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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

“"Sirius": Southern Star Of Survival” by Aakriti Anil

Submitted to Contest #63

"Sky in the south holding Sirius among; The Sirius Will guide you your course of action through the light in the winter twilight".The only reminder was pattering inside my mind. The whole flight had turned to undesirable nightmare. But I decided to not lose any hope and have to complete this do and die journey with my family along with stranger pals, which we were facing in equal wings.In the long run of early November winter. I, "Doiro" a Ruddy-Duck was part of one of the flocks to fly south in search of star of survival. By leaving our hom...

14 comments 14
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“All the Voices” by Kaylee Tinsley

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I step outside, the leaves are on fire. Panting, I run straight past the pile of leaves that had, only moments before, been a symbol of fall and new beginnings.   I run straight past the hot dog cart that has been there ever since I can remember. My mom used to bring me here as a kid. We were happy then- but that was before. Now, in place of the friendly older man who promises a smile with every sale, there is a monster with his sharp teeth bared and claws poised to attack.  Where are you going? I’m here to help yo...

75 comments 75
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“Autumnal Delights!” by P. Jean

Submitted to Contest #63

(Set your story in a coffee shop that’s just introduced a new line of autumnal drinks.)I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to introduce new products, innovations or just to change up a few things to keep from getting stale but it is mostly a fifty fifty battle.  You have the regular clients who know exactly what they want, they want it now and then they are off to the next thing they know for sure. Cut and dried, solid cookie cutter clients.The other half are either new to your shop and peer at the overhead menu like it is writt...

0 comments 0
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“Safe Place” by Daniel Munoz

Submitted to Contest #63

As I closed the door, the first thing I saw in the room I had just stepped into was a sign with the words Safe Place.- I chose the right place - I thought, my heart still pounding a hundred miles an hour.The second thing I noticed was the cozy scent of autumn - cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice. I closed my eyes, let my mind be transported back to happy memories, and felt like I had just woken up to escape from a bad dream into the safety of a warm bed.The air had also the strong aroma of coffee, and I turned around to confirm that I was ...

6 comments 6
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“Sparrow's Flight” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #63

Sparrow wept as she soared away from Cottonwood. The image of his drooping branches seared into her mind, and she fought a sob rising in her chest. A few of his leaves had fluttered to the ground, staining the dusting of snow in spots of yellow and orange.The honking from the street dulled as she flew higher and higher among the skyscrapers, but she didn’t notice. She thought about Cottonwood, rooted to his small patch of grass among the buildings, a flash of light in the dark, dull gray that seemed to settle over the city even in the summer...

13 comments 13
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“Ghosts and Falling Leaves” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire.I felt it as soon as I awoke. The subtle shift in the air, the sudden surge of life’s busy bustling, the quickening of the sun rising in the east, as night-time tried to steal the day from the sun’s golden fingertips.Autumn was here.I breathed deeply, feeling the faint chill that touched the air and the smell of sickly-sweet, damp earth and everything being overripe.I had chosen this spot specifically for the great trees that towered above my small little cabin. In the autumn, their leav...

5 comments 5
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“AppleHound Farms” by Pratheeksha R

Submitted to Contest #63

It was a busy day at the Fox Studios; and yet the employees looked forward to it. The interviewers, cameraman, technicians, all were in anticipation of the interview of the owners of AppleHound farm & products - most popular in Northern America. Their ciders, pie, juices, jams sold in millions. There was just something about their product as opposed to the others.  The interview was scheduled to go live in an hour and the founders - Arden Wilson & Mabel Wilson reported to the office. They were elegant siblings in their middle ...

10 comments 10
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“A Jack O Lantern With A White Beard!” by P. Jean

Submitted to Contest #63

(Write about a character making fall decorations out of construction paper.)Sally sat at her desk, her elbows firmly set so her chin could rest on her balled up fists. She was annoyed enough she was almost angry but Sally wasn’t supposed to get that kind of angry. Her dad always told her that anger can be very destructive unless it is anger over a just cause, like someone pulling a dogs ears, stuff like that. Her parents tolerated very little anger in their home. Everyone talked about fairness and kindness and being good ...

