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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

“A Shadow of a Life ” by Breanna Barber

Submitted to Contest #75

“So who were you before?” The young woman appeared like she was barely 18 as she sat, posing for her new photo identification card. Her hair had been lightened and toned to an ash blonde and styled into a bob with blunt bangs. She wore a bright orange cropped hoodie, black mini skirt with fishnet tights and thigh high black boots. At first glance, no one would ever think she was once part of the Amish Community. “Don’t speak.” Axel Reed commanded from behind the camera. Why must they always try talking to me? Axel thought...

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“Relocated” by Amanda Stuntz

Submitted to Contest #75

“Get in!” Mike reached across the car and threw open the passenger side door. The blond girl on the sidewalk stared open-mouthed. “Excuse me?” Anna took a step back, clutching her books close to her chest. “Don’t they tell you guys anything anymore? I’m your handler. The guy who’s going to relocate you.” He stared at her a minute, waiting. Patience was not one of his strengths. If the girl didn’t get in soon, he would just pick her up and throw her in. Finally, her long tanned legs slipped into the car, and she shut the door. Books stil...

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“The copper-blue barge” by Louise Bell

Submitted to Contest #75

The canal boat rocked from side to side jauntily as a cap at an angle, and Karen looked through the window at the steely water, which rippled slightly in the light drizzle. Her barge seemed to be creating a happy tune, mingling the rocking with the squeak of lead- painted boards, the tipity-tapity of rain, and the cheery whistling wind into a jubilant quartet of sound. She added to this with the nervous drumming of her long fingers on the sill; the rain then took this as a challenge to out-drum her, and began to pound the roof with more vigo...

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“As One” by Keith Edwin

Submitted to Contest #75

“Hurry up Bob! You’re going to be late!”“Ugh, I know. Hold on.”“I’ve already got your coffee on the island for you. I’m leaving for work. I love you.”“Thank you Mandy. I love you too.”Bob Collins finished putting on his tie as his wife Amanda (Mandy for short) backed her black Camry out of the driveway. He knew he was going to be late for his sales job, but he really didn’t care. He could blame traffic. Maybe the starter was going out on his car. He couldn’t miss work altogether, it was he who was giving the presentation to the potential Chi...

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“"HIS PAKAKI" ” by Rachel Sidambi

Submitted to Contest #75

N.B. If you'll read this story, please feel free to leave advice. I've been a 'writer' for some time but I've never finished any piece. I'm looking to improve. Thank you ;) Her eyes widened in bewilderment as she experienced the gash of wind. She had made it out. Her long pieces of fabric flapped wildly as she tried to lift the three capsules that had sunk their way into the sparkling dark blue soils. The glowing orange tunnels were behind her. Now, she was in another society. One radically different from her own. ...

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“I CHOOSE YOU” by Beckie Joan

Submitted to Contest #75

While you were bent on doing the wrong thing I made sure to send my soul to you. I wanted you to see me in you. I wanted you to really get a chance at being the best version of you. Sometimes I felt you pulling me to the other side of the world. A world where all things were wrong. A world where you pretended to be at peace just because you were doing what people wanted you to do.It felt all wrong but you insisted on doing it. I put up all signs to show you that you deserved a better life but you clearly became blind to all these signs but I...

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“Resolution” by Caroline Ives

Submitted to Contest #75

There was a flash of light, and Ginevra glanced up from her desk. In her doorway was a young girl, in her late twenties at most, in flashy makeup and a sequined black dress. She scanned the room in a daze, her distant eyes scanning the room—the porcelain walls, the soft cream couch in the corner, the three paintings of running water—until finally settling on Ginevra and her white desk. “Have a seat,” Ginevra said, gesturing to the chair across from her. Slowly, the girl shuffled forward, pulling the chair out with a quiet creeak, then sittin...

