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

“Sunday Dinners” by BeInspiredAbstracts/Etsy SarahGreenwood

Submitted to Contest #57

 I remember taking a cart away from an older woman, who was putting her groceries in her trunk, so she didn’t have to walk it back. Wrapping my hands around the handlebar, without the workers having sprayed it down first.           I remember strolling the produce aisles, shopping for Sunday dinner, placing the sweet potatoes directly in the cart as to not waste the plastic bags. That’s where I ran into an old friend.           ...

22 comments 22
Read story

“On your shoulders will lay the fate of a kingdom.” by Victoire Debaecker

Submitted to Contest #57

-Are you sure, darling?” The deep voice came from a corner of the room. It was a man’s. He was in a suit, a cigar in hand, looking out the window at the street. It was a rainy night. No one was outside at this time, in those conditions.  -Yes, I am.”  At the desk in the middle of the room, a woman was writing. She was young, twenty five at most, her red dress shone under the candlelight. She was sitting straight. In her hand, there was a long white quill filled with dark blue ink. The paper was stained by tears.  The man turne...

18 comments 18
Read story

“Dawn Breaks Open With a Blood Red Sun - The Four Moon Cycles Part Two” by Yolanda Wu

Submitted to Contest #57

Rhyvahr wandered through the Hestina Los night market, picking through the rings and accessories at several stalls. However, there was nothing that struck his fancy.He missed his jewellery and clothing back at the palace.He had been travelling around for weeks and never stayed at one place for too long. So, as much as he disliked wearing the same outfit more than once, lugging around all that clothing would be inconvenient.Rhyvahr shivered when a breeze ran past him – bone-chilling.He dropped the emerald ring he had been examining, looking a...

32 comments 32
Read story

“The magnificent Arthur Goldbury” by Vanessa Marczan

Submitted to Contest #57

Three-quarters of the way through watching The Wrath of Khan with his daughter Alexis, the clock ticked over to a minute past midnight on Arthur Goldbury's 50th birthday. At the end, Alexis wiped her eyes. Her bottom lip trembled. Arthur knew she didn't want him to see her crying.'It's okay, honey,' Arthur said. 'You know Spock doesn't actually die.''I know, I know. But it's still sad.''What was your favourite bit?' he said.Alexis composed herself. She was a tough little 12 year old. A tomboy. A real dad's girl. 'When Spo...

48 comments 48
Read story

“Ctrl + Z” by Andrew Krey

Submitted to Contest #57

“I need to know!” “You don’t. We don’t!”  I could see the fear in Kristen’s eyes, but I couldn’t get emotional, it could excite my brainwaves. As Kristen leant over my bed, I reached up and held the side of her face with both hands, and pulled her nose onto mine. I spoke softly so only she could hear. “I’m going to be fine. It’s safe, and I do need to know.” I felt Kristen’s cheeks form a smile within my hands, and then we kissed. “It’s a perfectly safe procedure,” said Dr. Chase, simultaneously demonstrated his excellent hearing, and ...

29 comments 29
Read story

“Cracked Cases” by Meggy House

Submitted to Contest #57

           With a snap, the crew pounced into action. The lights pulsed with a penetrating glow. The cameras clicked, zooming in and focusing on the subject. The theme music blared over the hidden speakers.           “This is United News, America’s first sitcom-based news station,” the anchor paused for some canned laughter to echo into the filming room, “and your host Debbie LaBrown is here investigating Abigail Hartford, New York’s...

35 comments 35
Read story

“A Sad Trip to the Future” by Lauren :)

Submitted to Contest #57

April 8, 2020 Today I’m turning 22.  My friends and family are coming over to celebrate with me.  I’m going to go take a shower before they come.  I finished my shower early so I think I’m going to take a quick nap.   When I wake up I don’t know where I am.  I check my phone for the time.  It’s April 8, 2045.  Wait… are they playing a birthday trick on me?  No that's not possible.  I think it would be best for me to walk around a little.  Everything is different.  Where would my f...

12 comments 12
Read story

“Zamora Part 1: Lunar Mission” by 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙠𝙞 ☾

Submitted to Contest #57

I yawned deeply and turned to my side. I spotted my giant calendar hanging on two pins. My clothes from yesterday were lying on the floor looking rather forlorn. My markers were scattered on my study desk and I little piece of paper with my name written in different fonts. That must be from the day before yesterday when I was bored so I wrote my name to see which fonts it looked best in. I slowly got up and cuddled my silk pillow – It’s the one I got for my birthday. Another day in Zamora I grabbed the paper and stared at it for a couple of ...

