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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!

This week's prompts

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

Fall – 161 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.)

Teens – 324 stories

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

Kids – 45 stories

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

Winter – 128 stories

Write about two characters going apple picking.

Fall – 249 stories

Stories

“A Conversation with “Red”” by Jay Stormer

Submitted to Contest #63

This is a transcript of my conversation with a human birder on the sandy edge of a mudflat, one of many such places along the shores of eastern North America.  You probably think I am one of your species, Homo sapiens (an oxymoron if there ever was one), making up a story anthropomorphising me, a bird. Of course, I don’t think as humans do, and I don’t speak or write English or any of your human languages. However, I prefer to think that the author is not just making up a story, but channeling my spirit. Hey you! Yes...

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“An Apple a Day” by Lesli Williams

Submitted to Contest #63

Two young girls trudged across the grassy hills, little white flowers littered beneath their worn shoes. They each held a thick, woven basket in their hand and a small scissors in the other. The sky was clear and blue, the air warm and sweet. A cottage sat in the far distance behind them, but no one watched the girls as they soldiered through the moores. "Mr Castor told us that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. " the smaller girl struggled to firmly grasp the basket in her sweaty hands. "Hm. An apple a day keeps the doctor from ear...

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“Apple Picking” by Ari Jackson

Submitted to Contest #63

Vernon’s a piece of living shit, and under any other circumstance, I’d cut off my left testicle before forking over any money to support his living. But he’s the only dragon dealer in town. “Well if it ain’t Joffrey Adams,” Clive Atkintyre calls from ten feet away, before he’s all of a sudden here, and’s got his arm around my neck. “Haven’t seen you in this half-a-town in ages! What brings you by this fine evening?”This fine evening’s been polluted with rain, soot, and old homeless men peeing on the church corner as if it’s God’s fault,...

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“The Golden Apple” by Urooj Nisa

Submitted to Contest #63

"So you are saying that there's a golden apple somewhere in the woods?". Asked Logan as he waited for Levi's answer impatiently because he was so interested. "Yes, I'm pretty sure. My dad used to take me to the woods, he told me that many years ago, a tree in that woods grew so big. It was huge. And it only grows golden apples. But people didn't liked that tree. They said it was so huge, it looked evil. So they cut down that tree. That tree was gone many years ago but one of the golden apple is still there somewhere". Levi explained. "Ok the...

3 comments 3
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“Fallen” by Vadasz Sara

Submitted to Contest #63

FALLEN By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were in fire. I didn’t look back, but I could smell the burning paper and I could imagine her sullen, disturbed face. Not the end I wished for, frankly. I’ve always been very careful what I have wished for, never falling in exaggeration or desires beyond my merit. That’s fairness, isn’t it? I longed for a decent partner, a comfortable life, and for some respect. Due respect. Not much, you may say, but this is all I can offer in return. She couldn’t settle for that. She couldn’t content herse...

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“Saffron's Surprise” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #63

The Cheery Kettle café was part of the furniture on the market square. Like a comfortable, slightly shabby, familiar armchair. For as long as anyone could remember, it had been offering the breakfast sausage or bacon bun, the lunchtime specials (and no-one could say they were narrow-minded, there was a pasta bake at least once a week, and even an occasional curry) and the teatime treats, consisting of a cup of tea or coffee and your choice of a buttered scone, a toasted crumpet, and a slice of Victoria Sponge Cake. Just o...

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“Flying South” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #63

Sarah looks perky this morning. She’s sitting on that high branch over there singing her dawn song. I bet she feels the same as I do that it’s about time we flew south. The wind is getting up, the temperature has dropped considerably. We cannot stay here much longer, or we will freeze or starve to death. Each day has shown fewer insects to eat. Each day there are less of the gang around. Ah, she’s fluttering her wings I’d better stretch mine too. And we’re off, flying high up into the clear blue sky and catching the South Wind. Oh, it feels ...

