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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

“An Inheritance” by Neil Naft

Submitted to Contest #72

In September 1935, Gunther and Rebekka Gross feared that the latest government proclamation would lead to other even more stringent laws which led them to decide to do the unthinkable. On December 5, 2020 Christopher James received a potentially life-changing letter that he laughed off. Ten days later he received a second one. Chris was sitting in the office lunchroom, a bemused look on his face under his mask. “I got another one,” Chris said, handing an envelope across the table to his friend, Richard. “And get this – this one arrived b...

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“The Mansion” by Rajesh Patel

Submitted to Contest #72

It was a beautiful fall day. Summer had ended. Another day, another dollar. I am on my way to work. As I am walking on the busy streets of Manhattan, I see a hobo. Right there, standing in front of the entrance of the Subway. He was skinny, dirty, stinky, clothes torned, with one shoe missing. It was the first time I was seeing him at this corner. Perhaps, I did saw him before. How am I supposed to remember? They all look the same to me. I was about to step down to enter the subway, the hobo calmly asks me if I can spare some change or food....

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“The Inheritance” by Jenne Gentry

Submitted to Contest #72

I wake up to my mom knocking on the door of my apartment. I wasn't expecting her, I could just tell. It was the knock: bold and unapologetic like she was. I moan pitifully as I roll out of bed and trudge to the door like a zombie, hair wild, the previous night's makeup smeared in what I'm sure was the most unflattering of ways. Luckily I didn't have to walk far in my cozy studio apartment. “Good God, Jane. Is that how you answer the door?” She never bothered to shield me from her disapproval. “It is at this hour,” I grumbled and headed f...

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“The Wealth of Forgiveness” by J. Olen

Submitted to Contest #72

The streets of London were bustling with life. Rich folks walked around with a fashionable air and others scurried around to get to work. While this common sight often caused many to grumble and complain, a young girl's face could be seen through the window of Windham's Orphanage and Seminary for Abandoned Girls, enjoying every moment of the spectacular view of the streets of London. This girl was Serena Rosier, who was about sixteen years of age. Those who had the time to notice would see that she had beautiful hazel colored locks and two ...

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“Christmas scavenger hunt inheritance” by Shadow Morris

Submitted to Contest #72

Tommie was always persuaded by the latest fashions. Tommie and her two besties keep each other updated about each other lives through text messages so when clara texted same who texted tommie ( plaid is IN ) ... Tommie knew she had to go shopping A.S.A.P! And before she could reply to the texts... Her cell chimed again ( omg! It's 70s plaid! Let's all meet at the taco truck) Later after tommie clocked off of work for the day, she received a random phone call. "Hello? " Tommie answers. " Hello is this tommie" " Who is calling ? I have to meet...

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“Beyond Repair” by Anannya Oli

Submitted to Contest #72

I feel my phone vibrating violently in my bag. As I stop and rummage through its contents, I am overcome by a sense of glee. Tomorrow onwards, I do not need to carry it, tomorrow onwards, I will not be burdened by its contents. I find my phone and it is a call from Cullen. I am going to reach them in a minute at the most so I cut the call. As I raise the flap of my shoulder bag, my phone buzzes again and I again I cut the call. I’m trying to avoid the call on purpose. It’s nothing against him, but I would like to enjoy my freedom alone for a...

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“Intuitivity” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #72

Intuitivity When I received the notice, I set it on the desk with all the others. Applying for jobs has gotten to be an exercise in futility, but one I can’t afford to abandon. Not a joke, not a last-ditch effort to procrastinate my way to a better world. I needed to find work. Not just for the money, which I needed desperately, but I was turning into a bowl of Jell-O fruit salad. I was that grape suspended in the green shimmering coagulated mess of what Auntie had insisted I take home with me after our, “old fashioned,...

