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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

“My Legacy” by Douglas Karsten

Submitted to Contest #57

“Your legacy, Cornelius?” She laughed as she stuffed another piece from her ever present bag of bon-bons into her gigantic maw. “Yes, my dear, this will be my legacy.” I was bragging to my wife as she watched me put the finishing touches on my wonderous invention—a time machine. “Never work,” she said matter-of-factly, her mouth now spewing chocolate pieces around like a sprinkler. “It will,” I snapped. “I’ve spent the past twenty-five years working on making this the quintessence of time machines.” “Yeah, I think not,” she said as...

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“Hell on earth” by Colin Mullen

Submitted to Contest #57

I did not decide to share this with people because I want you to learn from my mistakes, I am telling it, so you know how I made earth Hell. As a kid I loved time travel. I watch movie, shows, read books on time travel, but I knew it was fake. I went on with my life in love with something not real, but in high school I started to wonder. if a star explodes it could be weeks, months or years for us to know. What if we travel so fast that we can find a loop that would take us to a different time. Then I started to think if wormholes can take y...

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“Magnificent Ends and New Beginnings ” by Kicks Shades

Submitted to Contest #57

Late at night, a pen skritched and scratched at a ragged paper. It's edges were torn and tattered, splotches of tea spattered across the paper. Ink formed lines of pure black, which turned to letters, destined to become words then sentences. The silent night was filled with the scribbles of ink and paper. A crow croaked breaking the steady rhythm of scritching. The candlelight made the mood even more solemn. Its constant flicker made shadows dance in a haunting way. The ink made a picture of hidden, expected death. It was a will. One s...

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“i wrote this for my daughter ” by Andiny Putri

Submitted to Contest #57

"dear my beloved daughter Angela... i don't know how long we could be together, if you opened this maybe i already gone, but i want you to remember don't worry about me, keeps study, run to you're future you must get that. You don't have to worried about the wealth, 100% all of my wealth is for you... I'm sorry if i never cared about you, if you think i only cared about my wife you're wrong... i always thought about you, i knew you hated me because i left you with your mom since you're a kid, i was not responsible to my family, i only cared ...

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“Very Peculiar” by Jada Cowans

Submitted to Contest #57

“That’s the final bit, Richard. Thank you.” “Ah, just one question, Ms. Le Fevre. Do you really want to include this last codicil? It’s a bit… much, don’t you think?” Richard barely restrained himself from fidgeting as he made eye contact. She leaned back in her chair, sharp eyes assessing Richard’s expression. “Richard, I’ve employed your services many years now, correct? As I recall, when you ‘inherited’ my account from your father, you were given four rules of engagement. Is this not correct? “Ah, ...

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“Her Note” by Blisters Wournos

Submitted to Contest #57

Trigger warning: suicide, self-harm, sexual assault, drugs On this, the evening of my departure from this mortal form, I bequeath to my loved ones all that is theirs. Take what I give you and know that it is the most I could have possibly given. I give, with this generous heart, the following items to the following people: To my mother I leave my nervous foot-first birth and the pain of a “husband stitch”. I leave the scars on your breast from nursing past when my wisdom teeth came in. I leave a rope of ...

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“The Will of Her Will” by Rahimah Phillips

Submitted to Contest #57

Ruth was a bitter woman - strong and determined - with a strong will… Though shrew, she appeared to be calm, mature, and collected. She was an African-American woman. She was proud and confident. But, still, she was bitter. Ruth had what most women dreamed of. She would have a husband, three children (girls), and a house (with a white picket fence.) Okay - maybe, there was no white picket fence. But, still, there was a house. Ruth was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She had five siblings - four brothers and one sister. Her parents migr...

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“When My Words Failed to Reach Him” by Sankara Luna

Submitted to Contest #57

“. . .that all my assets will be handed over to my parents for management after such circumstances,” I muttered, pronouncing each word and committing it to my memory, before signing above the dotted line. “Thank you, Donna. This is my reason to hold on living amid the plague. Now I can rest easy knowing that they’ll be taken care of after I die, regardless of some prying hands,” I nodded to my lawyer. All was said and done. The final act of love was to ensure the bereaved continue receiving your attention despite your death. For me, ...

