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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

“The Petrification Gene” by Sadee Mae

Submitted to Contest #70

Your mother can’t prepare you for the questions your own daughter will one day ask. She will grit her teeth to keep from screaming as you whine and beg. “Why? Why? Why!” She’ll finally snap. She’ll tell you that you won’t like the answers. She’ll warn you that the day you’re posed the question, you may not be so cocky. But she can’t teach you the secret to subtlety. The answers are always hard to find, even when you’re the one who has them.“What are they talking about, Mommy? The teachers at school don’t make any sense.” &nbsp...

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“Betrayed” by Alejandra Flores-Jimenez

Submitted to Contest #70

Maria lay, curled up on her bed in a little cocoon of blankets, headphones perched upon her ears. The only light source in the room was the lit screen of her phone as it displayed her music choice: only songs about heartbreak. The blue light illuminated her soft features and reflected her grey skin. Her lip quivered as she held herself close, black streaks of mascara smudged on her round cheeks as she sniffled and smudged it some more with the back of her hand. What had Charlotte been thinking, then? Had Maria done something wrong? Something...

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“Brown Bottles” by Diddi .

Submitted to Contest #70

“It’s been two weeks Hugh, have you decided on burial or cremation?” She asked quietly, with tenderness, and I hated her for that.“I dunno, but I really have to go mom.”“You can’t avoid it, she was your wife Hugh, you have to let her rest in peace. I can help-”“She is still my wife. Listen, I’ll decide later, I really have to go. I love you.”“I love you too, listen you should come over later.” I hung up, and made an attempt to swipe the incessant tears that ran down.Two weeks ago I didn’t mind a call from my mom, but two weeks ago I cou...

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“Fix It” by D. Alfonso

Submitted to Contest #70

I tried everything. Promises of chocolates, game tickets, and countless apology notes and letters. He wouldn’t talk to me. He wouldn’t answer me. “He’ll come out when he’s ready,” my sister assured me, but when would he be ready? I paced the hallway with my hands behind my back. I couldn’t sit still. When I sat at the kitchen table, my fingers drummed against the game board that we had set out a couple of hours before. The game pieces were still set out, waiting for someone to claim them. I rolled the thimble around in my hand and lo...

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“The Murder of Presi Bavver” by Lindsey Starrberri

Submitted to Contest #70

The Blauevmanc County Police Station was a horrible place for officers and criminals alike. The station had been built in 1932, and, to most everyone's sadness, had been one of the only buildings to hold up during the second world war. The station was built from old withering bricks, and the man who was in charge of keeping the ivy along the sides of the building contained was too busy hitting on women to actually get the job done. The inside was even worse. The oak doors were creaky on their rusty hinges, and the musty concrete jail cells...

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“Are We There Yet?” by C. Reese

Submitted to Contest #70

Lola Barlow stared at herself in the full-length mirror, smoothing her hands over the silken skirt of her dress and wondering if this was how she was supposed to feel on her wedding day. Her mother stood over her shoulder, weeping, her cries the perfect veil to cover Lola’s growing discomfort. “Mama, don’t cry,” she told her mother. She watched in the mirror as the reflection of the older woman shifted, a watery smile crossing her face while she wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry, baby,” came her shaky reply. “You just ...

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“What's Done is Done” by Chet McHenry

Submitted to Contest #70

It’s a terrible thing to kill someone. No matter the reason behind the act there is no way to escape one simple fact: knowingly with premeditation or by accident you ended someone’s life and that someone’s death at your hand is irreversible. Once done there is no atonement or undoing-period. Jennifer looked down at Tony’s lifeless body oozing blood from the knife wound in his chest. How did things go so wrong? I, I didn’t mean to …All she had been doing was chopping up a potato for tonight’s mashed ...

