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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#75: New Year, New You

For many of us, the last year was like living through a low-budget disaster movie — but the good thing about the new year is that it gives us an excuse to start fresh. And even though flipping a calendar doesn’t necessarily fix all our problems, it’s still good to take a moment and think about everything you do have the power to change.

In that spirit, this week’s prompts are all about fresh starts. From small, personal achievements to huge goals that will change the world, everything starts with the decision to try. What sort of things will your characters achieve this year? What sort of things will you?

This week's prompts

Write about someone who has finally managed to succeed at a long-standing New Year’s resolution.

Winter – 98 stories

Write about someone whose job is to help people leave their old lives behind.

Adults – 246 stories

Start your story with one character making a vow that they never would have made the year before.

Holiday – 102 stories

Write about someone who doesn’t remember their past — and doesn’t want to.

Thriller and Suspense – 205 stories

Write about two characters who each want to change the same thing, but resolve to go about it in very different ways.

Teens – 84 stories

Stories

“The bond” by Klara Kuznecova

Submitted to Contest #75

She was smiling. “I promise I won’t do it ever again, “ Phil said feeling this kind-hearted, yet since some time oddly heart shattering... kindheartshattering... look on him and pretty much nothing else. “I promise right here and right now, Maddie, I will never call you fat. Never again”. For a split second he considered trying to go back to writing his essay that was never going to finish its third thesis and the conclusion by itself, but this scary emptiness was distracting. The lamp that buzzed as if it came from 13th century,...

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“Sunny's Side of the Street” by Joshua Edwards

Submitted to Contest #75

Police Detective Montes made his way over to the older gentleman in the back of the populate bar, sitting at a booth with a dim bulb. Montes carefully approached the down-trotted fellow. “Is this seat taken?” Montes sternly asked as he sat down anyways, not waiting for an answer, but simply asked to act “polite” “What do you want,” said the older man, with a grizzly deep voice. The bass in his voice made it almost inaudible to understand what he said. “I’m just here to get some wisdom. I work with the NYPD…” Montes trail...

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“Happiness- a distant dream?” by Soghra Fatima

Submitted to Contest #75

It's been 7 years since that incident, I think, there's no point in reminding myself about it over and over again, I look out the window the night is awfully cold, I hope that she is alright and will be here shortly, I look out the window, unable to see anything I take a giant sip of my wine, hopefully this goes well I wrap myself tightly in my best jacket with the emptiness yet loud rapid heartbeats inside me and the lump on my throat I recall that incident "But there's nothing wrong with me!, Let go it hurts" "You'll beg for forgiveness fr...

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“Chandrika” by Sandhya Guru

Submitted to Contest #75

On a lazy afternoon on Sunday ,I was elated to get a message from somebody I really adore. Hi Di! How are you? Can I call you if you are free? ,the message read. At once I ringed her and the pleasing resonant voice of Chandrika poured in. Hi Di,hope you are fine! Sorry if I have disturbed you. Oh dear! Anything for you. I am doing well. Hope every thing is fine at your end,I said. Di ,its been a long time we are in touch. I always hesitate to call you coz I know you are too busy. She paused. Oh not at all. We may not have talked at time...

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“Unicorns, rabbits and dirty secrets” by Phil Manders

Submitted to Contest #75

Max lay still and listened to the sounds of the sleeping house. Through the open window, a chorus of blackbirds welcomed in the new day. He raised his feet and kicked hard into the wooden slats of the top bunk.Nothing.He did it again and got a faint groan from its occupant.“Danny! Are you awake?”Danny, flipped back the unicorn duvet and leaned over the edge of the bunk, his hair sticking up in all directions."Well I am now, what d’ya do that for?”“I can’t sleep. it’s light outside. what time is it?“It’s too early . . . go back to sleep.”“I c...

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“The Fly and Flour” by Eduardo Teran

Submitted to Contest #75

“No, we could never call it that! It is something of an inside joke at family reunions, a loving jab at our cursed livers - The DeBevereaux Line is plagued by cirrhosis, gallstones, and bilious blockages. Uncle Heath was the lucky one. He choked on a chicken neck – better that than crushed and scarred by excess.” Sherel took the moment’s chuckle to remove the three glasses in front of her. Her blonde host with the big ears was clearly infatuated, she saw, though she wished he would quit smacking his gums, or at least maintain eye contact. He...

