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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

“Not every families perfect” by Fiona Denofrio

Submitted to Contest #63

This is going to take weird turns, so be ready. *Warnings: Abuse, Curse Words, I think that's about it* A little girl running around, squealing, being chased by a... man? "I'm going to catch you Olivia!" he yells, his voice deep. "Never!" she calls back. Who is this man? Why is he chasing her? I sit up in the hospital bed... wait, hospital bed? I look down at my hands, scarred and holding, a paper turkey? When did this get there? I look to my left, where there's... um... what are those, paper maple leaves? They look horribly made. Anot...

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“City Boy's First Time” by Julia Janus

Submitted to Contest #63

“Shelby,” Ashton looked at me suspiciously then at the wobble wagon.  We decided to take our daughter to the apple orchard for the first time.  “What is that thing?” I looked at him like he was stupid.  I should have known he didn’t know what a wobble wagon was.  This was his first shot at a small town life.  He is used to the fast going LA life, but here he is with me, at the Rustin Orchard.   I’ve been here every year since I was a little baby, which made me sad that Isla is four before we decided to ta...

5 comments 5
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“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...

6 comments 6
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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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“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.   &...

2 comments 2
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“The colorful coffee” by Mom Martin

Submitted to Contest #63

October 1stIt's a new month and unlike every girl I don't like to write an entry every day I like to write an entry every time something exciting happens mostly once or twice every week something major must happen for me to write three times in one week every single time I write an entry for a new day except for the first day of the month I introduce myself and who I am so that way if anyone reads this in the future somehow they'll know who I am but they'll only be reading with my permission of course for example if my crush Max reads it I h...

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“An Autumn Love Story set in the backdrop of the 'Artisan' Cafe” by Smruti Suresh Chandra Beohar

Submitted to Contest #63

It was getting colder and darker each day as Autumn had gradually set in. The nights were long and dark with frost all around during the morning hours. Dry dead leaves crushed on the soil while clouds appeared in the sky above. Many birds including nightingales, cuckoos, swifts and swallows flew south to warmer climates during the winter. Badges, foxes and small birds feasted on small berries and provided a natural source of energy and nutrients for the underlying vegetation. Damp weather provided the ideal conditions for fungi to grow. Autu...

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“Apple Picking With Bart” by David Dicaire

Submitted to Contest #63

Apple Picking With Bart The teacher had assigned pairs of students to go apple picking. They weren’t allowed to select their own partners. Heather Gallant knew that she would get stuck with Bart O’Hara. She just knew it and sure enough that’s what happened. “I can’t believe that I got stuck with that loser.” She was complaining to her best friend Michelle Darnell who just smirked. She had landed the most popular boy in class, Derek Vance. “Well, just ditch him.” “Oh, right, ditch the guy that has a disability. &...

1 comment 1
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“Among the Honey Crisps & Ginger Golds” by Scarlet A. Wolfheart

Submitted to Contest #63

Among the Honey Crisps & Ginger Golds By: Scarlet A. Wolfheart I picked Alley up on a cool crisp Autumn day. She was dressed in a big comfy sweater and leggings that fit all her curves right. She had left her hair down and flowing in the breeze. I am always so surprised by how she could take my breath away. Her beautiful auburn hair flowing down her back glistening in the early morning sunshine. Jumping out of the truck I go around and open the door for her, and she gives me one of those beautiful smiles of hers and it makes my heart f...

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“Turned Away” by Daniel Brown

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Jennifer put a lighter to one to see if she could tempt the maple out of it and torched the rest. It was out of a senseless principle but it was a principle that smelled like burnt maple. Lord knew she thought this was a way to craft maple syrup but you couldn't sway her another way. I was stunned but not shocked because she first bought the lighter to burn a straw dummy of her college ex-boyfriend.  “I need maple syrup and Mother Nature won't tell the leaves to lend me some,” sh...

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“Another Day” by JaCinda Walls

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside the leaves were on fire, and I was running late. It was a beautiful site the orange and red leaves cascading down from the trees, but no time to bask in their beauty unless I wanted to be in trouble with Sierra again. Laughing at the memory of the last lunch date I missed with my best friend, I hurried down the street. Just as I reached the cafe I heard a loud screech from behind me turning around to see Sierra in her Audi waiting for me. Pulling me into a tight hug she said, " I missed you LaiLai." Smiling a...

4 comments 4
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“Freddie's Last Flight” by Chris Wagner

Submitted to Contest #63

Nobody knows that Freddie Phoenix keeps a dark thought diary, but there's a lot people don't know about me. There's only so much that can fit in a thirty minute day. The diary started one midnight when I started to have worries, and questions that couldn't be easily resolved by my friends on Rosedale Square. There was only so much you could do with a song and dance number, or a giant foam division sign. I knocked on my friend Rhonda smart's apartment door , apparently waking her from a dead slumber. I just unloaded on h...

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“MASKUS” by Olivia Kruse

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. It signals the start of Autumn on Maskus, our planet. They commence the beginning of a brand new era, a new beginning, a fresh start to life. A chance where we take the next step in our lives. Something the planet Earth simply dismisses. To them, seasons are nothing but a change in weather. I have only visited Earth once, when I was very little. I do not remember much, only that it was far different than Maskus in every way. Autumn is an especially important season for me, and for every...

2 comments 2
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“The fireguard” by Dumisan Khumalo

Submitted to Contest #63

Start. your story with the line " By the time I stepped outside,the leaves were on fire"  The Fireguard By Dumisani khumalo By the time I was outside ,the leaves were on fire. There was panic and frenzy ,and it was about me, and the prospects I had were becoming dim as I looked at the fire spread so magnanimously, and who would come to my rescue when I was there alone? It started with prospects of finding out if I had green fingers at all ,with my extension trainings in agriculture,and my green beans grown in a can...

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“The walk ” by Eric Skyler

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I let out a little silent cry to flush out the night’s dream. The sting of the dream lingered though. I walked with an uncertain gait. Well, it's been some time since I let myself ‘out’. The pavement was crowded for an early morning. The world, of course, was out there to get me! How else can it be? What other life-or-death matters do people have in their hands to not devour and laugh at my demons? I mustered more courage with each step and began to ru...

0 comments 0
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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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