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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

“Weakness” by Black Raven

Submitted to Contest #73

"You kill them all, you get my respect. Mess up and end up dead. Got it, Elijah?" Andrea had said. This had been his opportunity, the chance to show her that he was worth it. Now, though, he was awaiting trial. He had failed. Nothing could save him. At least, that's what he thought... {2 days before, on Christmas Eve} 'The Four Hours of Agape' that's what he called the time he had to kill his targets. First was the Debbie hour. Oh, how he adored this one. The perfect kill! She was alone in the backyard of the mansion when Elijah had got...

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“True man” by Aaina Aleszezyk

Submitted to Contest #73

“I should have gone for an abortion”. These are the words my mom has been telling me since I was a child. When I was a child, observing mothers caressing their child and enveloping them in a blanket of love used to make me jealous. I used to cry for hours on end in my bedroom. Everybody said my mom was mentally unstable, but the medical reports state the opposite. My mom never spoke to me affectionately, let alone showing affection. I always wondered how motherly love felt like. One day my aunt visited me. “Hey honey, you’ve grown so f...

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“Unrecognizable” by Blane Britt

Submitted to Contest #73

Many people outside of the entertainment world might just believe that being and entertainer is a glamorous life. It is but it isn’t. With that being said, let me introduce myself. My real name is Royce Nesby. Yet everyone calls me Dancer! I been dancing longer than I been walking. My mother would tell anyone who would listen that I even danced out of her womb. Maybe she drank one too many Margarita’s the late morning I was born. My father is a classic pianist, while my mother dabbled in the arts. I was destined to be a star in which never q...

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“A Dance Home” by Kay (:

Submitted to Contest #73

“Hey mum, I’m sorry, I have to cancel our Christmas plans...,” I told my mum for the fourth time over the phone, “you know my work, we’re always moving. I tried but I couldn't get off, another backup dancer hurt their leg, which leaves only me and Alex.” Alex is the only other back up dancer besides myself. And Vanessa is the show stopping singer. “It’s ok honey, I know you tried your hardest, I love you.” Mum said, though she sounded defeated, but I couldn’t hear very well because of the static. “I love you too, send my love to th...

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“Decaffeinate My Heart ” by Holly Fister

Submitted to Contest #73

Louisa Taylor, known to everyone except her grandmother as Isa, loved misty morning hikes, her nieces, and bohemian pillows, but if she was being honest, she rolled out of bed each morning for two reasons: coffee and Cam.The mere thought of a mug of coffee was enough to give her a warm, cozy feeling equivalent to snuggling in front of a winter fire, and the smell, well, that jump started her brain before she even took a sip. It was, in short, her beloved addiction.Cam, on the other hand, who might have once been called her secret obsession, ...

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“Maggie's unexpected gift on Christmas Eve. ” by Ndinaelao Moses

Submitted to Contest #73

"When am I meeting my sister in law?" "Which one? Just kidding." He brushed it off when his little sister's facial expression changed. Martin and Maggie's relationship was the talk of social media. They had a fairly tale-like relationship, admired by everyone. "Oh, I nearly lost myself. You two made love worth fighting for." "Whatever sis, I am off to pick up Maggie" He responded as he walked fast to his car, he was on a call. He drove fast, passed by Lisville shopping mall. He looked like he was on an em...

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“Callie - Most Beautiful” by Boba Bendy

Submitted to Contest #73

You’ve been waiting for this day to come. Your very first day at the job. It was simple pay, but it was so much more than that. It was an opportunity, it was an adventure, and most of all… the entire job was SURROUNDED by birds. You had loved birds your whole life. You drew them on the sides of tests during school, you watched YouTube videos on them flying through the air, you’ve sketched out every bird you’ve ever seen on your walk home from High School. Your whole life, you’ve dreamed of working at this very building, and they finally hire...

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“Jumping King Delbert” by John Carpenter

Submitted to Contest #73

King Delbert III was a good king…his subjects were happy and he treated them very fairly, for a King. The Princes of the realm, the Earls, the Squires, most of the Dukes enjoyed going hunting with him, the lavish parties…the tournaments that were held every Christmas on the dot; and they admired also his beautiful Queen, the flower of her realm, a fresh rose in the spring, a blossom of summer, the radiance of fall and the glowing light of winter. The Kingdom of Excelsior was just about the most cheerful place among all the kingdoms...

