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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

“Welcome Home” by Laura Wang

Submitted to Contest #63

We always pick the green apples first. We go out of the cottage together with our rough straw woven baskets. Most of the straw has already loosened and is falling off, and the handle has already thinned so much that it rubs lines in my hand whenever I carry it.All of the straw has changed colour, from light gold to caramel brown, and at the edges of the basket, the edges that have been bumped and hit against stones and tree bark for as long as I can remember, dark brown spots have appeared.We walk and into our garden. The green apples a...

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“Gravity and Apples” by Nurul FA

Submitted to Contest #63

What happens if the earth has no gravity at all? Are we going to float and do our activity in the sky? It gonna be fun. Violet is in her class today, a physics class with a teacher who is explaining the force of gravity according to Newton's laws. She is trying to stay awake after a night of finishing her work. Violet made extra money by selling her writing to the newspaper under the alias Purple Sky. Not much different from the meaning of her name."I assign you to study Newton's laws in groups of two. Do you want to be randomly divided...

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“Oops” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #63

Phillipa and Roy whizzed on their way to this weekend date event: apple orchard adventure. As if they starred in a reality programme, each Saturday and Sunday involved their car, credit cards, and a plethora of social media documentation. Once acclamation rushed in from their legion of nameless fans. With the music floating out of their convertible coupe, two travel mugs full of soy lattes, and Phillipa's golden tresses protected from the wind's fingers in her Hermes scarf, how perfect this morning began. Blossoms Vineyard signage raised the...

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“Hallucinations ” by Matt Render

Submitted to Contest #63

Apparently, Michael was seeing things. At least, that was one of the many rumours about him going around Cloverlawn Collegiate. One student’s mother, who had a psychology degree, informed him that Michael had taken so much LSD, he suffered a mental lapse and had experienced hallucinations and severe delusions ever since. Another person heard that Michael had attempted suicide, and then prescribed mood stabilizers so heavy that he had lost grips with reality. Some blamed his parents who were both big city lawyers and p...

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“"Empire Apple"” by Juliana Cooper

Submitted to Contest #63

Nostalgia. Jumping on my trampoline in my backyard left me feeling nostalgic. I felt like a child again. No worries. Just jumping and laughing to myself. It sounds sad and even lonely but it really wasn't for the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable being by myself. Moving is a scary thing to do, especially when you have nobody to comfort you physically. Sure, I have my parents but that's it. My brothers are already gone and moved out. I don't have someone who will be there with me and who understands the pain of being the new kid....

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“The Apple of My Eye” by Lisa Hills

Submitted to Contest #63

Guo groaned and rolled over on his bed, one arm flailing through the air, trying to find the annoying source of sound that had awoken him from his much-needed sleep. His hand slapped the empty nightstand surface a few times before landing on his buzzing phone. Guo squinted, staring at the caller ID on his cracked screen.It read: pIng 😜🍎He groaned. Guo wasn't ready for this this early in the morning.Despite his exhaustion and annoyance protesting at him, Guo tapped the green answer button."Guo! You answered! Took ya long enough!" Ping's bubbl...

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“Bitter Suite” by L.B Rinker

Submitted to Contest #63

A blue convertible cruises down the interstate. Beer cans tied to the bumper rattle wildly together in the wind. The “Just Married” bannister that had once been taped to the rear windshield was in a ditch somewhere between the car, and the fifty miles of road behind it. Inside the car the newly-weds, Ashlynn and Robert, sing along to the radio, still wearing their tuxedo and gown. “WHERE ARE WE GOING?!” Ashlynn demands. “I’m your WIFE now! You have to tell me EVERYTHING!” She insists playfully. Robert smiles and shakes his head, not taking h...

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“How do you like them apples” by Jose Gonzalez

Submitted to Contest #63

Henry gold got the call two weeks ago from his friend Aladdin ferrari. He was glad to hear from his friend. He had not seen his friend for a while. I have not seen you in a week or two let's do something together i need to have some fun, we have wasted the summer let it go completely to waste. We didnt so anything. That is a shame. We have to do something for the fall. We cant do nothing. We have to do Something together, something we can remember forever. Henry couldn't agree more but he didnt have any clue as to what could be done during q...