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“One for sorrow, two for joy!” by Simanga Kunene

Submitted to Contest #70

"It is your turn to drive the kids to school this week!" I said exasperated from a week long trip which left me exhausted and in a foul mood."April, I can't. I am late already as it is." my husband said trying desperately to be nice."I haven't showered. Are they at least ready?" I said feeling invincible, about to make happen what could be impossible a minute ago."Kids! Mom will drive you, hurry! Bye April!" my husband said as he rushed out of the door.I woke up and grabbed my long oversized sweater and tights which I usually wear when I am ...

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“Ransom” by Sudeep Paul

Submitted to Contest #70

"911, what's your emergency," an operator spoke through the phone."I need help! My parents were kidnapped," I screamed, as I ran through the front door."Can you tell us about your location?" they answered. "We will send someone over as soon as possible.""Yes, please. My house is located on Carnaby Street, and the building number is 544," I quickly answered. I could barely keep the phone up because my hands were trembling so vigorously. "Some people in black masks broke in through my parent's window and kidnapped them. They just escaped now i...

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“That Crazy Darned Green Cat” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #70

That Crazy Darned Green Cat “Your money’s no good here, Ignatz. One shot of rye for you and out ya go when yer done,” Snapper Don, Rix’s bartender said in a stage whisper, straddling the fence on the Ignatz question. Fortunately, Iggie could nurse a drink like he was testing Zeno’s Paradox: When he drank half a shot, there would be half left over, then another half after he drank that one, and so on, and the glass would never be empty. “Appreciate the hospitality, Rix. Considerin’ the weather out there. And the weat...

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“Christmas Candy Criminal” by Ryan Haynes

Submitted to Contest #70

*In this story you are the main character, and you get to decide what happens next. Be cautious with your choices, as the wrong ones will give you a bad ending. Make the right choices and you will reach the true ending!* You are alone in the living room of your apartment, relaxing on your couch watching your favorite TV show. You are eating your favorite snack and enjoying your program, as well as the view of your holiday decorations. Your program is then interrupted by a breaking news cast. &nbs...

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“relieving your guilt” by Fauziah !

Submitted to Contest #70

I feel like my heart is going to explode out of my chest as we drag the bag out to the backyard. As I walk, I can’t tell whether the weight of my guilt or the weight of the bag was heavier. “Can you walk a little quicker- I’m not tryna be here all night,” Holden says to me. He looks up and rolls his eyes, assuming he saw the befuddled expression on my face. “What’s the problem,” he says. Dropping my end of the bag I say, “Why are you acting like we didn’t just commit a crime- I mean is this a normal thing for you?” “We? Colin, yo...

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“Bonzo” by Felicity Edwards

Submitted to Contest #70

Man and dog were inseparable from when Danny picked up the puppy. They went jogging together, shared the takeaways and left the containers strewn on the floor. Bonzo slept at the foot of the bed and crawled up to put his head on the pillow when Danny woke. The huge brown eyes stared at Danny, conveying the unconditional love the dog had for his human. This idyllic setup came to a juddering halt when Alice came into Danny’s life. Not while they were dating. She never objected to the doggy threesome cuddles on the sofa. Then she moved in with ...

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“Facing Eva” by Adam Wan

Submitted to Contest #70

“Am I going too fast, Keiko?” Haruto asked, slowing down on the seesaw— but of course, no reply. Averting his gaze to the floor, he simply smiled to himself, smiling inward— as if expressing to himself a thought, a feeling; or at the very least trying to, as if trying to convince himself of one, something true. He held his breath, feeling the evening wind blow, warming his skin and playing with his hair. He wanted to let out a sigh, but decided to keep it in; something was in his throat. It’s cold… The sun was setting by then, the horizon co...

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“Golden Girl” by Marion Donnellier

Submitted to Contest #70

Drops of sweat started to run down my neck as the substitute teacher reiterated the question, “What mistakes have you made in your life?”. Absolutely nothing came, I couldn't think of a single thing. I felt slightly embarrassed and foolish. The other students looked at me with a sceptical look. I was sure some of them thought I was nothing but a pretentious liar and I was certain I had lost my invitation to half the class's birthday bashes.There was always the time I may have cheated on my math exam by lurking over Nerdy Nelly's exam paper, ...

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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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