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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#63: Autumnal

It’s finally fall in the Northern Hemisphere. While the leaves are being slow to change out my window this year, the air is crisp and the pumpkin spice products are out in full force. Time to break out the sweaters!

 

Beyond all the colorful trappings, though, fall is by definition a season of change. So as you craft your stories this week, try to think about how the events you’re writing will change your characters' lives, whether fundamentally or just a little. After all, even a seemingly mundane afternoon can be the turning point of your entire life…

 

And if you want to drink some apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte while you write, more power to you!

🥇 Winner

“come to atlanta! ” by Masha Kurbatova

   Irina lives alone now, which is ideal. Except last night, when she watched a psychological thriller, some dream-sequence cinema with melting wax heads and ants crawling from orifices and twisted whispering voices. She couldn’t tell you the plot. She couldn’t tell you what it all meant. But she couldn’t sleep after. The scary little movie scenes wormed into the backs of her eyelids. She regretted living so far from Jake then, but by morning, she doesn’t. It would have made her feel like a child, cr...

77 comments 77
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⭐️ Shortlisted

“The Wind Whispered Back” by A.dot Ram

“Aria?” Mrs. Moore called out in her friendliest sing-song voice. “Aria, can you unmute yourself and tell us what you’re thankful for today?”Aria hid in the corner of her screen so that one eye disappeared out the side of her box on the computer screen. Twenty-four popsicle sticks. There were twenty four sticks in Mrs. Moore’s jar that she used to call on students. Usually Aria could hide inside that jar. Aria had become an expert at hiding. Not today. “Come on, honey,” the teacher coaxed. “We want...

55 comments 55
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“Miracle and Grace” by David G.

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The pre-dawn sky above Garnett Ridge flickered, casting an orange glow into the starless, smoke-filled night. I stood on dad's patio, embers racing past me like dancing pixies, hopping and twirling and twisting and pirouetting on the hot wind that whipped down the hillside into the canyon. It was oddly beautiful. Magical, even.I put out my hand for one of the larger ones, paper thin and aglow like a bioluminescent moth. It burned slightly as it settled on my palm an...

8 comments 8
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“Language Barrier” by Mek R

They drove mostly in silence. Day 2 of being married. Day 3 of having to communicate without an interpreter. The quiet seemed easier than trying to communicate; so she drove and he looked out the window at the orange, red, and gold covering the trees like a cloak.A few minutes from their destination, she tried, “Almost there!” She kept her tone bright. He turned his head to look at her, at first with a blank expression. Seeing the smile on her face, he mirrored it with his own forced smile. “Yes,” he said in his native t...

16 comments 16
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“I Found Something in the Blue Hills” by L Killorin

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Soft grey smoke curled under my feet, and the cracks and pops of the catching flames covered the sound of my footsteps. Fire licked at my ankles, but did not burn. “It’s smoky, I know,” he said hastily. He shoved his hands in the deep, paint-stained pockets of his cardigan. “I tried to leave the smoke out, but —“ “Emiel,” I interrupted. “It’s beautiful...

9 comments 9
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“In the Process of Dying” by Julie Frederick

“I couldn’t possibly die on a Tuesday,” Ruth announced, with the flourish of a seasoned stage actress. She raised her cannulated hand to her forehead in a mock swoon. With her other hand she clutched the Pumpkin Spice Latte that I’d bought for her, strictly against doctor’s orders.“It had better be a Friday,” she continued. “That way you can drop by the morgue after work if you need to identify the body, then go out and get drunk to celebrate. And still have the weekend to recuperate.” She released her hold on the still ...

8 comments 8
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This week's prompts:

Set your story in a coffee shop that’s just introduced a new line of autumnal drinks.

General – 179 stories

Start your story with the line, “By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire.” (Whether this is a literal fire is up to you.)

General – 346 stories

Write about a character making fall decorations out of construction paper.

For Kids – 50 stories

Write a story from the perspective of a bird migrating for the winter.

