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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 Cloud Factory” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #63

Joe and Bobby have survived ten apocalypses, four armageddons and global decimation before coming unstuck. “All right, that’s enough of your nonsense...” “Mam!” “Enough!” She says, yanking out the power cable. “You can both go outside into the real world and get some fresh air.” “What the…!” “That’s so unfair!” “You’ve spent the entire half-term holiday killing zombies.” “But, Mam, it’s all cold and foggy out there.”Jo...

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“The Sun” by Grace Reardon

Submitted to Contest #63

She owned her late father's bookstore. The walls were packed with books, ancient she calls them. They were always old and dusty, but today she cleaned nearly every one. He was going to visit. Him. She knew this man since college. His stunning dark hair and blue eyes, his steady demeanor, and that deep voice of his exceeded the expectations of her wildest dreams. He often came to the bookstore to pick out a new book, unlike any other he always chose the oldest, the longest, the hardest to read. She liked to read short stories, often fairy tal...

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“A Golden Apple” by Echo Sundar

Submitted to Contest #63

RING RING. My phone buzzed, vibrating urgently in my coat pocket. “I'm sorry.” I mumbled looking at the man next to me, but if he seemed at all annoyed he didn't show it. The cab driver definitely looked annoyed though, there was a scowl set on his thin lips and his eyes narrowed, but I ignored him. It's not like there was a rule about calling etiquette when you're in a cab, he just had to suck it up. I fished the phone from my pocket and picked up. “Hello?” I asked. “Olivia!” A man exclaimed from the other line and I tried my best not to h...

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“Simple Apple Picking” by Bailey D.

Submitted to Contest #63

Our story starts on October 13, when I was sitting on the couch in the family room, scrolling through the upcoming events for ASPCA. Fritz (my dog) was laying on my feet, snoring softly. My little brother Tyler was playing on his Nintendo Switch on the opposite side of the couch. I was just about to sign up for the upcoming merchandise sale event when my best friend Hailey’s face popped up on my phone. Of course, she would call me when I just wanted a lazy day at home with Fritz. Reluctantly, I swiped the button and put the phone to my ear. ...

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“Changing Seasons” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire.Hues of yellows, from the soft sunlight that grazed the wheat fields to the blazing petals of the daffodils in the garden.Oranges that matched the thriving pumpkins growing next to the house; the sunrises painted behind the mountains; the flames I stoked in the fireplace every night of the past week.And reds, my favorite. Red like the apples I carve for my pies. Red like hummingbirds that stick their beaks in the sugary water of feeders hanging from trees.Red like Lewis’s favorite flanne...

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“Veiled in Red” by Molly Leasure

Submitted to Contest #63

Harriet Plumb had thirteen brothers, three of which sold her soul to the devil. Four ailed from scarlet fever. And five perished in the Civil War. Just one survived Richmond unscathed—then happened upon a wayward siren. Whether or not he remains is a tale for another time. For you see, our heroine endured a most disagreeable journey. And that’s where we should be.~As ugly a crumb as dear Harriet was, there was but one demon who adored her. A demon whose feelings she did not requite. It may have been Pitheous’s metaphysical form or his s...

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“Language Barrier” by Mek R

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #63

They drove mostly in silence. Day 2 of being married. Day 3 of having to communicate without an interpreter. The quiet seemed easier than trying to communicate; so she drove and he looked out the window at the orange, red, and gold covering the trees like a cloak.A few minutes from their destination, she tried, “Almost there!” She kept her tone bright. He turned his head to look at her, at first with a blank expression. Seeing the smile on her face, he mirrored it with his own forced smile. “Yes,” he said in his native tongue, but they both ...

