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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

“Braden Bates: Mystery of The Clay Tablet (Excerpt)” by 🌮 Kao Crimsonstar 🌮

Submitted to Contest #72

“It’s her.” Braden said coldly. His auburn hair flew all around him in the strong autumn wind and his wire-rimmed glasses didn’t even come close to mitigating the cold, ruthless, calculating look of detective who has caught his criminal in his hazel eyes.“Braden, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but I don’t think May could possibly be the criminal here.” Dominick said, gazing uncertainly at the girl roughly 10 meters ahead of us. She was his little sister, May, who was apparently our prime suspect in the recent robbery of Sargon The Great’s ...

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“Unpredictable Behaviors” by Boba Bendy

Submitted to Contest #72

You hate this. You hate living like this where your every mood can be understood by everyone. You hate how your life is predicated based on your behaviors. You hate how every time you try expressing something new, the only reaction you get is something you’d expect. Something you would predict. You just want to be… unpredictable. It all started a few years ago when scientists developed a tool where everyone’s behaviors could be predictable by someone else. Say your friend is talking about something, and they’re trying to hide how they’re re...

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“The Introvert” by Theresa Anna

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #72

You stand with your finger pressed to the doorbell. At first, no one answers. The temptation to turn away, to leave it for tomorrow, for never, is almost overpowering. Sweat breaks across the back of your neck. Your stomach turns over. But then you hear a voice. Come in, they say. Now you must step inside. You want to kill her. She did this to you. But she is already dead. * Thanks to the aunt who always showed up at Christmas dinners and Easter lunches, dressed like Audrey Hepburn at one of her glam parties, with a dirty martini balan...

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“Queen of the Stars” by Ricabie Gabriela

Submitted to Contest #72

She is well-known in their area as a famous model. In her popularity, left and right is the project offered to her. Her fans are also flocking to her especially the men. There is also no denying that she has a charm. Not only did she make a good investment, but she also possessed a strategy so that her dream of becoming famous all over the world would be achieved. Though, luck was elusive in her palm. She has been involved in "Asia's Next Top Model " several times and she failed to get it. However, she has been in this industry for 6 years a...

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“When Reality Strikes” by Yellow Lemon

Submitted to Contest #72

Author's note: Hey! I started off with the given prompt, but somehow the story ended up differently! Hope you like it, and please leave a feedback! Thanks :) "Gear up, Zen," Zylith growled. Her bushy hair, barely contained in a hair tie, ware escaping and making her clench her teeth with frustration. "What do you think I'm doing then, Lith? Dancing about?" Zen cracked. Zylith felt Zen's anger surface, so she tried to pacify. "Ok...ok...but please do it fast!" Zen smirked. "That's like a good girl." "HEY! Don't call me that! We're not huma...

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“Kayla and the Job” by Ruby 💫

Submitted to Contest #72

In the city of la, There lives a girl named Kayla, and she is just an ordinary girl. She goes to a middle school ,and she has two friends .One day she was watching Tv in the living room. Kayla! Her mom said, Don’t you have a test next week? You should be studying! Well yeah but that’s next week Kayla said. So be ready and study! Kids have a lot of responsibility! Mom said. Ok Kayla said. She was going to her room. Just then her little brother Johnny ran to her. Hey Kayla! He said. Come play with me! I can't. I have to study for a test, Kayla...

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“The Death of Duty” by S. Closson

Submitted to Contest #72

***Author's note: I've never really tried doing this type of story before, so any and all feedback on how to improve it or your thoughts overall would be most appreciated! I hope you enjoy! ***December 12th, 8:30pm Police Station, Roosevelt, NC Okay, so I’m still not entirely sure what the hell is to be gained from this, but if the counselor really thinks that keeping my feelings a damn diary will help my wife comprehend my daily stress or whatever, fine. I love her and I want this to work, so here it is. (It should go withou...

