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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

“THE FORTUNE TELLER” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #66

THE FORTUNE TELLERBy Andrew Paul Grell“More anatomy books, Walt? Birds, this time? Planning a career change? Veterinarian? Barb’s poodle Dixie had a torn ACL, cost her $5,000 for the surgery. Prices like that, you might consider making the switch.” Audrie and Carl Henshaw shared a laugh; Carl’s bonus from last year paid for ten shelter dog rescues, plus flights to their forever homes, in addition to contributions to the grandchildren fund and a vacation in the Gaspe. “I like seeing the way the pieces fit together.&nb...

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“Fraud" "(The Game of Life Part 2)” by Emily Germaine

Submitted to Contest #66

I was truly willing to do anything to get my lifelong dream. I’ve already been interviewed for the big TV show. No one has noticed I’m not Piper yet. Luckily, Piper and I didn’t know a lot of people.But I’m already famous and people are already betting on me... I hope I win. Turns out this whole game show is not what it appears. You see, I was right. It is not filmed live. It’s not even filmed at all, it’s all fake. And the raffle is not random.The reason Piper got picked and not me is because she does have a bad backgroundBecause ...

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“Utopia's Shadow” 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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“Lucky” by New Inspirations

Submitted to Contest #66

The bullet pierced straight in to the left chest of Laxman oozing out a fountain of dark red blood,on the other side Kareem Chacha shreiked and grabbed his shoulder,the bullet from Laxman's pistol had wounded his shoulder.Raqeeb had ran towards Kareem chacha to hold him before he fell and just 15 meters away from him Laxman held his chest to stop the blood,the earth was revolving around him,the face had wrinkles on it which showed great agony and pain,the finger left the hold of the trigger ,it fell on the sand,the storm had already started ...

3 comments 3
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“A Pair of Bullets” by Hazen D

Submitted to Contest #66

         “Please don’t do this Constance, he isn’t worth it!” said Sophia throwing both of her arms tighter around in desperation.           Constance thought for a moment, then responded looking directly at her, “I know Sophia, but I won’t stand for it.” He traced his hand over her cheek, they had become windswept friends and confidants since his arrival to Scotland. He was a guest of Lord Hamish McKenzie, Sophia’s father. Constance had befri...

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“Now Is The Time” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #66

Now Is The Time Suzanne Marsh 1165 The loud whoop resounded across the squalid hut; now was his time. His Mother told him at the tender age of seven that he was not Jock's son but the bastard son of Richard, Earl of Dundee. Arrangements had been made for John to become a Page in Dundee Castle. Richard, paced his rooms, he had fulfilled his promise to Gwendolyn. He was not exactly sure how he planned to inform his present wife, Anne of the presence of John. He had been young and feel in love with Gwendolyn, she got herself in the fami...

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“The Witching Games” by Maddie S

Submitted to Contest #66

“I don’t like the idea of this.” Piper had told me when we signed up for the witching game.               I should have listened, but then again as she would tell you I never listen to her. Many of my great ideas had gotten us in trouble over the years. There was the time I decided we should sneak out and go to a concert. That one lead us to being stuck on the side of the road when Piper’s cart broke down. There was also the time I suggested we throw a huge house party whe...

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“Frank Kellands - Man or Mouse” by David Murphy

Submitted to Contest #66

“Man or Mouse, Frank?” The words struck like a dagger in his back. His accuser, standing a few feet away, had deliberately stressed the Teutonic harshness of the allegation. Gunther Kleine, with over-sized Oakleys masking his piercing blue eyes, stared at Frank Kellands, demanding an answer. Frank did a quick mental count to ten before unclenching his fists and turning to face Kleine. “Well?”, the impatience mounting. “The cross-wind doesn’t help, Gunther, you know that. The front end just refuses to sit down.” “Bullshit, Fran...

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“The story of a white shirt ” by Nilufar Kurbanova

Submitted to Contest #66

I was a schoolgirl. I had big dreams and many goals to achieve in life as any teenager of my age. My father was in Tajikistan on business. I heard about a boarding school which was popular in our district in Kashkadarya. I decided to go there. I read and reviewed all the books I had and went there with my friend. The exam was not easy for me. My mother even did not know of my admission there. I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone as it was so competitive. When I went to the school, they were announcing the list of the pupils who became ...

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“For whom does the bell toll? For whom?” by Kevin Schenk

Submitted to Contest #66

Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream. The last city, the capital, is on the brink of ruin. The citiy's outskirts have been surrounded by the 4th and 6th army. The cannons still release hellish round after round upon the walls of the city. Unrelenting and sturdy, the walls give a good fight but they are no match for the cannons. Day after day they had been pounded and day after day the city of Wislik rebuilt the walls but their strength was leaving them. Trebuchets had fired diseased corpses i...

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“The Dream” by Kristy Reynolds

Submitted to Contest #66

She looked out the window at the rain pouring down. The gray day had started out sleepy enough but with one phone call the excitement had picked up. She felt ridiculous even contemplating it but… She shook her head to clear it and headed to the kitchen for some tea. She needed to write this down, see what it looked like, see the numbers on paper. That would help her make some sense of this.  She pulled a notebook and pen from her desk and carried them and her tea to the dining room. In the notebook she made two columns. The first ...

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“A Memorable Trip” by Naomi Spencer

Submitted to Contest #66

Dear reader, I’m writing from the middle of nowhere. The middle of nowhere is a small island—160 paces long and 89 paces wide to be precise—that I like to call “Hell.” I have now been on this island for... two weeks? Three? The main reason I’m writing is to keep my head off the thought—I take that back, the certainty—that I’m going to die. I gathered the last bit of strength left in my body, and I picked up this diary. Maybe I should start with who I am. My name is Craig Adkins. I was born in New York City. My father was a lawyer, and ...

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“The Photo” by Claire Elizabeth

Submitted to Contest #66

I stared down with tired eyes at the cheap disposable cameras sitting in front of me on the table. “Come on J, it doesn’t count if you are already planning your defeat.” Chris gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing one of the cameras. “I’m not planning it, I’m just accepting it. I know I can’t win a rigged game.” He gave a quick laugh and handed me my scarf from the coat rack. “It’s not rigged.” He defended himself as he slipped on his coat and tucked his plastic camera into the pocket. “Sure.” I laughed and grabbed the rema...

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“The Best There's Ever Been” by Rebecca Parker

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”            “Why does it make much of a difference?” I replied.            If he was going to be winning either way, what did it matter if I had already accepted my fate. And just because I had accepted my fate of losing, didn’t mean I wasn’t going to be trying to find a loophole. There wasn’t a point in just giving up without at least trying to drag him down with me.  &n...

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“DEMOCRAZY” by Dolapo Omoleme

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your own defeat. How can you claim you’re protecting everyone when you know what the consequences of your fall will be, sir?” “What do you want from me, Jonah?” Jacob asked forcefully. He was already at his wits end. “I’m doing everything I can – I have done everything I can! I have done everything I need to do. I shook the hands I had to shake, I smiled for the camera for as long as I had to, I said the things I had to say – even if I didn’t like or enjoy saying them! What more do you want from...

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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 | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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