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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

“The Coffee Shop” by Deepika Viswanath

Submitted to Contest #63

She entered inside, leaving the cool air that engulfed her, behind. The door of the coffee shop opened and closed with a slam. Several other people looked up, taken aback by the sudden noise. This coffee shop had been there for a long time in the city. Since 1967. And they hadn't repaired the front doors in five years. So obviously, the interior architecture was bound to be faulty- the door included. The woman who entered inside, Brianne Melrose, was supposedly late for an appointment. Brianne was a pretty young woman with bright red hair, t...

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“Hope” by Coco Aroc

Submitted to Contest #63

A bell rung, warmth and happiness hit my icy face, my body still shivering from the cold outside wind. My soul still shivering after I entered, letting the door swing shut behind me. It felt like I was safe, warm and at home, even with the little voice nagging in the back of my head. Then why did I leave. Why did I forget the safeness in the moment I needed it most? Why didn’t it save me? I felt like everyone was looking at me, judging me, and for once I didn’t care… not here. Here, my eyes saw colour, the warm tones dancing through the room...

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“The Sunset Coffee Shop” by Jill Ann

Submitted to Contest #63

Today is a beautiful day and even though it’s October, the sun is still shining. It’s quite warm out today, considering it‘s autumn. In Canada we have crazy weather. Well, specifically, I’m in Ontario. My name is Elizabeth and I own this amazing coffee shop in Toronto. For all of you who don’t know, Toronto is actually the capital of Ontario. It’s really beautiful here. The city is by the lake where you can see the most amazing sunsets, which is why I call my coffee shop, “The Sunset”. I opened in the year 2011, so “The Sunset” has been...

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“Bonums” by Sara Blanch

Submitted to Contest #63

" Julia, you cannot have minors trialing the new drink series...whether they are your cousins or not it is simply not allowed. I refuse to have the council sniffing around my establishment for the second time this week! They are already suspicious because of that food poisoning case, a case that is your fault by the way." " My fault?! How is it my fault that you hired Andre? Just because I am related to him doesn't mean I am responsible for his horrendous cooking skills or dodgy certifications!" Ralph sighed in exasperation as he watched the...

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“Hunting Season” by Ryan Dupont

Submitted to Contest #63

The two orcs marched along the narrow road, tattered chainmail clicking and battered wooden shields clacking, as they made their way up a steep hill. Crossbows were slung across their backs beside quivers jammed full of crudely-made arrows, fletched with the feathers of ravens as black as the night. Longswords and daggers hung in frayed sheaths on their worn belts and their threadbare clothes were filthy and stained. At the top of the hill they stopped to rest, sweat beaded on their green-skinned faces in the hot autumn sun. The larger of...

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“Pumpkin Spice Galore” by Osmond Silva

Submitted to Contest #63

Out of all the fantastic and amazing drinks you could have in a coffee shop in autumn, Vinny ordered water. “Seriously," Kathy laughed, “I thought you were going to help me try out all these new fall drinks.” “When have you ever seen me drink coffee, not to mention the salted Frappuccino mocha caramel espresso with nutmeg you just ordered.” “ I wish that were on the menu.” Kathy and Vinny stood in front of the coffee shop counter glaring at the menu above as if competing to see who could memorize the most drinks. Vinny lost t...

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“Autumn Colours ” by Keera Walsh

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. "Dad!" I called, "The autumn leaves of the apple trees are on fire!" No reply. I guess this was up to me now. I ran towards where the hose should be, coiled up like a snake. The hose wasn't there. Strange. Very strange. I circled the house for an hour and finally came to the very front of the house, and there, standing watching the crisp leaves burn in the scorching sun, was my father. His black hair, frayed at the tips, blowing in the wind. "What are you doing, Dad?" I asked, "W...

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“Green to Red” by Colleen True

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. They were so beautiful, my breath caught in my throat, and I had to remind myself, "In and out." Of course, I knew they would like like this--leaves change color in autumn. That much was a fact, but I was still taken aback. Even if I knew it logically, I saw the leaves in all their magnificent red and orange glory, and I could have cried. "Oliver, dear, are you all right?" I looked at my mother and slowly nodded. I forgave her silently for her sympathetic tone; she was still tryin...

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“Just A Wee Bit Witchy” by C.J Nightingale

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised, after all it was probably not the brightest idea of mine to lean out the second floor window of my mother's home, holding a lit match in my outstretched hands to see if the wind would make the flames dance. Well, my point was sort of proven to be correct, since the flames were most definitely dancing now, if not in the way I hoped. It was an early afternoon in the beginning of autumn when my little brother, Toby, and I were helping ...

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“Fire Family - Part 1 - Flames and Fire” by Mary-Claire Hanlon

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The bark on the trees was starting to singe, and the earth was so hot that I thought I wouldn’t make it. I could hear the cracks; some loud, like branches were about to break and fall; some softer, as the trees began to release their seeds. The small brush-tailed rock wallaby that was panting near my home, was obviously distressed. I needed to get to her with a damp blanket, and try to pick her up. Then I had to get the hell out of here. I had gone home as soon as I heard the news abo...

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“A good day revealed by one moment.” by Looking For Inspiration

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire of red’s, orange’s, green’s and gold’s in a burst of beautiful color as the season of fall began falling away. I stood there staring at this beautiful moment in time admiring my favorite time of year, in aww of its transformation into winter. Looking up at the sky seeing the sun shining brightly yet the morning becoming chillier and breezier which makes me just smile. Deciding to walk to the shop since it was such a lovely day. Walking through central park I passed by more beautiful scen...

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“Red Ant! Red Ant!” by JAZMEDIA PRODUCTIONS

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. It was finally the first day of autumn, and my feet were on fire --and not the kind of painful but feel-good fire you get when you walk across rocks in the summer. No. They were burning with change. I lunged forward to land on a crispy yellow leaf, but the wind blew it away just in time and instead, I stepped on a firey red ant who fell limp under my weight. Crouching down, my chest was now on fire, and my eyebrows furrowed as its little legs twitched and its colony marched towards th...

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“Leaves Were On Fire!!” by Judith Buskohl

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Leaves that had fallen off the trees that lined the street and were still showing their colors of every color from light red to an orange that made me think of a fire that firefighter had put out across the street where I live. The fire that had started as a blood-red then turned into the raging orange, black billowing smoke, and people choking on the ground from the smoke’s thickness. The air was thick and the smoke was black as people were yelling “Fire!” The...

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“Home Fires” by Linda Brodsky

Submitted to Contest #63

“By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire, and the wind had picked up,” Annie Arthur said. “Catherine and Blake Bevins lived in that house you know. They moved in here in November, nineteen eighty-seven…no, eighty-eight. It was raining the day the Bevins family moved into our little community. I baked them a welcome cake as soon as I saw the moving van pull into the drive. It was one of my famous chocolate cakes, with buttercream icing. I have never met anyone who didn’t enjoy one of my homem...

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“The Ambitious Violet ” by Karoshni Perumal

Submitted to Contest #63

"By the time I stepped outside, the leaves where on fire." There was a beautiful and fragrant violet who lived placidly amongst her friends, and swayed happily amidst the other flowers in a solitary garden. One morning, as her crown was embellished with beads of dew, she lifted her head and looked about; she saw a tall handsome rose standing proudly and reaching high into space; like a burning torch upon an emerald lamp. The violet opened her blue lips and said;"what an unfortunate am I among these flowers; and how humble is the position I o...

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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!

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