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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 light ” by Smila Angela

Submitted to Contest #75

“ You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” “I want to live,” I said to myself one cold night. I had never thought that I was not living until the day I made that vow. A vow that would dictate my choices for the few months I had left. Delete Created with Sketch. When we are young we are never taught how life could be cruel and unfair. How some people are born lucky and others work hard just to succeed by being lucky afterward. How some of us a born with conditions that will never allow us to see the light of the ...

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“Anrok's Vow” by Méliss Lgrd

Submitted to Contest #75

Anrok was said to be the greatest pirate of his time. It was said that he would have climbed a thousand mountains, ventured into the darkest caves in search of precious treasures, unearthed the greatest wonders of this world, and annihilated the greatest barbarians. Anrok was adored and feared by all, so great was his power. He braved the seas alone, unmanned. It was said that he did not need a crew, that his ship obeyed his every wish. Yes, there were many stories about Anrok, but no one had seen him since he set out on the mission to find ...

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“The Resolve” by Esther Amogu

Submitted to Contest #75

Tara sat all alone in the woods, head bowed. The anguish in her heart kept tugging at her soul until she shook violently, tears flowing freely like a river without boundaries. Mother Nature appears to sympathize with her as trees released leaves on her frail skin. The feel of them was so comforting. Like she was hit by something, she jolted. “I have had enough!, I choose to take charge of my life. I choose to rewrite my life story from zero to hero henceforth. I choose to live life on my terms. My dreams and aspirations are taking ro...

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“Lemon Drizzle” by Elaine Martini

Submitted to Contest #75

“Mum, I promise I'll pay attention to the taste of every food that goes in my mouth from now on” Amy said as she picked up the spoon her mum gave her. “I'm so happy you are getting better honey” she said stroking her daughter's hair. “I missed tasting things so much. I missed smelling too but eating cake was not the same when I couldn't taste it” Amy said, as she licked the cake batter from the spoon with a trance like stare. Susan smiled looking at her daughter. She had never seen her eating and appreciating something so much. It had ...

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“THE VOW” by Louise Legrand

Submitted to Contest #75

‘The day is long and the nights are filled with stars. The seasons, they come and they go. They bring us rainfall and give us sunshine. They make our cattle grow fat and our corn flourish in the fields. But danger hides everywhere, from men and from the beasts. If you take me as your pledged-man, I will safeguard you and worship you, until the moon falls from the sky, the trees touch the stars, and our ancestors return home.’Kobi walked behind the ambling cattle, repeating the age-old vow as he gently twitched the hips of the slowest, with a...

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“No Escape” by Elliot G

Submitted to Contest #75

The white dress fit perfectly, caressing my chest comfortably and spreading out near the back. He told me that he’d gotten it made specially for me, having observed every detail, every curve of my body.The bright red flowers clasped tightly between my hands were gorgeous and vivid. They stood elegantly upright as if no force nor darkness could taint their beauty. He told me they reminded him of my lips; so sweet and delicious. The fruity perfume that filled the air was stunning, smelling lively and flavourful. It brought the occasional ...

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“No more lists” by Zoe Knight

Submitted to Contest #75

It was January 1st, an hour after midnight and Josephine was beginning to feel anxious. She didn’t know what was bothering her exactly, but the feeling was steadily creeping in, making her fingers dance on the table. She reached for a cool champagne glass to steady herself and took a sip. A popular k-pop song started playing in the background, and a flock of excited girls ran to the dance floor to perform some kind of elaborate routine. She could hear people laughing and singing. The party was a success. She should be&nbs...

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“Flight” by Trevor Gordon

Submitted to Contest #75

FLIGHT by Trevor Gordon Mark Sanchez loved being in the air. Not in the way that he was someone who liked to jump off dangerous things, heavens no. More like flying planes. He received his pilot’s license after retiring from the Marine Corps. Hell, after twenty years of order and discipline he figured he deserved something good for himself. His ex, Gloria, took nearly everything else, including his eleven-year-old daughter...

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“Wet Eyes” by A H

Submitted to Contest #75

“We are gathered today to witness the legal marriage of…” Planning and executing the entire event in just the span of two months had probably been the most monumental undertaking Charles had ever attempted. When Martin first suggested it, he had vehemently rejected the idea, but with his grandmother’s condition becoming more uncertain as days went on, he finally agreed, hoping that her dreams of watching her son become a married man would be realized. But nothing could have prepared him for the unrelenting whirlwind that took place. A torn...

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“Concentration” by Anastazia Rudolph

Submitted to Contest #75

Muffled voices fade in and out of the infinite black void. I strain to hear what’s being said, but it’s no use. I can’t make out a single word. The feeling in my body slowly begins to return, bringing with it a throbbing pain in my head and my chest. I can’t move my arms. A groan escapes my lips as I open my eyes, worsening the pain in my head. Blurred shapes come into focus around me in the small white room. I must be in some sort of hospital. The voices have stopped, but I can now make out three people standing around my bedside. One is ...

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“Your Past is not your future: A fictional story By- Pravini Thivakar” by Pravini Thivakar

Submitted to Contest #75

Your Past is not your future: A fictional story By- Pravini Thivakar Have you ever felt that it would be best to forget your past forever? Some people say our past is what builds our future but I think differently. Our past is what we learn from, while our future is our opportunity to build from our past. After my journey, I've realized that sometimes it's okay to forget our past. My Past: As a child, I always thought it's not okay to be different, always blend in, be cool, be hidden in the crowds. I was bullied, that's my hidden truth, ...

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“Unknown” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #75

“It’s not your job to fix me. It is your job to hold my hand while I fix myself.”--Unknown My name is not Jane Doe. I don’t know what it is but I know it is not Jane anything. Jane doesn’t even fit me. I look in the mirror and don’t see Jane Doe. I see my face but not my name. I don’t remember my name, my age, my birthday or anything about myself. I walk around in a no name haze. I look at every face I see on the street, on the bus, on the trains that I come across. I want someone or something to look familiar but it doesn’t. I wander arou...

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“Describe in Detail, Please” by Muskaan K

Submitted to Contest #75

“Can you describe what you were wearing that night?” The words echoed in the chamber a moment, followed by a few exasperated sighs from the prosecution’s side. Was there a more antiquated question? Surely the defense was knowledgeable enough to predict the onslaught of accusations that would follow this question. Or perhaps the defense was more deft than initially thought to be. Perhaps there was something else they were trying to prove by asking the question. At least that’s what Adam thought, pondering what traditionally male clo...

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“200 Years of Death” by Garrett Beal

Submitted to Contest #75

John Burton, a 95 year old WWII veteran; He has no family and has just been offered five million dollars by a multibillionaire to stay in an old, rundown mansion out in the middle of nowhere, hundreds of miles from any city. The mansion has some dark backgrounds which people feared to get even near, it is over 200 years old and several people have died there often by being killed. John had packed a suitcase with everything he needed but was informed he’d be supplied with everything with plenty to drink and eat as well as plenty of wood for ...

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“An Unknown Face” by Omoniyi Damilola

Submitted to Contest #75

The earliest memory Hanna had was waking up on a bed in a white room, a blood transfusion drip connected to her arm and a sickly looking man with dull blue eyes sitting right beside her bed. The man spoke gently to her but she didn't reply as she was trying to remember what happened to her but her memory was blank. The doctor came to check on her and told the man she was okay then he asked her few questions and when Hanna wasn't able to recall anything about herself. The doctor told her she had amnesia and they should go to the station in ...

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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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