32 comments 32
Read story

“Indescribable Like or Love? Part 3” by 𝔘𝔤𝔬𝔠𝔥𝔦 𝔑.

Submitted to Contest #57

“Ben I-” I say as I start leaning toward him..I’m going to suck up my pride and do it. He looks at me with raised eyebrows, confused..then I guess he gets the gist and his eyes soften. He leans in just a little..and- *Ring- Ring- Ring*…..*Ring- Ring- Ring* That annoying noise, rings from the counter ruining the mood, again. I bite my lip and pull away. We haven’t kissed at all since that day, and I don’t know why but I want him to do it again..its been 3 days..and we’ve been awkwardly trying to figure out our feelings for one another. “Sorry...

19 comments 19
Read story

“DISAPPOINTED IN THE PAST. ” by Ofo Anis

Submitted to Contest #57

The Universe and its verities is so diverse that it leaves human beings to wallow in awe. Everything that happens seems to be a mystery that to unravel neccesitates a great deal of mental framework and cognitive power. Has it ever been to your sense of analysis that this diverse nature of the universe is the principal reason life so happen the way it does? Well! Worry not, if you find yourself being steered so fast by this.Think about why someone would want to be remembered after his life on this earthly world. A great deal of sense can only...

21 comments 21
Read story

“Remembrance” by Nandan Prasad

Submitted to Contest #57

Mr Jayadev Narayan woke up feeling crankier than usual. He lay in bed, pondering over what made him so angry so early in the morning, when he turned and his eyes focused on the date, glaring in neon from the alarm clock.Of course. The eighteenth of December.Mr Narayan hated the eighteenth of December. He normally used to get away to his sister’s house at least a week before, but she had recently moved to California (a better work opportunity, Mr. Narayan vaguely remembered her saying), and she hadn't outright said he couldn’t come, but she h...

12 comments 12
Read story

“Golden Embers” by Maya W.

Submitted to Contest #57

Hania started to walk through the crowded streets, her bag starting to sag by her side. It contained only the essentials for life on the run - some food, money, stationary in case she needed to contact anyone, and a small dagger with the inscription sangvis aqvā densior est. Blood is thicker than water. It was a phrase that had defined Hania’s life for so long, on a weapon that had meant so much to her. At first, Hania hadn't wanted to bring along her dagger, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized she needed it. She re...

32 comments 32
Read story

“Nudge it a little ” by Miles Gatling

Submitted to Contest #57

"Just nudge it a little…""It won't fit.""Turn it to your left.""That's it, maxed out. Try lowering it on your end.""Oh fuck stop, stop…"The breather was a welcomed change of pace. They carried the desk all the way to the ground floor but here the hallway narrowed a bit. It jammed."We nicked that wall. ""Yeah, I know. It's fine, tomorrow I'll paint the shit. Let's just get this over with.""Ok, I'll start lifting my end. Let's try and push it over the railing.""Oh, fucking stairwell. Why does it dip right fucking here? What asshole designed th...

6 comments 6
Read story

“A Risk Worth Taking” by 𝕊𝕦𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕚 🤍

Submitted to Contest #57

The black limousine pulled out of the spacious driveway, turning on to Sunstone Avenue. Inside were four people: The driver, Mr. Blackwell, and his wife and daughter. From the outside, they were a rich and happy family. But in truth, there was no love between them. Mr. Blackwell might have been incredibly rich, but as the saying goes, “Money can’t buy happiness.” The family was currently headed to a big party for Olivea Madden’s graduation. The Maddens had been family friends of the Blackwells for years. They had money as well, because as Mr...

8 comments 8
Read story

“Equation ” by Palak Shah

Submitted to Contest #57

I may have stolen someone else’s idea. Well I do feel guilty about it but I had to do it; I had no choice. It all started about a month ago. I was in my office working on my theory; I was figuring out how energy, mass and the speed of light relate together. However, I couldn’t figure this problem out; it had been subconsciously eating me up every day. My sleepless nights were worsening every day. That day I had gotten kicked out of my job; they said that I wasn’t coming into work often and that I was always late; well they weren’t wro...

4 comments 4
Read story

$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!

Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

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 ⭢

Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.