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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

“Revenge is Best Served from the Dead” by H B

Submitted to Contest #75

My name is Danny Donahue and I am not your ordinary fourteen-year-old boy from Southern California. Well, I guess I may be ordinary, except for one teeny thing but I guess that normal. Nobody is just ordinary, heck what does ordinary even mean, I guess I will never know. Because I am not your ordinary boy, I am Danny Donahue, the boy who helps ghosts cross into their next life. Movies weren’t wrong, there are ghosts on Earth and sometimes they might get stuck on Earth because they have unfinished business with someone or themselves (ug...

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“Aiding and Abetting” by Steve McKenney

Submitted to Contest #75

Alex Watters pulled up to the house as Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” announced an incoming call. “Yeah?” he answered. He listened to the voice on the other end for less than a minute, then the unmistakable buzz of dial tone. Before getting out of his car, he looked at the house. The sides, painted white, were faded and peeling with what looked to be permanent mascara runs on them. The front porch seemed like it was barely standing; the half-dozen wooden stairs and hand rail that led to the porch leaned to the left and if you weren’t c...

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“New beginnings” by NK Hatendi

Submitted to Contest #75

"Good afternoon. Compliments of the Season! Is this Mrs Tsika? My name is Mwadiwa Sango of Singer Migration Services. Your son contacted our firm by email, and I am following up your request for preliminary immigration advice. Do you have a minute or two, so we can talk?""Compliments of the Season to you too Mwadiwa. Call me, Sheila, that's my first name. Temba mentioned that he would contact an agent to speak to me, I wasn't expecting such a quick response. Yes, I can talk.""From his email which you were copied in, I understand that yo...

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“Someone must remeber ” by Thandeka Katsika

Submitted to Contest #75

I stared intensely into the certain eyes of Samantha Smith. The last name Smith was ironic because usually such a common last name represented a larger group of people yet here she was, the only person from the incident who wanted to remember. As was customary I asked her again “Are you sure?” In response she nodded her head. “Are you sure you want to remember this incident?” I asked again. I maintained a monotone voice and a straight face, for my line of work it was vital that I made no judgement to the decisions made either good or bad. “...

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“A Glimpse of the Works and Wonders of a Dead-People-Processing Teller” by Andrea An

Submitted to Contest #75

T/W: Mention of Rape.You type away on your keyboard, your eyes barely seeing the screen. Working for years in the same office in the same job post looking at the same form that’s barely changed for decades, it becomes as familiar as the back of your hand. You continue to type away on the keyboard, unhearing and hearing the wail and complaints of the person on the other side of the glass pane in front of you.“Yes, yes,” you push enter. “You’re done. Get your ticket on the next window.” You block the person off your sight although you can...

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“Crossing the Grapple” by Caleb Goehring

Submitted to Contest #75

Most people call me “thief” or “crook,” and say that I’m “devious” or “underhanded.” But I think that something like “benefactor” or “protector” would be more appropriate. I’ve prevented (or at least delayed) three wars, paved the way for brand new lives, and maintained an incredibly valuable piece of architecture. The war part sounds outrageous, but the truth is that I am the gatekeeper between two great nations: Graepjoos and Appeljus. The mighty Grapple River divides these lands, and I faithfully guard the only logical (or conve...

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“The Last Leaf” by Patrick Druid

Submitted to Contest #75

The old dirt path was dimly lit by the lamps of the dilapidated stage coach, it's driver standing on the side, bundled in a dark cloak, his facial features hidden from view by the top hat he wore. He seemed to look to his right and upwards towards old hackberry tree that seemed bare except for one small leaf that was barely hanging on to a branch. The driver knew that it would not be long before that leaf would fall to the ground. The sound of footsteps broke the silence, the leaves making a crunching sound with every step, unable to bear ...

