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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#67: The Great Escape

There are times when the world feels so chaotic and out of our control that a break from reality is called for. And what better way to leave everything behind than jumping headfirst into the escapism of stories?

Whether it’s a larger-than-life situation, a comforting old trope, or a genre that’s literally out of this world, stories have been providing people with a way to retreat from their troubles ever since humanity first started telling them around a fire.

To truly keep in the spirit of escapism, make sure you fully immerse both yourself and the reader in the world you’re creating. Use sensory details to really pull us in — make us see, smell, and taste every detail of your story, so that we fully believe we’re standing alongside the characters. After all, the real world will still be here when the story’s over.

This week's prompts

Write about a pirate captain obsessed with finding a mythical treasure.

Adventure – 144 stories

Write a thriller about someone who witnesses a murder… except there’s no evidence that a murder took place.

Thriller and Suspense – 218 stories

Write a romance where the characters pretend to be dating each other in order to win a reality show.

Romance – 70 stories

Write a story where one character needs to betray the other, but isn’t sure if they can.

Dark – 171 stories

Write a space adventure story that features a visit to an alien marketplace.

Science Fiction – 123 stories

Stories

“The One” by Caroline Burkey

Submitted to Contest #67

"And the winners of this year's 'The One' are Julie and Justin!" "Boo!" Cara said, throwing a piece of popcorn at the screen. "Not those two!" Sam moaned, waving his hand toward the television. "Why did those two have to be the winners?" Cara asked, picking up a handful of popcorn and shoving it into her mouth. "Seriously," Sam agreed, reaching for some popcorn. "I mean, we could do a better job than those two." Just then, the announcer said, "And don't forget, if you and your significant other want to be on the next season and win one milli...

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“An Unexpected Love Affair” by Gerard Watson

Submitted to Contest #67

Ellen Hayes is the one love forgot. With her square face and homely looks, guys never thought of her romantically. The men she dated only wanted sex or money from her. As a result, Ellen became the best friend, sidekick, and wing-woman. As she sat waiting for her best friend and college roommate. Janet. Ellen wondered if she was insane. Since college, the statement accredited to Einstein has applied to their relationship. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different resul...

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“The Stunt” by Kris Wampler

Submitted to Contest #67

Will couldn’t stand Sheena. That laugh; that flip of her hair; her condescending attitude. He hated her almost as much as she hated him. His stubbornness; the way he took nothing seriously; that stupid beard. One more day. Just one more day. Then they might win the show. The pair fumed during the entire car ride. Sheena had been late, again, and Will had let her know about it - again. Any other time, they’d speak their minds and then move on. But Sheena had fired back, and that provided all...

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“Scrolls of Betrayal” by Lexy A.P.

Submitted to Contest #67

After four weeks of tossing and turning, I finally made my decision. It was time to wake up from this everlasting dream, and determine a winner of this horrific war. Either him or I stood a chance, and he thinks we are together on this. Are we? I’m not sure.We had come together from the Northern Realm to, well, the land of everything damned. Euphoria. Now, it may sound like happiness and wonder but it’s all fake. Full of fake people and emotions, but here we stand. The only reason we are here is because I was summoned from the Realm to the G...

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“One Heart, Two Destinies ” by Maya Ross

Submitted to Contest #67

It is 10 AM in the morning, and Kehlani is cooking pancakes and eggs for a lazy Sunday. Simon, her boyfriend, lays in the living room sofa, binging on his TV show. Kehlani saw her phone binged at the corner of her eyes, and saw the contact, “Maybe: Elijah”. Elijah? She hasn’t heard that name since high school. She turns off the stove and looks at the text. Hey it’s been awhile, but if you want, we can catch up like we used to-Elijah Is it wrong to rekindle with your old best friend? Kehlani knows that Simon feels a type of way with...

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“And Mercy More Than Life” by Theo Thompson

Submitted to Contest #67

I want a life where I don’t hurt so much and so often. I think that’s what Sophie wants, too. Not just for herself but for me. Isn’t that what we all want for our family? You may not know my sister personally but you’ve probably seen signs with her name around the city, “SOPHIA HARBOR for MAYOR.” She’s pretty much a sure bet at this point. Sophie’s backed by the firefighter and police unions and well-respected by many key community members. Her platform is strong for her base, she’s pro-life, anti-drug, and supports the troops. Everyone know...

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“Betraying the reader” by Elena Betcke

Submitted to Contest #67

I wanted to throw it against the wall – that's what people say sometimes about books they don't like. It's anger. In some cases, it may even be actual Incredible Hulk/run-around-like-you're-on-fire rage. Why is the reaction so strong? If we purchase other items, such as a new brand of potato chips or what have you, and they're terrible, we say Yuck, and then we shrug and move on. We do not have the urge to strangle potato chips. The difference with a book seems to be that readers feel, not only disappointed (although they are) but ...

