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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#70: To Err Is Human

The other day I realized I’d made a pretty big mistake in the book I’m writing. This isn’t anything new. Writers of all skills levels make plenty of mistakes — if we didn’t, editors would be out of a job — but it’s still frustrating when you realize you’re going to have to throw out a few thousand words.

But writers aren’t the only ones who make mistakes, or at least we shouldn’t be. In order for your characters to grow and be interesting as people, they’re going to need to make some bad choices of their own.

This week, let’s dig deep into all the things your characters can mess up, whether it’s because of a deep-seated character flaw or just a really bad stroke of luck. The sort of thing that will haunt them for years to come, fuel their deepest regrets, and form a cornerstone of their personality going forward. It may be tough to put them through the emotional wringer, but I promise your story will be better for it.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who’s so obsessed with a goal that it leads to the destruction of their closest relationship.

Sad – 154 stories

Write about a character who everyone thinks is guilty of something terrible, but isn’t.

Thriller and Suspense – 179 stories

Write about someone trying to atone for a mistake they’ll never be able to fix.

Angst – 192 stories

Write about two people who know they’ve made a mistake, and one of them wants to tell the truth but the other wants to lie about it.

Kids – 120 stories

Write about a character who’s so afraid of making the wrong choice that their indecision ruins the very thing they were hoping to keep safe.

Sad – 85 stories

Stories

“Confession of Zack Modine” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #70

Once upon a time Zack Modine was a hometown hero, but then six years ago, in a fateful flash, all his lofty accolades and good graces vanished, never to return. He still lives in Tyler Gap, a small community located in the open desolate parts of West Texas, a mere stone throw from the New Mexico border. Tucked into the rolling hills and buttes, Tyler Gap was once an insignificant forgotten Union Pacific whistle stop on a transcontinental run along the Mexican border that is no longer in service. The railroad tracks are still presen...

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“😈The Medellin Cartel kids😈” by Dennis Love Jr

Submitted to Contest #70

My name is Dennis Homer Love Jr. As a child in the 1980s I became the first underaged person recognized by the United States government for helping efforts involving the CIA during the Ronald Reagan presidency. Many other kids were recognized after me, but it seems there efforts were not life threatening as mine were. I was privileged to work with or along side of some of Stephen Shaffer's clandestine work involving such people as Barry Seal, Pablo Escobar, Manuel Noriega, Oliver North and South American people that were to be used in an arm...

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“Murder” by Puhalenthi Ramesh Vidhya

Submitted to Contest #70

Everything happened in a flash. I was just about to go to sleep when I heard the telephone ring. I used a rotary dial phone, which meant that I won't know who’s calling me. I walked over to the phone and held it up to my ear. "Hello?," I answered. "Hello. This is the Glasscam Police Department. I am the sheriff of this town. You have been convicted of the murder of a person named Paul Smith, who was killed this night. I have sent a few officers to escort you to the department," the sheriff replied. "E-- Excuse me, but I-- I haven't ...

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“Choices and consequences ” by Vameerah Darren

Submitted to Contest #70

“Landry Everton, the jury has found you guilty of breaking and entering, and theft, you will serve out a fifty year sentence in prison.” My heart dropped, no, this could not be happening. I looked helplessly at my lawyer, his head sunk into his hands. The room started spinning, my hands trembling with the realization of what was happening to me. “Look Lan, I get that you’re trying to help me but I don’t need it.” I shook my head, “No, Casey, you do need my help. How are you going to face your parents when they find out about this?...

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“In The Dark” by Sam W

Submitted to Contest #70

Before the sun rises, Natalia bathes in the dark with cold water. She dresses in silence. All her clothes are plain-black pants and blouses, grey turtlenecks in the winter. Her father buys her clothes. Natalia has no time to pick them out herself. She doesn’t mind. She and her father are, after all, still in mourning. And this way, she can dress in the dark without risking a fashion disaster. Today, however, she left her clothes out hanging on the wardrobe door. Today she wants to wear a dress. Natalia gets ready and does her ...

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“The Birth of The Assassins” by Olivia Agatha

Submitted to Contest #70

The body of Prince Reid had fallen prey to Erret’s blade, and his soul had been reaped. The very first kill for the two ever since Queen Elena dubbed them as her personal assassins —the doer of her bad deeds, those who shall be feared. Well, in fact, it could probably be said as the first kill of one of them only. Erret’s. The pale guy with dark brown hair whose body was currently trembling. The girl at his side gaped, her green eyes looked horror-struck. She slowly shifted her gaze from the dead body to Erret. “Erret—““Don’t.” One firm...

