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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#64: Out on the Moor

This week marks 173 years since the original publication of the classic novel Jane Eyre. In the nearly two centuries since then, the novel has served as social critique, deep character study, sweeping romance, and so much more. Its atmosphere has inspired reams of Gothic literature and ghost stories, while its in-depth handling of Jane’s perspective set a whole new path for the way characters are written.

In honor of this achievement, this week’s prompts have been drawn from facets of Jane Eyre. We can’t promise that your story will be remembered for centuries — but you never know!

This week's prompts

Set your story in a Gothic manor house.

Horror – 133 stories

Write a ghost story where there’s more going on than it first appears.

Mystery – 225 stories

Write about someone who’s been sent to boarding school.

Novel – 120 stories

Write about a family attempting to hide their secrets from someone new.

Dramatic – 121 stories

Write a romance that involves one partner saving the other from a fire.

Romance – 154 stories

Stories

“The Jazeldians” by Julia Boddie

Submitted to Contest #64

We come from the country Jazeldi. Our country rose to power by violence and it was the strongest of them all. Or at least we thought.~~~~~~~~~~"Bye, we'll miss you," our neighbors called to me.My family was moving. We were tired of the violence, but sometimes violence was necessary. That's what made us the strongest. Still, we were nervous to move. We didn't know if people would approve of us, since we had Jazeldian blood. It would take two days to get to our new house. We were traveling by plane, hoping it would get us there the fastes...

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“U.S. Army Issue Brown T-Shirt” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #64

“You can’t keep me here.”“Please, Mr. Van de Kamp. Take your seat,” ordered the imperturbable headmaster, black eyes narrowing over his hawkish nose. The boy stood in his office. Out of uniform. Insolent. “You can’t keep me here—” the boy repeated.“I assure you, we can,” the headmaster flatly stated. “Your father—”“My father can eat shit and die.”“Mr. Van de Kamp, such language will not be tolerated here. You are well aware of our Code of Conduct.”“You are well aware of my Code of Condick,” said the boy, lewdly grabbing his crotch.“Mr. ...

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“Stranger Therapy” by Cam Croz

Submitted to Contest #64

Tears stream down my face as I scurry away from the small white apartment, almost tripping over my own feet. At least it was raining out, so it wasn't too obvious. Trying to stifle a loud sob, I run past mini lawns, sidewalks and parked cars. I hear voices calling out my name but I ignore them. I don't want to face the screams and disappointment again.I keep running with my head down so nobody will see my red puffy eyes or the little droplets falling from them.After running a while, I reach a more secluded area of our neighborhood. Here...

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“An Ambury Haunt” by Jessy Glazewski

Submitted to Contest #64

The glare from the sun bounced off the shattered glass of the first-floor window in fragmented beams. The late afternoon, nearly evening, breeze blew, red and brown, leaves, dead, and fallen from the autumn struck trees. Swooped in swirling patterns in front of the old Ambury House. A wheeze, resonated from within the dilapidated house as the wind blew against the broken wood siding, threatening to topple it over with every gust. The Ambury Manor House stood, corner lot, like a looming gargoyle; perched on a mound of earth protrudi...

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“Him and Her” by 𝙰𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚝 ~

Submitted to Contest #64

~Her~I walked into one of the many giant hallways, where a big banquet table was loaded with food. No one was coming to eat with me, because I lived by myself in this manor. I inherited it from my sister, who disappeared a few years ago. The manor had magnificent turrets, like an English castle. It took up a million square meters, the biggest in the world. I haven’t explored much of it, as I have heard that this place is haunted. It’s quite good for someone like me; shy, doesn’t like people, and likes having a big living space. I looked over...

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“acrobat” by Masha Kurbatova

Submitted to Contest #64

Derek is an empirical, sciency person who listens to only facts. But I guess death makes believers of us all. I thought he never listened to me either, yet certainly some things have gone through. How else would he remember where to hire a paranormal investigator? Paranormal Investigator: Where do you notice the greatest level of activity? Derek: By the closet, definitely. That’s where she kept all her paintings. (What a smart, observant boy my husband is!) PI: Are the paintings still in there? D: Yeah.&...

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“New "HOME "🏫” by ALINA Manha

Submitted to Contest #64

Dear diary,I don't know what has gotten into mom and dad. They want to send me to a boarding school. What am I supposed to do I am so scared. I don't want to leave home and go to a new place. I want to stay, I've begged mom to let me stay with them a little longer but she said she couldn't let me, because my stepfather doesn't want me staying at his house. I don't know what I am going to do, God help me!!. My mom said that I need to start packing up my stuff and get ready for leaving in 2 days. From what I have heard from my friends, boardin...