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“Falling in Love on Christmas Day” by Sincerely Cezlie

Submitted to Contest #73

Twas the night before Christmas, all was silent, all was nice until the Drummer Girl gave it some spice. Holly dropped her drum sticks onto the floor and let out a tired sigh. Her face felt patchy with the amounts of makeup that she wore was now melting away. She was here now in a place she called Home. The secrets were now unravelled, the doors all opened. Her heart ached for more. Holly wasn’t the type to celebrate Christmas, her bandmates called her Mrs Grinch. Christmas was all about parties, people and presents. Most Christmas’ consis...

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“Simpler Beauties” by GRACE LARSON

Submitted to Contest #73

There is an awful moment after every performance when one’s feelings fall from euphoria into depression. In the moment of the performance, under the transforming brilliance of the spotlights, everything seems sharp and clear and powerful. Wave after wave of vibrant joy at being alive sweeps through every gesture, every expression. Every step is charged with energy and exuberance, every thought is an intoxicating pleasure.To come back to ordinary life is almost torture. After the colors of the stage, everything seems washed out. After da...

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“JUMP HIGH” by Gelyn Pescuela

Submitted to Contest #73

I was devastated that I can’t even think on what to do in my life. I wish to give joy but I can’t even be happy on my own. I wasn’t the same person yesterday, as days goes by, I came to realized that I changed as a person. I felt numb that all I think is to sleep to diminish the pain I had, the pain that I can’t even express to anyone. I wish to join in an Olympic and reach the very best I had, which is to jump high as I can to lighten up the baggage I had. I was bombarded by many things and I was thinking that I’m just a young man who’s los...

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“The little drummer boy.” by Addie Summers

Submitted to Contest #73

"Um... Hi," I say awkwardly in the doorway. "Hi." the tall man says to me. "M-my name's Dasher I'm here for the holiday party with my band." I smile and pull out my small drum set "hehe Yeeeah" the man motions toward the door and looks me up and down "How old are you kid?" he asks "Uhh... I'm umm... fourteen m-my boyfriend is in the band, he's the lead singer." he nods and turns back towards the door I look around everywhere but I can't find them. I search upstairs, downstairs, even the bathroom. I call Dave's phone but he doesn't pick up. ...

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“The Sound of Metal” by Tiffany 🌻

Submitted to Contest #73

'You'll never be good enough' was the sentence that played over and over like it was on a loop in Fraser Autumn's mind. He was only 25 but felt as if his life was wasting away in his remaining years. Ever since returning from war with new material attached to his body, he believed his time alive was meaningless. "Hey metal hands! The tip!" The taxi driver called as Autumn grabbed his jacket, a step away from the winding, stone road. Fraser sighed and raised his glasses. Slender, polished, metal fingers skimmed the lenses that ...

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“The Transmutation Tale” by Saizen 🦜

Submitted to Contest #73

Intense heat permeated the air. Beads of sweat pooled atop Andrea's brow. He winced when they stung his eyes and muddied his vision. Though he must not lose focus.Towering furnaces and vents lined the smeltery. The walls were made of dark stones, while the pieces of machinery were made of dark grey metal. It was a gloomy place, lit only by the orange light of molten ores.Despite the spaciousness of the facility, Andrea felt claustrophobic. He gripped his shovel, scooping gravels of malachite into the furnace. With his shorter limbs, it was a...

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“Then She Smiled At Me” by Paula Chapman

Submitted to Contest #73

I hadn’t played the drums in at least five years. I’d focused on my engineering career, which I was certain would take off. Subsequently, I took a job as a project manager with a company whose specialty was drone technology. And they’d promised me my career would take off, along with the drones. It wasn’t really clear to me the day I’d been invited to a holiday work party that I’d be given a chance on more than a career boost. If I’d known, I would have brought my drumsticks, and I’d have worn ...

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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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