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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:

What Is NaNoWriMo? And How to Win in 2020
Join Reedsy’s NaNo Squad (with weekly live write-ins!)
Crafting a Novel Opening (workshop replay)
How to Write a Novel

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

“A Change of a Lifetime” by Haylee Crouch

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat!” Alec yelled. Maybe the world depended on it, he wouldn’t let her do it.“Come on, Alec, I can’t be selfish. I could save millions, billions even! All for one person’s life. ME! You would want the same.” Maybe she had a point. If the roles were reversed, he would have gone in without a second thought, not caring about anyone else’s thoughts. And once, the roles were reversed, but now… Screw the prophecy. Just some random words spewed out of a random persons mouth. It didn’t change anyt...

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“What About the Others” by Katy Clements

Submitted to Contest #66

Present Day:“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat!” Finn cries angrily.I look at him with somber eyes. He knows me better than anyone, and he can tell that I am at the end of my rope. I shake my head and turn away.“Marlow knock it off, you’re scaring me.” He pleads. I can see how much this is hurting him. The pain is written all over his face.“Whats the point Finn? This is it, there’s no more for me. I have to go.”5 months AgoI can’t believe it has actually come to this. They said on the news that we had years to prepare, ...

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“BEUTELRATTE” by Joyful Joel Zemba

Submitted to Contest #66

Chapter 1“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”“Defeat!” cried that grey-haired man. “Aahan, my boy, I plan to win by losing.” He smirked as though he was the smartest man on earth. Aahan knew he wasn’t.“Eureka!” exclaimed that gray-haired man. He was not gray-haired for age, although he was not so young either, he was gray-haired because he simply was. “What it is master, do say!” inquired Aahan out of curiosity, stopping his mopping the office. “I’ve got it Aahan! I’ve got it!” the man was so happy that he grabbed Aahan...

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“Don't You Dare” by Mikayla Peterson

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”Anne glared at me, shoulders taut, hissing through her teeth. I looked down at my riding boots, dusty from walking the course early that morning. The sun beat down mercilessly, making horses and spectators sweat alike. Ladies in long skirts and broad brimmed hats handed the riders flowers to tuck in their mount’s mane for good luck, blushing all the while at the handsome young men that flashed their teeth in a smile. The lady in front of me had no such flowers, and I had no such ...

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“Moving the Goalposts” by Elizabeth Corbitt

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” The words hung in the air for a moment surrounding me with doubt. I knew better than to confide in my mother. This was the very reason I had tried to keep her from finding my writing, but my attempts had failed. I hadn’t realized she still searched my name once a week and one of the sites I posted to had my real name attached. It hadn’t been anything special, but it had set her on the path of asking me for updates on my the work. With November being National Novel Writing Month, she ...

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“Liberation” by Ambuja Rani

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” The shorter boy mumbled. “It’s not the same thing, Phil. I am not planning my defeat I am accepting it.” The taller boy chided, though he appeared doleful. “It’s the same thing, Zack. Different ways of looking at the same thing. Get that thought out of your mind and listen…” the shorter boy leant in to whisper something. “It wouldn’t work.” Zack immediately responded. “Oh, trust me, it will.” Phil had a confident smirk on his face. The two ‘prisoners’ clasped each other’s hands and Z...

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“The Cock” by S.S. Bones

Submitted to Contest #66

‘It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,’ Stuart warned Bernard. ‘Yes it does,’ Bernard tells him, ‘As long as I win the bet. Lose the war but win the battle, or is it the other way around? Whatever Sun Tzu meant.’ He stops preparing to leave the apartment to face Stuart, ‘Listen Stu, me cock fighting isn’t anything like you running a marathon with the razzle-dazzle of inspiration and motivation.’ ‘Cock fighting,’ he laughs. ‘You are too immature for someone in their mid-twenties,’ he comments before picking up the car key...

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“Age Wont Defeat Me” by Debra Johnson

Submitted to Contest #66

It doesn’t count if you are already planning your defeat.” Bridget said as Jessica came around the bar with two glasses of wine. “What defeat? No one’s claiming defeat – yet. But there is a possibility.” “Well yea if you think that way,” Bridget started then took a deep breath. “Look, all I’m saying is don’t count yourself out before you even begin. And why are you even comparing yourself to anyone else, Nano is all about the story. Any words you get down are words that you didn’t have when you started. “That is true. And from what eve...