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“Shy Hero” by Paige Winters

Submitted to Contest #70

WARNING: Suicidal Ideations Tony: Why do they blame me? I didn’t do it. I would never hurt her. I laid back on my bed with the lights off, tear streaks drying on my face. I don’t know how long I’ve been laying here, maybe days. Time has no meaning to me anymore. Not after today. I’d tried to help, I swear I did. A burning ball of depression had been unfurling in my chest since that day. Every day has been worse than the last. I’d finally gathered up all of my courage to go to school and… And my friends looked at me like I was a ...

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“What We Owe To Each Other” by Bonnie Remmot

Submitted to Contest #70

“Sierra, open up!” she pleads, pounding at the door once, twice, five times. “I know you don’t have to work today.” The gentle autumn shower drips over her glasses, but she can still see a shadow make its way across the living room window. The door pulls back just as she starts pounding again, her fist falling through the open doorway. “God. Finley. What is it,” Sierra moans, and then squawks when Finley pushes her way inside. “She fucking escaped, Sierra, like fucking James Bond or something.” Finley uses her sleeve to wipe away...

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“The core of destruction” by Manu Jankus

Submitted to Contest #70

A sinister and corrupt desire kept pestering me, devouring my reason and determination as I gallivanted through the dark corridors of her inadequately illuminated dwelling, which contributed to the ambiance of utmost and perpetual gloom. Floriana, my fiancée, was absent from her residence for the previous ten days. I kept sulking about her home as she instructed me to see I ensure everything was in order until she returns. After her departure, I spent an hour parading in all my might around the residence, enjoying my fleeting freedom. Monoto...

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“Thinking It Over” by Tanja Cilia

Submitted to Contest #70

They framed me. It had been going on for weeks, not quite actually right under my nose, which is why I hadn’t noticed. Now, I fully understood the meaning of all those not-so-subtle comments before I wen out on Sick Leave... like you’re too good for your own good, and he who sups with the devil must have a long spoon, and beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. They had been siphoning off money, and stealing goods, from the warehouse, while I was off work and recuperating from having all my teeth pulled out, and dentures fitted, after a ve...

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“Istvan, Agi, and the Chimera's Despair” by Tyler Runde

Submitted to Contest #70

In a heavily-wooded area, not far from a swift-moving river the locals called the Gyors Veszedelem, there once existed a small village. In this village there lived a boy and a girl named Istvan and Agi, who had grown up beside one another as neighbors. As far as children went, they were decent enough, imperfectly kind-hearted and unintelligent in the way that children often are, but they were also very wicked for how their actions would visit misfortune upon their hamlet. It was one morning that the children set out together into the woods...

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“Sweet Revenge” by Samadhee Ismail

Submitted to Contest #70

Priya The radio is turned on and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is playing in the background. I am in a classical music mood and so I have turned on the only classical music radio channel that I could find. Listening to classical music soothes my brain, making me feel calm and rationale and I could think properly. I was in the kitchen, cooking, the smell of spicy chicken curry and basmati rice cooking in the rice cooker filling the whole kitchen. The soothing piano tunes coming from the piano is calming down my nerves. Then I heard the kn...

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“Friends Suck Sometimes” by Jesse Lopes

Submitted to Contest #70

Inspiration: “I feel bare. I didn't realize I wore my secrets as armour until they were gone and now everyone sees me as I really am.” ― Veronica Roth, Insurgent’ I've worked so hard to keep it hidden—days after days of constant stress and headaches. Constant worries and being so skittish. I had avoided hanging out with them, my friends, just in case they caught on, just in case I was a bit too obvious. Yet somehow, they still found out. I don't know how or when it happened, but they began to look at me differently, lo...

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“Dying Wish” by Vanessa Kilmer

Submitted to Contest #70

I lay dying in bed in the nursing home. I hate this place. I don’t want to be here. I won’t stay long. Everyone knows this. I made my wishes known my whole life. I’m here because I fell at home when getting up during the night to pee. I missed the toilet and went over backward into the tub. My husband tried to lift me out, but he’s old, too, (three years more than my eighty), so he called the emergency squad, and even though I said no, they brought me to the hospital and then moved me here for therapy to get me back on my feet. But that is...

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“The Savage Truth of Fear” by Elizabeth Inkim

Submitted to Contest #70

Once upon a time, there lived a girl who was once kind, if only she knew that the path to hell was paved with good intentions. There was once a time where she believed in fairy tales and love, but those frivolities had long since died in her chest. If only she had known the raw, savage truth of existence. Mortified by the taste of blood in her mouth, Nadine had not let the curling fingers of grief wrap itself around her heart since she had drowned in the lake. If only she had died that day, if only they had lived. With ...

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$50

Prize money

731

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 04, 2020 EST

Won by Irene Rebello 🏆

Title: What you made me.

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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