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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

“A Grim Discovery” by Megan Black

Submitted to Contest #54

The pristine whiteness of the office floor reflected brightly in my eyes. The sunlight - that stupid, perpetual sunlight - bounced directly off the shiny floor and right into my face. Why did it have to be white? Why did everything have to be white? And all the windows? Really? I mean, I knew they had a reputation and image to uphold but sheesh! No one that cared was ever going to see it. I was called into the office by one of the higher-ups. Yeah, those guys. They couldn’t just let me do my job. They always had to get in my b...

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“Finally Flying Solo” by Chris Manders

Submitted to Contest #54

This flying lark isn’t easy, she decided. Then giggled – that’s silly because larks can fly. It’s me that’s struggling! She’d been trying to learn to fly for quite a while and, sometimes, even managed to do it for a short, sharp burst, but then she always had someone with her. Going solo was going to be the hard bit – with no one to grab on to at scary moments! She preferred night flying as there were not so many distractions. But, night or day, her main problem was lack of co-ordination, but that might improve as sh...

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“Yes And” by Lily Shen

Submitted to Contest #54

“Let’s welcome to the stage, 100 Years of Attitude!” Someone pulled aside the red velvet curtains, and I numbly stepped out on the stage. The seering stage lights blinded my view of the audience as they politely applauded. I felt like a helpless prisoner about to be interrogated. What was I doing here? I have no notes or script to prepare me. Why did I sign up for this? I’ve always hated performing in public. Yet, a couple months ago, an editor of a literary magazine which published one of my poems, contacted me to see if I want...

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“The Secret Masterpiece” by N A

Submitted to Contest #54

Left stroke here, then up and down and slowly...twirl. I sigh in relief having ultimately completed my masterpiece. However, the sight I take in is nothing short of a crime scene; chunky splatters of red merge as one with a sickly shade of green. It was hideous to say the least. A face! I was only but attempting to paint a simple yet beautiful face. In turn; some species of Ogre greets me with unsymmetrical and frankly quite lopsided features on the now ruined canvas. Why? Why did I struggle so much with something that came only so natural...

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“Honestly” by Gaudium X

Submitted to Contest #54

There are so many quotes about honesty. "Honesty is the best policy" "Honesty is the highest form of intimacy" "Honesty is an expensive gift, don't expect it from cheap people". And the part that bothers Ina is they all make it sound like being honest is a choice. I guess that's what society believes, everyone is born honest and some people choose to lie. That's the "rational" way of thinking about it. Ina was born lying, born into a family of good honest people, raised but raised by liars. Everyone at school seemed normal, people who could ...

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“ Hidden Scars” by Shirah Mark

Submitted to Contest #54

Ayala stood there, unable to block out the dull roaring in her head. Picking up the pen again she scribbled on her paper, the pen’s ink coming out in a strangled string of letters. She could barely read, let alone write out the alphabet. Her awful handwriting was soon stark against the crisp white paper. Her alpha’s words echoed through her head, “you will learn to read. Libraries are full of books, telling scores of powerful and even dangerous knowledge, and is a vital tool to maintain”. Zeev had told her nearly an hour after finding out sh...

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“Does She Dare To Learn To Drive And Go For Her Driver's License Again?” by Kathryn McNamara

Submitted to Contest #54

Resilience is the realm to freedom and fortune. Failure might be inevitable, but not everlasting. The girl who feels nauseous at the thought of getting behind the wheel fear has stricken her and she must try again.Take more driver assessment lessons, be attentive to the instructor's critiques, practice with parental consent, and listen to the overbearing complaint of a parent who wants to take control of the wheel themselves. The inadequate emotions of going for your exam again unlike your peers, friends, or family you are faced with that fa...

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“Second Chances” by Sandra Wheatley

Submitted to Contest #54

13th August 2020 word count 1806 Sandra Wheatley Second Chances The bright white paper stared back at me, daring me to attack it with a pen. My heart was sinking further into my boots as I suddenly felt a clear and present danger. Beads of sweat started to run do...

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“Will There Ever Be a Next Time for Me?” by Kanika Saxena

Submitted to Contest #54

Does life give second chances? How do we recognize a second chance? Yes! Not just second but life gives us several opportunities- sometimes opportunities are hidden even in what we perceive as the most adverse of circumstances! “Second chances do come your way. Like trains they arrive and depart regularly. Recognizing the ones that matter is the trick!”-Jill A Davis it is for us to recognize these chances that life presents us…. Sheela was one such girl who realized her dreams when she got a second chance in life! But did she get...

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“A Fool To Love” by GiGi Liz

Submitted to Contest #54

Fingers of heat fanned over Arlo’s face and pressed into his eyelids. He hurried forward, head ducked to scout the area in front of his feet. Orange rays bounced off twisted pieces of metal and glass. The light seared into his eyeballs so much that he didn’t even pause to see if anything could be salvaged. His foot collided into something higher than his ankle and he pitched forward, teetering only half a second before losing the fight to gravity. Arlo gritted his teeth as first his shin slammed into the object, then both knees scraped on t...

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“Trapeze” by M. Sansala

Submitted to Contest #54

Everyone’s story begins differently. And mine begins in a circus house. I grew up with a showman for a father and acrobat artist for a mother. We were constantly travelling around the country, waking up every day in a different place. I remember how I’d used to travel in a train, and I would run up and down the corridor each morning waking up everyone. I felt so excited. So alive. The boundary between family and friends is blurred in circus life because we all live together.Surprisingly before we started travelling, we did have a solid home ...

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“Elemental Barriers” by Praire Rose

Submitted to Contest #54

The looming sky made Herron upset. This was the opposite of what he wanted. He controlled storms, after all he was an Elemental. Only problem was that he could not reverse the storms he made. Out of all the Elementals he struggled with reversing his effects that he caused. He needed it to grow smaller not bigger. A rolling rumble filled the sky. Ren laid under a tree staring at the angry sky. He sits up slightly. "Uh.... Herron don't you get me soaked." He side glares Ren. The boy lazily points to the sky, which looked darker than before. He...

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“A Skateboarding Shamble” by Vineet Bhave

Submitted to Contest #54

The bell rang loudly and the third period ended. As usual, Kulkarni teacher took time before finally leaving. Students were getting out of their benches and wandering around the classroom, getting a chance to speak with their friends before Phadke Sir showed up. Prajakta was still sitting on her seat as all of her 2 friends sat around her. Both of them were chattering about random things in their life. But Prajakta wasn’t contributing to the conversation. Her attention was 5 benches away, at a boy giggling with his classmates. She was crus...

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“Dorothy and the Harm” by Clove Overmire

Submitted to Contest #54

When I woke from the long nap, it took me a while to realize that I had, in fact, died. The Long Nap- a poetic way to consider it, don’t you think? It was true, mostly. I’d fallen asleep, dreamed a thousand dreams, and simply... woken up.That’s the best way I could describe it. When I opened my eyes, I discovered I was in a house. Not my house, or any house I’d ever been in. I’d never been in this house.The person living here had (and I say this with as much kindness as I can) an absolute obsession with angels. The little porc...

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“Just Learn to Like it” by Luke Blount

Submitted to Contest #54

“It smells like manure,” Jim thought to himself as he walked quickly from the burning summer sun into the giant hardware store. Looking over to his right he saw two pallets of fertilizer with big hand written signs advertising how great they were for your lawn and sold the lowest price around. He was excited because this was his first day on the job at Inside and Out Hardware…”Where we have what you need inside and out!” exclaimed the lady from the speaker system. Jim made his way quickly to the back wall where the employee lounge a...

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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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