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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

“eagle” by Hunter Morrison

Submitted to Contest #63

Migrating birds Once upon a time there was an eagle that lived in a zoo that was just built around a new established city. The city was on the up and coming so many families and elderly people decided it would be a good fit for their families and futures. The eagle was known as the prized possession of the new found zoo. But little did the city know the zoo had other plans for the little national bird. The zoo had many offers for the beloved creature and they were very tempting. The zoo was trying to keep this news under the radar bu...

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“Cassias Finch's freedom” by Amy Evergarden

Submitted to Contest #63

“You know,” said the old blue jay sharing the perch with young Cassias Finch, “they envy us our freedom.” “Really?” Young Cassias Finch stopped scanning for his next spot to forage and looked at the old blue jay sharing his perch. “Yes, they have a saying—free as a bird—but they have no idea the strength it takes to fly.” The young finch regarded the old blue jay. He was still regal in the splendid deep blue of his species that Cassias had always admired. However, sitting so close he could see that there was a weariness to h...

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“The Field” by Keigh Ahr

Submitted to Contest #63

Largewings was his flock’s most powerful flyer, but even he had his limits. When his brother sped past him to take over the apex of the flock’s V, Largewings drifted back towards the western arm of the formation without protest. From his long black neck to his white chinstrap and pointed beak, Largewings was indistinguishable from the other two dozen Canada geese flying with him. His larger body, though, and broader wingspan made him stand out even when observed from the ground as he and his companions flew against the southern autumnal wi...

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“Autumnal ” by Jacelyn Herondale

Submitted to Contest #63

The court was adorned with a carpet of citrine leaves. Neither the basketball, nor Aranya’s feet missed any chance of crunching the fallen. The roads parallel were almost quiet, except those occasional motors that teleported by. Leaves often lunged for his cedar hair, but were denied stay by his consistent leaps and sprints. Aranya randomly glanced at the empty road, and saw someone crossing it, typing something on her phone. “Adhere to road safety rules, señora. The way’s not safe.” He called out. Startled, the female looked up. Hasty...

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“A Perfect Fall Memory” by Kayli Dunlap

Submitted to Contest #63

The leaves finally changed colors, yellow, orange, red, brown. The air felt cool and crisp. This season is my favorite time of the year. The weather is perfect and it’s the best time to go out and do autumn things. For instance I get to take my beautiful girl to an orchard, I know it's her favorite thing to do because she talks about it all year long. It’s my favorite thing to do with her in the fall because I love the look on her face when we get there and it takes her fifteen minutes just to pick out the perfect pumpkin for us to carve. Sh...

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“A scent of a fresh apple.” by Andrea Abear

Submitted to Contest #63

One scent can bring lots of memories.I have a few memorize scents that make me remember certain events or situations, especially in those times where I found myself walking down the busy streets of Canada.A simple scent of the strong aroma of cocoa with mallows on top, matched with a scent of fresh-baked cookies, reminds me of the days where I usually spent my afternoons inside my favorite coffee shop; scents where I always find my comfort every time I was on the edge of the oblivion. Scents where I always find my comfort and peace during th...

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“Thoughts of Cider” by Lauren Halliday

Submitted to Contest #63

A steady beat in my headphones thuds against the tune going on outside. Slow and gentle against the rush and pushes of people escaping the brisk air. Yellow leaves jumped to the still ground, singing as they went. A soft smile laid against my chapped lips. Thoughts of warm nights were ending, but that didn't bother me. Autumn was my season and was soon to be another's as well. Looking down at my plump belly and how it stretched the buttons of my coat, I chuckled to myself. The wool scarf my grandmother made me hugged me tightly. Pushing thro...

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“HALOWEEN or Thanksgiving!?” by Mahi Sharma

Submitted to Contest #63

'Tis the season to be spooky?! While many people love this season because of the beauty, honestly, my favourite part is Halloween! Life has been quite hectic and I decided to finally take a break day and visit my favourite coffee shop. It's a small cosy shop which makes me feel like I'm home. Sitting in the shop, I felt it, the sudden uneven breeze that made me shiver and was gone as quick as the wind, and that's when it hit me, Autumn was finally here! It is quite a sight to behold as swathes of green trees fade away only to be replaced by ...