General – 136 stories

Write about two characters going apple picking.

General – 271 stories

Stories

“come to atlanta! ” by Masha Kurbatova

   Irina lives alone now, which is ideal. Except last night, when she watched a psychological thriller, some dream-sequence cinema with melting wax heads and ants crawling from orifices and twisted whispering voices. She couldn’t tell you the plot. She couldn’t tell you what it all meant. But she couldn’t sleep after. The scary little movie scenes wormed into the backs of her eyelids. She regretted living so far from Jake then, but by morning, she doesn’t. It would have made her feel like a child, cr...

77 comments 77
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“Under the Apple Tree” by Felicity Anne (inactive)

My old, fraying wicker basket swung freely from the crook of my elbow as I wandered down the rocky path, searching for the perfect apple tree. My pale brown dog, Bonnie, trotted faithfully by my side, attempting to keep up, despite her petite legs. The lush orchard tree branches hung heavily with the ripening red fruit. As I passed under them, I picked several apples and added them to my basket, which was beginning to grow heavy. As I neared the end of yet another row of trees, I saw it, the perfect apple tree. Its long, reaching branches...

61 comments 61
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“One Last Day” by Felicity Anne (inactive)

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Brilliant ruby reds, bright golds, and fluorescent oranges danced across the trees, giving the illusion of flickering. It has been so long since I’ve smelled the fresh, clean air of autumn. A long time since I’ve smelled any fresh air, actually.  “Are you alright, Eliza?” Noah asked, putting an arm around my shoulders to comfort me. He had been there through...

36 comments 36
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“The First Flight” by Anna Elizabeth

I lift my head from where it was tucked under my wing. The first chill wind of winter has hit. The force of its gust knocks the leaves out of the tree and I watch as the world momentarily swirls red, orange, and gold. Then everything settles again. I extend myself as I rise then jump and catch myself before I drop too low. The ground is sparse, far more than I’ve ever seen before. Granted, I’ve never experienced a winter. My greatest hope is that I never do. I’m going to fly south where it’s warmer and there will be more food to hunt....

44 comments 44
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“Drunk on Coffee” by Leo Greer 🦅 🕶

By Caden Hill,   “Gimme the next one!” Tyler roared. He was on his fourth drink so far, and had vowed on #3 that he would get past seven.“Ok, I’ll give you this one, but ya gotta promise it’s the last one. Just quit the dare.” Louis was not so enthused about his friend’s caffeine high.“What are you talking about? Last one? I’m only just getting started!”Tyler snatched the latte from Louis’s hand and began pouring it into his mouth, promoting an “Eeeew!” from the third person at the tab...

156 comments 156
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“The Will of the Wind” by Leo Greer 🦅 🕶

By Caden HillThe falcon peered downwards at his prey.He soared hundreds of feet in the air above a roiling Alaskan sea. The water steamed and bubbled, smashing against the dark rocks of the coast to produce titanic upthrusts of freezing liquid.But despite the turmoil below him, the old Peregrine was unfazed. He had braved winters cold enough that the blood began to still within him, and winds so strong that they reduced towering pines to little more than broken twigs.He flew through it all.For...

149 comments 149
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“The Physics Professor and the Latte” by Deidra Lovegren

It wasn’t like Dr. Stevens to spend $4.38 for coffee. Not coffee—a latte. A latte was essentially a fancy espresso with a thin layer of foamed milk. Either way, $4.38 was an egregious amount of money to spend on a beverage for a young professor with crushing student loans. A young professor who would have been just as happy sipping the dregs from the burnt coffee pot in the faculty lounge. A young professor who wasn’t sure about his students' abilities, whether they would put in the hard work and dedication necessary ...

