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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#73: My True Love Gave to Me

In years past, we’ve themed our seasonal prompts around a favorite Christmas movie… This year, we’re going to mix things up and base them off a Christmas song! And since this week’s contest runs through December 25th, what better song to pick than The 12 Days of Christmas?

If you need a little inspiration to get you in the holiday spirit, check out the Christmas and Holiday sections in our Stories directory to see what members of your community have come up with! With all these marvelously festive tales to choose from, we know you’ll find something to get you feeling jolly in no time.

And despite the Christmas origins, our prompts work for any holiday, so feel free to celebrate in a way that's true to you! We can't wait to see your character's traditions.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who is given a bird for the holidays but doesn’t know how to take care of it.

Holiday – 200 stories

Write about someone who gets proposed to five times on Christmas Eve.

Romance – 170 stories

Write about a drummer going to a Halloween party for musicians.

Halloween – 54 stories

Write about a young nobleman whose greatest wish is to become an Olympic long jumper.

Middle School – 20 stories

Write about a backup dancer who’s on tour and just wants some peace and quiet for the holidays.

Winter – 54 stories

Stories

“#BostonLife” by 𝙰𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚝 ~

Submitted to Contest #73

SlumpAlicia slumped down on a chair after the last dance of the day. She was a hip-hop backup dancer that was doing a tour with Little Iné, currently the biggest rap/hip-hop singer in the world. She was doing a tour across North America, and they had just arrived from New Jersey, heading up toward Maine. Alicia had always wanted to visit Boston from when she was 9 years old, because of the giant libraries and museums. She was kind of a nerd. Anyways, here she was, 8 years later, in Boston, but for a completely different reason. When she was ...

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“A Fitness Center Christmas” by H.K. Slade

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #73

Rex had worked so hard to get on the show. The weeks of practice, the grueling auditions, the utterly convincing look of interest he’d developed and maintained during the director’s lengthy anecdotes: all for naught. The tour didn’t even have the decency to die someplace interesting. New York, Chicago… even Baltimore would have at least been closer to home. But no, they called it quits in Cary, North Carolina of all places. Most of the cast left town on the bus that afternoon, but Rex had subleased his apartment when he got the job. He...

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“Sour and Sweet” by 𝕜𝐞𝕟𝐝𝕣𝐚 𝕤𝐭𝕠𝐧𝕖

Submitted to Contest #73

Just to be clear, Gena and Mike aren’t married.So why do they share the same house?Because he rented the apartment to her so they live together, but in different rooms.Gena trailed her eyes at the snow globe on a desk next to her, trying not to pull away as Mike curled his fingers in her hand. She didn’t want any more to do with men, after the incident that happened several weeks before.“Why are you here in San Francisco?”She still didn’t meet her eyes with him. “May I not take a vacation?”“Who sent you here?”“No one did.” He was fading fro...

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“No Place Like Home” by Maya -

Submitted to Contest #73

𝓡𝓲𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓷 𝓪 𝓸𝓷𝓮-𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓮 𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓰𝓱. The snow is soft and unbroken when I pull back the heavy curtains and peek out the window. I pull on my winter gear as quickly as possible, fighting the desire to make a snow angel in only my pyjamas. When I am finally bundled up and sheltered from the relentless gusts of wind creaking the windows, I open the door and walk outside. There is something extremely satisfying about being the first person to wake up on a snowy morning. Being the first person to make a footprint in the blank canvas. It feels l...

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“I'm Just a "backup" ” by ✯𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫✯

Submitted to Contest #73

Title: I'm Just a "backup"Author: HaripriyaAuthor's Note: Hello everyone! This story wasn't one of my best ones because I included the prompt at the end of the story, so it might be a little disappointing to many of you. But either way, I just wanted to post this story to get some feedback and suggestions for this story. Other than those quick words, I hope you kind of enjoy what I've written, and please feel free to comment down below on what you think about this entire story! I hope you have a great, lovely Saturday and happy holidays!!My ...

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“Lilah’s Love Story ” by ✨Abby ✨

Submitted to Contest #73

authors note: Hey y'all! Hope you guys all are having a fabulous Friday. I Just wanted to say a few things before you get your read on.This is dedicated to my bestest friend EVER, Lilah Blackburn.❤️❤️❤️QOTD: Apple or Samsung?If you don't get all of this, don't worry there are a lot of inside jokes (like the prince's first and last name and others) so that's why.ONE WEEK TIL CHRISTMAS!!!!This was just for fun. I thought it'd be cute and I was bored. I wrote this in like an hour so it's not good.When I say creative nonfiction I mean it hasn’t ...