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“THE EVENING A PART OF ME DIED” by Pattabhi Ram

Submitted to Contest #57

THE EVENING A PART OF ME DIED Author: V Pattabhi Ram Write a story that starts with someone writing their will — one they know people won't like. Cast:Nisha Shora, Shloka Shora, and A M Chako This story is set in Mumbai, India The slim notepad sat in a far corner of the table, gathering dust for two months. On page 3, Nisha Shora had jotted in green ink, "NASA." Underneath in blue: "must travel to space." By the side was a picture of a smiling Kalpana Chawla, the astronaut. In another sheet, there's a scrawl, which reads, "Impossib...

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“A Loss and a Change” by Shreyas Mouli

Submitted to Contest #57

Sitting in the study of his mansion in New York City, billionaire Noah Johnson was preparing his will. “I’m bequeathing this company and all my wealth to my son, Aaron T. Johnson.” He knew that this would cause some backlash by company directors as well as the public. But Aaron was his only son and Noah loved him.“WHAT?!?” protested Bill Nelson a heavy set, short and bald man who was also there with him. He was Noah’s personal confidant and friend “Noah this is insane. You know very well that Aaron is nothing but an irresponsible brat who th...

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“Tangible and Intangible” by Elizabeth Roderick

Submitted to Contest #57

Nancy sat leaning forward, glaring at the computer screen, her cheaters slipping down her nose. The computer was her late husband’s, and she hated that machine with every ounce of her being. Modern times being what they are, it was a necessity. There was no way in Hell that she was going to waste her money on a goddamn lawyer. She pecked out “go to google search please” into the Bing search bar. She clicked on the first search result, which brought her to the Google. Her son, Joshua, the one who actually finished college, told her th...

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“A Peculiar Request” by M.W. Nel

Submitted to Contest #57

Dipping the pen into the ink bottle, Birdie continued writing murmuring along, “. . . so if you want your inheritance, dear family, this is the only way you’ll get it. Reginald will be keeping a close eye on all of you to make sure you fulfil this last wish of mine. Love always, Aunty Birdie.” She signed her name and put the pen back in the bottle. “They are not going to like it, especially Emerson,” Reginald commented as he sat on the chair closest to the window in Birdie’s study. Reginald was Birdie’s oldest and closest friend, e...

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“The Woman Unknown ” by Mira C

Submitted to Contest #57

She writes slowly. Deliberately. Not quite methodically. The way one would write words no one will want to hear. And yet on her pen scratches. She pauses briefly to look through the glass and sighs. And although it is not her last breath it is certainly close. The way coldness lingers in a room after shutting the door on a winter storm. “Write” There it was again that little voice whispering. Was it in her head? Was that a normal part of the process? It sounded like a voice forgotten....

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“A Confession's Possession” by Heather Ann Martinez

Submitted to Contest #57

A Confession’s Possession By Heather Ann Martinez If you are reading these words...the letter began. The lawyer cleared his throat as he looked at the ceiling tiles. He rarely made contact with Canaan and Sloan. He knew they were intently listening to the final will and testament of their father Noah Albright. Sloan was leaning forward in his chair. He was a semi-retired professional athlete. He was expecting to receive a large sum from his father. Sloan had eyes that matched the ocean waves during a storm and was short fused. He conti...

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“Don't Tell” by Susannah Webster

Submitted to Contest #57

The day’s fierce blizzard had dissipated, leaving behind small flakes falling sparingly onto the thickest layer of snow New York City had seen that year. The suburbs surrounding the city appeared magical, though many residents saw nothing more than an annoyance. Along with many in her neighbourhood, Isabelle Moore watched the snowfall outside her office window. She was momentarily distracted from the task at hand; the writing of her will. This was rather unusual. There was, in fact, no particular reason for Belle to be concerning herself wi...

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$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.

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