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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

“Beauty And The Beast With A Twist” by Light Fury

Submitted to Contest #66

I am standing right in front of the audience as they clap their hands cheerfully. All the contestants were already in their designated capsules.I am the last one to call but they say, save the best for last. My hands were nearly shaking and my sweats were as cold as ice. I gulped as I laid my foot in the freezing capsule that will take me to a room which will be later filled with gases that makes an illusion.Last year we had battled in the woods, what would it be this time?I am very eager to win the trophy for my dad. He wants me to get it a...

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“To save young Prince Thomas” by Tim Law

Submitted to Contest #66

Knight of the Realm, Ser Louisa de Griffin surveyed the land that extended beyond the ridge. With her helm up she could clearly smell the sulfur and burning limestone. The valley was pocketed with tiny pools of lava, what earth she could see was probably not stable. “What are you thinking?” asked Michael, Ser Louisa’s loyal page. He was fifteen, small for his age but strong. Ser Louisa knew if she asked him to Michael would happily carry whatever she thought she might need. Walking in to a dragon’s den though it was not worth risking two liv...

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“Staring at the Inbox” by Mackenzie Littledale

Submitted to Contest #66

Staring at the Inbox By Mackenzie Littledale November 3, 2020 Michelle sat staring at her inbox since 5:30 AM, nearly two hours. It wasn’t even a weekday, but her literary agent worked odd hours, so it could come at any time. It -- the announcement of whether or not the next publisher on the list was offering to buy her manuscript. Already, five publishers had been given the chance. Three declined and two remained silent. Michelle considered them a practice round to make sure the pitch was tight like a hermetically sealed glass jar. The pu...

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“A Whisper Of The Wind” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

Submitted to Contest #66

Hide and seek, but if you're found you're dead. I should never have agreed to do this. It was a dare set up by my friends. Why why why? I don't want to die. I know it sounds selfish, but I'm only 15. I'm too young to die. I mean I could survive, but it's only a small chance. Do I really have to do this? I have no choice, I have too much pride to back out now. I hate my pride sometimes. I kick the dirt around me. Now the death march begins. I march into the woods, making sure that no one followed me. We all enter the forest at different point...

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“Hanna Doesn't Kiss Ghosts” by Jeni Conrad

Submitted to Contest #66

“I know you can’t help all the ghosts you see and it gets so overwhelming, but do you think you could make an exception for little ol’ me?” Brandon pushed his charming smile to full power knowing it always made me weak in the knees. I covered up my swoon at his cute ghostly looks, despite the 90’s punk rock spiked hair and gigantic pants, by rolling my eyes and picking up my pen. We were in my bedroom and I was trying, unsuccessfully, to do my homework while sitting at my grandmother’s old vanity. “Do you just show up when you want somethi...

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“The Bookstore” by Alivia Weikel

Submitted to Contest #66

She sat looking at the window with a cup of tea, too tired to smile. Not even enough energy to focus on the people walking beyond the glass or cars that zipped by with no mind to the speed limit. Finally, she had made it. A shop of her own, her own little bookstore on main street. Her lifelong dream: complete. She thought back on everything that it had taken her to get here. Never missing a day of high school, though her freshman year had taken her mother by car accident and her junior year had taken her little sister by an ov...

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“Just That One Chance ” by Soumya Garg

Submitted to Contest #66

It was midway between his medical entrance, his nerves were wrecking up and his fingers were frozen. It was the worst exam of his life. He could feel a panic attack approaching consuming his soul as a whole. He closed his eyes, the air conditioner was too cold in that room. The time was running out and yet fifteen whole questions were pending on that paper.He had studied hard but not hard enough to get him to crack that exam. He could feel his eyes had started to water and his hands were trembling holding that pen. There was nothing he could...

