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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#72: Shocking Developments

Have you ever heard that there are only so many types of stories in the world? Some people say seven, some say three, some six… Regardless of the number, the idea is that you can boil down any narrative into universal templates.

While it’s true that many stories do follow familiar structures (and understanding them can help you learn how to craft a compelling narrative), there’s so much variety in how those structures unfold that the best stories still feel fresh and original.

One of the ways writers manage this is by filling their stories with unexpected details — so this week, our prompts are all about characters finding themselves in situations they’d never have imagined. But to really get something unique, don’t stop there: ask yourself what would happen if your characters made each of the possible choices before them, then write the one that surprised you the most!

This week's prompts

Write a mystery where the detective realizes at the last moment that they have the wrong suspect.

Mystery – 117 stories

Write a romance where your character falls in love with the last person they expected to.

Romance – 193 stories

Write about someone getting a job offer they never would have thought to apply for.

Adults – 94 stories

Write about someone who gets an inheritance from a relative they’ve never heard of, but they’ll need to do something completely outside their comfort zone in order to collect it.

Teens – 144 stories

Write a science fiction story where all human behavior can be predicted — until your character does something the algorithm did not expect.

Science Fiction – 139 stories

Stories

“Got em” by Vameerah Darren

Submitted to Contest #72

“RED SUS!” “Nick you literally always say that! Just because I’m red,doesn’t mean I’m automatically sus!” I chuckled into my mic, leaning back in my office chair as the chaos unfolded in front of me. This was the third time I was crewmate since we started playing together, Nick and Jack always attacked each other with random susses that made no sense. But I mean, hey, it was funny to watch. I heard Kayla call my name. “Hey, why is Theresa so quiet?” My finger pushed down CTRL, “I’m just listening to what other people have to say.” ...

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“My Devine Encounter” by Lerato Moeketsi

Submitted to Contest #72

It was the last Friday of November when Lucy was released from prison after her ten years murder sentence. The police officers dropped her off in the middle of nowhere a few kilometers from the Prison. 'Madam, we have to drop you off here. If you are lucky, someone will give you a lift home.’ 'But Sir, you can’t leave me alone, please rather take me back to the Prison and I’ll get a lift from there.’ The other Officer flung the door open and ordered Lucy to step out. Puzzled, she stood by the side of the road and watched as the pol...

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“Cold Feet” by Michael Hayes

Submitted to Contest #72

You’ve got a letter”, exclaimed Danielle, “from a solicitor!” I cannot understand why. I haven’t done anything wrong; I thought as I gingerly opened the envelope. To my great surprise Aunt Hilda had passed away and left me ten million pounds in her will, but there was a catch. I didn’t know I had an Aunt Hilda; in fact, I didn’t know of any rich people in my family. Danielle, my fiance, was naturally excited. “So, what’s the catch?” “I have to live on the streets for a full month.” “Choose July.” “It has to be January”, I said realizing the ...

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“What is the Soul” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #72

It was beautiful in Pompeii II. I had to give the doctor that. The village was nestled in a valley surrounded by green forests and snowcapped mountains. Dr. Mark Hughes turned away from the window and faced me. In front of us was a holoscreen. Like a river, the data flowed from the top to the bottom of the page. “You see, Reporter Elijah,” the doctor said, “by using the program Algo we can predict human behavior. It takes people’s past experiences and predic...

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“A Surprise Inheritance” by Cheryl H

Submitted to Contest #72

One day I was on my way to work when my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, so I didn’t answer it. A minute later, the phone buzzed. Whomever it was left me a voicemail. I listened to it once I got to my desk.“Ms. Paul, can you please give me a call when you receive this message? My name is Frank Mills. I am a lawyer and was calling because I have some very important news to share with you regarding one of your family members. My number is 222-342-5233. Please call me back when you get the chance. Thanks.”As I leaned back in my chair,...

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“Have a Beer” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #72

It had been a long day for Al. The case that he had been assigned wasn’t a particularly difficult one, but it was time consuming. The good thing was that he had already been able to determine a suspect, and he was pretty sure that the guy he had fingered was guilty. Now the problem was the burden of proof. Al got up in the morning and made himself a cup of coffee. As he lit a cigarette, he pulled his notes towards him from the day before. Everything that he had ...

