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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

“The Composer” by H. W. Autumn

Submitted to Contest #54

When you turn 18, you graduate with a specific trade. This is the skill, in some cases, skills that will be your trade your entire life. It will determine your job, your family, everything. Today is a monumental day: the day that you decide to pick your career. Most students are monitored as they build skills and explore hobbies in classes. Most students already know what they want to be when they grow up. Most students have already applied for their job badges, new courses, and school clubs. You are not “most students.” You have an expecta...

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“Avoid all mirrors” by Saray De Andrade

Submitted to Contest #54

Do you remember why you are here? Remember when the doctor looked at your blood tests and your weight and told you, in the “doctors know everything” type of voice, that you were obese? Yes, of course you remember. It felt like someone kicking your guts, but it was no surprise. You see yourself in the mirror, your pants don’t fit anymore and you hide behind others in pictures. And when the doctor told you that you had to exercise at least thirty minutes everyday - walking was not enough - or you’d get diabetes, do you remember your thought...

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“A New Skill:” by Marie Armhvite

Submitted to Contest #54

He tried again. And again. And yet again. One more try. But it was hard. It wasn’t like flying. It wasn’t like punching a wall down. Or like deflecting bullets. This was hard. He was never top of his class, but his superpowers were always usable. He managed. He kept up in flying class. He got by just fine during martial practice, and even came in third when they had their exams in building-demolition. When they were tested for skin-density and -strength, his skin turned out to be thicker than many others’. But thinner than many others’. He w...

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“What You Make Of It” by Jacob Palmilloon

Submitted to Contest #54

“So, it’s about this girl, right? She’s had a tough life, tougher than most people in her entire town have had. She grew up with a family that abused her, had to learn how to steal food just so she could eat, and was surrounded by teachers and adults who just didn’t care about her. She grows up, moves away, and even changes her name so no one from her town would find her. She’s got a completely clean slate, and things start looking up for her for a time.” I glance around the meeting room, hoping my pitch is still being received well. Everyon...

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“My Second Chance” by Mia Tang

Submitted to Contest #54

The music in the restaurant is soft. Orange light drools from the low hanging fixtures above; passing chords of Clair de Lune frame the couple nicely. He leans over the table and smirks. She turns away from him, sniffs. "I don't believe in love." "What a charming thing to say at a first date," He leans back and laughs easily. "Can I ask why, Hailey?" A moment of silence as she stills. "Let me guess," He leans across the table. She looks at him in equal parts trepidation and curiosity. "You trusted him. He hurt you. You’ve forgo...

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“Intuition” by Chloe Chan

Submitted to Contest #54

Hell. Demons. Dead. Where else could I be? There was fire everywhere, tortured screams and thick grey smoke. I was hardly breathing, yet the sulphurous air felt like it was burning my insides. I felt a strange sense of intuition as if my lungs had near-frozen drops of blood dripping down the side of them. My lungs were not the only parts of me feeling like it was bleeding. The sound I had thought was screaming was unendurably, but undeniably horrible soprano singing. An u...

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“Second chances” by Kailani Mercury

Submitted to Contest #54

"The winner of the final contest is Lori and Barb with stunning results of 89, while Cassie and Zoe come in second with a total score of 80", the t.v host said fake enthusiasm dripping from his fake smile onto his fake plaid suit. Europe turned off the t.v exasperated. He hated fake people acting as if everything is great when it's not. Maybe I'm like this because of the incident? Well, that can't be fixed she'll never forgive me. With Andie..... "Ugh", Andie groaned flopping on to her bed. "Yet another day of complete and utter embarrassmen...

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“The Resilience Gene” by Sam Clark

Submitted to Contest #54

The sudden crackle and fizz of white noise on the communal television set jolted Dana from his stupor. He'd drifted off during the Morning Broadcast (rations reduced again: same old, same old) and he felt as though he'd been dozing for a while. So it must be time for-"Hello, and welcome back to another edition of Second Chances! I'm your host Clement Paisley, and I'm really excited to welcome our guest this week, Jenny, who's joining us from Sector Three." Dana’s fellow survivors murmured. Many were so exhausted they could barely look u...

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“Second and Last Chance” by Maria V.

Submitted to Contest #54

Stan reached into his mailbox. At first glance, the stack of letters held the usual contents. He carried the bundle home and shuffled through, he saw these papers: An advert encouraging citizens to report anyone who is possibly associated with the rebellion, the electric bill, ration cards, and a postcard from the leaders talking about their proposed plans to make society better (mostly lies) and thanking everyone for their compliance (more like fear). The last paper in the stack was in a bright red envelope. His heart stopped when he ...

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“Released” by Lee Dickinson

Submitted to Contest #54

Content warning: violence The convicts “It’s the second season of Released! with even bigger and more exciting challenges than last year! We’ve got six new convicts from female prisons and six new convicts from the men’s prisons!” The dapper TV host directed the camera attention to 12 people in prison jumpsuits stood in a line. They had cuffs on their wrists and ankles and a metal contraption circling their neck. The host was a dapper man and spoke in loud, enthusiastic bursts and wore a huge grin, displaying unnaturally white pearls....

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“A second chance.” by Ayla Zulfiqar

Submitted to Contest #54

The morning sun shone on the glistening surface of the windowpane as Jasper tightly held on to the script he had written for a television show. He glimpsed at his wristwatch, which displayed 8:25. Five more minutes until the meeting with the television show director. He needed to paint a detailed picture of the story he had in his mind, which was why he had written a whole lot than just a rough outline of what would happen. As he pushed the cafe door, locating the empty seats near the glass window, he pulled the pages out of the file and wen...

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“The father” by An Lê

Submitted to Contest #54

A stranger in a black suit stepped into the front gate and hesitate. He didn’t know what to say or do. He had been thinking about it for the past hours, and all he came up with was: “I’m sorry.” He knew that an apology will not enough. They deserved further than just a word: sorry.He wanted to shoot back, but the thing in his hand had held him. “Autumn can’t wait forever.” He told himself. With all the courage, he knocked on the door and it’s open. She peered at him. First was a surprise, after that was angry. With a trembling voice, she sai...

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“Second Chances” by Miguel Mar

Submitted to Contest #54

With a big ole smile, some homeless man they found on the street goes up on the stage and grabs the microphone and mumbles some stuff about his childhood and about being the reincarnation of the Buddha or something along those lines. The homeless man then gets dragged out by two absurdly muscular men through the backdoor. I'm not sure who those two muscular men were, but after they left, the lights in the studio went dim, as the host of our show is getting ready to present himself to the viewers at home. A booming disembodied voice anno...

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“Second Chances Show” by Megan Thayer

Submitted to Contest #54

Lately I’ve been really into this show called Second Chances. It plays on TV once a week luckily on the only day I have off from work; so my break includes watching a two hour special on people fixing their mistakes. A few months ago it was Friday night and I was relaxing while watching the news since I was awake and had nothing to do anyways. As I absently flipped through the channels I thought about just going to bed early and getting rest for the start of my work week. I put the remote down and started to get out of my chair when I...

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“An Icy Road in December” by Marda Deane

Submitted to Contest #54

It all happened on the night of my office holiday party. My boss's mid-century modern house was tucked in at the top of a winding private road. The great hall was full of stockbrokers trying to impress the boss, hoping for their chance at that office on the 23rd floor. Their wives were grouped in packs like wolves, judging and whispering. My wife, Kate, didn't want to go. She hated parties and I knew that, but I didn't care. She wasn't going to ruin this for me. I was so close to getting that office. The boss had to s...

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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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