Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

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

“"I'm Sorry..." ” by Rosie Green

Submitted to Contest #54

I sat there, my leg bouncing up and down furiously, as I waited to be called. I was anxious, so anxious anyone within a 10 mile radius could tell. All that came to my mind in this moment was the thought about being a spy, how I wouldn’t last a day. Better yet, I wouldn’t have even been recruited. The sweat dripping down my forehead, the uneasy bouncing of my leg, my heavy breathing, and if anyone chose to talk to me, my stammering words would give me away in a moment's notice. Anyone would be able to tell I didn’t belong here, but the thing ...

Read story

“Why Won't I Hit You?” by Alecia Epeneter

Submitted to Contest #54

“You can hit me if you want.” My heart felt like it was breaking all over again. I didn’t want to hit this guy. I didn’t even want to come close to it. “No, thank you.” “Why not?” Why not, indeed. I looked down. Could I trust him to know? Trust him to not give fault and to not make me feel like what I have done was wrong? “I’ve been hit before and I don’t want to do that to anyone.” “What? Who hit you.” There it was. The million-dollar question. The one question that I hate answering and the one that makes...

Read story

“Guilt” by Beulah Lee Harris

Submitted to Contest #54

Guilt – By Beulah Lee Harris Harry Harlan winced at the sound of the heavy metal doors clanging closed behind him. It was so final, being fired and banished from this place. He looked back at the dismal grey building rising up behind the grey walls with only one Sycamore adding a touch of color to the day. Ah, well, to hell with them, he thought. Who needs to works with pedantic bureaucratic fools and who needs to look after a bunch of slobbering loonies anyway? Harry did feel depressed, though, as he stood there...

Read story

“My Fire” by Mackenzie Hill

Submitted to Contest #54

It only makes sense for a mysterious woman to have an equally as mysterious name. Psyche was that type of woman. Before she walked across the casino floor, I had never seen hair that could only be described as hand-spun gold. It flowed down her back this-way-and-that like a rogue waterfall; the type you wouldn't find at a national park , but rather a secret spot in the woods. Her gold-blonde hair stopped at her ass and I would be lying if I said I didn't stare. She was the only woman in the casino wearing a dress and the light pink silk hugg...

Read story

“The call” by Jen M

Submitted to Contest #54

Trigger warning: suicide I received a call late one evening. I didn’t know the number but when I picked up I recognized her voice instantly. “Hello?” René said. I took a deep breath to process what I was hearing. “...Hello?” She repeated, I could hear the hesitation this time. The last time we had spoken was exactly one year ago, minus a day. That was René left me sitting on a curb without a home. “Hi René.” I finally replied. Another pause, this time intentional. I wanted her to squirm a little, maybe more than a little. The se...

Read story

“A Chance to Start Again” by Lauren Greenan

Submitted to Contest #54

I wait under the cherry blossom trees on Fifth Avenue. A breeze shuffles through my coat, brushing against my bones and ruffling petals free overhead. They spiral around me, pink flushing the air until the wind drops and they drift to the ground. To be trodden on by the soulless soles of New Yorkers.He is late. My fingers tap out a salsa on my worn denims, the bitten edges of my nails angry and red. A childhood habit, brought on again in times of stress. I resist the urge to nibble a hangnail. I must appear confident. I feel anythi...

Read story

“Cipher of Europa ” by Carol H Rad

Submitted to Contest #54

I could feel the frozen wind on my skin. it was time to witness the sunrise after a long time. I was standing on the edge of a hill. the sun was going dead, but we all knew the war was coming. life was different on Europa. We were people who could live in that bitter cold. but we had to. Our home was destroyed, Earth population scattered around the solar system. we made it to Europa. “Human brings war,” I muttered. There was an army, coming from Io to use the Europa minerals and water, to stay alive. something which could be done peacefully,...

Read story

“The Everlasting Bond” by Felicia Ong

Submitted to Contest #54

'Lindsy ! Lindsy ! Hold Up !' I called her out while trying to keep my pace with hers. She pretended not to hear it as she increased her walking speed and took wider steps to get loose of me. I got so caught up in chasing after her that I totally forgot to pay attention to my surroundings. ** BUMP ** Apparently, I have knocked into someone and both of us fell. I quickly got up, brushed off the dust on me and started looking around frantically to figure out which direction Lindsy went off to. The loud groan of the person...