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“Aquatic Ambassador (the sequel to "Submarine Academy")” by Philip Clayberg

Submitted to Contest #72

I sat on a padded seat next to a bubble window in the lounge and sipped from a cup of hot tea. The warmth from it felt good. Every so often, I saw a vertical stream of foam and larger bubbles flow past the window. The school's exterior lights were dimming since it was getting closer to bedtime. Beyond their shrinking, darkening perimeter, it was as dark as the night sky above my home back on dry land. All that was missing were the stars. But what swam out there, at these depths? Sperm whales, probably, and giant squid; then there were th...

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“No Good-bye” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #72

“But that’s absurd,” Mary said. “Who would expect such a thing?” “He would,” said Gil. “Well he can’t. I forbid it.” “It isn’t up to you, dear. Or us.” Mary and Gil looked at Charlie, their son. He remained silent. He scanned the ceiling high shelves filled with books. ‘Like in the movies,’ he thought. ‘Does anyone actually read these? Or are they props every lawyer gets? Call ‘Office Décor Is Us’.’ He felt tempted to open one, to see if it were real. After reading the will, the lawyer, Mr. Gaines, left them to consult and commiserate. His ...

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“The Clattering Plates” by Godwin Efu

Submitted to Contest #72

ONE Embarrassment"He's dated 2346475 girls... And still counting. Of course, that's overestimated but really he's dated a lot," Rachel whispered to her friends Faith, Tola and Abigail, and leaning forth while she spoke. She said " lot" with bigger emphasis.They were in the school cafeteria, eating or specifically doing "the usual thing:" talking about boys. Or not. More correctly, talking about a boy.The hall hummed with the sparse murm...

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“Love at Second Sight” by 𝚇𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝙱𝚎𝚗

Submitted to Contest #72

Sitting in the living room of my family's countryside ranch, and gazing out into the vast farmland of rural Iowa is something I will always remember from my childhood. I would watch cattle munch slowly on grass, crop dusters making their rounds above the fields, and the occasional passing of tour buses. Now, life was different. After my father passed away about one and a half years ago, my mom had moved to a small apartment in Philadelphia. My sister May then started her third year of college, and I started my first. I could remember ...

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“Halloway's Faces” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #72

Detective Halloway walked down the stone steps. He took his time, despite the onslaught of rain that soaked him to the bone. Every article of clothing was damp and heavy, from his socks to his briefs. His feet squelched with each sodden step.Grant weighed it all up in his mind.The looks of recognition in the faces of those he’d interviewed.The reactions.The descriptions.The eye-witness accounts.And, because Grant was a visual man of a certain era, there was the CCTV footage.You couldn’t argue with CCTV footage. Especially not in this day and...

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“Will You Be Okay?” by Marcail Nevaeh

Submitted to Contest #72

I walk through the school hallway, eyes straying every few seconds to you. No one told me it would be this difficult. I watch you, noticing your slumped posture and tear-stained cheeks. Your eyes are red-rimmed and swimming with unshed tears. I watch in pain as you lean against the wall, arm stretched out to support you, and more tears spill out of your eyes that you are squeezing shut. I slowly walk over to your shaking body. I try to wrap my arms around you, but they slide right through your body, as if p...

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“Position Filled” by JASON PARKER

Submitted to Contest #72

Norman picked up the reasonably clean human skull that sat upon the front desk and looked it over. It was lighter than he expected it to be. He set the skull back down and tried to gain the Executive Assistant's attention. ‘Uh... hello. I have an appointment,’ he said meekly. The Assistant continued scratching something onto a piece of parchment with a black-feather-quill. His leathery green goblin features were anything but welcoming. Norman smoothed out his longish brown hair and brushed fluff from his rust-colored bre...

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“Annabeth” by Kate Winchester

Submitted to Contest #72

A huge stack of piping hot chocolate chip pancakes complete with whipped cream was placed in front of him and with it a cold, tall glass of milk to wash it all down.“Thank you.” Xander said.“You’re welcome, dear.” The waitress responded. Xander had come to love the quaint diner. He knew all the wait staff now, and they treated him well. He breathed in the chocolaty, buttery, syrupy smell of perfection. Saturday was the only day where he could sleep in, eat breakfast at the diner, and read a book. It was his...

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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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