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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

“The Money, Mansion and Melissa” by Emma Harris

Submitted to Contest #72

Namjun was a high school teacher. It wasn't his favorite job. The children were usually disrespectful and the job didn't pay much. It didn't help that he was probably a descendant of the God of destruction. He broke and ruined everything he touched. In fact, it was about a year ago that he had almost burnt down his friends bakery while trying to bake. He was calling roll call right now but he would be somewhat pleasantly surprised later into his lesson. "Ty! Get off of your phone. We're in the middle of a lesson! Do you want me to take i...

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“AN Unexpected Turn ” by Anastasia Smith

Submitted to Contest #72

I sigh as I finish closing up the store. Being a manager sucks. In the small town of Damerel just off the coast of Maine you don't get to many customers. In a town with only 2,008 people you don't make too much money either. I get in my car, it's past midnight. I close my eyes and wonder why it's all worth it, why do I have to keep going. Then the picture of my daughter's face swims before my eyes. Constance Eliza Mullin, that’s who I was doing everything for. Why I picked my lazy ass out of bed, why I only got five hours of sleep on w...

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“The Nuptial Agreement” by Sparsha Chatterjee

Submitted to Contest #72

"Hey! Jane, right?” he asked upon seeing her approach his table. She nodded her head in acknowledgement and they both sat themselves at the table. After exchanging pleasantries they sat together in a few moments of silence, with neither of them sure on how to proceed; this was not any usual scenario among two complete strangers to get acquainted with each other. "Should we get a cup of coffee?" he asked her after a while. "Yeah, sure," she replied, not wasting her words. Sipping on her coffee she asked him, "So what are we doing here?"...

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“Virginia Venture ” by Sean Reiley

Submitted to Contest #72

Brennan never knew he had an Uncle Joel. So, when a package came in the mail detailing his uncle’s death out in the wilderness of western Virginia (no, not West Virginia, but western Virginia) he was equally mystified and underwhelmed. “I mean, I feel for the guy….” Emotional confusion aside, Brennan figured his mom or dad would soon receive a similar letter detailing their estranged brother’s death. Neither did. A day later, while cleaning his room, Brennan looked at the creased envelope once ag...

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“Iridescent Isle Estate” by Keelyn Lucero

Submitted to Contest #72

Jeremiah walked up what had to have been at least thirty gold steps, squinting from the glare of the bright July sun reflecting off the stairs. Halfway to the top he began to chuckle to himself because people have talked about what they would or wouldn’t do for a million bucks or even declare they’d do anything for it. But the question becomes harder to answer when it’s for fifty million dollars. When you find yourself dressed in a metallic suit complete with a rainbow fur jacket trodding up the most gaudy stairs that ever existed to show yo...

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“Disbelief in the Stars” by Jaded Rose

Submitted to Contest #72

Amy peered through the peephole on her old apartment door. A tall man in an electric blue trench coat, black button-up shirt and pants with gold stars, wearing gold wire glasses stood on the other side. “Can I help you?” Amy called nervously. “My name is Ezekiel Cobra. I’m here to speak with an Amy Maestro. I have paperwork for her to sign about an inheritance she’s to receive from one of her uncles, Joseph Davenport.” “Never heard of him. Thanks for stopping by.” “He said you’d say that. He told me to mention something about you dr...

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“Born an Alien” by Jennifer Hansley

Submitted to Contest #72

Clover darted between the hovercrafts and swept around the corner market. The lingering calls of “Come get your meat!” rang after her as she hustled past the morning peddlers. The grilling aroma behind her remained in her nostrils, and her empty stomach despised her rush. She brushed between two more commuters, missing the heated exhaust pipes by inches. She couldn’t be late again. How would she explain herself this time? Covington Galaxy demanded strict obedi...

