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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

“Baking Romance ” by Senorita 2006

Submitted to Contest #72

“You are cancelling plans for a trip to Mexico?” Marissa asked, disbelief creeping into her tone. “Yes.” Rerie nonchalantly stared into her friend’s eyes, who also had booked herself a plane to Mexico with her. “Are you sure you wanna miss this over delayed trip?” Melissa pulled her hair band off her hair, letting them free before laying beside Rerie, on her bed. “Yes.” “For an annual holiday festival? WHY?” “Yes, and because I love Grans. We need to grab onto anything that will help us do better financially.” “And do...

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“Totally unexpected” by Tara Draper

Submitted to Contest #72

Nona felt at her wits end. Her marriage to Brad for 9 years had fallen apart. Getting away to the country was perfect for her mindset at that moment. Little did she know what was waiting for her just around the corner....she drove to the nearest gas station in Buckville to fill up her tank & grab an iced coffee. Holding up the coffee machine was a familiar face, but she thought there was no way she knew this man. She was out in the middle of nowhere, knowing no one. He realized Nona had been patiently waiting for some iced coffee, & ...

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“Marigold” by Jordan Bonn

Submitted to Contest #72

I stared at the body for quite some time before realizing, indeed, it was my wife. The shock had not quite set in when I was called a day prior, held up in a Days Inn arguing with what's considered concierge over the quality of my bath towels, and told by Cecilia she died during a visit to her sister's grave. Cecilia's voice wasn't firm, it never is, and she clearly was expecting a reaction out of me as she uttered she's gone, Will. She's gone. I felt a familiar emotion, some kind of feeling gnawing at my chest where I visualize a heart...

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“Intentional destruction” by Seeker C

Submitted to Contest #72

December 2020 I couldn't explain this overwhelming desire and passion fused with disgust and repugnance that filled my mind and body. I looked at his eyes filled with lust and longing as I reached out to him to quench my thirst. I was sickened and exhilarated. He made me excited but terrified. I wondered if she was calling him right now and waiting for him to pick up the phone that was on mute. He was mine this evening. I had him all to myself for a few hours but was it worth it? I could lose everything but wasn't this all I had wanted?&nb...

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“A Thread of Destiny” by Indy Meendy

Submitted to Contest #72

I can see the doctor's finger hazily who is opening a bandage on my eyes. Ply by ply, slow but sure, I can see anymore. It is indeed still imperfect - everything seems blurred - but at least I can see the light now. I can see the dr. Arga's baby bluish room - An opthalmologist who took my case as well as my mom's senior in college - my mom's worried expression, and dr. Arga who is now flashing his finger-sized torch into my eyes."So how is it? Is there any problem?" Asks mom."It is developing well. The reflex is nice, but take it slow, as it...

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“A Sunrise for Zoe” by Cora Barlow

Submitted to Contest #72

Zoe barely made it in time. “I’m here! I’m here,” she gasped, holding out the canvas as she bent over. The man who was about to lock the door scowled, but took the painting and rushed into the building. Zoe followed, wiping the sweat from her forehead. The art hall stretched out before her, inviting her to come look at the many masterpieces hanging up on the walls, but she ignored the urge and hurried after the man with the painting. She didn’t have time to drool over them, no matter how much she wanted to. They entered backstage to f...

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“Strawberry Milk” by Riva Darva

Submitted to Contest #72

She was sitting on the steps of the empty school grounds looking for all the world as if there would never rise another sun. She sniffled and her shoulders heaved on a heavy sigh. For someone so young, it was upsetting that she would feel so low... at least that was what it felt like to him. She couldn't have been a day over sixteen, surely. The gardening tools he'd been using all day were stacked and finished and now, he held a box of his favourite strawberry milk in hand, ready to indulge in the favourite treat of his childhood as a rewa...

