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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 weight of evidence” by Martin Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #63

The Boss didn't much like the look of either of them. The Old Man had arrived very early in the day, anxious to go cropping apples and deliver a weighty load by sundown. But The Boss had told him that it was a job for pairs and as he was alone he would have to wait for another willing hand. Grumpily, The Old Man had slouched in a corner, his huge white whiskers barely concealing a surly look which he seemed to have improved to perfection as the morning wore on. The shack was worn by time and a thousand feet and gave no comfort to the picke...

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“Sumptuous Apples” by Sarah Oakes

Submitted to Contest #63

Idunn smiled, humming a tune as she picked her apples. Being in nature always made her happy after a row with Bragi. He had stormed off, just because she had asked him to clear the kitchen table of all his scrolls. It wasn’t so unreasonable, was it? She tore the next apple off the tree a little more violently than she meant to, almost snapping the leaves. She wished things could be different. But they never would be. She tried to concentrate, taking deep breaths in and out. She stared at the tree, taking in its leaves and trunk and bark tha...

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“A Rainstorm in November” by Jessie Elke

Submitted to Contest #63

I kept my footsteps below the mumble of the apple wasps. Mulch crawled up my bare legs as I passed another row in the orchard. After dodging a tree branch I suddenly became aware of steps behind me. “Brother Thames?” “Oh! Emerson!” I said as I turned to meet his face. A stubby, freckled man looked back. “What are you doing here? This isn’t your day.” “Yes it is.” “No, it isn’t. You’re off,” Emerson said as he wrung his hands over his basket’s strap. It caused him to stupor, and yet his posture seemed suited for him. “You need to ...

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“Seasons of Change” by Vickie Culbertson

Submitted to Contest #63

SEASONS of CHANGE I visited my grandparents on an autumn day. My grandparents had a neighbor and friend by the name of Elsie Whitaker. From the time I met her, she always made me feel that what I thought and did was important. One weekend I spent on my grandparents farm she stopped by to see if they would like some golden delici...

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“We Need Apples 🍎 ” by Stephanie Mendez

Submitted to Contest #63

The sky was grey. Colorful leaves were blowing in the crisp air, gathering on the edge of the sidewalk waiting to be crushed by a child’s shoe. Many people were excited for the change of season because they were filled with that autumn spirit in which they knew it was time to go to the pumpkin patch or decorate their front porch with spooky decorations. For Sherry, it was the time of year to make her favorite pie; apple pie. She would make it every year with the help of her best friend Charlotte who ...

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“Resurgence” by Emily Sara

Submitted to Contest #63

“The weather is a bit shitty today” I said, with my forehead gently pressed against the window, listening to each drop of rain as they’re falling. I turn my head to face my boyfriend, Ray, sitting in the driver’s seat, with a smug look on his face. I keep staring while biting my lip trying to think of ways to engage him. “What?” He notices me. “Sorry, I’m driving.” He says. “You text while driving and you’re telling me you’re too focused to have a little small talk?” Bullshit. He has something else on his mind. He has become pretty distant...

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“Forbidden Fruit” by Trish Bell

Submitted to Contest #63

Cold air forcefully cleaned my lungs as I took my first deliberate breaths of the morning. My eyes slowly crept open. It was all there as I had expected. Blue sky. Bright sunshine. Bold coloured leaves. My favourite time of year was here at last. I know many hate autumn. They see it as a time of death. The anticipated fields, forests and gardens of summer alive mere months ago, now withered like the frail and sick always do at the end. Yet, this season also meant warm beds, hearty feasts and cozy times. I stretched deeply and shook myself co...

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“It’s All in the Pull” by Leigh Victoria Fisher

Submitted to Contest #63

There were few things more alluring than a warm cup of coffee in the fall when the air turned cool and the leaves turned to fiery colors. She usually insisted that coffee was a year-round delight since she was admittedly rather obsessed with the proper preparation of espresso-based drinks. As they walked into the cafe, the smell of freshly-roasted coffee beans hit her instantaneously. “This place looks nice,” her partner said. “It does,” she admitted. She eyed the menu of the coffee shop, feeling deeply apprehensive. She didn’t like th...

