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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 Fall List” by 𝕂𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕖 𝕎.

Submitted to Contest #63

As I walked out into the beautiful autumn weather, I wondered what I was going to celebrate the coming of Fall this year. Every year, from the first day of autumn to the first day of winter, I always complete a list, adding something new every year. The things I do vary. Like last year, I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (which are delicious, BTW). The year before, I attended Maple Township’s first annual Fall Festival. This is my seventh year working on my list. I wondered what new activity would happen this year as I reviewed my list me...

35 comments 35
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“A Tern for the Worse” by Andrew Krey

Submitted to Contest #63

*Author’s Note: “A Tern for the Worse” is a standalone story, set in the same universe as my other Reedsy short-stories, with overlapping characters and events.*The headwinds were getting stronger. The world was changing, and my flock was getting smaller. Each loss was a new addition to the Firebirds twinkling in the sky beyond; but I survive.Since the thunder storm that dried the rivers and lakes, life was hard. The Grounders suffered the most, and still do. The Baldies ruled the Grounders thanks to the Gift they received from their God, bu...

40 comments 40
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“Leaves on a Tree” by 💫 Sophia 💫

Submitted to Contest #63

“By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire.” Burning buildings, children's screams and smoke filled my head. I saw terrible things and all I could do was stare, I was frozen. Paralyzed even, then everything went black. I awoke to the sound of cries and realized I was strapped to a table. “What happened?” “Where am I?” As these thoughts rushed through my head I tried remembering what happened and why I was here, but couldn't. I saw someone wander past my room, looking just as confused as I. They wandered in and asked if I knew wh...

9 comments 9
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“Brewing” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #63

Esmerelda parked her broom and hopped off, running her fingers through her dark, windswept hair. Pointing her warted chin, she marched over to the front of the coffee shop where Hettie stood waiting.“Morning, Es,” said Hettie, smiling. She was bald, with skin as green as the lily pads down by the pond. She wore a black cloak with a name tag pinned over her heart. “Heard good things about this one.”“Hmph,” huffed Esmerelda. She wanted to go to the cafe on Wycamore Road, but Hettie insisted they give the new shop a chance.Hettie wagged her fin...

39 comments 39
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“The Devil's Apprentice” by JASON PARKER

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Soon, there'd be no trace of the man who'd killed me.  The old oak was Fall-dry and fixing to burn. The flames licked at its bark as though they liked the taste. I just stood there, watering the dirt with my blood, sipping Old Crow from a chipped bottle. Edward Laramy dangled like a messed-up piñata; his dead eyes open in an accusatory fashion. The rope at his throat had turned the flesh purple and burst blood vessels bloomed like flowers beneath the skin of his cheeks. The mo...

19 comments 19
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“Burn the F*cking House Down: Episode 2” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #63

“And what time is it again, Wizz?”“Coffee time?”“No, dipshit. Not yet. Way to ruin the surprise, as usual.”“Oh, is this where I’m supposed to say the title of our show? You never specify, Paul.”"We talked about this, Wizz––""You know I'm not good with this type of crap––"“Jesus. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for––““Burn the F*cking House Down!”“You have got to be kidding me.”“What? Just doing my job, Paul.”“Folks, this is what I have to deal with. Every day. Every second. What a life.”“Alright, folks, a quick announcement before we dive in...

23 comments 23
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“The Storr” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #63

This story is reminiscent of a trip I took to Scotland one year ago, where I was fortunate to hike across the Isle of Skye. It was one the most beautiful scenes I have ever witnessed, and I wanted to capture the geological aspects in this story from the north to the south of the island.Thank you to all the lovely citizens of the Isle of Skye, who befriended me and helped me along my journey.///I gaze down at the earth as my colony takes to the skies, our leader gently commanding us to gather into formation. I fall in line behind Onyx––a fami...

21 comments 21
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“Moon Dust” by Kylie Wallis

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. I snuck into my house, then went straight to my bedroom, thankful that nobody had paid me much attention. From the window, I watched the gathering of firewood in the courtyard. I pretended not to hear the enthusiastic shouting.A whole different side of my people had revealed itself, the moment those flames began to burn. Embers drifted along through the air. There had been a slight panic when a couple of the planted trees flared up.Turning away, I began to pack a small bag of essentials...

