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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

“Together again” by Shreya S

Submitted to Contest #54

Choppy waves beat against the rocks, the sound drowning out the rest of the world. The stars twinkle and disappear, dark clouds moving across a darker sky.I stand at the edge of the pier, take a deep breath and jump into the freezing ocean.The cold spreads across my body, bringing with it the momentary sharp pain, before my clothes slip away. The rush of the water stills, holding its breath, as my legs go numb. Slivers of silver wisp up the lower half of my body, encasing my legs, shimmering a blinding white. I rise up through the murkiness,...

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“Twofer” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #54

I heard there was a TV show called "Second Chances.” It sounded like fun and I was thrilled to be invited to participate. It was pretty easy to play the game. Five contestants, ten numbers, each with a hidden category. The participants simply have to select a number, and then the category is revealed. No number can be repeated. I won’t go into the details about how numbers are chosen, other than to say each player can choose three numbers and rank them: three, six, eight, for example. If three and six are already chosen, then that player get...

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“Kaima” by Chimamaka Adeniyi🙅

Submitted to Contest #54

Taurian,I hate you. I’m just writing to say I hate you. I hate every bone in your body.I would’ve never believed. That when I saw you on camp at Youth Service, when you walked up to me and asked me why my hoe was bent; that I’d hate you this much. Ever.He stopped reading. He had to. It was the sixth time that day that he was reading her letter. The three-year-old ‘hatred’ letter that’d been left in his laundry for him still had a very fresh impact on his brain.His children; two of them, or was it three?His wife. At least his first one.He sud...

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“The Bluesman” by Joshua Scott Hotchkin Wordpress.dungherder.com

Submitted to Contest #54

"Damnit boy, you quit makin' a god awful ruckus with that thing or I'm gonna whup your ass but good," the elder man scolded as he yanked his guitar away from the young wannabe.The young man walked away hurt and angry. He wasn't gonna work in no white man's field. He planned to escape that fate by becoming a working musician, but nobody would teach him to play the guitar, and he didn't have a natural talent for the instrument. He had tried practicing but he didn't know where to begin, and although he had the drive, he didn't necessarily have ...

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“Who pranked me?” by Opeyemi Lawal

Submitted to Contest #54

“Why did you bring me here Anna cried out? “I told you; I don’t want to come here” “Am sorry Aliya; I just wanted to help you get over this” “I know what you have been through this past years and this is the only way I know to make you remember what happened that night at the party your ” “I can’t take this anymore Anna; you should have told me we were coming here as tears rolled down her eyes.” She ran out of the house to catch up with the taxi but he was long gone. Aliya kept running after the taxi until he got out ...

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“Skill” by ✨𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 𝕄✨

Submitted to Contest #54

Ow, Clara thought, as she kneeled to the ground. Her back, arms, legs, head, (everything really) hurt. How she got in this position, she had no idea.A week earlier, she had been making breakfast with her younger brother. As they mixed the batter for some waffles, they finally discussed the big changes that would affect both of their lives."I cannot express my excitement with you going to Wizard Academy!" squealed Will, her 7-year-old brother. For his age, he seemed to have a big vocabulary. Like Isabelle."Yes, it is a big change in this hous...

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“Hurt People Hurt” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #54

James expected never to see Olive again. And there she stood, looking like yesterday, making coffee for a friend of Bill’s. She gave him a passing glance and looked away. But her face changed as only James would see. Even after so many years she still had that glimmer of a smile betraying her thoughts. She spoke without looking at him. “Well if it ain’t Mr. Big Stuff. Even the cat wouldn’t touch you. Put on a few pounds, you lanky s.o.b?” She gave him a bright smile. “Good to see you too, Olive. How you been?” “Can’t complain.” She ge...

