#69: Ties That Bind
We’re entering the season where families normally gather together in gratitude and celebration — and though many traditions will be taking a different shape this year, staying connected with those we love will remain just as important and meaningful as ever.
This week we’re going to explore the many ways that families influence our characters. Like it or not, our childhoods and the people who raised us have a strong influence on who we become as adults, which makes families a wonderful avenue for exploring backstory and building a strong character.
While writing your stories this week, try to think not just about the events taking place in your story, but the many years of family ties that preceded it. How do longstanding feelings, old wounds, and past events impact the conversations your characters are having now? And how will these events impact their relationship in the future? After all, your characters will be seeing these people for many years to come… Or will they?
This week's prompts
Write about a family adapting a holiday tradition to take place over video chat.
Holiday – 59 stories
Stories
“A SHADE APART” by Radhika Diksha
Submitted to Contest #69
“I Needed That” by Zara M. Seacrt 🌊
Submitted to Contest #69
“The Heart Beneath the Bib” by A.Dot Ram
Submitted to Contest #69
“Her last wish” by 🕊 🎀 𝒱𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓁 🎀 🕊
Submitted to Contest #69
“New Additions(Part 2 of New Traditions)” by 🕊 🎀 𝒱𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓁 🎀 🕊
Submitted to Contest #69
“The Blessing of el Rojo Gigante” by Kristin Neubauer
Submitted to Contest #69
“The True Tradition” by Marissa Yates
⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #69
“Diagonal Lines” by Scout Tahoe
Submitted to Contest #69
“Small Walls” by Echo Sundar
Submitted to Contest #69
“Daisies” by Briana Spring
⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #69
“Becoming a Kirkwood” by Akshaya Rajan Babu
Submitted to Contest #69
“The past ” by Kaushika Kotagodahetti
Submitted to Contest #69
“Cracked Linoleum: Cracked Cases Part 7” by Meggy House
Submitted to Contest #69
“It's the Count That Thoughts” by Joshua G. J. Insole
Submitted to Contest #69
“Family: The Unseen Pandemic” by Harken Void
Submitted to Contest #69
$50
Prize money
510
Contest entries
0
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Nov 27, 2020 EST
Won by Kate Le Roux 🏆
Title: To the Lowly Dove
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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