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“Who knew” by Daleen Barnes

Submitted to Contest #75

Good morning CindyGood morning boss ladyIt looks like a hectic morning from all the customers sitting in the waiting roomLisa is the owner of the biscuit factory and they are running a very busy shop on a daily basisCindy unpack her bag as usual for the past seven years that she is working hereShe smiles as she walks to the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee before she starts her dayAdmin is a lot of work and today data capturing is on her scheduleHer cellphone rings and she picks It from the desk"Cindy hello"This is Nurse KorjeI am with your d...

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“The Night Out” by Amber Medina

Submitted to Contest #75

"That's it, God. No more partying for me. I'm through." As Tabitha crawled into bed for the night, thanking God for taking care of her and getting her home safe. She made Him a promise, her resolution for the new year, to stay out of the clubs and spend her weekends in church, where she belonged. She'd been going clubbing with the girls for at least the past 2 years and enjoyed almost every moment of it. It was a promise she never thought she'd make, but tonight had shown her the dangers of her behavior and it scared her. It could eas...

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“TEN EASY THINGS” by Dianeca Gallenero

Submitted to Contest #75

“I will never fall in love, ever again!” The vow I took one stormy night as I scream to the heavens the frustration and heartache, I hold for the tenth time of falling in love, yet being left alone to that very same reason. "I hate it, as I should never taken that ought, just how stupid love can be!" Crying all to my painful heart, I wanted to end everything as that word, as that feeling is pounding the stupidity, I’ve took for the tenth time and failed for that same tenth time. To the cold rain above and the running pain inside my heart...

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“I keep moving” by Simona Erminaite

Submitted to Contest #75

A lot can happen in only a year. People change and so did I. Last year I was only a high schooler that should have graduated that year. In school I was this popular girl with rich parents, good looks and her perfect little life. Or so everyone thought that my life was like that. Some wanted to be my friends for my status in society, others thought I was this mean girl and tried to stay as far away from me as possible. And let's be honest, everyone felt intimidated by me, even my 'so called' friends. They all thought I only cared about my loo...

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“The Barbershop Closet” by Anna Weber

Submitted to Contest #75

Start your story with one character making a vow they never would have made the year before.Never in my life did I expect to be behind the wheel of a spaceship, 70 lightyears from Earth, vowing to never again step foot into a barbershop closet. And it all began with a bad hair day.Picture a warm summer’s day, ice cream dripping off the freckled chins of girls, boys screams chasing one another through grass, a feeling of joy in the air. That afternoon, I decided my hair was too long.It stuck out in jagged peaks, tangled too easily, was a nigh...

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“Love and Donovan” by Kate Cornwell

Submitted to Contest #75

The only New Year’s resolution I had this year was not to fall in love. In the past, I have wished for nothing else on New Year’s Eve except for love. Last year, I thought I had it made when I met Donovan shortly after the new year started. He was everything I thought I wanted in a relationship – taller than me, educated, was easy on the eyes, well-spoken, chocolate brown eyes and my mother loved him. I overheard her on the phone one night telling her friend she wished she was thirty years younger so she could d...

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“Forbidden Vow” by A G

Submitted to Contest #75

“I do.” Two short words, words I never thought I would be allowed to say. As those words rolled easily off my tongue, my wife looked at me, smiling. This marriage had been long awaited. The year was 1969, me and some friends were riding our bikes as kids in our day used to. Just barely teenagers, endless freedom from parents, we were out playing all day. Through our daily voyage in the woods, when we saw her. Her eyes were shining under the gleaming sun, and her hair was flowing freely in the wind. As we approached each other, we simply pass...

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“Behind the Scenes” by Sara Blanch

Submitted to Contest #75

Promising my sister to be a loyal part of her court definitely wasn't how I expected to be celebrating the new year....especially with my parents seated on either side of her glimmering throne beaming with pride. It wasn't unusual for fed up royals to hand over the keys to the kingdom as soon as their heir became of age. In this case, my normally easy going and caring parents had finally reached the end of their tether when it came to ruling the land of Fae. After the bickerings of the seasonal courts over the last couple of months...p...

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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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