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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

“Gay means Happy” by Sophie P

Submitted to Contest #72

Like always, I woke up and was super happy! My Batman slippers on the hardwood floor ready to be put on, and the smell of orange juice and pancakes in the morning always had a wonderful feeling! So then i got up out of my bed, and put my Batman slippers on my feet and started to head toward the kitchen to have breakfast. While i was at the table I was thinking about my best friend James, He has been my friend since 1st grade, and he always calls me Sabie instead of Sabastion, My real name. After breakfast i headed towards the bus and gave my...

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“The Skill of A Man” by Sunday Akinrelere

Submitted to Contest #72

Harris got home feeling excited. He could not hold his joy as he handed the slip in his hands to his poor mother. His mother did not hesitate to read what was printed on the slip. Out of excitement, she embraced her only son, Harris, and said some words of prayers.Harris had just been offered a provisional admission into the College to study a lucrative course.However, the challenge was finance.Harris' mother was a widow who could hardly afford two meals daily. Her concern was how her son, Harris, would go to the College and graduate with a ...

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“The Independent Market ” by A Moli

Submitted to Contest #72

I scan my chip that’s implanted in my wrist then get on the public vessel. I am exhausted after studying for the marketing exam in the Wikipedia Library on campus. I sat back and closed my eyes, feigning sleep, when in reality I just want to avoid seeing the Trash as we fly around the border of their territory and ours, the Promised Land. The border is guarded by enforcers; their job is to keep us safe from them. I hate to see the Trash. They wear rags and hobble around like trolls, cowering from the sun. As a society, we have failed them. M...

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“The Lucky "Evox"” by Anastasia Stratu

Submitted to Contest #72

Sequence One. Adagio The bright yellow lights somehow compensated for the dismal décor of the premises, but still, the grey carpet and the bare nondescript walls were not exactly eye-feasting material. Ariadne saw no point in decorating her small windowless office. She was replacing the company’s graphic designer who was on maternity leave, and her contract was about to expire. So the only concession to embellishment was an Alpine landscape pinned in front of Ariadne’s desk. She took the photo for the poster herself at home, in Italy. She ...

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“A Good Judge of Character” by Ron Mendoza

Submitted to Contest #72

Jack glanced at his wall clock as his cell phone continued to ring savagely on the bedside table. 3 AM. Who would call him at three in the morning? No one even bothered to him during daytime anymore. He grudgingly sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the phone, letting it ring for a few more seconds before picking it up. “Hello?” he said, his voice grumpy. “Mr. Jack Alvarez?” a man from the other line inquired. He yawned. “Yes, this is Jack.” “I am calling to offer you a job.” That made him sit straight. “What job?” “An embal...

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“Golden Ticket?” by J.B. Dixon

Submitted to Contest #72

Daniel yawned as he entered the Café Bean for his shift. Sleep had been elusive to him the night before but he still had a job to do. Yawning again, he weaved through the few customers to the back room, hung up his coat, tied his apron then punched in. “Morning, Daniel.” Margot’s voice startled him. “Apologies, but you know you’re almost an hour early.” Brown eyes blinked. “You don’t start ‘til seven.” She pointed to the posted schedule, and the corresponding date showed that he was early. “Well, I’ll be.” “Tell you what: go ahead and ...

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“Pencil Pete” by Christopher Muldowney

Submitted to Contest #72

Pencil Pete led a life well-suited to his moniker. To speak of this now; however, would be akin to talking of truce and treaty before one began to reminisce on how it was the war itself began. So, with your pardon, let us rewind the clock by a good thirty-seven years to better comprehend the life that followed. His mother, a woman as stoic as the dead, had known practically since the moment of his conception that he would never be worthy of the royal bloodline he'd be born into. With her previous four children, the pregnancies has been as ea...

