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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

“Unbelievable” by Phoebe 2

Submitted to Contest #54

Mike's POV "Oh, I'm sorry", I said as I bend down to pick up the pile of documents and files that lay in the ground. I looked at the person opposite of me, scrambling to get the documents in a stack. I noticed he looked like a new worker in the office. His face was slightly red and had black rimmed glasses. A distinct perfume smell was coming from him. He muttered a quick "sorry" and rushed towards the door. Strange, I thought. "Hey guys, did you notice the IT department has a new guy?” Remi asked, her eyes twinkling. "Stop crushing on every...

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“First Love Never Forgets” by Saloni Tripathi

Submitted to Contest #54

Julie And BaubyJulie and Bauby were college lovers . However Julie went on to marry other people and Bauby went on to make his future bright ,their hearts could never forget their first love.So when time left Julie divorcee and john alone , they realized their mistake and found their way back to each other and finally get married to each other at the age of 40.Seeing the photos of the college album ,Julie's heart beat fast in 40 years. Even after 10 years, seeing bauby's photo, she was heartened. She was lost in that time when she first met ...

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“Cheese and Serendipity” by Laura Exner

Submitted to Contest #54

Evan Harris had a problem: he loved cheese. His cardiologist was quite certain that he loved it too much, but Evan figured the man had never even had proper cheese. Standing in front of the counter at McEvoy’s Imports and Gifts, he experienced the same thrill he always did on the first Saturday of every month. The new inventory was in, and with it came a whole new culinary adventure. “Anything in particular, Mister Harris?” The woman behind the counter, Helen, had her long black hair pulled back in its usual bun, and the smile on her face ...

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“WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!” by Monika Negi

Submitted to Contest #54

Once there was a beautiful princess and a prince charming. No wait! That's not true, right. At least it is something that Ria wants to believe. She is simple and brilliant women. She gets praised everywhere she goes. But, you know it right, everything cannot be perfect. She has that one thing too. Her life is romance less and always has been like this. She was approached by many men in her life but no one made her heart flutter. She always ended up being with cold hearted playboys where she believed that their heart will melt and he will see...

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“Our Love Was” by Eliot T.

Submitted to Contest #54

Slates toppled from the roofs, and with a great crash Linwood Secondary School was no more. Torn down in the everlasting pursuit of modernity. And in this world there was no room for the withering, vegetating, (and to honest quite vulgar) building, an artefact of the brutalist 70s. A few tears were shed from the visitors; old pupils, brought in for posterity to see the building that had been the home of their education, and for some the roots of their being in which their character was moulded from the rough clay and slip into the shape many...

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“Love, Repeat” by Vincent Cruz

Submitted to Contest #54

Love sends us in directions we never imagined going. Paths that very often end for unexplainable reasons. Like when he or she didn’t return your call and never spoke to you again. But sometimes love ends for clearly obvious reasons. A Cheating partner or different growth patterns. An annoyance a lover can’t get over. Like the way she laughs, or the way he curls his toes. Sometimes people just get bored and want something different. Marriage often happens too soon. Before a couple knew better. Before they know what they want. Long before they...

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“Little Boy ” by Isobel Juno

Submitted to Contest #54

A euphoric sense overcame their bodies as their eyes met, their hearts maybe did a flip and drop dead as their eyes traced each other’s face, realizing how much they have changed. It felt as if their breath was being held back, to her she would think she was about to have a panic attack, to him it was just something related to his asthma. But they both recognized the feeling. The feeling of relaxation slowing going through their veins, the ignition of a spark that was once there but the past blew off that flame. It was a moment of reconnec...

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“The Hands of Time” by Julia Morris

Submitted to Contest #54

You see him in the pasta aisle. At first, you’re not quite sure. He is the right height and has a similar relaxed posture. The hair is the same black fuzz, buzzed close to the scalp. You inch closer for a better look but his head is bent down. You watch him study a can of marinara sauce. He gently places it back on the shelf, label out. You pretend to look at a gluten-free box of bowtie noodles, but really you’re looking at him. You crane your neck just so, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. You need to know for sure. Then he l...

