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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

“You, Me and an Apple Tree ” by Julie Good

Submitted to Contest #63

“Grandma, Grandma, come on!” The chipper voice of my granddaughter, Elena, coos from a few yards ahead. I can’t help but smile as I watch her skip and twirl as she gleefully explores the orchard that has captivated my heart for so long. Her golden curls bounce with youthful exuberance as she wanders further and further ahead. I struggle to keep up, the natural landscape proving far more daunting than I remember. As my weathered joints do their best to carry me across the rolling hills, I watch my granddaughter fondly. “Grandma, look, here ar...

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“The Vultures' Picnic” by Jill Howard

Submitted to Contest #63

People lived even more hurriedly after the mandate was passed. Bumbling politicians had assured the country that the chips would make overpopulation impossible, relieve the failing healthcare system, and provide a steady opening of new jobs to young workers. Everyone knew the truth: lifespan would be cut in half, orphans would multiply tenfold, and each individual would only live long enough to serve the system. They knew this. But they were so tired. And after the worldwide food shortages, the overcrowded cities, the pollution and undrinkab...

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“An apple a day” by John Del Rio

Submitted to Contest #63

She looked over at him and gave a silent look of reproach. He saw the look; he always saw the look. He asked her “What?” And she told him, “I don’t think that apple’s good.” “This apple?” he replied as he held out a deep red apple in his left hand. “Yes”, she told him, “that apple. I don’t think it’s good” He looked at the apple in his hand; turning it over and over, then he looked at her. “And are you Johnny Appleseed now; you know so much about apples?” She looked him in the eye and told him “maybe I’m Janie Appleseed” He scoffed o...

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“Ambrosia Apples, the Fruit of the Gods” by Kerri Shanley

Submitted to Contest #63

Timmy and Felicity were thick as thieves, or so the saying goes. As soon as the sun rose Timmy was knocking on Felicity’s door asking her mom if she could come out and play, and they caused mischief until the sun went down and their parents called them in for dinner. After dinner, they would talk through their homemade soup can phones. During the summers they would light ants on fire, pour salt on snails watching them shrivel up, and other non-felonious childhood activities. One of their favorite summer activities was sneaking into Farmer H...

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“It's Sweet” by Glory Williams

Submitted to Contest #63

"I think it's sweet." peyton said suddenly out of the blue. "what is?!" I asked anxiously and curiously. "that your family takes care of the apple orchard in town." He answered while examining a pink lady apple. "oh." I let my shoulders drop in disappointment. We continued picking apples quietly for a bit, but then I had the urge to break the silence. "I am thankful really.""who said you weren't?" silence. "you must think this is funny don't you?""what's there to laugh at? you love apples.""yes but not more than I love baking.'' Peyton then ...

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“Light” by Chelsea S D

Submitted to Contest #63

"Julian""Julian""JULIAN"If this man ignores me one more time I swear I'll... "What do you want, Monica?"Julian seems exasperated. I'm not sure why, as he's been the one ignoring me all morning. HE drags ME to the apple orchard and now he's sulking? I was perfectly content lounging on the couch with a hot mug of tea, rose infused black tea of course, and wasting away this brisk October day. But not Julian. Forever the active extrovert. He just HAD to get out of apartment.It's a beautiful day, Mon, look at the sky! We still have time to get to...

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“Three Hours at the Orchard” by Lauren Pagano

Submitted to Contest #63

"Picking our food off of trees? What are we amish now?...No. No, I don't think we're supposed to do this. I don't like this" David huffed gesturing around the orchard.Sarah yanked a dark red apple off of a branch and with a huff turned back towards David. "My God. This isn't torture, it's supposed to be fun David. Remember what that's like?" she said with an eye roll."Fun? FUN?" David retorted, "There is nothing fun about manual labor.""Manual labor?! David, it's apple picking." Sarah said while turning back around and picking another apple ...