9 comments 9
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“Cyrus's Coffee Date” by Dalyane Deblois

Submitted to Contest #63

Cyrus, King of the magical hidden island of Elpida, glares at the mirror in front of him, frowning. Earlier, he asked his adviser Allan Emerson to help him get dressed for his date with Sierra. He looks definitely boring.“What’s wrong, Your Majesty? You look like a sweet pumpkin. All modern women love this look.” Allan looks at the King’s outfit with pride.“This is impossible! I look more like a fluffy pumpkin.” He designates the soft orange sweater and the simple black jeans. “And that horrible hat!” he adds. The black beanie with a pompom ...

166 comments 166
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“Apple Cinnamon Pie ” by Malz Castell

Submitted to Contest #63

“Anna, how does this one look?” Minerva said as she thrust her hands in my direction trying to show me what she was holding. “It looks amazing, all juicy and ripe,” I replied. “You should try making an Apple Cinnamon Pie. My kids love it. I add just a little bit of peanut butter to give it that creaminess. Oh wait, Craig's allergic to peanuts, right? Damn! Well anyway, Craig will still love whatever you’re going to do with it.” She didn’t answer, just shrugged and looked down at her feet, refusing to make eye contact with me. She knew that I...

8 comments 8
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“Pumpkin Spice Latte” by <inactive> .

Submitted to Contest #63

Author’s note- this was inspired from Hololive’s newest English members. Their interactions are adorable and I used the same concept of phoenix and dark angel/grim reaper apprentice. Please go check them out ^-^ Also, this is one of my longest stories ever. I’m honestly kind of proud that I hit the 1,500 mark~ Some information you’d need- this story is set in a fictional world where everyone has spirit animals. The spirit animal directly affect you, like, if yours was a phoenix, you’d have a much longer life than others, maybe even be immort...

12 comments 12
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“Cockroaches” by Amy Utami

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I step outside, the leaves were on fire. Greet me with the summer breeze of zero degrees land. This land was in its summer all the time, without ever experienced the beauty of winter. The leaves have fallen together with their dignity, imitating the autumn that they have never seen. Shannon told me that it was a sign for rain to come, with only two seasons the change often unclear. Indeed, this earth was getting older and human gets more and more greedy.A week ago, Shannon asked me to come with my passport and a bag for a week. W...

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“Miracle and Grace” by David G.

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The pre-dawn sky above Garnett Ridge flickered, casting an orange glow into the starless, smoke-filled night. I stood on dad's patio, embers racing past me like dancing pixies, hopping and twirling and twisting and pirouetting on the hot wind that whipped down the hillside into the canyon. It was oddly beautiful. Magical, even.I put out my hand for one of the larger ones, paper thin and aglow like a bioluminescent moth. It burned slightly as it settled on my palm and then went dark. I c...

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“Upside-Down” by Scout Tahoe

Submitted to Contest #63

Two people sat at a bar table in an old barn that was nicely transformed into a restaurant. Their feet were perched lazily on the two empty seats next to them and they were debating the menu. This was a challenge because they were at the Jones Apple Farm, where the orchards were arranged with diagonal lines that lead to the horizon in a way that made them dizzy. Therefore, everything on the menu was apple-themed and neither of them felt like devouring four to five apple cinnamon buns. “I know it sounds crazy,” Oscar said, gesturing with...

10 comments 10
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“Autumn Breeze Kissed My Cheeks” by Light Fury

Submitted to Contest #63

"Good morning ma'am!" the woman said as I stepped my foot inside of this café. I put my messy hair at the back of my ear as I roamed my eyes upon this place. It has vintage style with lots of books everywhere. The sits were quite unique for having a bookshelves by its side. The scent of expresso is coating my nose that makes me wanna close my eyes and feel the scenery. "Ma'am?" if it wasn't for the woman, I might had fallen into this place and stare at this all day. "What do you have?" I asked as I sat on the floor type place. It has a mini ...

18 comments 18
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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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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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