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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

“A Second Chance” by Rowena Wrind

Submitted to Contest #54

As I step onto the train, I'm looking for a place to sit - social distancing banners occupy a lot of spaces but, as it’s early, I have no problem finding two empty seats and I sit down, sliding across so I'm next to the window. We pull away and soon the houses start to disappear, replaced by sprawling fields and islands of livestock bunched together, youngsters, gambolling around their parents like playful satellites. Truth is, I'm not watching them at all, instead, I focus on my face reflected in the window and I start to think about the ch...

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“The Big Pink Eraser” by Lee Jay

Submitted to Contest #54

"You're an adult, you're eager to learn, you want to do this - you'll get through it," Mary said to me as she shifted on the wooden park bench. She slurped her ice coffee assuredly with a strawful of confidence. How could she say that? She doesn't know my shabby work ethic or the multitude of memory issues that affect my learning. Mary was just so certain she made it seem foolish that I would ever doubt myself. "When you were fifteen - you were depressed, you had an eating disorder, you had no goals or motivation other than to leave ...

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“SOMO-SOMOLOGY” by RADIUS HAVWAALA

Submitted to Contest #54

“I don’t expect you to yap buts to me!” Mr. Sunday Changa banged the table, sending a few files flying about like ruffled feathers. “Tell me why the floor is dirtier than a cowshed when I pay you a salary every month.”“Sir, my child is sick. Please…,” my desperate groans of despair were irreverently cut off by his next bazooka-level volley of insults.“Get out of my sight, useless man,” was the next majestic eruption from the man who poured out venom like lava from a volcano. His index finger pierced the space to his right, stabbing a directi...

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“OASIS” by Dozzy Nika

Submitted to Contest #54

No one believed that Chiugo would become popular on campus when we were fresh men. She was small and had a poor command of English. After our first year, first semester exams, she metamorphosed; she became popularly known as African Queen and became the first female students’ Union President on Campus. My friends were weird; they were known for things like: promiscuity, being cocky, belligerence or being too religious. Chris, my next-door neighbour and friend was notorious. Austin was exceedingly good. Chiugo was one of my friends, too. In f...

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“Freedom” by Verna Avarell

Submitted to Contest #54

Gary pressed the doorbell button with trepidation. He had been sitting in his car nearly half an hour, but finally made it to the front stoop. He tried to calm himself by closing his eyes for a moment and quietly saying "God, please help me" as he took a deep breath. "I don't even know if they still live here," he thought to himself. "It's been five years, and they were old even then. They may not--" The door opened wide as an elderly, frail-looking woman appeared, her face wrinkled with age but lit with a friendly smile. "Gary!" she said e...

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“Moritz Schreiber's Guide To Getting Your Boyfriend Back” by Adelaide Brenner

Submitted to Contest #54

Okay, here's the thing. Chris is probably the best person I've ever met. He's sweet, dedicated, and, excuse my language, fine as fuck. And then he broke up with me. Which is why I royally fucked up. Over a ring. A ring. His grandma's antique amethyst ring, but still. I am much hotter than a ring. This is probably why he broke up with me, isn't it? Let's just say, I do not take breakups very well. And pitching my ex boyfriend's ring, who I was still in love with, by the way, into the river was probably not my best idea. This idea is o...

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“The Devil At Work” by Elöise Lötter

Submitted to Contest #54

I lay lazily on the soft mattress. Silence. All is silent. I hate it. The last couple of nights I’ve been tossing and turning, trying to figure out a way I could apologize to them. I slump my legs over the bed and stand up. I feel all my joints crack and my head spinning. I hold onto the wall for support as my legs drag me away from the familiar bedroom and into the empty hallways stretching out for miles. I know what I did to them was horrible. I made a deal with each one and I was too caught up in my own web of selfishness and power to g...