108 comments 108
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“Perfect as it Gets” by Julia Boddie

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I was too late.~~~~~~~~~~The day started when my alarm clock woke me up that morning. I got out of bed and went to go wake up my five-year-old daughter. I walked down the hallway and to the doorway of her room.“Good morning sleepyhead. It’s time to get up for school.”She sat up. Veronica stretched and yawned. I looked at her, looking at her light brown hair, which was a tangled mess. She started to get up and I w...

53 comments 53
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“The Wind Whispered Back” by A.dot Ram

“Aria?” Mrs. Moore called out in her friendliest sing-song voice. “Aria, can you unmute yourself and tell us what you’re thankful for today?”Aria hid in the corner of her screen so that one eye disappeared out the side of her box on the computer screen. Twenty-four popsicle sticks. There were twenty four sticks in Mrs. Moore’s jar that she used to call on students. Usually Aria could hide inside that jar. Aria had become an expert at hiding. Not today. “Come on, honey,” the teacher coaxed. “We want...

55 comments 55
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“Rags to Riches” by ♡ ℂ𝕣𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕝 ♡

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I heard screams, but the echo was swallowed by the crackling of fire and screams. Horrified screams, but the source was unknown.  Fire was pouring out of me, immersing my entire body in flames. It quickly seared my thin clothing, burning the fabric with ease.  But it didn’t burn me. I didn’t even feel the warmth of the flames whose mission was to devou...

377 comments 377
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“Meg” by Laiba M

Dedicated to my magical parakeet, Meg, who passed October 12th. I hope you're happy soaring around in paradise, Meg.I'm flying.Mama, I'm flying again, so free! I feel so independent! The cage is gone!Mama?Where are you, Mama?Weren't you holding me in your warm hand just now?Weren't you looking at me and smiling?Why was there sadness in your eyes, even though you were smiling? Mama, what happened? Why did saltiness roll down your face and fall into my mouth? I...

1405 comments 1405
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“Chicken Lips ” by Rhondalise Mitza

Hurry up!  It was Saturday morning and the chickens were arising, Feathers ruffled and beaks slapped with bright-  Croissant,  NO,  Crescent,  NO Cerulean? Certainly not,  Oh! the word is-  CRIMSON  red lipstick  Because these chickens were ready  And they were ready to party. ...

174 comments 174
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“Among Us” by A-k-s-h-a-t A-t-a-l

By the time I stepped outside of my house, the leaves were on fire. Literally. It was so, super hot. The whole reason I even had to step outside was to get a break from that stupid party of my sister’s.She got into Oxford. So what? It doesn’t mean that you should get a whole party! (Alright fine, maybe she does deserve it, but still!)Mark my words, I’m going to be even better than her. I’m going to be one of the first astronauts to get into The Skeld, the first spaceship to Mars. Human...

85 comments 85
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“Apart Together” by 𝒞𝑒𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓉☯ 𝑀𝒶𝒿🔮𝓀𝓀𝓊 𝒮𝒽𝒾𝓃🦋𝒷𝓊

By the time I step outside, the leaves are on fire. Coming outside was a good and bad idea at the same time, but my house is gone, and I didn’t have a choice. I run and curse into the air, but my words are jumbled up sentences that mean nothing to the thing that is devouring the world. People are screaming, screeching, and crying as they try to avoid the fire, often without success, and hoping not to fall into the endless abyss that is the monster’s mouth. Also without much success. But I don’t care. I only care about running. Running for...

27 comments 27
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“The Apple Orchard” by Julia Boddie

Fruit picking. One of my favorite things to do. Picking blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, anything. I don’t know why I like it so much, it’s just interesting.~~~~~~~~~~“So are you coming or not?” Michael asked me.“I already said no. There’s no way my mom will let me go with you. She’ll think we’re dating or something,” I said.“There has to be some way I can change your mind.”“There is none. I can’t come. Go invite someone else.”

24 comments 24
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$50

Prize money

1024

Submissions

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 16, 2020 EST

Won by Masha Kurbatova 🏆

Title: come to atlanta!

Winning stories will be featured on our website and in our weekly newsletter. For more information, please consult our terms of use.

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