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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

“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...

5 comments 5
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“Awkward As Hell” by Bruce Charles

Submitted to Contest #54

Clyde was in Hell. He wished that he could tell you that arriving here was a surprise, but if he had to be completely honest with himself (which he did due to it being part of his punishment), he would’ve told you he expected it. Clyde was one of the biggest bastards in the world, and everyone would’ve told you the same. At his funeral, when it was his mother’s turn to speak she stood in front of everyone and said, “He’s in a better…” She paused to look at the ground. “Well, he’s in a place now.” The video of his mother saying this...

3 comments 3
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“No Understanding” by Blane Britt

Submitted to Contest #54

As a child and being born jet black most of  the uneducated black people on an everyday basis told me that I never had a chance to amount to nothing. Especially when it came to logical reasoning, the two kinds of logical reasoning that they didn’t have a clue that were often times distinguished in addition to formal deduction: induction and abduction. That they swore on after smoking a blunt of skunk weed and drinking a 40 ounce of cheap beer.   Then said that it was given a precondition or premise, a conclusion or logical conseque...

5 comments 5
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“The Heaviest Door” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #54

Someone once told me that if the doors of opportunity do not open to you, break them down with determination.  What was I thinking?  Did it occur to me to look into the mirror.  At an age when most men are dreaming of retirement, I was going back to college at Arizona State University in a program to get my Arizona Teaching License.  It all sounded so good after two years of substitute teaching, I needed to find my place. In the two years, I had done every grade and just about every subject including dance where one of t...

1 comment 1
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“Disconnected” by Lizzy Burt

Submitted to Contest #54

Isabelle’s shoes quickly thumped against the sidewalk, harmonizing with her heavy breathing. She held onto the straps of her grey backpack to prevent too much bouncing. Almost to the bus stop, she saw the city bus turn the corner, giving a loud screech as it jolted to a halt at the edge of the neighborhood. She joined the end of the line, where someone from behind rammed into her backpack. She looked over her shoulder, but he hadn’t noticed. Straightening her jean jacket, she stepped onto the bus. Seeing an open seat next to a middle aged wo...

2 comments 2
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“Rhode Island Revenge ” by Akhlys Ivy

Submitted to Contest #54

When there is nothing left to do in the world, when you have not a single care left, your level of stupidity starts to rise. I’d only just realized this when I clicked the advertisement. The one that would change my life forever.A couple months before, I had made a mistake. One that could absolutely not be amended. I had fallen in love, for once in my life. His name was Parker. We were the perfect pair. We spent countless nights together, watching television, dancing, and cooking. Parker was so funny and smart. He loved me unconditionally.Or...

9 comments 9
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“Second Chance Sweethearts” by Sierra Riley

Submitted to Contest #54

It had been 10 years and the 10 year class reunion for Lovely High School was this Saturday. Ash was not thrilled, but she had made a promise to someone very important to her during Senior Graduation that she would go.She sighed and pulled herself out of bed. It had been cold last night. Ash hugged herself as she let out a melancholy sigh. Of course, it was cold. She was used to sleeping next to somebody. Now, she was all alone wants more. Her fiance left her for someone else.The last thing Ash wanted to do on her weekend was go to this reun...

6 comments 6
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“Amends” by Varsha R

Submitted to Contest #54

I sipped my coffee and gazed out the snowy scene beyond my window. I observed three friends wandering around the park happily and cheerfully. That scene reminded me of something. Yeah! The girls reminded me of my friends who were all together all the time. We completed our schooling together in London. Our school days were the best. We had a whale of time then. High school days are one most beautiful days in a person’s life. You learn a lot, enjoy a lot and grow more. I had the most beautiful days at high school that nothing in my life would...

4 comments 4
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“The Rescue” by Amalee Bowen

Submitted to Contest #54

Wasn’t the future supposed to be neon, bright and sharp? Not grimy concrete, cruddy wifi, and everything crumbling back to dust. But envisioning the future and preparing for it didn’t stop it from curving sideways. Everyone had learned that the hard way. My footsteps echoed back at me, but none of the prisoners stirred. Did they hold their breath as I passed by? Hope I wouldn’t turn my attention on their block tonight? Night shift was known to be brutal. Especially when it was assigned as a way to punish or shame a day guard. I had seen the...

8 comments 8
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“Never Too Late” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #54

I tried to remain hopeful as the bubbly sorority girl bounced my way, but I had a horrible feeling of foreboding deep in my stomach. “Hello, Professor,” she said cheerfully. “I know you’ll probably cover this later, but I was wondering if we’d be receiving our syllabus today.” I knew it. I wanted to crawl into a hole by this point. Instead, I forced a sheepish smile. “Actually, I’m a student too,” I explained to her. “Oh,” she said, turning deep red. “Well, I guess you don’t know either then.” She couldn’t get away from me fast enough. ...

1 comment 1
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“Odd Chances ” by Sparkle Fingers

Submitted to Contest #54

Dinner was extremely important to Diego because it always led to deep and meaningful conversations with his mom. He was grateful he had such a good relationship with her. “Hey, I was wondering if I could go with some friends to the lake house on the weekend”. Mentioned Diego as he washed a few dirty dishes from dinner.“How many friends do you want to invite?” questioned Ann, Diego´s mom“Seven, maybe? Plus myself, it would be a total of 8 persons,” answered the boy“And are you inviting any girls as well?” asked Ann“I mean, yeah.” answere...

2 comments 2
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“Love In Paris” by Xiao McdonaldsWorker

Submitted to Contest #54

Chapter 1 “Hi Matthew!” I waved. “Hey!” Matthew answered. Matthew and I have been dating for awhile now. Matthew seemed gloomy. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Hazel, can we talk?” Matthew asked. “We always talk.” I said, worried. “Yeah well. I have something to tell you.” He said. “Go on.” I said, slowly. “Let’s talk somewhere. . . quieter.” Matthew said.  We walked into the library, and sat down on the chairs. There was an awkward silence. “We’re moving.” Matthew suddenly blurted out. I laughed. “You?! Moving?! Haha!  That’s not likel...

2 comments 2
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“Three Lifetimes” by Cyndy Reads

Submitted to Contest #54

               The streetlights were little suns, rising and setting through her windshield every hundred feet or so. Esther flipped on her signal and took a right down a residential road. The phone on the dashboard blipped and blinked. With a practiced swipe of her finger, she accepted the notification and let the GPS begin to guide her.                It wasn’t her normal neighborhood, but sh...

2 comments 2
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“Prideful Beginnings” by Christopher G

Submitted to Contest #54

Amends are meant to be made. But some are never carried through, no matter how badly one may want it because sometimes Lady Luck lives in the jaded, dirty floor of gas stop restrooms, with urine and feces and needles lain all upon her fragile self. But not for Jerry. For Jerry was a proud man. Not the sense of pride of actual individual merit of accomplishment, but because he’d just won the lottery not three weeks ago. He’d been paying “the poor man’s tax” since the Clintons held office. The hope he held onto for all...

8 comments 8
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“A Young Lady” by Jeni Conrad

Submitted to Contest #54

I’m only forty-five. I’m still young, years left ahead of me. If I live as old as my grandmother did, I still have forty more years to go; that’s more than enough time to do something new with my life.  At least, this is the concept I keep repeating to myself on my first day of college, years after sending my own son to his first day.  Somehow I made it to forty-five years without having ever stepped foot on campus. I had planned to go to college during my senior year of high school. I had even applied and been accepted to thre...

6 comments 6
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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!

Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

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