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!

#57: Legacies

Everybody hopes they’ll be remembered. It’s a big part of why writers write, artists paint, and singers sing. It drives some to rise to great heights in politics or business. It’s part of why people have children.

But whether you hope to build a legacy through words, kind deeds, grand ambition, or a strong familial line, the truth is, we don’t always know how history will look back on us. All we can do is put our best selves forward, and hope that our integrity and values will resonate long after we’re gone.

This week’s prompts invite you to delve into people’s hopes for the future — and the legacies that may or may not be what they dreamed of.

This week's prompts

Write a humorous story about the descendant of someone remembered for an insignificant act.

Funny – 73 stories

Write a story about someone who’s famous for something they never actually did.

Character – 119 stories

Write a story about someone breaking a long family tradition.

Angst – 170 stories

Write a story about someone who travels to the future, and isn’t happy about how they’ve been remembered.

Science Fiction – 131 stories

Write a story that starts with someone writing their will — one they know people won’t like.

Dramatic – 183 stories

Stories

“FLIPSIDE” by Rhonda Allen

Submitted to Contest #57

“Welcome all of you, I am Louis Burton, I am sorry for your loss, Rebecca was an amazing woman, I am sure you will all miss her greatly.” I looked around the room at the five people my long-time and dear friend Rebecca, had included in her will. She had told me the stories behind each and every one of them, and I was pretty sure I already knew which of them would not be happy about todays meeting, who really would not care she had passed, and which of them would win the game. “I have here Rebecca’s Last Will and Testament, all five of you a...

Read story

“Fortune Favors the Bold” by Apollo Aven

Submitted to Contest #57

This is the final will and testament of Rose Brianna Rodrigues. I leave the grandfather clock downstairs to my grandson Peter. I leave the old safe in the attic to my brother Dan. And I leave everything else—the estate, the money, all of it—to the man by the sea. He’ll know what to do. Rose set down the pen with a shaky hand. Nobody else would know who the old man was, and nobody would like it either. But he had done her a favor, a huge favor, and she felt he deserved the world. It was only fair: one saves a life, one receives a life, even...

Read story

“Death Sentence” by Judith Buskohl

Submitted to Contest #57

Fred was not very like by any of his family or his so-called friends that seem to come to the hospital for one reason which was to say hello to his millions of dollars that somehow they seemed to think was to become theirs. He would like to be a fly on the wall when his lawyer read his will to his family which was going to go nuclear after hearing how much he didn’t leave them. No one was going to like what he gave to them, but that was their problem after he was gone. There was going to be only one person that was going to li...

Read story

“A Teapot for Sadie” by Teresa Leith

Submitted to Contest #57

“The world is such a sour place,” she said. “Why even my best friends are complaining and grouching around. I never thought I’d see the day when Selma Lynn would come right out and throw verbal punches at Lizzie. They’ve been friends for years.” Sadie glanced at Granny. Granny rarely ever complained about anything. She was the most caring, loving person Sadie knew. Granny had taken her in when momma had walked out several years ago and daddy went to prison. Granny had watched over several young children throughout her life and most were n...

Read story

“The Gift” by L.A. Reed

Submitted to Contest #57

“So who is she,” the sultry feminine voice ask from my right. I ignored her for the moment, instead choosing to focus on the A4 parchment before me. I wanted to get this done as soon as possible. Literally every minute was important. A courier would arrive in due course to whisk it and the other document away to my lawyer. As to the legal interest in my home, I penned out in my well practiced calligraphy. Done with a custom formulated ink that included drops of my own blood, I wasn’t about to leave anything to chance. Though, as I ...

Read story

“I TAKE THE BLAME” by Asianzu Victoria

Submitted to Contest #57

“All my property and the house my wife and children stay in now should be auctioned and the money given to Giveaway orphanage.” I stated. I didn’t need to look over to see that my lawyer had stopped jotting down my statements. “Yes, I insist on that.” I coughed up weakly. I could feel my breathe deteriorating. “Water, water.” I huskily whispered, but the lawyer didn’t respond. It’s like he had gone into a moment of still shock. I tried to shift but only felt worse. Fortunately, Jack handed me a disposable cup half filled with w...

Read story

“The Puppet” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #57

Trigger warning: suicide All assets should be distributed as dictated in this will without exception or appeal. These are the final wishes of Jennifer P. Nelson as witnessed by barrister Morris S. Rothstein. Jenny signed her name grandly at the bottom of the document. Morris shook his head as she slid the document over to him. He picked it up and flipped through the pages, giving a deep sigh. “Jen, are you sure about this?” He asked. “Once this is officiated, if anything happens to you, then we can’t-” “This is what I want,” she said ...

