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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

“Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” by Melanie Goodin

Submitted to Contest #54

Trigger warning: domestic abuse The year was 1979 and Cindy Martin was a 22 year old mother of two toddlers , Brent age 4 and Barry age 2, and she had just left her husband of five years, Rob Martin. Cindy was currently staying with her friend Kathy. She and Kathy had met the same summer she met Rob when they all three had summer jobs working at a local amusement park. From there however they had taken very different paths. Even though Kathy had tried to warn her that something was “just off” about Rob and her parents had threatened t...

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“Atonement for Animosity ” by Roger Trujillo II

Submitted to Contest #54

The Sun loomed above as it reached its midafternoon location. Its light cascaded through cumulous clouds and around hillsides covered in lush oak trees. The only break in the oak trees was a single trail. The trail itself was made up of dark brown stones and dirt, while the surrounding dirt within the forest was an almost apricot orange. Along this trail walked a lone man, he seemed to be 26, stood at 5’7”, had a medium build, had a green t-shirt from the ...

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“The Ashes Of What Once Was” by Iris Evans

Submitted to Contest #54

“Hey, mom.” A quiet wind blew through the cemetery, disturbing the various plants nestled among tilted headstones that sunk into the soft dirt. Rain from the previous night had turned the hard ground and dust to a muddy mixture that coated the bottom of the women’s heels in a thick paste. “I know you hated being sentimental,” Ichika whispered, “but it’s your birthday, so I think you should forgive me this once.” Ichika stepped forward, holding firm against the ground threatening to topple her, and placed a bouquet of flowers on the ...

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“Mental Scars” by Angel Bunny

Submitted to Contest #54

Ivan was… nervous. An emotion that he didn’t feel very often. It was a rarity. Especially now, when he had become a decently mellowed-out older man. His grip on the bouquet of flowers in his hand tightened. The Russian’s spouse had given them to him. Told him that for something like this, even a small gift could make a difference. At first, they had tried to dissuade him. They said that Amber’s recommendation of leaving Alex alone was his best bet. Alex absolutely did not want to see him. That thought made his c...

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“Glass” by Joy Inogram

Submitted to Contest #54

I no longer dream of that day. As the years flies past, it seemed to have disappeared too. I would like to think of it that way but actually it has only just been buried, deep inside but never gone. Like a transparent glass that is still around even if you cannot see it. The day when I came home to the smell of blood. Well I did not know it was blood at first - it just smelled rancid and metal-like. It was only when I opened the door, I was confronted with an ominous sight of dark red puddle. She was lying there on the floor, a shard of gl...

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“An Illusion In White” by Jezreen Fernandes

Submitted to Contest #54

Trigger warning: self-harm I clicked the lock in place as I entered my small apartment. I looked at the dark apartment feeling the darkness closing in on me as if attracted to the darkness within my heart. The atmosphere was cold and lifeless just as I wanted it, it reminded me that I’m not supposed to be here, to be like this. I placed my backpack at the door and walked straight to my bedroom, took out some a shirt and a new pair of boxers before making my way into the small bathroom. After I stripped down, I turned to see mys...

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“The Return” by James Morris

Submitted to Contest #54

It had been over thirty years since John had seen Tammy. But now that he was a widower, he thought seeing her again would be nice. Through some clever searches on Google, he knew she was no longer married, either. He stood on the sidewalk across the street facing her house. He was not sure if he would be welcome or not. She may be upset. Especially the way he ended the relationship thirty years ago. Back then, John had confessed to, his then, fiancée, Linda, of the affair he was having with Tammy. Linda had always had a suspicion, but it...

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“Second Chance” by Hinaata Aslam Aslam

Submitted to Contest #54

“Its not my fault, I didn’t kill her… you need to believe me..” These are the words my mind can’t stop recalling from past 5 years and still his shivered voice haunts me.. What if I believed him for once at least?? He’d been still alive then.. “Mr. Tim, I wish, I would be able to get a second chance from you, chance of forgiveness but you’re no more..” I was his lawyer and when his case came to me about 7 years ago, I was so determined to defend him.. I still remember he was a really quite and reserved guy and at the age of 35 he was charged...