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“Last Night” by John Walsh

Submitted to Contest #72

We at the Hierarchy of Morpheus would like to offer you a position as a dream sorter in our human division. The doctors with beaked masks skate on frozen Styx. There are more names for us than anything else. The red-faced children build with sheets of glass. You should think of us as spirits. The fog blows over the ebony tree. We send dreams to all creatures that dream. The wooden clown dances in the sated baby’s fists. We often use coporeals with their squishy brains to do quality control. The coconut falls int...

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“Too Late” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #72

“Hey, O’Brien,” Detective Schwartzman pipes up on the ride to the murder scene, “If you could go back in time to anything, where would you go?” He paused for a moment to take a drag of his unfiltered cigarette, “When would you go? I should say.” Plainclothesman O’Brien didn’t answer his partner’s ridiculous question. Why was Schwartzman always asking ridiculous questions about time travel? The older detective kept his eyes on the road, he was attempting to foc...

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“Humans” by Joane Unknown

Submitted to Contest #72

Imagine being in a world where any of your moves, thoughts, sounds, feelings, are predicted. For example, you are thinking that you are hungry and the Boss already predicted what you are going to do, or, you like a boy and The Boss already predicted that you are going to have a relationship with that boy. I am Joane and this is the world I live in. No freedom, we are controlled. Since you were born, one of his employees, insert in your brain a small thing named P.F,M , that stands for Prediction For me. You cannot take it...

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“When a Door Closes” by Ali Anthony Bell

Submitted to Contest #72

It’s Sunday evening, November 1, 2020, the last day of a short weeks’ holiday from classes and I’m just finishing a two-hour weekly English tutoring session with a teenage brother and sister that I’ve been giving lessons to for about two years (less 6 months this year during the Corona virus lock down). We’ve finished the lesson and they’re competing with each other doing the hangman game, when I get a call from the superintendent of the high school where I’ve been teaching for just two months now. As my two learners are busy I answer. ...

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“Only You ” by Janae H.

Submitted to Contest #72

Kevin and I met two years ago working at a youth center summer camp. All the camp counselors worked in groups of two with a group of eight to ten campers. Were paired up for the entire summer with the same group of kids and that’s how our friendship started. Kevin and Sarah had the same English class their first semester and Sarah had a crush on Kevin. She knew we had worked together therefore, I set them up on a blind date and that was the start of them getting together. What I didn’t expect was, for me to be in the middle of their relation...

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“The second face” by Joane Unknown

Submitted to Contest #72

Today, Mr. Jackson, one of the best detectives, got a new case, about a woman named Sofia, that was kidnaped at her birthday party. Sofia was not that kind of girl that would run away with anybody, even if she was 20 years old. She just entered Faculty of Medicine. Her mother Melissa, told Mr. Jackson that she had a boyfriend. She told him that her boyfriend, Alex, was doing strange business with his friend, Mike. Melissa told the detective that Alex was not at her birthday because the night before he went to his parents in Florida. Mr....

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“Exercise in Futility” by Megan DeRouin

Submitted to Contest #72

Exercise in FutilityI stood in line with all the other Drainers. I had my hands clenched into fists at my sides, my dirty, bitten fingernails cut into my palms as I watched the knights patrolling the ramparts above us. Their metal faces were blank and expressionless. My stomach quivered as the line slowly shuffled forward.Everyone from the Ghettos was drained once in their life. After that we got to live on the other side of the wall where we were happy. You were assigned and lived in bliss, all the propaganda said so. I should have relished...

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“Class” by Vadasz Sara

Submitted to Contest #72

“I know it’s funny after all these years but every time I walk on the streets, I feel to be abroad and home, at the same time. It’s like… love.” “Could you please answer the question miss Kulmane?” detective Gillespie interrupted the young woman, although he felt guilty. It wasn’t the first time they’ve met however the very first occasion he was listening. Interesting, he noticed before, he thought eastern women used more make-up but Illa Kulmane seemed to break that habit. “Sorry detective.” Illa went on, rubbing her skull under the half...

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“Love Finds A Home” by Trinity Womack

Submitted to Contest #72

February 3rdDear diary, No. I believe I am a bit past the age where I should be saying “dear diary,” Perhaps instead, I should say, umm, Dear Silent Confidant. Yes, that is much better, though still not the best greeting. Still, that does not matter. My name is Hailey. Funny, I am a twenty-two-year-old woman and writing in a diary. I suppose it is not so weird, but it still feels a bit childish. No matter; the reason I got this diary, journal—yes journal sounds much more mature—is because ...

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$50

Prize money

687

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 18, 2020 EST

Won by Julie Ward 🏆

Title: Currents

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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