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“Fresh Apple Pie” by Daryl Oliver

Submitted to Contest #63

“Fresh apple pie has always had a special place in my heart.” The words slipped through my lips with more air than words. I kept my head down was I spoke. The stained baseball cap helped to keep the light from my eyes. I pulled more air into my lungs with a long slow draw. With a slow motion, I lifted my head up high enough for me to catch the look on the man sitting across from me. He was a relatively young man. He didn’t make eye contact with me. Instead he just sat in the chair opposite me. No expression on his face. His clothes seemed to...

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“Apple Toss” by Denise King Sharpe

Submitted to Contest #63

Denise SharpeSharpewriter305@yahoo.comAPPLE TOSSBILLY WIPED THE juices dripping down his chin with the side of his thumb. He grimaced at the green apple, studying it like it bit him, and not the other way around, He chucked the fruit, sending it wailing through the air. “Hey Jules, I thought you said the green ones are sweet,” Billy yelled. A voice in the distance called out, “Who the hell threw this apple? You hi...

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“Tango” by Ayush Anand

Submitted to Contest #63

I looked out of the window, and I just kept looking, in awe. Autumn was finally here, and oh what a time it was. Autumn has always been my favourite, and it is that time of the year when everyday just makes me want to get up and dance around all day in the beautiful pale orangish glow of the sun. I instantly put on my jeans and favourite white T-shirt, ran down the stairs, kissed mom and went running through the door. As I stepped in the street, I felt that light cool breeze pass me, kissing my arms and cheeks on the way, and I almos...

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“Autumn Dreams” by Christine Goucher

Submitted to Contest #63

Someone was sitting in her chair. Sigh. She looked around trying not to get overwhelmed at now having to pick a different place to sit. She always sat there. It was this beaten up and torn vintage brown leather chair in the corner of the café with a window facing her favorite tree and near the bookshelf. Also it was perfect for people watching and she didn’t have to worry about anyone really disturbing her. Normally she came in the early mornings and would work on her writing or sketching and then read for a little bit while enjoying a coupl...

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“The coffee shops secret” by Allyssa Mina

Submitted to Contest #63

Fall is an unbeatable season. The weather cools down and everyone could enjoy without all the bugs and sweat. Autumn is also the time for fruit picking. Apples, berries, my favorite pears. It is the time when countless horror movies are released. But the remaining warmth constantly reminds us of the cold to come. The first thought that came to me was to go to Dion’s coffee shop. Hopefully, they would be preparing new autumn drinks. The doors swing open and colors of hue could be seen everywhere. Stepping on crunchy brown leaves I danced my w...

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“Dinan, a French Fairytale” by Riwa Sings

Submitted to Contest #63

Today is my seventh anniversary. Not at marriage but divorce. I look forward to this day, not because it reminds me that I hoped something better for myself but because it taught me that I needed to stop. I am sitting at a coffee shop in Dinan, Brittany which is the north of France. It's called Clafoutis and it serves the best Kouignn-Amann, a delightful mix of butter and sugar: my tertiary reason to come here. Dinan, as by locals and tourists is considered a village celebrating French fairytales unlike my failure of 'they lived together, ha...

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“Mildred's Morning Brew” by H.M. Adelaide

Submitted to Contest #63

Mildred’s Morning Brew was a welcomed new addition to the small downtown of Cherry Clove. The mild-mannered citizens of the quaint New England town had spent generations of having little more to do than go from Church, to the movies, to the bars. That was, until the opening of Mildred’s earlier in the year, which created a space for artists to display their drawings, for writers to manufacture tales for hours, for musicians to hold open mics. Most importantly a place to grab a...

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“Salted Vanilla Latte” by Jill Davies

Submitted to Contest #63

“Hi, welcome to Oceanstar Coffee. Can I interest you in one of our new fall beverages?” The overly cheerful barista wasn’t looking at Josie. She couldn’t be, because if she were looking there’s no way she could manage to be so cheerful.Josie wasn’t crying—not yet, anyway. But she was clearly very unhappy.“It’s 90 degrees outside. It’s not fall,” Josie said.“It’s September 1st. September is the first month of fall!” The barista replied. Clearly, she had absolutely zero situational awareness. Or maybe she didn’t want Josie to be embarrassed ab...

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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.

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