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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

“SUPOL 419” by Chima Kalu

Submitted to Contest #72

Superintendent of police (Supol), Dominic Ubot, was sipping the last cup of local palm wine, IKOT 4. He was not in a hurry to leave the palm wine joint on that cool saturday evening. Anytime from 6.00pm, the bar would come alive with patrons from the neighborhood who had one thing in common: low profile folks in quest for low profile booze. 'The people's bar ' was just one of several others that inundated the Ajegunle neighborhood of Lagos Nigeria- an area largely inhabited by the dregs of society. Yes, only this group could patronize ...

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“Hidden in Plain Sight” by Porteia Mason

Submitted to Contest #72

I do not understand those that commit offenses. Rather those that are part of the Upper-class and do so. We are all part of the Community, who has served to do nothing but help us. You may think I am biased, being a detective, but I assure you, that is not the case. Our Community is divided into two, the Upper and the Lower. We detectives and board members of the Community are part of neither of the two. We simply exist. I would understand why those of the Lower-class would commit crimes. They are subjected to a life of hard work and are for...

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“The Officer and the Liar” by Lindsay Martin

Submitted to Contest #72

Lucy: I am Officer Lucy Goode. First I am going to ask you a series of questions. I would like you to answer as accurately and specifically as possible. Remember, you have the right to remain silent. Is this clear? Yes or no? Stewart: Yup. L: A simple yes or no will do. S: Yes ma'am. L: Where were you on the night of December 11th? Stewart: Let's see… on the night of the eleventh… Oh, I remember! I was walking out of the Citgo on North Avenue, y'know, with the four packs of cigarettes I stole from the convenience ...

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“The Reunion” by Amber Bowers

Submitted to Contest #72

I hadn’t really been back to my hometown since I had left for college almost ten years ago. My parents had moved not long after I left so I had no real reason to come back. I didn’t really want to be here now, but I had made promises that I needed to keep. I was in town for my ten year class reunion. That wasn’t entirely true. I was here to see my friends, especially Jeff. Jeff had been my best friend in high school, and we had almost dated. We decided that since we were going to colleges that were so far from each other that we would ...

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“Unexpected Love” by BRIDGETTE BUCCILLI

Submitted to Contest #72

“Mark, what the fuck!” It wasn’t a question so much as it was a demand for an explanation. Bree’s boyfriend knew she would be coming home with groceries, yet he hadn’t come out to help her when she’d pulled into the driveway and blown the horn. Now she stumbled into the condo, barely able to hang on to the handful of bags as she struggled to remove her key from the lock. When she finally managed, she kicked the door shut behind her, and all but threw the groceries onto the counter. What is his problem? Again, it wasn’t a question, but a stat...

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“Oblivious love” by Radhika Meena

Submitted to Contest #72

Hello I'm jane. A normal college student. Things aren't certain these days. My belief system is shaking. You know these phases. I am someone who totally believes in love but in fiction not in reality. My parents had really good and successful love story which is why I believe in it but when I see around myself I just turn my head away.. Anyways today is a good day because it's assignment submission day. And may be I could go for movie with my friends. What could possibly go wrong.. Blue jeans, white shirt, Brown bag, sneakers, an...

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“All Those Things And More” by M.W. Nel

Submitted to Contest #72

“How many times do I have to ask him to fix my walk-in closet?” Daisy’s sister Rebecca complained as they sat outside on the patio drinking sundowners. “Rebecca, don’t you think you’re overreacting?” “Overreacting? Daisy, in the last week I’ve gotten three hanging rails worth of clothing and I have nowhere to put them.” “Don’t you think it might be a sign that you have too many clothes?” “Too many cl . . .” Rebecca huffed out, irritation creeping up her face. “You know what little sister. You simply don’t understand the importance of image a...

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“Regret” by Emily Hostetter

Submitted to Contest #72

“Falling in love with you was never the plan, you know,” I stated, looking down at my hands, pretending to inspect my fingernails, but honestly, I was just trying to avoid making eye contact with him. “Rebecca and Frank tried to set us up long before we ever met, but I had absolutely no interest in dating the man that she described to me. “Rebecca told me all about how you worked for Frank’s construction crew down in Georgia, but that you came up here to Maryland a few times a year to help him with the rental homes, and that even though y...