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“To be a Thespian” by ❤️✒️𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝓔. 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓵𝓮📝❤️

Submitted to Contest #66

*Author’s Note* Do NOT send emails to the address below! They belong to real people, apparently. Or rather, if you do choose to, don’t mention me, please! “My biggest accomplishment to this date is quitting my job,” said the random inspirational speaker I was watching on YouTube. My mother always tells me that these videos are “a great way to broaden my horizons.” Personally, I think that she just wants me out of her hair. For the life of me, I can’t imagine why. Observe: To: lyndsaydaniels13@gma...

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“Shattered ” by Taryn Kaiser

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” The words were harsh and though Lila knew the reason for this, it still hurt. Her brother was just trying to protect her, to ensure that she had a fair chance at the throne but what he didn’t know, or perhaps, what he didn’t want to hear was that she didn’t want it. She didn’t deserve it and she knew deep down that if she took it she would only lead the kingdom to ruin. “Jasper… One of us is going to die and it’s not going to be you. You deserve this. After all you’ve endured, ...

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“Teracotta Flames” by H.L Whitlock

Submitted to Contest #66

Teracotta Flames The sun rose to its highest, fixed in place staring down at the settlement isolated in grassland that seemed to reach out forever, beyond the sun. The settlement stood alone, a small island in the middle of a green sea. Large cones pointed into the sky woven out of colourful fabrics and dark leather. Strong ropes and posts prevented them from falling down. The tepees huddled together, finding comfort in their closeness, keeping the isolation of their world at bay. The community that inhabited this fabricated island were ...

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“The Final Strategy” by Mariam Michalak

Submitted to Contest #66

Sweat rolls down my face. I can feel the tension in the air strangling the breath from my lungs. Either way forward would mean certain destruction. There was – is - no way to win, let alone survive, this next frontal assault. I take a shuddering breath in, trying to remain calm. We will lose this battle, possibly even the war. What does it matter what move I make now? The quiet slowly grows, and I welcome it for once. However, his voice breaks the small silence I had. “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Footsteps fol...

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“Rules of the Game” by David Brown

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,” the short dark-haired, brown-eyed, young boy complained. “You don’t have to let me win just because I’m younger than you.”The boy’s older brother smiled innocently, “Is that what you think I’m doing, Jimmy?”“Yes, Josh,” the younger boy stated conclusively. “I heard our mother ask you to take it easy on me for once.”Both brothers had bronze skin and wore common, white, knee-length, cotton robes. Between them wa...

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“On Killing” by Yellow Lemon

Submitted to Contest #66

Killing someone was never what I'd ever do. Or what I had never thought I'd do. But when he came in my way, I knew it had to be done. To save my reputation. Let me begin at the beginning. I am always a silent girl. Shy, introvert. I jump when a spider comes my way. I jump when someone suddenly barges. I jump when someone speaks in deep silence, I jump when this happens .....I jump when that happens.... You get an idea. Girls call me 'Scaredy-Kat.' "Um...Becca, I...can I please have my way...?" I nervously stutter, as I try to make my ...

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“The Sad Little Prince.” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #66

Once upon a very long time ago, a very good but very mad macho king, with his beautiful queen, had a son. The son went full term, but at the popping-out time, weighed only 2 pounds, and 2 and one-quarter ounces. The king immediately decided against circumcision, because of the weight factor, his son needed that quarter ounce. It was bad enough his kingdom was the smallest kingdom that ever existed, but he now had a son that seemed to be tailor-made to eventually rule it. The king, had upon witnessing this tiny morsel of humanity,...

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“The Fate Games ” by M C

Submitted to Contest #66

Competition is not all fun and games. A girl stood in a doorway, her long hair sat on her back. She had a long brown overcoat that went just below her knees. She wore a dark green shirt with black leggings. She leaned in the doorway and looked out at the town before her, this was the doorway out the front entrance to her home. It was a small home with only a few bedrooms; it barely fit her, her mother, and her three brothers but it was her home. She lived in a small town at the border of the safe lands. You see dear reader this is many hundr...

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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!

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