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“The Mental Fighter” by Hanna Moore

Submitted to Contest #66

I never knew I would make such a terrible decision. It wasn't my proudest moment of my life, but just a portion wouldn't do it justice. Well, I might as well tell you the whole story. I was young and naive. My higher education in accounting was in progress. My female peers gushed over my chestnut locks and sparkling emerald eyes. I was irresistible, at least, for a time. That was until my inevitable downfall. It was the end of my third year, and my abilities were undefeated. A few scholars, including myself, were on our path to showcase ou...

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“The Salsa Shoes” by Emma Leister

Submitted to Contest #66

Olivia always somehow managed to get herself into tricky situations and this time was no different. Flash. The spotlights hit the stage and colors of blue and red danced back and forth around the room, the sweet yet spicy music filled the ears of the guests as Olivia and her partner Marcos danced across the floor. Olivia’s crimson dress caught the eye of the judges as Marcos spun her body into their final pose. It was halfway through the second round of the Spain Salsa finals circa 1952, and according to the leaderboard they were still stuck...

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“Forty, Love” by Malady Cross

Submitted to Contest #66

Three games in and both teams were sweating bullets. The Magicians’ Association of Tennis, the MAT, wrote the rules, but frankly, college tournaments didn’t teach players professionalism. With all the chaotic volleys and explosive shots, it seemed as if anything went in amateur matches. Not so for the United States’ Mage Nationals. The USM Open was nothing like those matches back in school. Gerald Hayes learned the hard way. He wished he knew before reaching the semifinals. Since his university days, Gerald could hardly believe magic ten...

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“The Quasi-Marathon” by Naomi Spencer

Submitted to Contest #66

As Mary Trivett walked in the door carrying two heavy grocery bags, she found her husband slumped on the couch, watching TV. A greasy bowl of chips and a beer can were on the table in front of him—nothing out of the ordinary there. Peter Trivett was 39 years old, with pale skin and dull brown eyes. He was bald. He was short and had a growing beer gut, which wasn’t only the work of beer. He loved eating junk food and took his passion very seriously. “I’m gonna need you to go pick up the car on Saturday,” Mary said. “Why?” Peter asked in...

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“Victoria aut Veritatem” by Kelly O'Leary

Submitted to Contest #66

Breathe, just breathe. “Slow your breathing… Calm your heart rate… Concentrate on the task at hand… Remember your training. It is not very different from your training… Don’t be nervous. Desperate people do stupid things.” The words of her trainer, Orsula, flitted through her mind and served their purpose to help the woman calm herself and concentrate on the immediate future. She barely registered as the arena above was suddenly filled with the deafening roar of the mob, which greeted the early entrance of the reigning champion. The gua...

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“With Head Held High” by Kajal Bansal

Submitted to Contest #66

"There's a way you can surely become a Chartered Accountant in the upcoming attempt.""What's that?", replied Koyal to Ansh."I know someone who can get you positive results in this attempt. We would just need to pay five to ten lakh rupees.""And how do they do that?", asked Koyal.It's not that Koyal was interested in bribing someone to get her work done, it was just that she wanted to know how her husband would make her clear her CA exams in the upcoming attempt.Ansh further told her that a knowledgeable CA would go and write her exams in her...

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“Crossing the Line (Legacy Hall #1)” by Zoé Nöel-Lemieux

Submitted to Contest #66

Under the yellowed lights of the fighting ring, Celeste assessed the situation; it was tight. Casually shifting his weight, Damien Wolfman sent a wry look at Celeste, sending shivers through her body. Whatever he had in store for her could not be pleasant.“Struggling a bit, Dabousiller? Maybe your petty mother could give you some advice from the heart.” He gave a wicked grin, before sweeping a foot underneath her legs. Her low stance betrayed her, bringing her crashing to the ground, and cursing under her breath. How did she fall for that? S...

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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.

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