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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

“Damian, the white stork and his first migration. ” by Rashid Hamza

Submitted to Contest #63

Damian, the white stork and his first migration.In a Polish village, on a clear and beautiful Spring morning, two young girls are gazing out of their window from the eleventh floor when they notice a big nest built by a pair of white storks on top of a sycamore tree down below, not far from their building. They are pleasantly surprised when they see four small chicks in the nest, waiting for their parents to come feed them. The girls know that the chicks make a mew sound to beg for food and that's what they must be doing. The girls quickly g...

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“The song of rain” by Sagarika Jamadade

Submitted to Contest #63

“Raging inside, the heartbeats of the racers are constantly increasing. Sky-rocketing at some instances, all racers are ready in position. Their eventual and sudden jerks of head, glancing at each other, shows their dedication and desperation.” screeching with utter energy, an old owl commenced the race of annual birds meet. “ Three, two ,one...Go...Go...Go.” there were sudden hoots from everywhere. All the birds started shouting, encouraging every racer to put up a entertaining race. Not seeming like it , yet i (a beautiful song bird, as ...

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“Robyn and Robelius Head South” by Melissa M.

Submitted to Contest #63

Robyn shivered. The skies were gloomy and scattered with migratory birds. "Robelius, it's time. Time to head South." Robelius was her son, a red-breasted, hard-headed fellow. "Now? I've got a nice juicy one." Or that's what Robyn thought he said, but it was hard to tell when his mouth was full. "We must go, or we could die." "Aw, what do you know?" he scoffed, squinting down at the dirt. "It's built-in knowledge from our Ancient Lord." Robelius put his ear to the ground. "There's another worm right under here!" "But Robelius...they ...

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“THE PEREGRINATOR” by Sukanya Sampath

Submitted to Contest #63

I take one last look back at "our scrape" as I realize our clutch of three eggs are lost yet once again. I vividly remember the two of the thin shelled fragile red tinged buff coloured eggs crushing against the breast of my mate as she tried to incubate them. We have had the pleasure of raising fledglings previously but these times are hard. The third egg had given me hope in the beginning later was overcome by fear. Twenty eight, Twenty nine, thirty, thirty one, thirty two, thirty three - I was counting the days since we had almost reached ...

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“The Southerner” by Jill Noelle

Submitted to Contest #63

Ah! It is my favorite time of the year again. I have so longed for the days to fly back to the south, back to my home. I love to feel the wind beneath my wings as I glide through the endless sky. Nothing can stop me. I can float or fly or freely fumble and frolic about the sky. Nothing can slow me down, and I am perfectly free. At least, that is how I feel in the fleeting moment, and who is to tell me otherwise? The exhilaration overcomes my fears, and I am the most glorious being alive. I am on a joyous journey to my favorite place. I am on...

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“Finding Apples” by Vivian Huang

Submitted to Contest #63

Alex had never felt more awkward in his whole life. The red of the apples hanging on the trees around him could not compare to the red coloring Alex’s usual pale skin. From his forehead to his nose to his ears, it was all tinged red at the sight of his former best friend. Dean, the cause of Alex’s awkwardness, was smiling at ease as he talked to the little girl next to him, who Alex presumed to be his daughter, and was later proven correct when after the little girl ran off to pick the apples waiting for her, a woman went up to Dea...

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“The Apple Orchard” by Jon Robles

Submitted to Contest #63

Today was the day I looked so forward to. After weeks and weeks of hot, dry weather and smoky, acrid air due to the wildfires around me, fall had finally arrived. That meant picking apples, one of my favorite pastimes, and making apple cider out of them. This wasn’t any kind of apple cider. See, I make two kinds: one for the kids and one for the adults that contains slightly more alcohol content than a typical bottle of wine. On this particular day, the previous day’s rain cleared the sky. In its place were scattered gray clouds that dott...