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“Best Friends Forever” by Simbarashe Nyatsambo

Submitted to Contest #67

“Daniel, what happened” asked Derek who was baffled with Daniel’s frantic muffling. “I don’t know, it all happened so quickly”, Daniel broke down for a fifth time with tears streaming out of his blood red eyes. What had happened was rather atrocious and grotesque. A few hours earlier, Daniel had gone to a basement party with his girlfriend Elsa. Both of them had indulged in some drugs which were too strong for them to remain sober and in control. Derek was at the party too, but him being teetotal kept him sober unlike his friends. He observe...

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“A Worn-out, Broken-down Susie” by Gary Crist

Submitted to Contest #67

A Worn-Out, Broken-Down Susie My wife Vicki and I were visiting her recently widowed mother in Fort Myers. It was Norma’s second go around with widowhood. Her mid-life marriage to “Doc,” a semi-quack, womanizing chiropractor, was mostly a matter of economic necessity after the life shattering death of Vicki’s father Bill. Suffice to say Doc was never Norma’s true love, and she took his passing with outward respect, but little remorse. Let’s just say Norma didn’t knock herself out this time wearing black.&...

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“Royalty” by 🫀🍒💕 Campbell

Submitted to Contest #67

"How much money?!" I ask the man. "I told you already, 1,000 coins. But only if you bring me her heart." I sit there in silence for a bit. "So all I have to do is bring you her heart," I say my voice shivering. "but if I fail?" I ask. "Then nothing happens." I grin. He knows I could not say no to this. To no longer live on the streets? Amazing. It's a good thing I know a little witchcraft though. It will help.I stand in front of the palace. He gave me beautiful clothes to impress the king. I curled my hair with my fingers. It took all night ...

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“Two faces” by Morgana Nair

Submitted to Contest #67

When you arrive at the fork choose the path on the right. I stood at the fork staring at the two paths ahead of me. “If my calculations are correct we take the left path. That should lead us to the village. We can warn them in time if we hurry.” I turned to look at the speaker. Robert. My boyfriend of 5 years. We had met while training in the Resistance and we’d been inseparable ever since. We had received news of an upcoming attack on a small city and had been sent ahead to warn them and activate the escape and plan the defence. Ro...

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“Worm on the Diet” by Megan Fountain

Submitted to Contest #67

Walking through the south's forests, I became a person I never thought I would be nor would leave behind. I became Nymphphobos, high priestess of the Temple courts. I was the first of three girls selected at pre-teenage to become the priestess of the Temple courts. I felt powerful and beyond human at times; this is when I knew something was wrong. I'll see the world unfold like an onion, smelly and raw. I needed to leave, then the sky's light showed me many visions throughout a few years. It was like speaking through a portal, but then the p...

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“A Grain of Salt” by Ronald Rusianto

Submitted to Contest #67

"Bring more logs! How many times I told you?", a sixty-something obese middle-aged woman shouts to a rugged forty- seven-year-old man. The guy who appears to be an artisan, Aiden, is the lady's only son she has given a birth to. The old lady can't stand the fact that his son fails to comply her terms. Well, the blocks of woods Aiden has collected are actually more than adequate to satisfy his big mama's feet. Every night is not a different scene. Warm flame is produced by folding those blocks which are put in the middle of a small cottage. ...

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“For Her” by Ins Campelo

Submitted to Contest #67

Jessie and Mary are identical twins. They look so much alike that ever since they were young, they perfected the ability to impersonate each other, fooling even their mother. However, they left such pranks aside, long ago. They are not children anymore. They are young adults now and their personalities have grown very different. Jessie is in art school, she’s laid-back and likes to think she’s the fun sister, but Mary doesn’t like her sister’s idea of fun. Mary is the “good” twin, at least that’s what their mother says. Jessie thinks her si...

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“The Mafia Trial” by A.K. Truss

Submitted to Contest #67

As I rushed through the thick forest I could feel the branches pulling at my shirt and tearing at my skin but I didn’t stop running. At top speed, I knew I could run for a good 20 minutes but I didn’t have only myself to consider. “Kassie, …. can we please…. Stop for …. Just a minute.” I heard Tayler gasp out. She had been trailing along behind me the whole 7 minutes since we had started running. If we continued to constantly stop, we would lose the small lead we had on the others. I knew that Tayler would cont...

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$50

Prize money

726

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 13, 2020 EST

Won by Deidra Whitt Lovegren 🏆

Title: Your Poor Rick

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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