Read story

“The Last Time” by Jasmine Wang

Submitted to Contest #54

The Last Time “Hello, this is Colin Grant. Sorry, I’m unavailable to take your call right now, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” After a long silence, the line beeped and went dead but I kept on holding it against my ear as if by some miraculous chance, he would pick up and say hey. “Hey,” I said, even though the call had ended. “I- I guess I…” my voice trailed off. “I know this is stupid. But I wish you could hear me right now. It’s been more than a year since I saw you. I still don’t know why you left. Mia...

Read story

“I Remember” by Muriel Glass

Submitted to Contest #54

This thing that had been eating holes in my head for years had finally managed to make me lose my mind. It didn’t matter that it had happened years ago. It didn’t matter that she and I didn’t talk anymore; that if I saw her on the street, I wouldn’t even recognize her. The guilt took my mind in the form of sleepless nights where I would stare at the ceiling, letting myself be consumed by an overwhelming sense of dread and regret that seemed to follow me everywhere. Every time something reminded me of her, or what I did, I would stop in my t...

Read story

“Making Amends” by Phil Flockton

Submitted to Contest #54

MAKING AMENDS The OR clock had shown 01.22 as I'd left my resident to staple the Pt. Then I’d washed and bedded down in the call room planning a few hours sleep before checking on Dulce, my wife, now recovering in the converted Covid Wing. But it wasn’t to be a - “please call me” on the bedside beeper woke me at 03.20. Most people think pagers are caveman technology but at St Mary’s we still like them. I rang Janice. ‘Hi Doc, very sorry to wake you so soon. A gunshot has just been brought in. ...

Read story

“Monty's Redemption” by Jeremy C

Submitted to Contest #54

On the Road Monty could feel the back of his neck begin to burn as he walked along the lonesome highway. Texas summers were not designed for hitchhiking, but Monty knew he had no choice. Sure, there was more than enough cash in his duffle bag for a taxi, but that wasn’t an option. He had a debt to pay, and every penny counted (even the gummy, half-bent ones he found on the side of the road). The heat was almost unbearable, but Monty dared not complain. He seemed to find meaning in the suffering, as though it were the fruition of karma. J...

Read story

“Panky! Are you panicky?” by Debaprasad Mukherjee

Submitted to Contest #54

"Hey Panky! Are you panicky?" In came the instigating eruption from Sonia. It's long since Col Pankaj listened to these words. It teased, as well as egged him on. It was a ploy used by his contemporaries during his Dogra Regiment days to boost him up for the competitions; be it polo, shooting, horse riding, or any other sports. He used to be the toast of the regiment with his midas touch in whatever sports he had taken up. Sonia made fun of him with this quote from time to time. But that was way back. Pankaj heaved a heavy sigh. He loo...

Read story

“The Last Face I See” by Mary Corbin

Submitted to Contest #54

The Last Face I See by Mary Corbin Willis LaMont was larger than life working the grill of Bobby’s Big Burgers in his white apron and bandana wrapped around a head filled with ideas and regrets. Genevieve, on the other hand, was curvy but petite and everyone always told her she looked the same as she did when she was a teenager. Ageless. Bright and beautiful as the day is long. The day they met was the day that would change Willis forever and restore in him a faith he’d long lost. Willis knew that his life could change in an instant be...

Read story

“A late night conversation” by Shobit Varma

Submitted to Contest #54

Trigger warning: domestic abuse “They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. They couldn’t be more right.” Mr Goel picked up his paper cup of milky sweet tea, brought it to his lips but couldn’t bring himself to take a sip. He shook his head instead and kept the cup back on the table. The wall clock, hideous and totally out of place in its Mickey Mouse design, read 11:47 pm. “My life is a story of excess. I wasted myself away in alcohol and drugs. Never once did I stop to think about the people around me, who love...

Read story

Load more stories

$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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