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“Pumpkin Spice Latte” by Esteban Fernandes

Submitted to Contest #63

Mary’s physician’s assistant had given her a gift card because of her wellness check. It was an out of the way coffee grind located on the other side of town in the hospital, her doctor said it was great! We jumped on the city bus along with our citizens. It had been unbearably hot and humid and the local folk had dressed accordingly. I was in a Chewbacca Star Wars T-Shirt, shorts, sandals while Mary was in a short yellow mini dress with flats. Both of us sporting water bottles and sun glasses. I could see the bus coming from the east, the s...

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“The Familia” by Roxanne Rambles

Submitted to Contest #63

Chapter one – Culture Coffee The smell of pumpkin was overwhelming as Hayden sat at his usual table at Culture Coffee. He had sat at this exact table, ordering the same full fat cappuccino every morning while trying to tackle his writers block. This week Culture Coffee had brought in a new range of Autumnal drinks to bring in the Season. Pumpkin spice was heavy in the air and he wanted nothing to do with it. It was not that he disliked the taste of pumpkin, or the Halloween decorations starting to plug up every window display on ...

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“Eyes Like Coffee, Skin Like Honey” by Emily H

Submitted to Contest #63

Pumpkin spice latte. Ms. Wallace, the owner of Coffee, Coffee (very original name for a café, I'm aware) has never sold anything expect coffee, tea, and an assortment of pastries. Her cozy, quaint coffee shop was always my favorite place to be; whether that be to write, read, work, etc. No one comes here anymore, so I usually share the place with only half a dozen other regulars. I once asked the poor old woman why she never made any other drinks, or do any new marketing to try to get he...

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“The Grinder’s Café” by Laina Stanford

Submitted to Contest #63

My small-town coffee shop is on the verge of closing due to the endless pandemic lockdown. I want to support them, but they may have crossed the line with their new autumnal offerings. The Grinders Café is decorated with the usual hipster blackboard and curvy lettering. The new seasonal menu is highlighted in a special section. Someone broke out the 5 additional colors of chalk and drew a fall leaf and pumpkin border to accentuate the changes. I did not read it carefully, knowing what is likely to be there. I p...

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“Highschool Romance” by Igor Markovic

Submitted to Contest #63

"You know... Your hair looks really nice tied like that." he said, looking away. Was he blushing? "Thanks. I..." Rachel woke up abruptly as her alarm buzzed inhospitably. Lazily. she reached out, turning it off. For a second she considered going back to sleep, to relive that moment again. But she also knew what happened next. Nostalgia chased the sleepiness away. She looked at the wrapper of cinnamon bubblegum. It was amazing how that scent always brought memories back. As she finger brushed her dark brown hair she remembered a quote her g...

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“Drinks All Around” by Judith Buskohl

Submitted to Contest #63

They sat in the new coffee shop sipping at the mystery autumn drink that had come out this morning. Laughter came from the table as one of the women told about a prank that she had played on her loving husband. The women had always met at the different shops while their children were in after school activities, it was either meet once a week to enjoy each other’s company or to sit in the car to fall promptly asleep. The contest that was running at the coffee shop was to guess what the flavor of the mystery coffee was and the idea...

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“The Fall Time Barista” by CADIE MILLER

Submitted to Contest #63

Never in a million years would Willow expect a coffee shop in her small town. "No one even lives here, who would want their coffee shop HERE??" said Willow, sarcastically. She was tempted to head inside but didn't want anyone at her school to see her in public so she decided to head home. As soon as she got home, she checked the coffee shop hours on her phone. Surprisingly the shop was open till 11 PM, so she chose that she would go then. When the time came for her to get on her bike and head over, she was stopped by her alcoholic mother. Wi...

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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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