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“Trees and their apples” by Joey Sakowicz

Submitted to Contest #63

It was a crisp afternoon in September. Gabriella was busy at work at her clinic, when all of a sudden a person walked in. Normally, this wouldn’t surprise her. Many people walk in all the time, but this person was different. Their hazel eyes sparkled, looking directly at her. Their black hair shone under the fluorescent lights. She looked down shyly, trying to get back to work. “Hey Gabriella” they said, pushing their hair back. “H-hi..” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear, wondering how ...

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“Apples to Apples” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #63

Dana and Dale were good friends. They had to be, because they were going apple-picking in Maine. It’s not a good idea to pick apples if you’re not friends with the other person or they’re not family. Don’t ask why. This is experience talking. Anyway, the two friends mentioned above are in the car, heading to one of the many orchards in the state, and they got to discussing all types of apples, in Maine. It would help readers to know a little about the size of the state, the Mainer mindset, and the condition of the roads, but that all...

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“"A Day Like No Other." : A Greenbo Jenkins Esq Tale” by GREENDOODLISM .

Submitted to Contest #63

Her heartbeat went up a notch. She took her first tentative yet defiant steps. Together they marched across the perfect meadow, heading towards the fenced off orchard. The power of her excitement bowled over her trepidation and revived her undaunted spirit. Words started pouring out."So this fruit garden you're taking me to, why aren't we allowed to go there? Is it something we should be worried about? Your sure he won't mind? You know it's funny, but I feel fine about this, even though it isn't exactly permitted... Tell me again why we're d...

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“Apple Bee” by Vanessa Kilmer

Submitted to Contest #63

“I was mad to agree to this, Maddy,” said Aldrin. “Apple picking. Christ, if you want apples, I can get them from a roadside stand, and we can go to a club.” He drove their BMW i8 up the farm path towards the orchard. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “Look at this dust. The car’s filthy.” Maddy glanced at Aldrin. She ran her fingers along his bottle, tanned arm. “I thought we could spend some quality time together, you and me, out in the sunshine.” She brushed his sable brown hair from his forehead. “I miss you.” He pulled he...

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“Red, Yellow and Blue--Not a Fall Color” by Christine Hungerford

Submitted to Contest #63

We hurtled ourselves from the minivan to the groves of apples glistening in the bright sun. My younger sister, Rabbit, sprinted behind me as I beckoned her to hurry up. While she stopped just short of me, I saw a really juicy apple I thought would be great for the apple pie I was making tonight for one of our relative’s birthdays. I plucked it and held it down for Rabbit to examine. She looked at it and smiled up at me. &nbs...

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“Our Apple Tree” by Carlos Mendoza

Submitted to Contest #63

A small girl clings to a wall at her elementary school, a couple of her fingers play with a hole in her sweater. She watches a group of boys run by, her leg twitches as if it had a mind of its own. Her eyes jump up and down with the girls playing hopscotch. Thick red and yellow leaves camouflaged the playground. The boys use them as masks, and planes. Meanwhile, the girls cover them with piles of woodchips, serving them as pancakes or a chocolate cake. The little girl felt a plate of warm scrambled eggs in front her face . Boys and girls swi...

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“How Fall Taste” by Skyla Abrams

Submitted to Contest #63

"I am so excited Jordyn," I spoke so eagerly with my sister as I reached my hand to the door handle. I could already smell the new recipes of what was freshly baked this morning. However, today I was not here today for the shops cookies and cakes. I was here for their new line of drinks. This was my only afternoon off and my only chance to visit The Mad Hatter. My sister was less excited about the drinks than I was. She was more interested in the girl who made them. I don't care That I get to be a third wheel. It is fun sometimes. My sister ...

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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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