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“Old resolutions and new Life” by Barkhaa Jaiswal

Submitted to Contest #75

This year marks the end of an era. The era where I was struggling with the side effects of nicotine patch and the withdrawal symptoms, falling off a wagon and then trying back. The vicious cycle where I was a miserable chap desperate for a fix. At the start of the lockdown, I was terrified to my core, my determination will not help. In all these years, I was able to reduce the number but still not where I want to. My partner always helped me, encouraged me. My rock solid inspiration, unlike me, determined and above all had faith in me. I, on...

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“TOWARDS A NEW LIFE” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #75

Karen had a doctorate in psychology and was part of a team of citizens who helped people to overcome problems. She was a professor in the university and had a clinic at home to attend to those in need of psychological counselling. Karen was nearing 45 and she had remained a spinster. She lived in an exclusive suburb in the house left to her by her parents who were no more. She was tall, fair, with a pleasant smiling face and always had her greying hair in a bun. That Sunday morning, she was in her house coat seated in a chair facing th...

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“The Second Life” by Gabriella Sullivan

Submitted to Contest #75

Kiera sat outside a small house, her legs crossed, waiting. She watched as passersby jogged by on the sidewalk, some of them walking dogs or chatting loudly on their cell phones. Her dark eyes scanned them, wondering what any of them would think if they could see her. She stood once she knew her time had arrived. Kiera went to the front door and opened it. Locks did not work on spirits like her. The door opened and firmly locked in place again once she was inside. She did not waste much time ...

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“Erasing the Eraser” by Doug Goodrich

Submitted to Contest #75

Trigger warning: gun violence I shot him in the back of his left ear. The bullet went through his brain and exited out of his right eye. It was a clean shot, not a clean location, in terms of blood. The blood covered the breakfast bar and part of the kitchen’s white tile. Damn, white tile. I hate that shit. I hadn’t intended to shoot the guy right here, but I knew it needed to happen, so I made a quick decision to end him. Job well done. I love my job. I clean up bad relationships. You know how some women end up in relationship...

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“The Transformation Station” by Nanci Arvizu

Submitted to Contest #75

Oh Hello. So nice to finally meet you. I’ve had you on my schedule for some time, so it’s nice you’ve finally arrived and we can get you moving again in a good, orderly direction. Well, that’s not quite the *right* way of saying that, haha, LOL, and all that. No, really, this is more about me giving you all the signs and you making decisions based on the best information you’ve ever received. No really, like, ever. I can see you’re skeptical, I know, I’ve seen this before. In fact, believe it or not, I’ve been in your shoes. Yes, yes! I kn...

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“The Taker” by Amy Jayne Conley

Submitted to Contest #75

“MAGDALEN, Peter.” The name on the card glittered in the fresh sunlight of a new day. Amber opened the file and ran her finger over the mugshot and felt the connection. Another client. Another day. Another twenty-four hours. ** I saw him standing in the middle of a crowded shopping square, neatly dressed but staring around the place like he was confused and afraid. He seemed lost and dazed, but no-one approached him to help. I could see the thoughts running through his head. Why is no-one helping him? Why didn’t anyone see him? What was wr...

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“Choices” by Linda Brodsky

Submitted to Contest #75

Liv stepped from her car. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She recalled reading, somewhere, that memories are fluid, that those moments in time we hold dear, those that haunt us, even the fleeting and mundane are shaped and shaded changelings related to, but not dependably grounded in fact. Liv shrugged. She knew what she knew. She called up the very real memory of her former self standing in this spot, in stained and baggy sweats, her heart heavy with doubt and her lips stretched into a desperate, “Yes, I am a fish out of wa...

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“Mrs. White” by Coral Mizrachi

Submitted to Contest #75

Mr. Jones was hesitant to enter 'Electronics Ectronics' on 41st and 8th. The small store was cluttered with electronic devices that looked like they belonged in the last century, collecting dust as the world advances and leaves them behind. "Hello?" he mumbled to the empty space, closing the door behind him. Is this the right place? He checked the little crumpled piece of paper in his hand. Yes, That's it. Standing there alone, surrounded by dead devices, he felt like the store was closing in on his throat. He decided he should go to the cou...

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“The Sixth Angel” by Barbara Eustace

Submitted to Contest #75

It had been a busy week for Isaac and he was ready for a break when Gabriel poked his head round the door. “Got a job for you Isaac,” said Gabriel, in a tone that meant it was probably a difficult one. Isaac sighed inwardly. As an angel he was not allowed to show intolerance, however small. “Gabriel, how can I be of help?” “Monica Price. It’s her time. Do you think you could deal with it?” Here’s the details. He left a file on Isaac’s desk and walked out before Isaac had chance to question him further. Isaac picked u...

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$50

Prize money

735

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 08, 2021 EST

Won by R. A. 🏆

Title: The Violinist

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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