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“My bully ” by Melia Mendoza

Submitted to Contest #72

What's wrong with me? There must be something wrong with me to be this stupid I thought to myself before shaking my head. "Watch where your going freak" I heard Andrew say I looked down at my feet quickly and nodded silently I knew better than to talk to Andrew. I chanced a glance up and saw Andrew and his minions walking to there next class laughing at something probably me it always was. I sighed before shaking my head and begging to walk to my own class that I had now which was math. "Hey Flower" Max called from somewhere behind me I did...

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“A Class Act” by Tamara Shaffer

Submitted to Contest #72

I rented my new apartment with some reservations. It was bright and sunny but located next to a concert hall—lots of noise, I feared. But I needed something affordable, and I needed it quickly. Tess, my friend since grade school, was impressed. “Laura, just look at this,” she marveled, holding her hands outward to indicate the sunlight beaming into the living room’s four windows. “What more could you ask?” "A date this weekend would be nice,” I countered. Having just married her childhood sweetheart, Tess exuded enthusiasm about life i...

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“The Girl In a Cabin” by Fexeous Wheatley

Submitted to Contest #72

Hey, my name is Lula Miller. I live in a cabin not far from the castle that Prince Kace and his parents I've never met them but I've seen them around here once or twice. Anyway I never thought I would end up being Kace’s wife but let me tell you how it all started. One normal morning I went on a walk by the castle and I'm guessing Prince Kace was in a rush he came flying out of the gates, Then all of a sudden im on the ground right next to Kace I was scared at first until he got up and said “sorry I'm in a hurry I have a meeting with my...

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“About Turn” by Josephine Andersen

Submitted to Contest #72

About-turn There were many things Sara was afraid of, things of which she knew, she should not be afraid. She was afraid of spiders, afraid of frogs, afraid of insects with antennae. She could handle all these fears, as long as the things she feared, remained outside of her space. She was also afraid of Joshua! He was very often in her space because they were neighbours and their parents were friendly. They were neighbours in town and neighbours on the coast where they had holiday cottages. Joshua and Sara attended the same school....

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“I was Living, but He was Dying” by Elliot G

Submitted to Contest #72

CW: miscarriage I was living, but he was dying. That was the tragic reality that we had both been faced with--that we remained conscious of day by day. Most budding couples spoke of an optimistic and fulfilling future in each other's loving company, but I was living, and he was dying, so our relationship brought no such promises. When I had first noticed Adam, we had both been young and impressionable, still in our first year of high-school. A sudden and fast-spreading rumour had surged up at around the midpoint of that year about the s...

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“Nice Ride” by Nina Hahn

Submitted to Contest #72

Dust from the passenger seat airbag settled on the wispy hairs along my arms, which still stretched toward the wheel. Everything outside of my car remained the same as it had fifteen seconds ago--cars passing each other, turning left into the Marshalls-Target-Panera-Shoe Carnival plaza, cars parked in front of Chick-fil-A and Great Clips, cars waiting in line at Starbucks. I thought I’d just wait by the side of the road and watch cars pass my red Camaro and someone else’s blue something while I figured out what happened in those fifteen seco...

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“Consequences ” by Mary Rungo

Submitted to Contest #72

It was some giant, cosmic joke. It had to be. Somewhere, up in the stratosphere, whatever deities were still watching over us mere mortals were cackling. It was, ironically enough, hilariously unfunny. And, on top that, it was stupid, on my part, to let it go on as long as I had in the first place. It wasn’t like I hadn’t known what I was getting into. I read the brief; front to back, back to front, and in German (for good measure). I could recite it from memory. Captain Rhiannon Ellis, the pride of the Greendale Police Department,...

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“Evermore Mariyah” by Nushrica Choudhury

Submitted to Contest #72

The last thing I remember before everything went dark was walking to my car after my shift at the diner. There had been footsteps behind me, the sound of crunching gravel loud in my ears. Then I climbed into my car, and I was safe. The person who had been walking behind me continued on to the main road, a cigarette in his mouth. I had locked the doors and taken a deep breath, relieved that I had gotten to my car safely. Then, a sight that made my heart freeze in my chest. A face in my rearview mirror. And then darkness. *** I don’t kn...

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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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