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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

“One mind, different people” by Neelab Karimi

Submitted to Contest #63

POV: Girl: Autumn is a hit or miss. I can never tell whether I hate it or love it. In my case, as I grew older I progressively started to dislike fall. For starters the climate is numbing, the weather is already a reason to dislike the season. As time progresses it becomes unbearable for me to take a step outside. Although the color change of the leaves and the migration of animals is an enticing glimpse, it draws you away. Fall leads to the beginning of school, and work for some. Holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving are the only days th...

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“Apple picking with Grandma” by Tara Ramdhan

Submitted to Contest #63

Finally, it's the last week of September grandma and I look forward to apple picking every year on September 22nd I look forward to apple picking just to spend time with Grandma.my grandma is already 70 years old but you wouldn't know that just by looking at her she looks and acts at least 60 year's old. So every year grandma rides her blue 1930 Packard just to pick me up at the same time 10 a.m. I jump right into the front seat and hug my grandma because I'm so happy just to see her so energetic and happy every year my grandma and I put on ...

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“Apple Picking” by Josephine Andersen

Submitted to Contest #63

Apple Picking Annie picked up the phone, “Hello! Annie here.” “Hi there!” It was Ivan’s voice, which in spite of everything, sent a tingle down her spine. “Would you like to go apple picking? It is good weather for a run along the coast and it should only take an hour to get there. We can stop half way somewhere, for a picnic tea. I have a hamper from Farthings which should fill a gap.” He had chosen the one thing above all, that would entice her to accept the invitation. “Alright ,” said Annie, “but expect to carry on with the arg...

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“The Regret” by A. Sarkar

Submitted to Contest #63

The sky turned crimson indicating the arrival of fall but for the old man it was all the same. He lived in a secluded house on the skirts of the town. No one knew his name, 'the old man' that's what he was called. He has no one, no family no friends. He grows seasonal fruits and vegetables and sell them in the town's street market and during fall he would help pick apples from the apple field. It was another day for the old man as he grabbed his old ragged jute bag and sauntered to the apple field along with his Wooden cart. His life...

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“Robin Goodfellow and the Apples of Inspiration” by Ian Wilson

Submitted to Contest #63

Robin Goodfellow and Bobert sat at their usual table near the fireplace at the pub, as they usually did this time of the evening. The fire crackled softly, the air was filled with the smell of food and pipe-smoke, and the sounds of laughter and singing.The master thief and his apprentice were waiting for a client who, according to Bobert, would pay quite a bit of money. “Where’s this so-called high-profile client, Bobert?” said Robin, lighting his pipe. “He’s coming eventually,” said Robin. “I’m beginning to wonder if he exist...

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“The Age of Blood” by Dominik Sorensen

Submitted to Contest #63

“Do you think father will return from the wars anytime soon?” Alice asked. She was young and naïve, only four years younger than Kross. Even so, thirteen and nine were far different in maturity. He was the man of the house and had to take care of his sister and mother while his father was gone. It was his duty. “I don’t know. He’ll do what has to be done to feed us, and will return when the king sees fit and wills it to be so,” he said. “But the king is mean and hurts people just for fun, that’s what mother says. She said he hurt he...

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“Just Apple Picking” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #63

Just Apple Picking Suzanne Marsh I should have titled this Lucy and Ethel pick apples, it is that sort of a story. My neighbor Sandy, was the type who was always talking about natural and organic vegetables and fruit. How delicious home grown items were. She, was always sending over samples. Tomato sauce that she canned or green beans fresh from the garden. She texted me one morning: “Hey, how would you like to go picking apples? There is an add in paper for Apple Granny's Barn in Middleport. It will be fun. Be ready at ten” I texted back:...

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“Orchard of Osiris” by JJ Kirkpatrick

Submitted to Contest #63

It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment. I’m standing on a hill at the most majestic apple orchard you’ve ever seen. The trees rise so high and it seems like there are thousands of them, all in perfect green rows. I haven’t done this since I was a little boy, and twenty some year later it feels very different. Almost important. Who could have guessed something this simple could be so divine? Jess is here with me. She has never looked more beautiful or at peace. The light bouncing through her brown curl...

