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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#66: Ready, Set, Go!

It’s almost November, and for many writers around the world that means the start of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. This wild challenge dares you to commit to writing a 50,000-word novel in just 30 days!

 

It’s an impressive feat, but it’s hardly the only way to exercise your writing muscles. If you like your writing in smaller doses but still want to build up the habit, today I’m going to challenge you to commit to writing a story from one prompt every week in November! (If you already do that, try for two, three, or even all five.)

 

To get you started, this week we’ll be focusing on stories all about challenging yourself. Whether it’s running a marathon, finally writing that novel, or just making it through a tough personal situation, challenge is what consistently pushes us to grow into our best selves.

 

And if you are giving novel writing a try, here are a few resources to help you along:

This week's prompts

Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Novel – 132 stories

Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Short Story – 52 stories

Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Novel – 120 stories

Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Adventure – 145 stories

Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Dramatic – 135 stories

Stories

“Sunrise with my dad and son” by Gokula Krishnan

Submitted to Contest #66

I am 12. “Hey, wake up, wake up” I heard this sound. I opened my eyes; it is my dad. What is it dad? I asked him. He is asking me to come with him. I am in half sleep, but dad is not giving up. So, I am getting out of my bed to go with him. It is 5 am in the morning. I am wondering what he is up to. He started his bike HERO HONDA and told me to get on it. He is telling me to hold this fishing rod. It looks like we are on our way to a lake. “Dad, why suddenly you want to go for fishing?” I asked him.  He is smiling, t...

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“Devil Incarnate” by Kaye Salangsang

Submitted to Contest #66

"It doesn't count if you are already planning your defeat," my sister told me three days before my wedding. "Sofia, I am not planning anything. I want him to think that I am clueless, when in fact, I am planning his demise." "Demise? Really, Andi. Are you planning to kill your fiancé?" she asked me, looking incredulous. "Okay, maybe demise is a strong word. But he is going down. If Francis thinks he can lie to me about meeting his ex-girlfriend, he is wrong." I seethed. Francis and I have been together for five years. He proposed ...

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“On High” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #66

           Patrick O’Reilly, like many growing up in a Roman Catholic household, was taught to love God, go to church regularly, and to treat people with respect.            Soon after graduating from college with a BA in World Religions, Patrick decided to follow his mother’s advice and join the seminary. His college degree combined with the education that he would receive through St. Peter’s seminary, would set him on his path towa...

2 comments 2
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“Life, as Taught by the Metaphysical” by Kay O'connell

Submitted to Contest #66

“Okay, so if I’m getting this correctly, it’s like a game,” the boy said, spinning absentmindedly in his chair, hands folded tightly against an anxiety-riddled stomach.  “Exactly! You,” the man replied, pinning an imaginary name-tag to the former’s breast, “are Kevin. You will be playing an 6 pound baby born to Tom and Christine Jones. They live on Walnut Street in North Dakota and…. ooh, someone’s going to have a dog! They’re a nice enough family. Now, don’t do anything too stupid when you get out there. Remember, your life depends on...

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“The Colossal” by Harlow Jones

Submitted to Contest #66

I didn’t like how beautiful a day it was for people to die. Beyond the capital’s limits, I imagined sunshine blanketing fields of birds and butterflies, little wings fluttering away without a clue in our broken and devastated world that people had made plans to watch their neighbors die today. I wasn’t sure if I was walking myself or if the crowd was just pushing me along. I didn’t want to be there, so my mind let itself go back home to bake bread with my mother, while my feet continued their dirge. I thought of kneading dough as the surrou...

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“Pay it Forward” by Sara Blanch

Submitted to Contest #66

The crisp white form laying neatly on the plastic clipboard she had been given stared at her mockingly as the tiny seeds of doubt within her began to sprout. Every single part of her clashed with her current environment...from the pristine cream colour scheme of the room to the immaculately dressed people surrounding her. Neatly manicured hands filled out their forms with smug expressions, they knew their place in the world...life had been handed to them on a silver platter. They were sure of their gifts, whether it be physical, intelle...

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“The Zombie Colosseum” by Yoana Corro

Submitted to Contest #66

Alive another day. Evelynn opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the tiny sliver of bright light that stole through the only crack in the room. The floor she was on was damp, slimy, and disgusting. She sat up quickly, running her hands against the worn jeans she was wearing for--what? --longer than she could say. She looked around the enclosure, her anxiety rising like a tide. The one light bulb in the cage clicked and clacked, the light slowly losing hope and fading. She rubbed her temples, trying to recall how she had gotten here. With...

