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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

“awkward love” by Saniah Johnson

Submitted to Contest #72

He's been secretly loving her for years. What he doesn't know is what will happen after he meets her. What he least expected was to find out that falling in love is only an illusion. I would always see her walking through the hallways at school. I’d try to sit close to her just so that I could admire her beauty. Her face transmitted peace and serenity. Her hair was long, wavy, and dark. She was physically perfect. She was the kind of girl I always longed for. On occasions, we’d exchange looks and sometimes greet each other. In those moment...

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“Sunday Morning” by Ellie Francis

Submitted to Contest #72

Sundays were Anna’s favourite day of the week. That Sunday, the last Sunday before everything changed, she woke early, in Jamie’s bed. She stretched, yawning, and his eyes fluttered open. They made love, slowly and lazily, soft touches and quiet murmurs. Around eleven they got up. Jamie disappeared into the bathroom, while Anna went to the kitchen. As usual, she found coffee waiting for her; black and strong, exactly the way she liked it. Jamie shared his flat with his brother Martin, and Martin was an early riser, even on a Sund...

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“In the Mirror” by Susannah Emrys

Submitted to Contest #72

I stared into the mirror. Any second now. My reflection looked back at me, innocent and unassuming. I dimmed the lights, and looked into my own eyes, my brown eyes, my empty eyes. At any moment they would fill, fill with a deep evil stare. I was terrified of the thing that would consume my reflection, the demonic face so similar to mine. But I was empty, and I wanted to see myself full. “Alright, fucker, where are you?” I ask. I tap the glass a little, hoping supernatural beasts worked the same way as goldfish. I sighed, and ...

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“Another Love Story Gone Wrong” by Ntsoaki Letseka

Submitted to Contest #72

AprilI put my phone down for the millionth time that Day. There were no messages but I thought to check. That was what my life had come to, what with being unemployed and single. Every day I dragged my feet just to reach the end and the cycle continued again. I was surrounded by quietness throughout. Do not get me wrong I was content, with being single in particular. The peace that came with being alone and abstinent was unrivalled. That was the first time I had ever dared face the world alone. In the beginning I was scared, petrified to sud...

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“Why Don't You Love Me? ” by Emily Z

Submitted to Contest #72

Love was always easy for her. In kindergarten, she greeted strangers with a warm embrace, her stick-thin arms willing to wrap around every knobbly pair of legs. Love was an emotion that flowed freely in her blood, infusing her every word with kindness; her every touch with tenderness; her every look with affection. The idea of hurting anyone was appalling to her. So she studied nursing at a local university -- local because she wanted to remain close to her parents. College life was enjoyable enough; she graduated at the top of her class, an...

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“Black and White” by Wanda Frazier

Submitted to Contest #72

Things always came easy for me especially when I put my mind to it. I have a strong sense of self-love and self-worth and I do not scare easily. I have six older brothers and I am the only girl. My parents have been married for forty years and I do not recall ever hearing them fight or even raise their voice to one another. I am sorry, I forgot my social grace, which was instilled in me at an earlier age by my mother, grandmother and even God almight...

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“Speeches” by Sara Blanch

Submitted to Contest #72

My roomate was a prick...and that was that, that's how this story begins. Before I truly start this speech I would just like to apologise to anyone this might offend including my brother and of course Cedric...the said roomate. Dear Cedric, I am sorry that you are such a prick...I am also sorry that you are going to be stuck with me for practically forever thanks to our ridiculous life spans. I'd like to begin with the fact that I never wanted to attend university in the first place, It wasn't my destiny...I wasn't the oldest. If it ...

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“Last lady on my mind ” by Aishat Abdullahi

Submitted to Contest #72

Dude, you sure wants to see this girl or you're kind of joking? See man am not joking seriously, "I can't believe of all the girls its ruqy that's making me go crazy "replied Adam. Then this is really serious said muby. I thought you said this girl isn't your class or kinda girl? You bullied, insulted and made her feel bad for just her status. Adam I thought you said ruqy is just a commoner and an ordinary girl who doesn't deserve a stare from you? This is out of my reach dude, I have to go attend to my work please. -------------------------...

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“Little White Liar” by Val-Rae Christensen

Submitted to Contest #72

Little White LiarIt was meant to be a lie. A little, white, innocent thing, but a lie nonetheless. He had asked me the question, and he expected an honest reply.The poor fellow was in love. He had not confessed it, but I had seen him at the balls lately held. I had seen him dancing with Miss Hermione Hewitt, had witnessed his attempts to charm her. And I had seen how she had teased and taunted him and then turned her nose up at him in disapproval.I had feared when he had first come to me that he wished me to encourage her toward him, for she...

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“Darling James” by Alison Clink

Submitted to Contest #72

DARLING JAMES By Alison Clink Darling James. How I adored him. From the hem of his designer jeans to the tips of his chocolate brown curls. I loved James more than anything. Mo...

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“An Atom of Affection” by Gabriel N

Submitted to Contest #72

She sat in her brightly lit office, journals and books sprawled on the table. She was exhausted but dauntless to have at her enquiry once again. Through her window she saw the moon stamped onto the sky. She heard the cold wind wheezing through everyplace. She hadn't brought along her jacket because she'd not planned to stay out this long. She still sat in, lethargic, about to relish in the joys of true independence, of not being accountable to anyone, of being divorced from the incessant need to be anywhere else right now. Having done the ch...

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“Falling in love with the jerk next door.” by Diana Huckaby

Submitted to Contest #72

Most people believe that all stories end with the girl falling in love with the guy next door. Because they were either best friends or they'd grown up together or something. That wasn't the case for Alexia Daniels and Clay Johnson. They had lived next door to each other they're whole lives. Only they sure didn't have feelings for each other. Clay was the big guy on campus football star, basketball captain, head of the student leadership committee, and all around golden boy. Also it didn't hurt that he stood at six foot three with blonde ha...

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“I Love Me” by Ryan Symonds

Submitted to Contest #72

Content warning: body image issues Months passed since he packed his bags and left her, yet the walls of the house they once shared were still dull and lifeless, reflecting how Arya felt inside. Their relationship started in the ninth grade and ended at the age of twenty two. Arya only knew who she was within that relationship and now that it was over, her sense of who she was vanished. Her tears stopped falling long ago, but the ghost of their streams left permanent marks on her cheeks. Across from her bed, propped up against the wall...

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“Investment of a Lifetime” by Stephen McLean

Submitted to Contest #72

Craig Thompson slides out his office chair and sitting down, gets into his Investment form, booting up his multiple systems which display the numerous world stock markets on the multiple monitors which are strategically situated around his desk. Being a twenty eight year old Investment prodigy, Craig has made the firm of Hanson & Hanson Investments millions of dollars in the last several months with eerily accurately calculated trades. Today, arriving at work way before the usual employee crowd arrives, because this time using investors ...

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“I Remember: A Broken Soul” by J. G.

Submitted to Contest #72

“Hello my love” was how I greeted her every single time. Every single malt scotch placed before me. The fellow drinkers at my sides, whether they were my fellows or not, I could feel their glances, their gazes and stares as I said the words. As if I was crazy. I didn’t have many fellows left in my life, so perhaps I was crazy. Crazy for the drink I was. She was crazy for me, too. I found myself at bars alone, where I spent most of my hours during the days that passed. Days that always felt the same, because well, they were. If I drown my ...

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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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