2 comments 2
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“Coffee for Leroy” by Julie Ward

Submitted to Contest #63

The Hillside Roasters Coffee House was bursting with fall festivity, despite the fact that September in Los Angeles is more like a dirty version of July. Hazy, sepia-brown and relentlessly hot. Outside, drooping trees provided spots of shade for old women wheeling overstuffed shopping baskets and street vendors pushing their ringing carts. Inside, orange and gold leaves fluttered in chalk down one side of the menu board. A long line snaked past packed bookshelves, newly adorned with tiny pumpkins and colorful Dia de los Muerto...

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“Apple Pickers ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #63

“Pay five dollars a bushel.” Orin Conner said to the two sad sacks standing at his door. It was early October and the weather in Nedrow had on the chilly side for the past two weeks dipping down close to 32 degrees on two occasions turning the green apples into a happy red and ready for picking.  He had nearly forty acres with half of it apple trees that were some of the best apples in upstate New York, or the northeast for that matter, hell the entire country including Washington State and their mushy MacIntosh stock.  Both men no...

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“Rowena's Theme” by Phoenix's Fire

Submitted to Contest #63

I’d never given so much thought to the apple, forever grasped in her hands as she sat there, every day and any day when the sun was kind enough to avoid her small realm of shade. I’d really never given so much thought to her, either, but today is different. Today she came against the sun’s will, drenched and muddied up, a greenish-yellow apple still firmly gripped in her hand. She came with a book, more of a journal it seemed, daring the rain to touch the pages. She came for the rain to claim the tears that berate her, letting them add on to...

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“Go Pick Yourself ” by Elizabeth Anne

Submitted to Contest #63

“Oh come on Claire! It’s not that big of a deal!” Maddie shouted at her girlfriend who was currently strutting away from her into the collection of apple trees. “I’m sorry!”             Claire held in her hand a basket which was made from straw and kept pricking at her fingers. She kept shifting it, trying to find a more comfortable way to hold it. She didn’t want to come today, but she couldn’t get a refund on the trip. She didn’t think Maddie would show up as well, after their arg...

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“What could have been? An autumn of memories and remorse” by Johanna L

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I stepped out of the coffee shop with my usual half white chocolate mocha / half pumpkin spice latte. I took a brief moment to savor the blended flavors of my favorite fall drink and the scent of the fiery red and golden yellow leaves that filled the fall air. Although I am running errands downtown today, the streets are dead on this early Sunday morning. There was a feeling that the city is just waking up. This is my favorite time of the week to run errands and let my thoughts wander. ...

3 comments 3
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“First love” by Cray Ola

Submitted to Contest #63

Lidia felt like was standing on ice and could slip at any moment, her legs were shaking and her hand clenched onto the side of the ladder. Her pale arm trembled as she slowly reached out her arm grabbing onto the apple and yanking it off. The apple was lighter than she expected, and Lidia was surprised when she found that  Don’t look down, she told herself. Lidia could remember that a few years ago when Charlotte and her  had gone apple picking together and Charlotte had screamed “Don’t look down!” as Lidia climbed up the ladder. ...

2 comments 2
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“Fall Decorations” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #63

Mrs. McMillan looked out over her first grade class. All twenty one of them were busily practicing writing their names. One of them, little Sally McGillicutty, lifted her head and caught her teacher’s gaze. She smiled her crooked little grin at Mrs. McMillan, and the teacher smiled back.          Bobby, Joe, Tom and Sam began giggling because one of them had farted. Mrs. McMillan went over to their table and told them quietly to behave themselves and be quiet.   &...

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“When The Chosen Fall” by Courtney Haynes

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped out, the leaves were on fire. Just as the mysterious caller had told me. Rising to the sky with a brilliant blue roaring like tigers. Thoroughly convinced of the apocalypse she warned me of, I gingerly stepped back inside and picked up the phone. "OK, I'm convinced," I say. "Now what?" "Now you listen to and do everything I say."  I'm a stubborn sort, so this isn't an appealing option. I don't even let my boss boss me around let alone random strangers telling me I hold the key to ending the apocalyps...

4 comments 4
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$50

Prize money

907

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 16, 2020 EST

Won by Masha Kurbatova 🏆

Title: come to atlanta!

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 | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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