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“Familiar Faces: Part 1” by ✯𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫✯

Submitted to Contest #64

Familiar Faces: Part 1 By: Haripriya That day, it was the first time I met them. It was a cold, dark, and rainy day. I don’t remember, but from all the stories I keep hearing about me, that’s what they all mentioned. They were kind enough to take care of me, to adopt me, when no one else was willing to. My mother and father already had a child before adopting me. Back then, when I was 2 years old, he was 6. Now, I am turning 9 and he is turning 13. Even after all these years, they still care about me and don’t t...

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“The Secret Room” by Julia Boddie

Submitted to Contest #64

They were at war. The king, the princess, the villagers, the guards. No one expected this madness to come. King Ghas had always been a good king. ~~~~~~~~~~ Zephera heard gunshots from behind her. She hoped the soldiers wouldn’t find her. If they did, it would be all over. Everything she and her uncle worked for. The villagers deserved freedom but now, her uncle, King Ghas outlawed them. They were fugitives, criminals, and it was all because of one creature. Zephera knew where she had to go. She had to hide in the one place that ...

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“Call of the Raven” by Amiable Sorceress

Submitted to Contest #64

The raven spirit hadn’t been called to light in a century, but yet here it stood, perched on the highest rooftop of all the houses in Stratensborough. Some of the rumors were true; the ones you chose to believe at least. The raven hadn’t been around for a while, but those who caught sight of it knew it’d be best to stay home the whole day. Today, it scratched at the already fallen apart shambles of Stratensborough mansion, abandoned since 1844 when Sir Isacc passed in his quarters, blood spread thin over the ground like a blanket or icing on...

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“Remember” by Writer Maniac

Submitted to Contest #64

I look at my face in the mirror.I can’t recognize myself.One half of my face is still me, while the other half is a mangled, red, raw mess of me.But I’m still me.Right?**********“Wrong.”“My name isn’t Brian, it’s Nathaniel.”“No sir, your name is Brian, Brian Mathews.”“But I like the name Nathaniel more, so from this very moment, my name is Nathaniel.”The nurse isn’t happy. She’s shaking her head.The medical staff these days.**********“Is Brian here? Brian Mathews?”“Yes sir, and who are you?”“I’m his part-friend.”“Sir, your name?”“Nathaniel.”...

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“Brown Jade” by Joe Sauers

Submitted to Contest #64

An instant after Dennis Wing uttered the words zōng yù to the check-in clerk at Heathrow Airport, a hush like a tidal wave of silence washed over the whole of the departure lounge, reducing the bustling character of the international terminal to the stillness of a crypt. A few more moments passed before Dennis registered that everything around him had slowed to a snail’s pace. He looked around warily to see strangers averting their gazes from his direction. Hands shielding children’s eyes as parents guided them away. Dennis returned his atte...

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“Changing the Past” by Wolfy 🐺

Submitted to Contest #64

I could barely see through my tears as I stumbled aboard the train, holding my brother Mikey's cold hand in mine. I didn't dare look back, because I knew if I did I would break down into tears, and I couldn't do that. I had to stay strong for Mikey's sake, I couldn't let him know I was scared, he was just a 6 year old, he was too young for this. We took our seats at the back of the train, the place where the third class sits. The fancy rich people were up front, enjoying luxury seating and dishes of caviar and truffles that are so large they...

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“Born to Be” by Amaya .

Submitted to Contest #64

Jan 1889 Excerpt from Rose’s diary First month of Green Valley School for Girls. I’m excited. Really excited. I met a girl on the carriage ride here. Her name is Isabella. She seems nice. She said I’m lucky to have a twin sister. I’ve never thought about it, actually, but I realize that I am lucky. Aella’s my best friend, but I’m glad that I can branch out now, meet people that are more like me. I hope Isabella and I become close. It would be nice to have friends, especially since I can sense that my twin sister Aella might not w...

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“ Standing Room” by Charles Stucker

Submitted to Contest #64

"Hey kid, want to earn some money?" The man asking looks like a wealthy foreigner; nice clothes, shoes, well fed and groomed. I'm short and thin, barefoot and wearing ragged discards. At seventeen, I am often mistaken for twelve, because I have never had a day when I ate enough to keep my stomach from feeling empty."What work and how much?""Ten taka to carry a message. No peeking at it.""How far?" Sometimes they want you to take things across the border. I won't go there for less than two thousand. It's twelve days on foot. Each way."Coffee ...

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$50

Prize money

753

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 23, 2020 EST

Won by Mollie Rodgers 🏆

Title: The Girl in the Goethe House

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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