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“I Hate Apples” by Gary Crawford

Submitted to Contest #63

I HATE APPLES I’ve been out of the dating game for so long, I had no idea how it worked anymore. I was surprised she asked me out. I hope this doesn’t turn into my turning into some kind of klutz she wouldn’t want a second date with. I can get frazzled when I’m around women, especially ones I don’t really know. The only time I ever had a real relationship was after knowing a girl a long time. Like with my sister’s best friend, we knew each other for years and I was comfortable around her. So when we started going out, first to the movies o...

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“Picky ” by Isobel Juno

Submitted to Contest #63

The wind blew strongly making few leaves fall from time and time, even though the whistle of it was loud June could still hear running footsteps closeby on the field. "April, quit it out" she exclaimed in annoyance, April's giggle could be heard "Mom is going to get us in trouble" she looked between trees trying to spot her. "Can you stop joking around and help me already?" she groaned. April hidden behind the trunk of a tree watches June, quietly. She was quite short but was good at climbing, so she grabs branches and with all her strength ...

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“Changing Colors” by R. A. Merida

Submitted to Contest #63

The leaves were changing colors once again, time leaving me. I closed the front door behind me as I stood on my front porch. The cooling breeze making its way to me playing with my dark hair. The crisp smell of fresh rain restarted my memory of a past that even I forgot. A sigh escaped my lips as I made my way to the car, my memory resurfacing as if it only just happened a few days ago.“Reena, are you ready? We’re going to be late again!”"In a minute mom!"I ran around my room looking for my bookbag. Tossing my jackets and clothes around on t...

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“The Apple Entanglement” by Silvia Skye

Submitted to Contest #63

“Come on it will be fun,” I laughed pulling my best friend along with me towards the apple orchards, they were hundreds of them with emerald green leaves and dotted with shiny red apples. Most of the trees were heavy with ripe fruit since they had just opened today most of them were untouched. He was a huge man with a shaved head and covered in tattoos. He didn’t resist my pulling knowing he was way stronger. We had been friends for a while but lately things were getting more intimate, neither of us had to...

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“Missing My Mom” by Miranda Thomas

Submitted to Contest #63

*Based On True Events* My husband and I decided to go apple picking today. I was not for the idea at first, but with kisses and hugs, I finally gave in. On the ride there, I was quiet and I noticed he kept looking at me. I couldn't help it, I was missing my mom. She just passed away a week ago. The song "You'll be in my Heart" by Phil Collins came on. I completely lost it. I couldn't stop crying. My husband tried to be sympathetic. He held my hand, his hands were warm and soft. My body felt cold and I was more depressed than ever. My mom was...

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“Destructive Distraction” by Aryan Jain

Submitted to Contest #63

“Dude. I am seriously bored now”, said Rahul who was trying to kill a mosquito. “Yeah! Man. Me too”, said Arav, who was just staring at the wall. The four friends had gathered at Rahul’s House to pass the time. But they were bored out of hell as nothing was exciting to do. “What about a game?”, asked Rohit. “See I don’t want to play any childhood games like Truth and Dare now. We are grown-ups man like we are all in our Mid 20’s”, said Parth. “Okay! What about a different game”, said Rahul. “Like what?”, asked Arav. “Mmmm…This may sound bori...

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“Fair Trade” by Damien Roberts

Submitted to Contest #63

David lent against his favourite tree in the middle of his orchard. It sat on a small hill, from which he liked to survey his young empire. With the little time he had left, David climbed the hill every day with a woven basket and spent the afternoon picking apples, starting at his favourite tree. It felt like a natural way for his life to end and it contented him. He figured that content was the best he could hope for. When he bought the land ten years ago, it was the first tree he planted. He’d been apple picking with his daughter ...

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“Upstate” by Chris Riffle

Submitted to Contest #63

Steam rises from the paper cup and brings the sweet smell of cider to my nose. The warmth of the cup feels nice in the grip of my cold, hard hands. It tastes of apples and cinnamon and brown sugar. It soothes the sting in my throat and chest. I feel it warming my belly my legs my toes. She said she’d be here 20 minutes ago. We met on a dating app. 8 million people in New York City and I had to meet someone over the phone. It’s been normalized, though I still feel weird about it. I wonder what my dating life would have been like in the fift...

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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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