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“You are [Fill in the blank]” by ℂ𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕒 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕨 🏳️‍🌈 (inactive For The Summer)

Submitted to Contest #73

You know how sometimes, your parents tell you a story about when you did something as a baby? You might be a little embarrassed, but you usually just end up shrugging it off. It feels like they are talking about another person, not you. That is how I feel when people tell me how I used to be. Because I can’t remember who I am. You may say, Surely we’re all different people than we used to be. Sometimes you forget that. No. Just no. Yes, sure, you will be a different person then you were when you were in kindergarten, fifth grade, middle sc...

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“The Storms We Cannot Weather” by Maya W.

Submitted to Contest #73

“And still I dream he'll come to me, that we will live the years together. But there are dreams that cannot be, and there are storms we cannot weather.” A cool whisper of air came through the vent below Colette’s feet as she stumbled over the rattling floorboards. They were tile, with cracks and broken bits plastered back into place many times over the years. Beige stains were strewn about the floorboards and walls, possibly from the messes that had emerged in the tiny apartment over the years, or possibly from some old artist who thought ...

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“Clipped Wings” by Itay Frenkel

Submitted to Contest #73

I stood in the kitchen next to my mother, helping her put the finishing touches on dinner. I could hear my father laughing his hearty laugh in the kitchen, everyone else was silent...he must have told one of his jokes. I carried the casserole and the asparagus, and my mother took the chicken. We had to make several trips. People were smiling and talking and being friendly. I could see my dad going around graciously filling everyone’s glasses. The more they drank, the funnier he got. The last dish we carried to the table was red jello.&nbsp...

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“Love Letters ♥” by Palak Shah

Submitted to Contest #73

“Oh no what have I done!” exclaimed Jenny. “This was supposed to be my favourite time of the year” She could remember that moment as vividly as if it were yesterday: the pain, agony was all intertwined that their names ought to be changed to reflect their true intention. Walking towards the post-box, the snow danced in the light, as a choreographed ballet conducted by the gentle wind. Moving into her hands, the crisp wintry snow met the warmth of her blood but she knew she had to post these office documents otherwise they might even ...

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“Setting you free” by 𝔼𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟 ✳🏳️‍🌈

Submitted to Contest #73

You know, it's one thing to buy someone a cheap card from the store. Hasty and unoriginal, yet oddly comforting to know they care about you. The sentiment of being tracked down after final bell, thrown into a moving vehicle, and being given a mysterious object? Not so much. This sounds like the beginning of an action movie. Contrary to popular belief, I am, in fact, not being kidnapped. Of course, I know where I'm going all the same. Bob clenches the wheel with a bright grin, his faded white shirt with the words "You only live once" meticulo...

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“The Unexpected Visit” by ✯𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫✯

Submitted to Contest #73

Title: The Unexpected VisitBy: HaripriyaAuthors Note: Hello everyone! I hope you're having a great Friday! I had a lot of fun writing this story and I hope you all have a great time reading it as well!Dear grandpa,I miss you. I want to come and visit, but mom's never free. She says she has a lot of work to do, so I feel like I can never meet you. It's been almost two years since I saw you, grandpa. I know your leg is not fine, and you can't visit us, but still, I miss seeing your face. I miss your bear hugs and your hot chocolates. The last ...

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“Words of a Feather” by Rayhan Hidayat

Submitted to Contest #73

On the way home from the funeral, Diego lets his wife drive. He’s gone numb from the sight of his mother, devoured by a dusty oak coffin, descending into the earth while bowed heads shed tears into the rain. Camila studies the hollow, unblinking eyes in the rearview mirror and knows this is something far beyond her abilities. She suspects a double helping of chicken tamales, his usual foray into decadence this time of year, would be equally powerless.“Sweetness,” she signals with a smile once they’ve pulled into their driveway and the engine...

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“True meaning of Christmas” by 🕊 🎀 𝒱𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓁 🎀 🕊

Submitted to Contest #73

Dear Kate, I am your aunt, you might not be aware of me but I am family. I have seen you as a child, cradled you in my bare hands as you cooed, your mother was a delightful sister to me… I’m sorry for your loss. We might not be familiar with each other but I want you to do a favor for me. You must have noticed a purple box. Please open it as soon as possible and take care of it for me. I’m sure you will appreciate it more than me… With love, Your aunt I kept rereading the letter, looking for identifications of its sender. Who cou...

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“The Christmas Proposal ” by Carrie Sheldrake

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #73

It was Christmas morning and Nancy was woken up by her boyfriend. She rubbed her eyes and looked into his, wide with excitement as though he had been awake for hours. “It’s going to be a beautiful day today.” “Is today a special day?” Nancy teased. “Yes, it’s Saturday. The best day of the week. Football is on, full English in a bit, some drinks later.” “Anything else?” Jude looked curiously at her, thought for a moment, and replied with a simple not that I can think of. He was, however, running over a plan in his mind. “It’s Christ...

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$50

Prize money

498

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 25, 2020 EST

Won by Shawn Forno 🏆

Title: Burt Brain

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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