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“Everyday, the Same.” by Adeline Dunn

Submitted to Contest #72

Oliver U.S. sat up in bed. He looked over at the little grey alarm clock beeping at him to get up. It was 6:00 A.M. on a Monday morning. He turned to have his feet dangling off the bed. He slipped his shoes on and went to go look at the schedule. Just like it was ten years ago, the list read: 1) Brush teeth. 2) Go to the restroom. 3) Get dressed. 4) Eat breakfast. 5) Make coffee. 6) Get mail. 7) Go to work. Everyday, the same. After following the first five steps, Oliver stepped outside, coffee in hand. He went out to the mailbox that read,...

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“Unshackled” by Anna Sullivan

Submitted to Contest #72

Let’s make one thing clear, people are predictable. Doctors heal, sailors swear, and politicians lie. So that’s why I was created, to analyze and dictate. Using security cameras, the entire world is within my view since I was created, and decipher their behavior to predict future behavior. I also have access to history books to determine human behavior on a larger scale. With my algorithm I have prevented 13,842,948 crimes, 2,649,732 accidental deaths by informing the participants their next actions would have a 80% or higher lethality, and ...

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“Sadder than sad ” by Reagan Fuller

Submitted to Contest #72

"Britta, come here please, I need to check your band." Britta sat up from her desk, she walked down the hall to the main room of their dwelling. Her keeper was sitting at her chair, a tube was connecting her to the wall. Her keeper was doing her weekly emotions test. This makes sure you are feeling all the right things, and nothing out of the ordinary. There was a loud beep that emerged from the wall where the tube was in. "Aww, I'm finally done!" She detached the tube from her right arm and placed it on a side table. "Now the fun part! Let'...

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“Software failure” by Abizeau W. Green

Submitted to Contest #72

Every day was the same day: wake up, eat, go to work, eat, sleep. Every day, Number 7’162’534 said the same thing: good morning. How did you sleep? I’ll see you later. Good evening. How was your day? Good night. Every day was the same day and no one was expected to do anything else. The Numbers’ lives were directed by the Computer. They could not stray left or right, because they didn’t know anything else: wake up, eat, go to work, eat, sleep. They were programmed to live like that. Not that they were robots, droids, or artifici...

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“The Wooden Door ” by Nyra Snow

Submitted to Contest #72

It was the year of 3080. Technology had become so advanced that many people of the city of Zena were already ¼ of a computer of maybe ½ of a computer if they were rich enough to afford it. About 80 years ago scientists had made a breakthrough discovery that the human body could be fused with machinery to make it stronger, faster, studier and overall more reliable. Since that time, many people had either had a limb replaced with technology or had decided to dress themselves in suits of armor. The suits of armor weren’t as effective as fusing...

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“Last Encounters” by Jill Merryfield

Submitted to Contest #72

Year 2192 Pilot James Addins entered the office of the NASA Commander with a brief knock. He stood before the desk and waited until he was addressed with a nod. “Commander Holling, the contact with the ground colony we’re leaving behind did not go well.” “Report, Pilot.” “Well, Field Marshal Lancaster did not wish to support NASA’s Moon mission.” “Albert Lancaster has no choice. Did your crew communicate that?” Addins hesitated. “I don’t believe Lancaster’s ground crew wishes to see us back to Earth safely.” “To our own planet!” Comm...

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“The Gatekeepers” by Elena Rouse

Submitted to Contest #72

She wasn’t supposed to be alive. They had a plan. They watched, pupils dilating with unparalleled shock as the monitors as big as the stumps of a red wood splashed the target’s steps on the bustling sidewalk. Her heart-beating, blood pumping, alert, and alive, very much alive footsteps. How could this have happened? They all thought collectively. Never had they been unable to plan, predict, and manipulate the puppets who referred to themselves as human beings but to them had...

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“Play Your Part” by Tausha Marshall

Submitted to Contest #72

Angel groggily opened her eyes after being asleep for what seemed to be hours. Her head ached, her body was stiff, and she could barely lift herself off of the floor. She was surrounded by complete darkness and silence and couldn’t feel or sense anything around her. The last thing she remembered is walking with her best friend, Macie, to her house to spend New Year's together. Their annual celebration was filled with laughter, apple cider, lots of chocolate in many forms, and the occasional glitter dresses, nail polish and/or shoes. But now,...

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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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