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“The Drinks Of The Fall” by Bareera Samra

Submitted to Contest #63

The door slid open and a gust of wind blew in. Almost immediately, I looked up from the counter to see a middle-aged man entering the café, his eyes trying hard to adjust in this environment. I was surprised. Our café was the most suitable and perfect for having morning tea or evening coffee. Our lights were the most appropriate according to the time of the day, bright yellow in the morning, light blue in the evening. Right now our café was blinking yellow, plus the sunshine shining on our glass door. Frowning, I bent back to mixing differen...

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“A Love Letter to Myself ” by Arianna Noelle

Submitted to Contest #63

“By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Flames were all around us now, burning in such an inviting way that I stepped toward them without thinking, completely in awe with their glow. Just as I got close enough to feel the heat licking the soles of my shoes, someone grabbed my arm. As my unidentified savior pulled me back to safety, cursing me all the while for being so stupid, I was struck by a strange nostalgia for something (or someone) I always wanted but never got to have. That voice, I thought. God, that voice. I turn a...

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“SWEET AND SOUR” by Rinky Lotia

Submitted to Contest #63

The beauty of the serene environment that surrounded me, the long, shadow-casting woods that lead up to the orchids and gardens were like a stairway to heaven. Soft breeze blowing right there across my face, touching it and I felt as if my mother was patting my cheeks lightly. The sound of waves of dry maple leaves getting crushed under my feet with every little step I take made me feel like dancing on them just so to make some music out of it. I was awed by the beauty of what was surrounding me even though I witnessed it daily. My woolen ha...

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“Imposter” by L M

Submitted to Contest #63

The mysterious young woman ambled into the quaint coffee shop, shades and a wavy balayage bob framed her face. Something about her commanded attention, yet she also blended in with the crowd of others nearby. The woman wore a beige trench coat dress and black leggings underneath, high heeled boots, and a watch. This was clearly a woman of business. Patiently, she waited in the line to order and finally relax in the coffee shop. An array of book shelves, tables and chairs, autumn decorations, the view of sunset colored leaves outside the wind...

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“Apples and Cinnamon” by Jane Lansing

Submitted to Contest #63

I wrap myself in a warm sweater. It’s October 3rd 2018. The house has felt empty and cold for exactly ten years. Ten years ago my mother left my father. I had just turned six and I barely remember my mother at all. But I do remember the smell of cinnamon. As a kid I had loved everything about cinnamon. Its deep rich smell, it's earthy color, and it's sharp taste. It was what my mother smelled like. Ever since she left my father has become non-existant. The smell of cinnamon had been scrubbed out from every floorboard and every pillow and eve...

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“🍎 Attracted2Apples Picking 🍎” by Manju Ladhar

Submitted to Contest #63

Basking in the sun, looking at sister’s kid playing and Looking at Apple tree growing in backyard gives so much relief to mind. It’s the centre of attraction of backyard for many years, to sit under this big apple tree, Beauty of tree is like a human life that grows fruits and give shade to others as token of their love, when colour of apples turn from green to red with increase in density of apples on tree with every passing day made me and my sister so much tempted and wait for apples to ripe and make jars of apples jam but winters around ...

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“The Lesson of Impermenance” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The grass hissed and gave way to smoke underneath the flicker of a flame danced across them, setting them alight with but a little bit of coaxing. Most of the grass underneath was no longer the vibrant, lush green associated with summer. Instead, it had faded to a dark green mixed in with dead grass and orange-brown leaves. Now, over a quarter of the lawn was blackened. I flicked up my gaze to two boys, mischievous grins plastered on their faces. One was tiny, obviously younger,...

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“I Found Something in the Blue Hills” by L Killorin

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Soft grey smoke curled under my feet, and the cracks and pops of the catching flames covered the sound of my footsteps. Fire licked at my ankles, but did not burn. “It’s smoky, I know,” he said hastily. He shoved his hands in the deep, paint-stained pockets of his cardigan. “I tried to leave the smoke out, but —“ “Emiel,” I interrupted. “It’s beautiful. I mean it. The smoke doesn’t burn at all.” To demonstrate, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. There was smoke, but it didn’t catc...

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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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