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“A Bridge To Success ” by A. Nelson

Submitted to Contest #66

Part 1Monday, November 4, 2019: 8:59 a.m.The calming sound of Early Riser woke Naomi from a deep and relaxing sleep. She struggled for a minute trying to find her phone before turning the alarm off. And with the pesky alarm off, she could begin her day. She went into the bathroom to freshen up. First brushing and combing her thick black hair, than brushing her teeth, than taking a shower. After putting a towel on her body, she went into her closet and put on a floral print corduroy pinafore dress, a white long sleeve turtleneck, and a pair o...

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“Her name is Maggie ” by Karim Gamal

Submitted to Contest #66

“ It doesn’t really count if you’re planning your defeat “ , “ I am not , I am planning to my success that will lead to yours.” “ I know that you want to lose this case Martin but think about your wife , think about your lonely mother ,think about yourself , you are going to destroy yourself because of something you didn’t really involved into intentionally . I am here because I do my job and my job is to get you out of here , so please help me in this because you are making things difficult” .  Chris was shouting in his face , I though...

4 comments 4
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“Game of Chance” by Starlight Geminine

Submitted to Contest #66

“Ya know,” Alex said, lounging against the bars of the cage, “if agreeing to this deal is your way of trying to apologize for getting us into this mess, it doesn’t really count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Jazz sighed as she tied her hair back so she could think. “Shut up Alex.” “Oh I’m sorry for being concerned about you gambling both of our lives.” “I said shut up.” Jazz stood, her back still to the cage. “I know what I’m doing.” “Forgive me for doubting you, but you really don’t have the best track record to prove that...

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“Opportunity Knocks” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #66

Paul was a large boy, and about a hundred pounds overweight. As such, he was horrible in gym class, and never picked for teams at recess. Usually, he would bring out his Beast Tamers cards and mess with them at recess. The gym teacher usually gave him worksheets or little odd jobs to do, rather than subject him to the torture that the other kids would inflict upon him.          Timothy was a small boy. He was short for his age, underweight, and asthmatic. As if this wasn...

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“The Price” by M R

Submitted to Contest #66

"Hey, bud!" Eric greeted his former gym buddy Paul, who used to work as a Membership Ambassador in other gym and is now a member of C24 Fitness Health Clubs. Paul put down his duffel bag on the floor of the coffee shop. "Sorry, had to do a full workout today after a vacation. Been here for long?" "No, maybe less than 15 minutes. Is your friend coming today?" "He's meeting his team today. He's the head of pharmaceuticals, you know." Paul went to the bar quickly to grab something. Ten days remaining before the final evaluation. Three o...

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“Ready for it?” by Natalie Chirico

Submitted to Contest #66

She sat on the ground. It was cold and seemed like it could never be even if you tried, it was to rocky. She could tell it was cement even if she couldn't see it. There was a bag over her head. She could hear other people she seemed to be struggling in the same room as her. Her hands were tied behind her back and her feet were tied together. Stuck is a feeling that is just fowl. She could hear the others trying to scream for help but it was all muffled.  Footsteps echoed through the room and ...

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“Full-time orphan” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #66

The full time Orphan At least, dip your finger in red oil seven times and put in your mouth. It is still far better than showing up here on empty Stomach. Some of you even treks miles to here on empty stomachs. If you must sit for this exam, do that once and for all. The Principal said. Mr Ibeh, Principal of Merchant of light secondary school had noticed that greater percentage of this final year students had not been performing well for the past three years now and the school management had taken survey and found out that the reason behind ...

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“The Chalice Trials” by Katelyn Burdo

Submitted to Contest #66

In my culture there is an object said to hold immense power, and object that can cure the most deadly diseases, cure the incurable, and even bring the dead back to life without consequences. This object is known only as the Chalice. Every 12 years there is a series of trials a handful of the townspeople participate in, but only one is ever bestowed the gifts of the Chalice. No one knows what takes the trials will hold since they change every time, but it is rumored that only those who are pure of heart will be able to make it through. This ...

1 comment 1
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$50

Prize money

584

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 22:59 - Nov 06, 2020 EST

Won by David G. 🏆

Title: Mahalo King Cod Filet

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 | Many Hands | 2024-09

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Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

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