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“Mrs. Shelly” by Chris Westberg

Submitted to Contest #54

“Mrs. Shelly?” Sharron Shelly delicately placed her stack of papers on the corner of the desk before she turned to face the doorway. The man standing at the door had startled her, but try as she might, she knew she could only move so quickly these days. She fixed her glasses as they rested on the bridge of her nose and squinted as she tried to make out the face in her classroom doorway. “Mrs. Shelly?” the man repeated. “Yes, yes. That’s me. Who’s there?” she called back. The man hesitated for a moment. He cleared his throat. “My name is ...

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“Jaded Heart ” by Jessie Bonful

Submitted to Contest #54

Later the next evening, after Leighton was sure everyone was asleep, she grabbed her black butterfly hoodie from her wardrobe and stealthily snuck out of the house. It was her first time sneaking out but going to see Huey was something she had to do alone. However, once she was out of the house, the waves of regret started pouring in. But Leighton was not going back. Because she knew if she walked back in there, she would never get around to speaking to Huey. A glance at her wristwatch revealed she was a half-hour late. She just hoped he was...

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“ Mehroomi (a feeling of emptiness)” by Ava Rose

Submitted to Contest #54

The smell of freshly washed laundry hangs about the air, pressed and ready to be folded away. I can hear the sound of dishes clattering in the sink, my mother never was one to put things in the dishwater, “pateej nahi aati” she’d say; I’m not satisfied. From where I stand, barely ten yards from the threshold that would take me within the doors of my childhood, it seems like little has changed. Sure, the once white paint on the walls has chipped away, exposing the red brick underneath, like a wound that has begun to scab. There are no longer...

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“The mistake” by Evelyn Wong

Submitted to Contest #54

It had been two weeks, yet Nicolas Baxter hadn’t come out of his house yet. He was still sitting in the living room, curled up in a ball, crying. He didn’t know how to face everyone. They all knew about his mistake, that terrible, unforgivable, unfathomable mistake, and yet, he still could not bring himself to see them at all. It had all started three weeks ago. His friend Tess saw him at a self-defense class and thought he was pretty good, so she asked him to join her as a spy in an Organization protecting the government. Of course, Nichola...

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“Elizabeth's Death” by Marie May

Submitted to Contest #54

While hovering behind her with its long stick arms resting with supreme annoyance on the back of her antique chair, Death felt, in a way Death hadn’t felt before; the drowning feeling of grief and pain. Death shouldn’t be feeling the thick and slick feeling that drowning in grief and pain brought, but Death was. But the ghost-like figure still clinging to the realm Death never knew was sitting in her antique chair, blankly starring at a photo of a perfect child.A perfect child, long since gone from the memory of the old lady, the hand of age...

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“Rocks Don't Lie by Sally Collins” by Sally Collins

Submitted to Contest #54

Gary burst into the rock shop, the tiny bell on the door clanging violently to announce his exuberant arrival. “I’m in LOVE!” he announced to whomever had just been startled by his entrance. “Who’s that?!” Mona, the shopkeeper, aimed her one good eye at the door. “Oh. Jeez, Gary! Can’t you just come into a room like a normal person?” The other 3 patrons in the shop went back to browsing through the many baskets of polished agates, jaspers, and turquoise stones. Gary put a hand over his mouth and quietly glided pas...

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“The Countess' Courage” by Holly Flores

Submitted to Contest #54

As she looked at her hands, the red oozing substance made her realize she was falling back into her old ways. She grimaced and wiped her hands against her jeans staining her pants red in the process. This woman was no ordinary lady that graced the streets with her presence every day. Her name was Eliza Nádasdy. She was more commonly known as “The Blood Countess.” Well, her grandmother was the countess, but she was groomed to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps as well as adopting her nickname to continue the horrifying legacy. ‘The Blood C...

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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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