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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

“Balance” by Petra Sando

Submitted to Contest #63

His hands, flapping around uselessly on the way down the cliff face, grasped nothing but air. Finally, he perceived a sickening crack -- a sound that appeared to come from all around him, yet from deep inside -- as bone collided with age-old rock. The last neuron impulses, which flashed through Jim D. Brick's dying brain formed a single thought: Why them -- what did I ever do to them?! Heidi Brick used a template to draw another few maple leaves onto pages of orange, brown, and...

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“Smidgen Pidgeon: The Great Migration” by Christine Cassello

Submitted to Contest #63

SMIDGEN PIDGEON: THE GREAT MIGRATION Chapter One The Idea “Auburn, look! There’s food on the ground. Let’s hurry up and get some before the rest of the flock gets here.” Smidgen descended, as usual, Auburn followed her. “They won’t come,” he told her as they landed. “They’re all trying to stay warm and dry. "I wish I was too.” The other pigeons sat on window sills, and porch beams under roofs..They cuddled beneath bridges or ...

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“The Life of a Bird” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #63

There is a slight chill in the air, now. The time is coming to move on. The flock has been meeting in order to decide where we will migrate to this year. A decision has to be made, because the place that my flock normally migrates to has been taken away. What happened to our normal location, you may ask? Well, first of all they started cutting down all the trees that we lived in. Then they put up a large building. I think they call it a store. &nbsp...

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“Honk Honk” by Kevin Schenk

Submitted to Contest #63

The sun rises, it is time to begin the day. I clean my feathers and look out from the cliffs and see the sun dancing upon the waves. The wind is blowing a bit strong and I ruffle my feathers to clean them more thoroughly. After a stretch of my pink feet I look to my partner. We have taken care of our goslings very well, all but one perished. Three strong goslings and all male. They will find good mates and provide well for them. The one that perished fell to a fox a moon past. I still am filled with sorrow for him, he was a kind gosling to h...

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“White Owl Elementary School” by Pamela Berglund

Submitted to Contest #63

The noise of flapping wings and screeching going on in room 320 of the White Owl Elementary School was beginning to grate on Ms, Sheila Godfrey's nerves. She could feel it all the way from her maicured dark red talons to her black and cream colored feathers behind her yellow eyes. "Children, children, …. Please stop your screeching and pay attention to what I have to tell you all." With those words, the classroom went silent. The owls turned around and flew quickly to their nearest perch. They knew that failure to heed ...

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“Flowers and Feathers” by Meredith Lindsey

Submitted to Contest #63

The courthouse clock boomed twelve times, scattering the birds perched on its bricks. I joined the flapping mass of wings and allowed my gray and white feathers to blend in with the rest. The sun beat down from its arc in the sky, throwing rays of light that glistened on my companions’ coats. If I was able to smile, I would. It was noon, and that meant it was time. I let the others fly ahead of me, falling back in the ranks and eventually falling out of line completely. They didn’t spare me a second glance, knowing I had been disap...

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“Migrating Bird” by Colton Bierman

Submitted to Contest #63

In the great country of America there is an animal, that resembles the nation. This animal isn't any ordinary animal it is a bird. The national bird is known to be called Bald Eagle it was adopted as a symbol of the United States in 1782 and was chose for its majestic beauty, great strength, long life, and because it's native to North America. This bird has great instinct when it comes to survival. When it gets colder they migrate to the southern areas of the region to mate and have nesting grounds. They eat fish, insects, and other things a...

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“A Far Shore” by Bill Brooks

Submitted to Contest #63

A bitter wind whipped the marram grass and pelted Mother with sand. She closed her eyes and settled more adamantly on her nest. Winter was coming – she smelled it in the air and heard its whisper in the waves. It was nature’s announcement, a solemn promise of death and rebirth.The wind died down. She looked about for danger, then stood and stepped back. Four olive-colored eggs made a rough diamond shape within her shallow nest. Three had myriad cracks, while the fourth was pristine, which should have meant dead, only a bright red circle glow...

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“The Lone Bird” by Sreedevi Mahapatra

Submitted to Contest #63

“ Ouch ! Uncle I told you several times not to pinch me or I will complain to mom”, I shouted at my uncle who was training us how to fly. He gave a dirty crowish look and once again pinched me. “Dear mother’s pet , better do your exercise properly or next time it would be a kick on your lazy back!” He lifted his crow feet to kick me but smartly I ducked. The drill continued. “Stretch your Left wing , right wing stretch, flap, flap, fold your legs, head forward and take off”, shouting my uncle supervised a dozen ...

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“Mr robin and houses create a nights dream ” by Leanne Drain

Submitted to Contest #63

Snuggled, in the warmth of the bed. All the way down from the brittle cold ground . His colours reflecting against the trees as he smiles down at the world looking quite smug . The fact that he was in the warm made him shiver the cold breeze out as he continued to look on through the lights of the enchanted houses that draw closer home . They too are happy as they watch with interesting smiles the magical houses blind out the night and see that the little robin is smiling up at them from the far distance . As the air continues to grow thicke...

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“The End of Falling for Autumn” by Daisy Chain

Submitted to Contest #63

Red hair was only barely visible behind branches full of ripe apples and lush green leaves. "June." "June." The breeze picked up, causing Courtney to shiver. She rubbed the sleeve of her thick flannel to try and warm up. Yesterday, she swore it was summer, with the warm air and sticky afternoons to prove it. But today she felt the cold bite of Autumn in the air. It made her nervous. "Are you ignoring me now?" "I'm thinking,” came June’s reply, her voice barely audible from a few yards away. "I thought we were going to have fun to...

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“SCRUMPING” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #63

Write about two characters going apple picking. SCRUMPING “I thought you were going to get me some apples?” Abby glared at her husband. “I am, give me a chance,” Andy tutted, “Can’t you see I’m busy?” “Put your betting slips away, and get outside, find me at least thirty cookers for my pies. And I mean now!” Andy ducked as a wooden spoon skimmed his head and thudded into the television. “And don’t forget a bag to carry them in. Unlike last time. Idiot.” “Bloody women,” he breathed as he searched for his...

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“Apple Butter and Honey” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #63

“Are we there yet?” I shifted in my seat. Jones had been driving for well over an hour, and she absolutely refused to tell me where exactly we were going. “I didn’t borrow Alex’s car just to ruin the surprise. We’re close, I promise.” She smiled and looked back at the road. “You’re driving really well for someone who went nearly ten years without a license.” I froze. “Holy shit, we’re in the wilder...

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“Life beyond apples” by Teresa Sullivan

Submitted to Contest #63

“Ok, to be honest, this is like, super old fashioned.” “To be honest, I really don’t care.” “Yeah, that’s kinda obvious. Technically though, you should, because like...life.” “Life? What the heck? What does that even mean?” “If you want to get anywhere in life, then you’re going to have to be a put together person who can at least portray themselves as a normal modern human being.” “And by listening to the latest music you’re going to become the CEO of Microsoft? I don’t think so.” “Well, is apple picking going ...

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“A sweet taste of Companionship.” by Looking For Inspiration

Submitted to Contest #63

It was the beginning of October and the fall season was just beginning, and I was happy from seeing and smelling all things fall which is my favorite time of year. I was apple picking today at a local orchard and was enjoying my time in the sun there was a good group of people today just enjoying the weather and helping the orchard. One of my favorite things to do during this holiday is to learn new skills and things. So, choosing apple picking as my first activity on my list for this season was a good thing. I had just finished up another b...

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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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