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“When There's a Chance to Let Go by Rain Begines” by Rain Begines

Submitted to Contest #72

“To my love, Elliot,” Susan’s voice echoes through my mind, sounding like a melodic song playing on repeat. I felt the cool wind on my face as I stood in the park. I took a deep breath, folding up the letter, and holding it close to my chest. I wasn’t strong enough to read it further. I closed my eyes tightly and leaned against the tree. Our tree. After a moment, I opened my eyes and put the letter in my pocket. “I’ll see you soon.” I whispered, my fingers lightly brushing over the engraving that reads “S.B+E.SJ”. I took...

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“The Auction ” by Kimberly Diehl

Submitted to Contest #72

“Wait why are you here?” Jolynn says as she backs up from her front door. Looking out at the man she once knew to be her best friend's brother. He was tall and had tan skin with pitch black curled hair. He stepped towards her with long strides to make it apparent why he had come. Jolynn was almost a foot shorter than him with blond long hair. He grabbed her and pulled her out of the house and into a black sedan. Once inside of the big SUV he slapped Jolynn saying “just do what I say and you will be able to go home.” She sat in the back seat ...

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“Doctors Without Borders” by Melissa Woodrow

Submitted to Contest #72

Today was the first day of the rest of my life, or so they say. I was supposed to be getting married in less than five hours. I was at the day spa when I get a phone call from a lawyer’s office. To say I was confused would be an understatement, I mean why would I be getting a call from a lawyer? My fiancé was the one that had to sign a prenup not me. “Hello?” “Hello, I am looking for Aundrea Gillespie.” “This is she.” “Miss Gillespie, my name is Frank Little. I need you to come to my office today.” “Wait, today? But I’m getting married in l...

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“Perdita” by Orlando De Los Santos

Submitted to Contest #72

I am the daughter of Satan. Well, technically, I am one of several hundreds of daughters of Satan. For as far back as I can remember, my mother, Rose Marie (Satan has a remarkable sense of humor when picking his mates as I was Rose Marie's baby), told me my father had fallen in a war. Bless her soul. I did not find out about my lineage until two nights ago when I was awoken around 3 AM by the doorbell. Typically, I would have called the police, but when I peered out the window, the man that stood outside the door wore a pink polo sh...

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“Puppet Master ” by Helen Lahoda

Submitted to Contest #72

I was falling asleep to the lull of the wine on my crappiest-looking La-Z-Boy chair when I heard the phone buzz to the rhythm of someone calling me. “Don’t care, feeling too angsty to talk to anyone anyway,” I remember myself thinking as I closed my eyes in my twilight living room. In hindsight, I should’ve gotten up and answer the phone. If I did, I would have been able to talk with my estranged uncle before he passed away and I may have gotten a more realistic explanation than the one I’m stuck with now. Uncle Dan was his name....

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“the glitch.” by Rocío Romero

Submitted to Contest #72

Hello.My name is Melisa, although you can call me M-2468. I know, it's a strange name, isn't it? Like an android.You could define me like this, I've behaved like a robot; I am not allowed to feel or raise my voice.I must follow others steps and serve them without doubting in their words.The future has changed, it was already changing when I was younger.In my teenage years, technology was a big thing. Mobile phones, tablets, computers, voice identifiers, or the whole control of a place at the touch of a button.Explore worlds much sharper than...

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“CAL 9000” by JD Davis

Submitted to Contest #72

“This is fine. This is fine. It’s just a program” A young man in his late teens is sitting in front of a computer station. A large sign that reads “BEHAVIORAL & CAREER PROFILING” hangs from the wall. ”Let’s boot you up.” The man clicks the Enter key on the keyboard and the terminal comes to life. The soft glow of the computer screen suddenly brightens, illuminating the otherwise dim room. A blur of numbers, letters, and other characters ascend the monitor rapidly until only one line is left blinking. “Program ready.” &nbs...

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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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