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“The Coward” by Kaylee Jaye

Submitted to Contest #54

Fear had ruled her life. To be specific, one fear, caused by a simple stab wound, two more centimeters to the left, and she would have been gone. Countless battles, adventures, and knowledge yet to be found, all worthless under the eyes of the unforgiving darkness. The dread of death had gripped her, pulled her to find a solution that would heal this disease that was present in every living thing's body. She wasn’t the first to find a solution to this ever-present conundrum, but she had decided she was going to be the one to ...

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“But Did You DIE? ” by Amy Jeffery

Submitted to Contest #54

Trigger warning: physical violence, abuse Heat like a smothering blanket embraced me as I stepped out of the icy car. My feet tingled, my hair was a slightly dirty massive bun atop my head, and the tank top I wore smelled like B.O. 2 days in a vehicle with a rancid-assed pit bull and a howling now-half-feral cat who was probably going to shit in my shoes for a month now that we were in our new home, 900 miles from the old hell. My experience with driving consisted of 2 pitted lanes in a shitty little town in the middle of nowhere, only ...

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“REGRETS” by Rejoice Praise

Submitted to Contest #54

"Not everyone deserves a second chance", this was Kira's words to me as she registered her displeasure towards me on account of my betrayal to Taoma. ****** Taoma and I have been buddies since childhood. We met first at Saint Paul Anglican Church, Lagos, after I and my parents relocated to Banana Island, Lagos, Nigeria. ***** I am the only child of my parents, and so, Taoma became my friend and sister. Our fondness and closeness made both parents closely knitted and related. We celebrated our birthdays together too. We are both May borns...

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“Every Dark Cloud has a Silver Lining ” by Deepika Viswanath

Submitted to Contest #54

The white walls in my apartment was a contrast to the orange skies outside. Everything felt empty inside while people outside were happily living. I couldn't help but think about what I did. Ever since I left Colin, and Napa Valley, I realized what a terrible mistake that was. I looked out the window of my apartment, from my living room. I saw cars going by, and people walking the streets. I looked down at my phone. Should I do it? Are there such things as second chances? I called the first name that was on my "Favorites" list of conta...

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“Going Backwards” by Kevin Zheng

Submitted to Contest #54

When I left these hallways nearly a decade ago, I was still a brash, arrogant frat boy who, being naive and inexperienced, believed that everything revolved around me and that I was the next genius of my generation. Due to my privileged upbringing, I never experienced any hardships in life (other than the occasional defeat in fencing), and although I didn’t engage in any criminal acts or do any wild things, my life was corrupted as I gradually sank into a sea of parties, popularity, and wild relationships. That wasn’t to say that I didn’t d...

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“A Mirrored View” by Debra Johnson

Submitted to Contest #54

~*~ Toni knew nothing except how to be a carpenter and work with tools. But since the accident caused by a drunk driver, he had lost the use of his legs but according to a few his drive for life. At least for the time being. Even though the doctors say with time and therapy he would eventually regain the use in his legs, it wasn’t soon enough for him. And with each painful appointment with the therapist, he began to get discouraged. However, he still had to make a living and since he was unable to go back to what he had done...

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“The Trade-Off” by Matthew Ward

Submitted to Contest #54

Benjamin killed the car engine in the middle of the motel parking lot. It was deserted.He trod the weathered tarmac toward the motel’s grey reception door but paused a moment later. He glanced back toward the car, toward the back door. His son had been standing near there the last time he saw him.A security light cast yellow into the night but only made the night’s damp haze and pathetic rain all the more hazy and pathetic. Benjamin could feel the wetness on his cheeks just as he could feel the nip of cold. Yet sniffing the fading scent of e...

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“The Emperor's koi pond” by Neela Sanders

Submitted to Contest #54

Once, in a small town in China, there was a great river that wound its way through valleys and mountains, canyons and flat towns. It was called the Snow river, because the rice it helped grow was as white as freshly fallen snow. The river was longer than any other, and it was said that if any fish could swim the whole thing in their lifetime, they would become a mighty dragon in their next life. This river was said to belong to the emperor of all China, Yin Han, and the water was said to run directly into his garden. The emperor Yin H...

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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.

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