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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

“Love You Always (Not)” by Raquel Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #72

𝕁𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕖I stare at the TV, my eyes sometimes flickering to Ana.Her eyes are glued to the screen where a fighting scene is playing. Action music plays on a low volume in the background.History books with faded covers and ripped pages clutter the clean wood floor of the living room. What Ana doesn’t know is these ‘history books’ are filled with techniques. Special techniques.“Do you want a glass of water?” I ask, turning my head in her direction.Ana doesn’t break eye contact with the TV, as if they’re having a stare-down. She clears her throat ag...

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“The Smokeweb” by ℂ𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕒 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕨 🏳️‍🌈 (inactive For The Summer)

Submitted to Contest #72

The tinny voice echoed in General Zamox’s ear.Your recruit, Caelan Wexer, will show up at precisely 5:02 a.m., and her excuse for being late was that she saw a felis in the hallway.That, of course, was the Smokeweb, the cutting edge technology humans had invented right before they went extinct one hundred years ago, being replaced by a newer species, the homos.Archeological digs had found Smokeweb and had been instantly intrigued. What was the small wafer of metal? What was its purpose?They had discovered that Smokeweb could tell what a homo...

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“Whatever It Takes ft. B.W” by ✨Abby ✨

Submitted to Contest #72

Whatever It Takes ft. B.W 🥳Author's note: Hey everyone! I hope you guys are having a terrific Tuesday 😉. I just wanted to say a few things before you read on. This story is dedicated to my good reedsy friend, B.W! I really hope she enjoys it. I realize this is probably really bad, but I promise, I tried.Like I said above, this is probably really cringe, I'm sorry.I'm doing a question of the day from now on! Today's question is: would you rather live in the cit...

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“Don't leave Paradise” by Moon Lion

Submitted to Contest #72

"This is Android 51D, and I am reporting what the guidelines describe as abnormal or unusual behaviour," I informed the human liaison, Michael. I was late for my maintenance break, but I had found something odd.The human on the comms yawned, and I heard a slurping noise. "Suspicious in what way?""The human is behaving in a unique fashion, he has left the comfort of his domicile, and our GPS cannot determine where he is heading." I scanned the map dutifully, triangulating possible locations the human could be going to.The human liaison guffaw...

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“Hunter and hunted ” by Moon Lion

Submitted to Contest #72

I skid past the finish line, throwing my hands up. "And she beats him again! It seems like Eric Wilkins will have to try again next time!" I announced, just as Eric made it across the mark. Eric scowled at me goodnaturedly, pushing me. "Oh shut up, I was up half the night. And you beat me by four seconds." "Breaking news! Sore loser needs his beauty sleep." I mocked, rubbing my eyes to annoy him. Some other people made it, and I bumped fists with Lenny and Zoe. "Hey, I'm just kidding!" I pushed him lightly, winking at Ella as she ran p...

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“Under the Mistletoe” by Radhika Diksha

Submitted to Contest #72

"Hi, good morning,” I shouldn't be so excited, but I am. I like him no I love him.“Hm,” he says.“You look stressed, is everything alright?”“The exams are around the corner I want to score well. I want to secure a place in the college I want.”I take his hands and rub my fingers over his knuckles. I know he ...

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“Left or Right” by Vicky S

Submitted to Contest #72

Shuffling through a pile of dusty paperwork, Samuel paused to sneeze, causing goose bumps to appear along his arms. Rubbing his tired eyes, the ink still wet on his left hand leaving marks on his face, he glanced over at his fellow detective. He was asleep. His head was resting on a large, open book, and saliva had dribbled out of his mouth and onto the pages. “Hey,” he yelled, rubbing his arms to warm up. “Wake up!” His eyes bleary, Mike glanced around,” What’s the matter? I was only resting my eyes.” Snorting, Samuel pushed back his chair ...