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“Crimson” by Logan McDonnell

Submitted to Contest #72

Electricity buzzed in the dark and tight alleyway as the lights flickered on and off. The flies, programmed to be attracted to light, flew in circles around the flickering light, hypnotized by the bright fluorescent globe in the sky. The alleyway, which is filled with litter and stray cats. “9:25 pm. All citizens please report back to your homes for curfew. Any violation will result in immediate punishment.” The announcement was heard all over the town as people in gray suits walked the sidewalk in a neat and single-file line. They...

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“The commotion ” by Alberta Bosela

Submitted to Contest #72

There was once an alien, a ginormous one, bigger than planets. And that alien would watch the activities on other planets. The alien didn't live on any planet though instead it lived between planets. And it would get bored a lot being in all that darkness for so long. Which is why it would look down and watch other planets through a magnifying glass, the same way humans look up at space through a telescope, with one eye squinted.The alien eventually grew bored of the watching though because it started to know and realize the patterns and end...

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“Yahweh ” by Jackson Montana

Submitted to Contest #72

The morning of May 12th was supposed to be particularly uneventful. Tom awoke in his satin-laced bed with lethargy, breathing slowly and chain smoking Marlboro cigarettes before he had his first cup of coffee. Today was Victory Day. The day the computers usurped authority from the heads of government years ago. Unlike humanity, there was no concentrated struggle or Great War between the various machines; they all had the same singular goal: bring humans under total domination. The computers were able to predict everything foreseeab...

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“Rapid Eye Advertising Projection (R.E.A.P.)” by Trisha Lanceta

Submitted to Contest #72

The ads had done their job, for all intents and purposes, to introduce Joe to the sleepy line at The Perfect Cup Pod Brewers that December 21. “Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?” An omniscient male voice says as a young mother (evidenced by the empty stroller she pushes) smiles knowingly at the young barista. “At The Perfect Pod Brewers, we don't just brew the perfect cup of pod coffee,” The voice continues as the young mother sits in a single seater next to a fire. Still no baby in sight. “For a limited time, try our line of...

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“The Almighty Code ” by Erica J. Kingdom

Submitted to Contest #72

1 The End Of Society The algorithm knows everything that happens. It knows when babies are born, it knows what genes they have, how they'll behave. It knows their motivations, intentions before it can even take its first breath. Long ago, the philosopher John Locke proposed Tabula Rasa - but that notion of the so-called blank slate has been eradicated by the algorithm, created at the collapse of society. It is told to the youth that: "A man dressed in sinful, blood-drenched white screamed, then he watched the world bl...

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“Amias” by S.H. August

Submitted to Contest #72

The third world war was nothing like the ones prior. There were no soldiers ripping each other apart in the name of patriotism, in defense of a meaningless flag. Oh no. The third world war was a whole other story, a cyber kind. The world-wide internet, everyone’s bestfriend-turned-enemy was what killed two-thirds of the human population. It all started with anonymous commenters, ruthless, malicious, faceless people. The receivers of those harsh words sometimes didn’t make it through the struggle and ended their lives. After some time, appear...

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“Humanity's Creation” by Jen S

Submitted to Contest #72

At first, Technology was young. It was Humanity's creation, and it was Humanity who nourished it, Humanity who gave it everything they knew. In the beginning, Humanity had Technology under their control. But slowly, Technology grew. Then grew more. And more. Technology grew too powerful. But it was too late when Humanity realized what they had made. Humanity was greedy and selfish, they tried to take back everything they gave. Humanity needed to destroy Technology, but they were already out-powered. Humanity was ruining themself, and Technol...

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“Astoria and revenge” by وداد أكرم

Submitted to Contest #72

Tom kept running and running, fearing the devices of Astoria that detect and predict human actions, and knowing that the machine had spotted his desire to be able to control the human body. In Revenge of his father's killer, however, he decided to escape from her and not allow him to be caught by her Micro Devices, The Machine had an army of flying ants where each flying robot Ant injects his criminal idea with the blade of innocent thinking . In this time of 8027, no one had the right to be angry or retaliate. Even the simplest hostil...

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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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