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“Patchwork Life” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #54

I have been asked to write a story about struggling to learn a skill that in no way comes naturally to me. Just a story? When I could write a set of encyclopedias? I am such a klutz. I’m the girl who used to run through the house, the big old house where I grew up, banging knees and shins on every piece of furniture possible. My legs were two skinny sticks mottled with purple, blue, and green. Colorful knobbiness, that was me. Not pretty, when I wore shorts in the summer. It was the emblem of how I could never stop.Another example of my extr...

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“Reunited Love and a Chicken Sandwich ” by Rebecca Lee

Submitted to Contest #54

“Michael, duck down.” Stephanie Parker grabbed her brother by the sleeve of his Army jacket and pulled him into the doorway of a clothing store. Michael jumped, and looked around.“What? What is it?” His brown eyes were wide with anxiety as he followed Stephanie behind a rack of clothes, she was trying to look discreet as she stared out the window.Stephanie said, “It is Aunt Gillian.” She pointed at two older women walking across the way in the shopping mall – both carrying bags and big purses.Michael stood tall, and straightened out his jack...

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“The Story of My Cancellation” by Joshua Scott Hotchkin Wordpress.dungherder.com

Submitted to Contest #54

I knew it was a bad idea the moment I said it. It was my first day on the job, and the network writers room was full of all kinds of absurd spit-balling, so I thought it would be safe to just toss a stinker right out there as sort of an introductory volley. The idea was that they wanted to create yet another musical contest show which had some intellectual credibility by featuring a respected literary figure as host. I have no idea why that combination was chosen, but that is what we were told we needed to build the show around. Undoubtedly ...

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“The Secret Diary of Donna Merchant, aged 50 and Three Quarters” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #54

I last kept a diary when I was in my twenties. The same applies for going to university. So I may as well start both again at the same time. I can abandon the diary any time I please. Theoretically that also applies to the university course. But only theoretically! There are many reasons why persons of maturer years go to university, very few of which apply to me. 1. Didn’t have the chance earlier on in life. No. Not true. I did my BA at the normal time of life....

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“Eye to Eye” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #54

A glimpse was all I needed to recognise my childhood sweetheart; I’d never forget those killer’s eyes. I swallowed hard, my throat like sandpaper. That blood-pumping muscle in my chest began to thud so violently my whole body vibrated. She slowed and turned to face me. The whites of her eyes told me she’d not forgotten me either.Time slowed, the microseconds tick-tick-ticked away as our eyes locked. I willed her to turn back around, to keep going. But, as I knew she would, she allowed herself to be guided by the primal instinct tha...

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“The Surrealist Academy” by Joshua Scott Hotchkin Wordpress.dungherder.com

Submitted to Contest #54

Two men are boxing on a trampoline while politely discussing the sexual context of a 14th century Persian poet's work. The dark haired one seems to believe there was latent bestiality suggested in the poet's pentameter, while the bald man insists that there has never been a clearer case of asexual sonnets. Suddenly a six foot bodybuilder races toward the men carrying a giant Styrofoam hammer, that must still weigh fifty pounds due to its size, but she wields it expertly and the men run off in exaggerated fear, as the muscular woman bashes th...

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“The Reluctant Dragonslider” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #54

Elise Hancock didn’t like children. Oh, she didn’t hate them. She didn’t think they should be seen and not heard (well, not all the time, though there were times she would much have preferred them to not even be seen) and got as angry as anyone else with a glimmer of decency when she heard of a child being abused or neglected. But she just found adult company and adult concerns far more interesting and stimulating, suspected that many of the “cute” things children said, reported in magazines or by their doting parents or ...

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“The Missing Person” by Melissa Hassan

Submitted to Contest #54

Two Years Ago...........Marty peered through the curtain of his bedroom window to make sure he's not being watched. They have moved him to this safe house for his own protection. He was part of the program now. He has been for two weeks.He had been cooped up inside this house for nearly a week. He felt as if he was under house arrest. The Feds had advised him to stay put as stepping out of the house could mean certain death. He has had a restless night. In fact he has been having quite a few restless nights lately. He was getting edgy and pa...

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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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