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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

“"Breaking the looking glass"” by Judah Benjamin

Submitted to Contest #57

Halloween; all-hallows day, I look at all the kids running around in their costumes holding jack-o-lantern themed baskets. It’s funny…all hallows day was the most evil day of the year 2000 years ago, the 21rst century has a way of re-defining traditions and views. My sneakers are a little damp from running through the grass, ”faster”, I whisper to myself. I can see the café in the distance but don’t slow down. This is a quest, an adventure teeming with promise of rejection and abandonment, but I don’t care…almost as much as I do .I stop runn...

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“Sky's the limit” by Rachel Alex Wall

Submitted to Contest #57

Tradition had always been extremely important in the family. You were born into it. You have no choice. The children were not asked at any age if, they want to do it. It was just expected. Sky knew from an early age she had the family talent. This did not mean she wanted to stay in the family business. Her brothers and sisters had all joined in the show the same as she had. Problem was, Sky wanted more. She studied hard in lessons to prove to herself that she could be more. University called to her. She wanted to be amongst likeminded people...

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“Break a Tradition for Dream” by Zanakharisma Afifiani

Submitted to Contest #57

“You break our family tradition!” “Religion is not tradition, Dad,” that tall girl increased her voice by half an octave. Her tears croocked in her mother’s arms who also shed the tears without can do anything. “Religion is a belief. I want to become a dancer, and it doesn’t mean I am out of religion.” Since she heard a song danced by Gambyong’s dancer in Yogyakarta Palace 5 years ago, she believes that her dream is to become a dancer. “Dad, it’s my concern. Let me to become myself.” Ayu cried again. Her breath was gasped, she woul...

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“Breakaway” by Candice Ramaiah

Submitted to Contest #57

Everyone was silent. I had just introduced my spouse to my family including extended members – the uncles, aunties, cousins and all those who were linked to the family tree. We have all congregated at my grandparents’ village in Kumbakonam, a couple of hours drive from Trichy. One of the cousins was getting married, the Iyengar way – early morning marriage, groom invitation the night before and the coconut game on the third day. Yeah, so you would have guessed by now – I belong to a very traditional Iyengar family from Kumbakonam. In I...

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“Defying Custom” by Deja Wasti

Submitted to Contest #57

The room seemed to shake as Grandfather raised his voice. ‘Give Maleeka your property? Have you gone crazy, Faris?’ A vein pulsed at his temple as he glared at my father, hands clenching my father’s will. His face, darkened with rage, made me shudder even as I watched from behind the curtain. I watched my father in awe as he stood his ground, features set in a determined and confident stance. ‘Father, I have made my will, and I will not change it for you, or for any of my greedy brothers. I don’t care about your traditions. God has given me ...

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“There's nowhere you can be, if that isn't where you're meant to be...” by SUBHOBRATA BASU

Submitted to Contest #57

The couple was sitting together. However, there was a stillness in the air between them. They prayed that this should be the last time they would see each other. The couple had never apprehended a day like this in their wildest imagination. Both of them were waiting to be called for their divorce to be granted. While sitting, the man thought about those early days of marriage - his first visit to her house, his first meeting with her parents, etc. "Nobody gets married to the first girl one sees. I would be seeing more gir...

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“Traditions(Ctrl) and Dreams(Alt+Delete)” by Mayuri Agarwal

Submitted to Contest #57

The fate of Mira’s life was decided even before she was born. Her parents hailed from a small town of Saharanpur. Their family was a very orthodox and traditional one where the length of the veils and skirts was a matter of family honour and pride. It was a joint family consisting of three brothers, their docile wives and four kids all boys. Mira's parents were eagerly waiting for her arrival who was due next month. The brothers owned a family business of bathroom fittings and hardware supplies which was giving them good returns. Ever...

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“Dancing Boy” by Hana Mallory

Submitted to Contest #57

2019 - august THE rush of adrenaline, he was going to do this. Peter felt his skin wrapped tightly around his frame. He ran out onto the stage. The floor was hard and smooth and the air was cold and he could feel every part of him trembling. The lights filled his eyes and he could hear the audience’s applause. So this was it, this was what living felt like. Like any moment he would float to the ceiling, like the work he'd been doing for the past ten years was finally paying off. Man, it felt good. 2009 - August ‘Cmon mom, I will be late fo...

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“Rest in Peace” by Adelina Hill

Submitted to Contest #57

“I want to go home.” Penelope crossed her arms and sat back in the old wooden chair. It creaked under her weight filling the silence between her and the secretary. “Penelope, I’ve told you before-“ “How about you just stop saying it then?” She snapped; spit flinging from her rose-colored lips. “You know the answer so why do you keep demanding?” &n...

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“Best Self Forward” by Mary Corbin

Submitted to Contest #57

Best Self Forward by Mary Corbin Carlina could not believe this was actually happening. She had watched the movies and read the books about people being able to time travel but she didn’t really think it was true. As an executive at a public relations firm in Chicago, the lead singer of a popular club band and a part-time palm reader, she certainly ran in the kind of circles for such an experience if it was even possible. And, now, she believed it was. Having explored her inner world in so many ways over her 38 years of living - sca...

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“I Am Glad I've Moved On” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #57

I don’t know how I got here and I don’t know how I’m getting back. Am I going back? It’s a strange predicament I seem to be in and I’m not sure quite what to do. I don’t really know where I am but things seem vaguely familiar in a way. I see an overweight elderly lady, rather ‘well to do’ by the look of it. “Excuse me” I begin and she ignores me. “Hello” I repeat louder this time. But there’s no reply. Not even a look towards me. She must have heard me as I’m not very far away. I’m not used to being ignored. I’ll try this lad carrying his sk...

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“A Life's Worth” by Caitlin Wallace

Submitted to Contest #57

I had been putting off my trip to the future for as long as I could remember. Not because I wasn’t excited to go, rather the opposite. I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted to step off of the platform into that courtyard to be momentous. Something to remember for the rest of my days, the swelling of pride, and my heart bursting out of my chest with excitement. My children and their children would see their mother, their grandmother after years of hard work pushing boundaries and forging a path in a world not made for the soft of heart. The tim...

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“Hitler is Back” by Jai Mohanka Mohanka

Submitted to Contest #57

Preface The story is about a man named Der Führer or more commonly known as Adolf Hitler.I am sure you would have heard of that name, if you haven’t then i doubt you are from this planet .Do you have thoughts that what would he think if he travels to the future and sees how he has been remembered? then this story has been made for you because he has come back (in this book thank god not in real life) and gone to the future with a bookworm named Noah and an admirer of him also named Adolf.I hope you will enjoy the story and it is for entert...

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“Writing the Will” by Josephine Nolan

Submitted to Contest #57

Writing the Will by Josephine Nolan Reedsy Writing Contest #206 3rd September 2020 He was writing an outline of the Will he would give to the solicitor in the morning. They would all be ready with their hands out, but they were in for a surprise. Jack Dalton had lived alone most of his life.&nbsp...

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“Her Will” by Ruqayyah Shabazz

Submitted to Contest #57

Penny had been doing a lot of thinking that day and the days that began to pass. The pen never left her hand and her hand stayed on the paper in front of her as she tried to write again. Sixty-eight still felt too young to be writing a will. To announce where she wanted her assets and possessions to go to while still drawing breath was more difficult than she realized. In her heart she knew what she needed to say. She knew the shock that her words would have on everyone once they heard them aloud. But what should she care if they had an...

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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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