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“Dante's Divine Disappearings” by Callum Tucker

Submitted to Contest #75

I change people’s lives. It’s quite easy actually, people who need me will find my flyer: DANTE’S DIVINE DISAPPEARINGS Want to get away from your current life? Want to change who you are forever? Want to leave it all behind and start afresh? Well come on down to Dante’s Divine Disappearings and we’ll whisk you away from your current plight and land you in a new, much happier life. Then there’s an address beneath, but it changes depending on where the person lives. It’s always in some creepy alleyway that no one goes down though. W...

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“You are worse” by Regan Boden

Submitted to Contest #75

Trigger warning: sexual assault, date rape 'Kate is going crazy. You really need to help me' Jason pleads, whispering with his dark eyes flitting from side-to-side, taking in the cheerless blue room. A room he has been to many times before. It is dingy, stuck in the corner of a rusty strip mall and flanked by a tattoo parlour and mini-casino. It has always looked much more appealing than this - lust gave his lenses a rose-gold tinge. Today was not about lust, but about love. An old love. 'You know that I don't take on clients t...

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“Sign Your Life Away” by Ira Waynewright

Submitted to Contest #75

“It doesn’t matter now.” Foci leaned forward, xyr pink glasses slipping a millimeter down xyr nose. “Your past is in the past.” The client sighed and smiled downward, shaking his head slightly. “Just like that? A new life?” “All yours,” xe smiled and slid the document toward him. He glanced once more at xem before tracing his finger along the dotted line. *** “Two cases done already?” Eglin, xyr manager, said when xe dropped the signed paper at eir desk. “That last one was a breeze.” Xe opened xyr hand for xyr next assignment. ...

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“The Lady of the Glawackus” by Mollin Luxeder

Submitted to Contest #75

"Miralee, you can't do this!" Corin raced after his sister. "Have you even thought this through?" he asked between breaths. Even after years of chasing after her, he still couldn't keep up with her quick stride. "Please stop for just a second," he pleaded, leaning on the rough cliff face on the side of the road. Miralee turned around and smirked. "Slowpoke," she muttered. "I heard that," Corin shot back. "I may be slow, but I can still hear just fine." He stood up straight and took in a deep breath. Miralee couldn't repress a short lau...

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“The Former” by Isla Wren

Submitted to Contest #75

I exit onto the third floor, faking a conversation on my cell phone until key meets lock. The heavy door clicks behind me. Nine a.m. is too early to exchange cheerful pleasantries in my book, especially right after the holidays. It’s more small talk than I can survive sober. No wife, no kids, no fur baby photos to pull up on my phone. I’m relegated to talking about the weather.A belated Christmas gift is waiting for me on the corner of my desk. A navy blue tumbler, complete with flexible...

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“Alcoholics Anonymous ” by Emily Wright

Submitted to Contest #75

‘Hi everyone. My name is Nick and I’m an alcoholic and I vow to never drink again,’ his gruff voice echoed in the hall. ‘Hi Nick,’ the room chimed in unison as they welcomed him to the group. **** The room was not unusual; if anything it was quite ordinary. The same can not be said for the people sitting in the chairs. The chairs were centered in the middle of the room in a circle formation- well, more of an oval. The rest of the room was bland. Except for a silver cross that hung directly behind Nick. I always thought that a chu...

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“The Difference” by Bailey Carmack

Submitted to Contest #75

Rosie would never have guessed that her New Years’ Resolution this year would be to stop making a difference in the lives of children. She’d been doing just that for the last ten years in her classroom, but this year in particular, she felt undervalued, overworked, and inadequate enough to finally be ready to try something new. She was never going to be one of those teachers that made the HUGE differences in the lives of her students—teachers like Mr. Putnam, who joked and teased with his students all day long and somehow they still learne...

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“An Unexpected Promise” by Kay Lane

Submitted to Contest #75

“I promise to encourage your passions, to keep you individual and unique, to keep you grounded. I will continue to be your best friend, and I will support you until the end of time.” “You may kiss the bride,” our officiant says. In one motion, I’m swept off my feet into an embrace that I had welcomed my entire life, although I didn’t realize it. Just a year before, I...

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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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