5 comments 5
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“Appledeath” by Ari .

Submitted to Contest #63

“You’re wearing the sheet.” “For the last time, I am not wearing the sheet!” Cassian crossed his arms over his Guns N’ Roses shirt, floating beside the apple tree. His heavy sigh blew a strand of white hair out of his translucent face. Santi scrabbled up the bark like a squirrel. “C’mon, the ghost in the sheet’s a classic.” He popped his head through the tree, inches away from her face. “Doesn’t anyone have any respect for the dead these days?” “Pssssh. You are such a boomer.” “Don’t call me that! I was born&nbs...

10 comments 10
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“Autumn's Wish” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #63

 It is not like I’d always wanted to break the rules of the universe. It’s just my job to grant wishes. But I tell you, I don’t just grant every wish. I also choose, alright. And it’s not easy. No, it’s never easy. I get various kinds of wishes from money to the moon and thought I wouldn’t be surprised anymore. But yesterday’s wish came as odd yet very interesting.   Aki sits two tables away from me. Her hair is in a messy bun, jet-black as she wished. Her hooded eyes hide under thick eyelashes, towered by evenly thick eyebr...

11 comments 11
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“Decorative Dog Food” by Mandy Fernandez

Submitted to Contest #63

“Victoria said she didn’t want a pumpkin-themed toothbrush cup holder,” Molly, eight-years old, said in a disappointed tone to her mother. “Well I want one,” said her mom. “And dad will want one too.” Mom tried to cheer her up. Molly had become the crafting queen in the Dyson family. Her parents, Tara and Mark, had arranged a crafting desk for Molly. The desk now had items spilling onto the floor. Tara could walk anywhere in the house and find remnants of Molly’s craft projects – tiny, torn pieces of construction paper in every color...

9 comments 9
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“Migration Mandate” by Mark D

Submitted to Contest #63

Migration Mandate It was a cool evening in September as a group of Downy Woodpeckers gathered to hear the latest migratory recommendations from the WHO - the Winged Health Organization.  Dr. Anthony Fowli, a white-tailed Grey Goose, head of the WHO, appeared on the television screen to make his announcement: “The Human Virus 19 has infected over 3 million birds across the world claiming over 500,000 lives to this point.  The elderly birds aged 5 years and older continue to be the most at risk, particularly those with underlying...

15 comments 15
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“Gardening in Hell” by Spencer Steeves

Submitted to Contest #63

Gardening In Hell By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. "Ugh, I overslept again," I muttered to myself, walking along the winding, uneven path that led from my house towards the flower beds I maintained in my free time. The fires only started at half-past noon, never a moment later. If it wasn't for these trees' punctual and practical design, nobody would ever know what time it was in the Aboveworld. Though, to be fair, I couldn't fathom why anybody would need that particular information. I raised my eyes to ...

9 comments 9
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“Running towards the past” by Tanisha Thaosen

Submitted to Contest #63

It was the fall season.The leaves were crisp orange, dry and were pelting down from trees.The air tinged with mystery.The flowers faded away as the birds stopped tweeting merrily.The clouds and the sky were a dull grey and looked thunderous as if, in a bad mood.Children were going around; preparing for trick or treat and the atmosphere was chilly as a gust of wind leapt through behind the branches. There were many people in the eateries nearby and very few people roamed outside in this chilly evening.Fires shown inside the restaurants but f...

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“Coffee is Worth a Thousand Words” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #63

The leadership, o Consorcio, of the city of Santiago de Compostela, had the grand idea of organizing a coffee competition. After all, theirs was a city of a hundred thousand residents and nearly as many students. Everybody went to a café daily, sometimes more than once. The leaders also thought in terms of tourism, even though the City of the Apostle had more than enough of them. Add to this the fact that the residents didn’t mind the entertainment such a competition would provide. They were willing to pretend for that week that they lived i...

3 comments 3
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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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