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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

“FIRST LOVE” by Duong Duy Khang

Submitted to Contest #54

It’s been six years since I left high school. During my college years, I was wrapped up in tons of work and hardly had time to visit my high school. Today was a rare chance to go back to high school as I have done all my work and have a holiday. I got up early this morning and dressed in my high school uniform. I prefer the one which I used to wear on weekdays in which I had P.E lesson to the normal, white with dark blue trousers. The shirt had the blue color of the sea when sparkling rays of sunlight reflected on the water surface. On the...

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“Had She Known Then” by ULimpho S

Submitted to Contest #54

It always happened as her birthday month loomed closer. Mbali would do a series of rewinds in her mind as she thought back to the years that had gone by. The thoughts were hardly ever reminiscent of any cumulative successes or achievements, but rather of failures she had encountered. The could haves, may haves and should haves all sang in unison for her. They sounded off tune. All of the things she could have grabbed hold of leapt out from within the darkest corner of her mind. The lights had gone off there a long time ago and the circuit se...

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“Stolen Time” by Bruce Charles

Submitted to Contest #54

Frank was incredibly nervous. He was about to confront the man whose life he had ruined a year ago, and hopefully make amends. He knew that what he was doing was the right thing, but he still couldn’t bring himself to knock. What do you say to a man you’ve stolen time from?For years Frank has been obsessed with harnessing time travel technology, ignoring all of the warnings from his fellow scientists. He knew what he was doing was dangerous, but he didn’t care. When he was in his lab, it was almost like he was in his own world, and he was th...

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“An afternoon at the cinerama” by JR Soko

Submitted to Contest #54

Jenny is pregnant. We've been waiting for this to happen for a while. Well, she was waiting for a while. I was dreading the whole thing. For a while. We married two years ago. "Greg" she came to me one day. "I think I'm ready to have kids now. And if we wait any longer, it might be too late" she said. I knew this has been stewing for a while in her head. I tried to postpone this conversation for as long as I could, but Jenny had enough. "I want two or even three kids, and if we start in a few years from now then we wouldn't have any gap...

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“Forgive Me” by Shanell Norfleet

Submitted to Contest #54

Dear Ivy, I can sat and tell you about the things that I like about you more like love about you I love your personality how selfless you are how you willing to give your last to help someone out I love your smile brightens up my world and when I met you I knew you were the one that was going to save me because before we started talking I was planning on ending it all and then you came into my life and you change that I'm a complete idiot a moron a jerk whatever you want to call me is what I am because I broke your heart and I didn't reali...

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“Second Chance” by Henry Farley

Submitted to Contest #54

Second Chance by Henry Farley I opened the door and saw a young teenager staring back at me. She was short, about five feet, with red hair, deep blue eyes, and a pale complexion with a few freckles on her cheeks and nose. The anxiety of coming to my door was plain to see on her face and trying to smile she said, “Hi.” “What do you want?” I replied gruffly, which cut short her smile and she chose the best words to continue. “I suppose you’ve been on the ale again, which is why you’re grumpy this morning.” The cheeky young mare?&nbsp...

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“Forgiveness” by Carol Keefer

Submitted to Contest #54

Forgiveness Carol Ann Keefer What is it about seeking amends for an error that one person makes-is it something within us humans that crave for acceptance? There are occasions where the hurt is too deep and, amends are left unanswered. However, with enough time, forgiveness will take hold and amend for wrong will be answered in time-where hope begins new. So is our story, ashes of a friendship buried and, hope is waiting. &nb...

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“Redemption” by Dante Winters

Submitted to Contest #54

Eight years ago I had an accident. I still feel the rain in my hair when I think about it, see the droplets sparkling in my headlights, hear my car horn blaring from the ditch. Damp pine needles squished silently under my hands as I dragged myself from underneath the Ford Focus. Using the car’s hood and the tree it rested on for leverage, I pulled myself to my feet. Rough bark scraped my skin, and hot metal under my hand contrasted the cool drizzle on my face. The sweet scent of rain-soaked earth was tainted by ...

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“Breaking Habits ” by A. Neptune

Submitted to Contest #54

The morning was cool and damp, and thunder boomed in the distance. Seeming to match the anxiety filling Stephanie's chest with each passing second. The young woman chewed her nail and tapped her fingers against her coffee mug.What if they don't show up? A small voice in the back of Stephanie's mind asked. She hadn't seen her parents in three years, and their last meeting hadn't been pleasant. Not that she remembered it that well. She'd spent the two years after she came home in a drug and alcohol-fueled haze."More coffee, miss?" Stephanie ju...

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“Finally” by Zae Zae

Submitted to Contest #54

Finally.... Not everyone is perfect. It is foolish for a perpetrator to know that something is wrong. My name is Zin Mon. I live in Myanmar also known as Burma. In our country, most parents believe that the results of the matriculation (Grade-11) exam are the deciding factor in their children lives. When I was in Grade-11, my parents were poor and they could only send me to a government school. While others were taking good tuition outside, I was able to get help from a tutor and get a scholarship for his tuition. But I gave back a job...

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“Next Comes Another Love” by Ivie Yang

Submitted to Contest #54

Anne absentmindedly turned off her phone and weakly leaned on the counter separating her apartment’s receiving area and kitchen. She could not believe what Vienne, her bestfriend said on the phone. She shook her head. Surely, Tyler would not betray her trust. He would not betray their love. She dialed Tyler’s number. First ring. Second. Third. No one was answering. Should she call his office? No. She didn’t want to. What if Tyler confirmed her fears? Could she take the pain, the despair? She could not! She had invested too...

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“The noble and the maid” by Kiera Kearsey

Submitted to Contest #54

Jaylee stood by the thick double doors just inside the room watching with hidden disdain the group of young noblemen drink and eat without care. The room was heavy with the late summer air. Dust danced happily in the sun’s rays. The thick, burgundy drapes over the window were half drawn but it let no relief to the room’s occupants. A huge fireplace stood to one side of the room, it’s yawning mouth dark without fire. The mahogany coffee table in front of it was laden with golden statues and the walls with its expensive collection of candlesti...

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“Once Upon a Friendship ” by Cindy Alexa

Submitted to Contest #54

Because of me, my mother thought the worst of my best friend. Well, she was no longer my best friend. I made sure of it. I pushed her away. Because it was easier than telling the truth. I stole money from my school and blamed her for it. Who did that? I was an awful person, I know. But in my defense, I felt trapped. And any decision looked terrible. Meaning I threw my best friend, Amanda James, under the bus. It haunted me, what I did. And now that it was our last semester in high school, I couldn't stand the thought of Amanda resenting m...

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“A Visit from the Past” by Kristin Ballinger

Submitted to Contest #54

It was 3:00 PM on a beautiful summer afternoon in July. Chris Lewis and his best friend, Michael Bland, were walking to a nearby ice cream parlor together to celebrate Chris’ new job as an assistant manager at a marketing firm. This was his dream job, and when he found out that he had been selected for the position, he called Michael right away and decided that they would celebrate with ice cream, one of their favorite treats to indulge in. They arrived at the parlor and walked inside, with Chris trailing slightly behind him.&n...

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“destiny” by Taylor Pastore

Submitted to Contest #54

Some people believe in destiny as a way to keep sane in such an unpredictable world. Others believe in destiny as a way to place the blame when things go wrong. But I believe we write our own destinies, `forging a path in the unknown and leaving a trail of regrets behind. It was my destiny to meet Jackie, sure, but what I made of our relationship was my opportunity to rewrite fate, to blaze a trail. It would be difficult, I knew it, but when I looked in her innocent doe eyes, I knew it was the only way. To make am...

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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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