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“Goodwill To All Women” by Lily Joseph

Submitted to Contest #72

Goodwill To All Women The offices of Messrs Ingleford, Chisholm and Took loomed large above me as I stepped down from Percy's carriage. I felt his presence, warm and reassuring, behind me, along with that of my closest friend, Arabella. The street was dirty with grey snowmelt, causing Arabella to wince prettily as she gathered up her skirt, and we crossed the path towards the glossy black door with care. Lamplight led the way to the office of Mr....

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“Thanks Dad!” by EDWIN HINOJOS

Submitted to Contest #72

Not again, another message from another lawyer regarding my recently deceased father. Great. I've had about fifteen different letters so far, all talking about how my dad had left me something. None of them were worth much. But this one was a little different and looked a little fancier than the rest. So I went on ahead and opened it. It wasn't about my dad, it was about another relative. The letter was for the estate of my great-uncle Xavier Gonzalez. According to the letter he passed away shortly after my dad ...

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“The Gem Inheritence” by Sarah Tripp

Submitted to Contest #72

The rain began to pound on the windows of the classroom. The tap-tap of pencils on wooden desks echoed and bounced off the stone walls. Although the test was in progression hushes and whispers still could be heard. The faint crease between Mr Cruzers eyebrows suggested he was not impressed with the behaviour of his students. I look up, hiding behind my cascading brown hair. The clock was ticking, and my nerves began to rise with every minute passing. Anything… If there is any time to interrupt this would be the moment. Minutes passed u...

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“Family Ties” by Rita Gulick

Submitted to Contest #72

A knock at the front door pulled Denny away from his newspaper and coffee. He laid the paper down and proceeded to the front door. On the other side of the door stood a small, mousey little man with thick round glasses and a bowler hat. He was wearing a neat brown suite with a blue bowtie. "Good Morning." The most man began tipping his hat to Denny. "My name is Fredrick Wright and I am afraid I have some awful news." "Who died?" Denny questioned, worried. " You are truly intuitive Mr. Papel." Said Mr. Wrigh...

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“Birmingham's Millions” by Cosma Nova

Submitted to Contest #72

June 12, 20151032 Pacific HeightsSan Fransisco Ca.94115To Myles Birmingham, Congratulations Mr. Birmingham. You don't know me and I you, but as I find myself bedridden as the result of my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, I seemed to have been thinking of to whom I may bestow my fortune on of late. Of course, I have no immediate relatives or children, as I have always deemed the thought of marriage deplorable, but I find myself currently with no offspring for me to bequeath my belongings to. (Which is my fault really) But it has led me to a c...

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“The Inheritance” by Linda Brodsky

Submitted to Contest #72

Elouise Parker shook her head and said, “I’m sorry, Mr…” “Wellingford,” Arthur Wellingford said, for the third time. He left the smile out this time. This young woman was clearly having difficulty taking in the news he’d just delivered, but that did not excuse her failure to retain such simple information as his name. “Mr. Wellingford,” Elouise Parker said. “Yes. I’m sorry. I just. You can understand… I’m…this isn’t…” she raised both hands, palms up and gave a small shake of her head. “Yes. Well. Shall we proceed?” “No. We can’t,” El...

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“Snowball” by Jeremy Barron

Submitted to Contest #72

I was cocooned in the rugged warmth of my man cave isolated and free from the filth of the outside world. My sound system was primed, pulsing and ready to go. I watched movies best suited for the big screen down here on my 75-inch screen. After years in Afghanistan, I was finally home and in my comfort zone ready for a break from humanity. I kicked back patted Snowball my new dog who I recently rescued from the animal shelter. He was an unadoptable Pitbull and he bit my hand a...

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“Songbird in a crowd” by Amanda Stuntz

Submitted to Contest #72

Shelly stared open-mouthed at the man sitting across from her. “This is a joke, right?” “I’m afraid not miss. Your great uncle on your mother's side, twice removed, has left you with a great deal of money. There are, of course, some stipulations.” The lawyer looked down at the paper in front of him. “What kind of stipulations.” She knew it was too good to be true. No way would anyone give her two million dollars worth of money and investments. “Looks like there is just one thing you have to do.” The older man pushed his wire-rimmed glass...

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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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