

Submitted to Contest #54

I know this is coming to an endAware of all the pain that will ensueAnd when it leaves a hole inside my chestI’m not sure how I’ll cover up the woundThose are the notes I play on the piano. The broken melody of a shattered serenade. The notes have no meaning or strength. Just like me.I feel the mistakes in the notes, just like I feel the mistakes in me. Each one a glass shard of a broken picture which was never perfect to begin with. The musical imbalances are like a separate stab between my fingers. They should be perfect. I’ve been pl...

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“I Need a Second Chance” by Abigail Slimzy

Submitted to Contest #54

They say the right time to plant a tree is Now!They say, opportunity comes but onceThey say, delay is dangerousThey say, no condition is permanentThey say, time heals the wounds of hard time.They say, mistakes is inevitableIs it true, everyone deserves a second chance?This I thought was a rhetorical question. I never saw it coming, I never believed we will ever have a reason to go our separate ways. The feeling was natural, the love was pure, the words were true and good thoughts were all that poured out of our innocent minds. We have always...

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$50

Prize money

856

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 14, 2020 EST

Won by Mollie Rodgers 🏆

Title: Where the Water Meets the Sand

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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