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“Mindy's Coffee Shop” by E Sampson

Submitted to Contest #63

The sharp, chilly winds of October wrapped around me as I approached Mindy’s Coffee Shop. Not more than a week before, I received the confirmation email that sealed the hiring process. Being just 16, this was my first job, my first source of income, my first step to the future. As a 16 year old, my job options were slightly bigger, but still limited; bagging groceries, cleaning movie theater floors, tutoring, nothing my taste. When I had heard about the arrival of Mindy’s Coffee Shop, I leapt at my chance for this job, along with many others...

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“Little coffee drinker” by Chiara Bellone

Submitted to Contest #63

I don't drink coffee. I don't like coffee, and this could be perceived as a weird but acceptable thing to not particularly like, but in my case not drinking this beverage is a sin against humanity for many reasons. I'm a white girl in her 20s and my friends always have a "coffee date", and when I politely remind them that I won't have one, a sort of pity and gross out expressions face me for few seconds, and I feel as if I was a criminal, but this is "the easy to ignore indignation" I receive on a daily bases, and it doesn't bother me anymor...

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“Red, Orange and Gold ” by Nayantara Rao

Submitted to Contest #63

The red leaves crunched beneath my feet. I could feel a slight breeze on my neck, just enough to make me regret ditching my sweatshirt in favour of a stylish short-sleeved tee. Fashion or comfort, huh? I inwardly chuckled. Shades of yellow, red and orange enveloped me, being the only colours prominent for miles and miles ahead." Looks like a thousand fires being lit at the same time", I whispered to myself. I glanced towards my bag and saw my name- Autumn- shining brightly off my identity card. I smiled. The most lovely time ...

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“THAT AROMA OF HIS LOVE....” by PRISHA SHARMA

Submitted to Contest #63

It’s a Monday afternoon. She is sitting in a lone coffee shop. It’s her down time in between classes, and she chose to subway downtown and focus on the paper that could make or break her college degree. She hears him before she sees him. The door opens. The tiny bell hung above it rings, signaling his presence. She looks up from her cappuccino and laptop at the noise and the burst of cold air coming through. She freezes and stops her work, almost spilling her drink all over her in the process. He hasn’t changed a bit. He takes off his black ...

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“Just Because of a Cup of Coffee...” by Gabriella Gu

Submitted to Contest #63

It was a breezy autumn day in Paris, France. People bustling on the streets, cars honking, birds chirping. Just a regular day. A young girl, Ava, was looking for a coffee shop to stop by. She wanted to find a peaceful place to do her homework, since she had a pop quiz the next day. Then she noticed a little coffee shop hidden in the shadows. It was almost smaller than an apartment house, and was painted a soothing brown color. Planks of wood lined the walls, and a a sweet but bitter aroma of coffee came through the windows. She could see peo...

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“Pumpkin Spice” by Cliff Henderson

Submitted to Contest #63

Teddy entered the cafe and grimaced. He didn’t like pumpkin spice, and here it was on full display. From the pumpkin-spiced lattes to the pumpkin-spiced doughnuts. He stepped to the counter and ordered green tea. It was then that he noticed his co-worker had beaten him there. Charles saw him and waved him over. Teddy let the counter person know where he’d be and joined Charles at his table. Charles rose from his seat to greet Teddy. “Hey, how’s it going? For a moment there I thought I was going to be the only one here.” “Yeah, yeah” ...

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“People Watching and Coffee” by A K

Submitted to Contest #63

I smiled uncomfortably at the woman, my palms were sweaty, and I was starting to wish that I had never seen that stupid coupon to begin with. She checked the clock for the millionth time and gave me a nervous smile. I fumbled through my purse, Where was it? I wondered if I could just leave right now, but the situation was awkward enough. Swish-Click. Another person came rushing inside the already crowded place. The barista peered over my shoulder, glancing nervously at the irritated line behind me, “Uh why don’t you go think about what you...

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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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