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“Twisted Snakes” by Kristin Neubauer

Submitted to Contest #72

“I know this has been a difficult night for you,” said Nicole, hoping that her voice conveyed some degree of empathy and warmth. It’s been a difficult night for me too, pal. A difficult night, a difficult day, a difficult year. “You’ve been such a help, Mr. Chowdhury. If you remember anything else, anything at all, please call me. Even the smallest detail could help,” she continued, handing the little man her card. You’ve been no goddam help at all. A short man wearing a ski mask with a Hispanic accent and tattoos on h...

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“John's tale: a poetry-verse story” by Emmie Greensgate 🏗🔚🔚👫

Submitted to Contest #72

Author's note: The world that Chocolate Kisses started in, despite being the same place, is very different from the modern, twelve-years-later one, and you don't even need to read the first, unless you want to catch up on details like who Emilia is, how come Ellen and Joseph are married, and why their daughter is named Chocolate. The original was very sentimental and sweet, but as we go on, I decided to branch into a sort of mystery-crime-adventure genre, with lots of humor to balance it out. If you would like the story to become a little ni...

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“The Case of the Missing” by Hema Saju

Submitted to Contest #72

Intuition beguiles reason. Truth lay sabotaged, intrigued, disoriented. It was a perfect heist. It was also the case of the missing. It happened in mid-March, when the apolitical collective was struck by an intra-party feud over the allegations that forced the erstwhile administration to quit. While the social commentators reflected on the not so palpable phenomenon of social realities, the media digressed, discussed and debated. ==== &...

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“The Wrong Suspect!” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #72

The museum was loaded with swarming, lively tourists. A group of Russians yapped amiably as they pointed to a glimmering diamond balanced inside a glass cage carefully. Guards cocked proudly at the front of the glass. A name was etched into a hefty label nearby, bearing, fair letters. "The Hope Diamond".A red-haired, stout man leant casually on the railings of the museum. He punched a couple of numbers into his Blackberry. A bronze watch shimmered on his hairy wrists, as he limped realistically away, eyeing the crowd slowly. A group of kids,...

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“Magnificent Mile” by D Kase

Submitted to Contest #72

“Lastly, Scarlett Bowen, Jack Cesto bequeathed ownership and sole proprietor of the social media platform, SelfiCesto under certain stipulations he has procured. You must relinquish your smartphone, laptop, tablet or anything that ultimately has a screen. You are to not post anything on social media whatsoever. You are to live in one of Mr. Cesto’s condos locked from the outside main entry door in Chicago, Illinois on Michigan Avenue. If you can abide by these stipulations for 30 days, SelfiCesto and it’s entire entity will be yours to do wi...

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“This Fear of Mine” by Maggie Deese

Submitted to Contest #72

It wasn’t the building that scared me, necessarily. No—the building was actually quite pretty with a large crystalline fountain at the entrance surrounded by miniature dogwood trees. Glassy windows reflected the sun, up to five stories tall. Rows and rows of flowers always lined the sidewalk leading from the parking lot to the rotating door entry, changing with the seasons.At the moment, bright red poinsettias stuck out of the soil, greeting everyone with Christmas cheer. If I were anywhere else, anywhere at all, I would’ve pulled out my pho...

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“The Mystery Note” by Akshaya Rajan Babu

Submitted to Contest #72

“One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, three….” Yeah, I started counting like Ross, from the FRIENDS series, ever since I watched that tanning episode. And this was AFTER I had finished counting all the hundreds of dots that adorned Thalia’s shirt, who was sitting in front of me. Seriously, do all the clocks in the school run at a snail’s pace?? Ugh, I couldn’t wait for Ms. Pink to complete sermonizing about random dudes who did not-so-random stuff and then leave the classroom. I can imagine what all of you are thinking. Y...

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“Graduation's After Party” by Jasey Lovegood

Submitted to Contest #72

Graduation’s After Party I never expected to fall in love with Esme Peltonen. Ever. She was the one who sat at the back of the classroom, who never raised her hand in class, the girl no one noticed. Except, me. I would be seated next to her since everyone else was too afraid. “She’s a witch!” They would say and they would push me towards the back, “You have to sit next to her Ryder, you’re the worst after her!” Which to be fair, hurt a little, but I did as they told me to. Ever since the start of Year 10, the year I got my growth spurt, ...

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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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