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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

“Sharing is Caring” by Maya Writes

Submitted to Contest #72

“Tabitha Cooper, successful businesswoman, January 17, 1936-February 3, 2020,” the tombstone read. The richest woman I knew couldn’t even afford a slight elaboration on her grave, Serena thought to herself. I can’t believe Great-Aunt Tabitha finally bit the long-awaited dust. She was the most successful woman in their family. Married to her job, never having a real partner or having any children. She died alone, her only legacy being her career. With no successors, she decided...

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“An Unexpected Inheritance” by Eunice Amero

Submitted to Contest #72

The Unexpected Inheritance Denise was in her last year of school. She was an only child, and they weren’t a rich family. Her father divorced her mom when she was just 3 years old and her mother has been working since in an old folks home, cleaning and making sure the elderly got their medicine. Joanie, Denise’s mother worked for years. She had no choice for she had her home to take care of and put Denise in school, along with bills to pay. Each day she got home she was almost too tired to do her own work so Denise would try...

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“With a Catch” by Mary-Claire Hanlon

Submitted to Contest #72

Viv was a city girl, living in a fast-paced world. She worked hard, went partying most nights, and (truth be told) she’d go home with just about anybody. She lived her life like there was no tomorrow. To call her a hedonist, would be understating it just a bit. She’d plan her holidays months in advance, so she could do as much in, and get as much out of, the time she spent away. If she was going to fly, it was business class. The sooner she got to her destination, the more she could pack in to her break. And it wouldn’t hurt if she met som...

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“"Sink or Swim?"” by Megan Wallace

Submitted to Contest #72

“I was eleven years old the first time I stepped on an airplane. My parents and I were flying from Virginia to California for my grandpa’s funeral. I freaked out and had an anxiety attack. It was so bad, my mother told my father that she would stay home with me while he went on his own. I don’t think he ever forgave me for my outburst.” I told my therapist this as she jotted down some notes on her legal pad before she asked “Was that the first time you recall feeling anxious?” “No,” I continued, “I remember hiking with my Aunt when I...

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“Inheritance ” by Simone Long

Submitted to Contest #72

I’m lying on my couch, watching TV, when I hear the doorbell ring. This, in and of itself, is extremely unusual. I never really get visitors apart from my two closest friends, and they know to just walk straight in. I’m a bit scared, to be honest, mainly due to the fact that I use a good portion of my free time to watch those true crime documentaries- you know, the ones where the single women living alone get abducted and thrown in a serial killer’s basement. I pause, for a moment, cursing myself for not moving into an apartment with one of ...

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“Mr. Valenhart ” by Oren Reed

Submitted to Contest #72

Scarlet Adams was just beginning the dishwasher when the doorbell rang. She walked to the door and opened it as far as the metal chain would permit her. Standing on the other side was a gentleman in a black suit. His arms were behind his back and his head held high, though he still managed to make direct eye contact with Scarlet. “Ms. Adams,” he began in a comforting, yet authoritative tone. “I’m Wyatt Crawford. I’ve come on business regarding your recently deceased uncle.” “I’m sorry,” Scarlet said, hugging the door closer, he...

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“A Million Eviction Letters/Dollars” by Larlin Reese

Submitted to Contest #72

I had my eviction letter in my sleeve as I drew out my pen, signing the papers and confirming my great uncle's death. Not like I really knew the guy. His bloodline had ended with him. No heir. No wife. Nothing to help his last name survive. It wasn't as useful either that he was born with two sisters who would be married-poor girls-at a young age, leaving him alone for what would be the rest of his life, owning a big house after his mother and father's death. What a sad life he must have had, I couldn't imagine the man that came with it. No...