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“in front of the station in december” by Gabriella Veda

Submitted to Contest #54

Stepping outside into the frigid air, you inhale, and with it your lungs freeze for a split second before picking up heat as your pace increases. It is an early Tuesday morning in December. Senses occupied by the soon-to-be Christmas atmosphere, you make your way to the station. Bicycles ride pass, the department store speakers play Jingle Bells and it makes you remember the winter of your sophomore year. You smile to yourself, lips cracking. Reaching into the left coat pocket for a lip balm, you remember that you left it on the coffee table...

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“Unexpected Wedding Guest” by Hanna Sol

Submitted to Contest #54

“Lizzy?” The familiar voice that still haunted her in her sleep jabbed into the side of Liz’s face. A ripple of excited tingling tickled her spine as her eyes widened in alarm. The guests she was chatting with looked equally stricken. All eyes turned to the all too familiar voice. “Aden?!” Liz could not believe it. “After all these years..” he mumbled. Something was still not making sense. The realization struck Liz hard; he was a guest at her daughter’s wedding. “But..who..how?” She was not making any s...

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“Back to those days.” by Agu Chinedu

Submitted to Contest #54

School, looking back retrospectively, I would simply say I loved it! The experiences, the memories, for me, it was a mixty-maxty of emotions, the good ones, bad ones, the pleasant and not-so pleasant ones, this was due to two reasons. First, right from the days of my primary school (the American equivalent of elementary school) I wasn’t the social type and I would largely attribute my lack of sociability to the kind of father I have. You see, my dad was a disciplinarian, a stern tutor and a hardliner, one who wouldn’t hear that using the whi...

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“Making it Right” by Greg Gorman

Submitted to Contest #54

Nothing had been working for me. I waited tables. I freelanced for some newspapers. I interviewed for some “Marketing” jobs that were nothing more than door-to-door sales jobs. I hated those. I had to walk around neighborhoods with these other guys. Phony. Always smiling. Starting conversations with bad jokes. Give me a break. I noticed we were getting dangerously close to my neighborhood. I really didn’t want to be seen in this situation by people I know. I thanked them for the opportunity after an hour and split. I signed up for a vocatio...

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“Never too late” by Elizabeth Mulisya

Submitted to Contest #54

Mum I think you are too old to go back to school! Exclaimed my mother No! I answered, Grandma can still go to school and learn the English language she always loved. I will go to school, starting this coming Monday, said my granny. In fact today we have news reporters from the city coming to interview me because am the talk of the whole village, she added with a proud smile. My granny has always wanted to go back to school to learn English language, her reason being that English language was the language of the Queen, who she adored so much,...

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“Understanding and Learning” by Samantha Garcia

Submitted to Contest #54

After 3 months of summer break, school is back in session. This 3 month break has taught Jessica a lot. This may be her 10th year in high school, but her thoughts and behavior grew more mature than before. Her outbursts and negative thoughts were getting under control, but there were some moments, it would show and she would act out. Jessica thought a lot the past 3 months or since the beginning of high school. Books, TV shows, documentaries, the news, articles, history, anything that Jessica could read and watch and learn something which co...

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“"Kirby and her thoughts".” by Fatima Kanza

Submitted to Contest #54

Alarm went off. Kirby fluttered her eyes open and thought,"how is it six-thirty already?? i just went to sleep!! Exasperated, she scrambled out of bed to her desk where the ringing phone was charging, and then quite out of habit, stumbled back to bed. There she dreamed that she was out of bed and getting ready. "i have gotten ready, i have gotten", she thought repeatedlyKirby jerked her eyes open as she heard her mother's shrill voice calling her for breakfast. she jumped out of bed mumbling, "last year, first day", as to compensate for lost...

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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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