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“Love Behind the Darkness” by Vince Balisi

Submitted to Contest #63

It was a sunny morning when Trevor came to his favorite hill with an apple tree at the top. When he picked his apple, he realized that someone picked an apple first and when he looked behind the tree, there's a girl named Alicia. Alicia seems to be so beautiful yet there are so many scars on her body, her eyes are covered with darkness. "You know this view is really iconic" Trevor said. "I wish I can see this view like how people appreciate the beauty of this place", Alicia responded. The girl became blind because she don't want to see her F...

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“Pink Lady ” by Sophia Sackey

Submitted to Contest #63

It is always so oxymoronic in autumn. Leaves on trees bright green and their brothers and sisters fiery orange, scattered on the cold wet floors.I love autumn; the weather is not too cold and the outfits are so cute and comfy.There isn’t much to do in our little town. I live in a small town just outside London. I live with my parents and my sisters. I love them all dearly but sometimes I just need to get away.My favourite thing to do is go apple picking. It is great at this time of year. They are at their ripest. The bright greens and golde...

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“Forbidden Fruit” by Tom Williams

Submitted to Contest #63

As an apple, I had always wanted to be eaten. It was as much a part of me as my stem was. Or my peel. Or my core. You could say wanting to be eaten was in my blood, or whatever the apple version of blood was. Juice, I suppose. Wanting to be eaten was in my juice. I had been hanging for many days in the great wild garden that was my home, alone but by no means lonely, ripe and waiting to be plucked and devoured, when I heard two voices break through the surrounding foliage. Here we go, I thought to myself. Showtime. From the winding ...

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“Apple Cider” by Sydney Jensen

Submitted to Contest #63

“This is lame,” Emily grumbled, trailing slightly behind Olivia as they walked. She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her yellow sweatshirt. Olivia rolled her eyes. She was trying to be patient with her new step-sister, but she was pushing her buttons today. “Seriously lame.” “Okay, I get it. But homemade apple cider is part of our Halloween tradition.” “But why can’t you just get it at the store?” “Because, one, homemade tastes better, and two, it’s the experience of making it together. All of us.” “You guys have s...

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“The Apple Pickers And The Two Werewolves.” by Kaylin Carpenter

Submitted to Contest #63

One day Sally and her friend Molly were at school. They were planning to have a sleep over with each other at Sally’s house. Sally lives on a haunted farm. Sally told Molly that she was hearing noises coming from the barn the other day. Molly suggested that they should check it out. After school Molly went to her house and Sally went to her farm. Sally lived with her grandparents on the farm. They always seemed very sketchy and they acted like they were hiding something. The next day they both went to school. After school Molly went over to ...

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“The Delicate Restoration of Hope” by Susannah Webster

Submitted to Contest #63

The anxious tapping of Allie’s foot was the only nearby sound, hindered only by distant suburban traffic. The rhythm of her pounding heart was out of sync with that of her shoe, and so was born a jagged and adrenaline-fuelled song. A new twinge of pain struck her nerves as the old image of a blonde teenage boy flickered in her mind, but it was immediately pushed away. Today is for me, not Rylan, she told herself. A new day. Just as it had many times before, Allie’s head snapped toward the end of the street as a small black car’s engine purr...

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“A Bushel and a Peck” by Nathan Clift

Submitted to Contest #63

Today is the day that Kyle would have to man up and do what men for thousands of generations had to do. He would have to do what men一real, true, manly men一 have gone to war for. He would have to face his fears and slay the beast. It would take all of his courage, but he will do what he has to do to do the impossible: go on a date. To the normal person, this would be fine. This would be an everyday occurrence. Heck, this wouldn’t even be an issue. However, this is Kyle’s FIRST date. Not his first date ever, but his first date since th...

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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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