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“The Request” by Joanna White

Submitted to Contest #72

Cecilia’s hands trembled where they clenched the steering wheel of her 1990 blue Porsche. It was the first car she’d ever had—a gift from her Mom for graduation. They hadn’t been able to afford one when she turned sixteen and got her driver’s license, but Cecilia was alright riding the bus back and forth—even though most kids her age already had their own vehicles by that time and could go wherever they wanted. Still, it was a wonderful gift, especially since she knew her mom couldn’t have afforded it. But now that she had a job working...

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“Jackpot” by Daksh Kalra

Submitted to Contest #72

Hi, I am Mark Woodland; I have been trying to get some cash lately but I haven’t been able to hit a jackpot. Like a lottery, a cool job, etc. But recently one of my uncles died. Everything he had is inherited from me. Not you, not my brother, not my sister, not my parents, ME. I don’t even know this uncle. This is where it all started.I woke up one morning and did my usual routine. Brush, bath, comb my hair, eat breakfast, and head to school. But at school, is where it got weird. I head to school, hang around as usual. But then I hear a scre...

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“The Lost Manuscript” by Laura Woodside

Submitted to Contest #72

I sat on my mother’s pristine leather couch, second-guessing why I’d even come. We never got along much when I was growing up and lost touch when I went to college. She thought I should have stayed at home and worked at the family brewery with her and my brother; I couldn’t think of anything I’d want to do less. When I’d told her I wanted to be a writer instead, she’d all but disowned me. She had no respect for such careers and was determined to convince me that it was foolhardy and that I could never make a living at it. It had been a yea...

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“A Vietnamese Inheritance” by All The World’s A Stage

Submitted to Contest #72

Sydney Jones sat in her small apartment’s living room, scrolling through Facebook for the umpteenth time today. Since the apartment’s only window opened to face a lovely slum alley and a 12-story building with no attractive features on its design, social media was her only true view of the outside world. It also didn’t help too much that she never left her tiny home. You see, many years ago, Sydney was diagnosed with agoraphobia, the fear of leaving home. Or, as Sydney’s therapist whom she met with once a week via Skype explained, it was the...

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“Leap of faith...” by San T.

Submitted to Contest #72

There was always something like a forgotten memory in Reine’s mind. It was an itch that came back from time to time, but the memory never surfaced. It was like a void inside her chest that kept her yearning.And the letter looked like a way to unveil it. But it sounded insane too.Dear Reine,You are grown up now. It took me so long to find you. But that I have found you finally, everything is worth it.I am sorry you had to suffer so much for so many years. Those days are past now.I am your aunt Tellisa. Your mother’s cousin. You probably do no...

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“Hiding in the Family Tree” by Tim Benson

Submitted to Contest #72

“Hiding in the Family Tree” It had been about three years since I’d tried what thousands of other curious people had; I’d bought a home DNA kit and traced my family’s history. It was just an effort to satisfy my curiosity and find out more about my roots than I’d been told growing up. A couple of my friends tried it and said it was an amazing experience to learn details of ancestors they never knew existed. My own experience was less satisfying. My report went back four generations, to Ireland and America, and the maps and fami...

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“The List” by 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻

Submitted to Contest #72

I have just received a letter saying that my great-uncle has just died. I have never met him and honestly, I didn’t even know he existed! It said that he left his will to… me? I don’t know why. Did he know me? He is leaving me 1,000,000, His mansion, and his horses. My great-uncle was rich! It says I have to do everything on the list. What list? Just as I say that, a piece of paper falls out of the envelope. I pick it up and read it. At the top it says, “The List (If you want the inheritance.)” I read the list, Wanting to get the money...

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“Last Wishes ” by WRL Battle

Submitted to Contest #72

I never met my Uncle Elbrazzor. His passing was the first time I ever heard of him. I guess he was the black sheep of the family. From what I gathered from my relatives, he had a bank account that went into the millions, but yet he always wore raggedy clothes, lived in a shack, and always smelled like a pile of walking garbage. My family held a cheap and quick funeral for him. I got the feeling they did it out of obligation rather than out of love. During the service, I heard whispers of the millions of dollars my uncle saved up. Some o...

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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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