Read story

“When Pigs Fly ” by Skye May

Submitted to Contest #57

I have an egg that sits on my desk at home; it's not your everyday bacon and eggs kind of egg. It's a beautifully hand-painted wooden egg. It's painted blue, with a pig flying with wings. It reminds me of many reasons why I became a nurse.I received this art egg after Sr. Mary* passed away. She was a Nun; a very lovely, full of life Nun. She lived life with zest. She had a smile that you knew she was up to something. She saw my transition from new c.n.a. to graduated LPN. I had worked in that Convent for over 12 years and to this day, I...

Read story

“The Grumpy King” by Angela Rogers

Submitted to Contest #57

The Grumpy King Today was King George birthday and everyone wanted to give him something special. They knew King George was having trouble sleeping. So many people thought of good ways to help him sleep. The ballroom was site, balloons and ribbons everywhere and the cake. The cake was King George's favorite. He love chocolate with yellow frosting and blue stars. As he entered.... "Happy Birthday, King George!" Everyone cheered and whistled, but King George didn't care. He was so tired and no matter how hard he tried to sleep at night. ...

Read story

“FOOLISH BRAVERY” by Rejoice Praise

Submitted to Contest #57

Back then in my secondary school days. I hadn't been much of a storyteller, although, I was a first-class student, I always had poor grades in my exams and tests. "Dumb ass", "witty-nitty", my mates gave me weird and humiliating nicknames. "Biggie, Elephant, Chimpanzee, Gorilla" and other wicked, ugly names weren't left out. I was chubby, round, and plump, with a big sized lip which seemed too heavy for my mouth to bear, but, I'm all grown up now...it's been seven years since after secondary school. I was called 'ugly' by my classmates...

Read story

“One Ticket Sold” by Greg Gorman

Submitted to Contest #57

(Loosely based on a baseball game on November 8, 1905 between the Portland Beavers and the Oakland Oaks.) Steve walked into the meeting room. He had a notepad and loose papers under his arm. He had 100 thoughts on his mind. It was the time of year he always dreaded. One season was over. It would be a couple of weeks before the next season started up. Sports editors hated this time of year. There was nothing to report on. The local youth leagues had wrapped up their tournaments. Fall sports hadn’t started yet. No games. Nothing noteworthy....

Read story

“BIG UNCLE SIMON” by Ugwu Tochukwu

Submitted to Contest #57

"Look at her, she's as courageous as big uncle Simon", my mom happily said to my dad as they both watched me take the injection on my arm without flinching. As we walked home that day, I kept wondering how dumb my family is, that they almost worship the pictures of my long dead big uncle Simon, even to the point of creating a hall of fame at our large family house and naming it after him. It is called "The Simon Carter Family Hall Of Fame". At home that night there was a storm. And as usual in every home of our large family members, anyt...

Read story

“THE OTHER BURGLAR OF BANFF” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #57

MEMORANDUMFrom: James Higgler, Communications Director, Statues and Monuments, Office of Replacement and SubstitutionTo: All departmentsDate: May 29 2022Subject: Proposed replacement for statue of Alexander Baranov, Sitka Alaska.Status: Scheduled for removal; removal contested by Russian Orthodox clergy in Alaska.Summary: We have received a petition with over 25,000 signatures to replace Baranov’s statue with one of someone named Peter Chanceaux, apparently an early internet pioneer. The petition organizers prop...

Read story

“Hide and Seek ” by Rachel Ryan

Submitted to Contest #57

Charles Brambury had lived on 621 East Oak Street for thirty-three years. Within the span of that time, he had fathered three marvelous children, changed his career once, and painted the kitchen three different shades of blue. Many joys, and much sadness, had transpired within those four walls; a half-lifetime (as he was still certain he would live another thirty years) of heartache and triumph and all of the mundane in-between that life is comprised of. He had worked primarily as a banker: a job that had offered security, a fairly comfortab...

Read story

“A Favor” by Morgan McHose

Submitted to Contest #57

“But I asked you,” Sissy scoffs. I suppress a sigh of frustration. Our verbal sparring always stagnates when she starts repeating herself. I take a quick breath and attempt to rephrase my stance for the hundredth time. “I understand that. But I’m responsible for agreeing to your terms. And now they expect me to do these press events, book signings, TV appearances! It’s too much.” The attention would bring them with it. I need to stay out of the public eye. Sissy rolls her eyes. “I’d be right there the whole time. If you forget something—” ...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

676

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 04, 2020 EST

Won by Iona Cottle 🏆

Title: Et Tu?

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 ⭢