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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

“Pellucid Plans.” by Adanna Anita

Submitted to Contest #75

“My story is scary, horrifying, and sadly true.So, when I was little my grandfather kept coming after my sister and doing ‘very bad things’ to her that I didn’t understand. I knew she didn’t like it and I had to protect her. I found a pocket knife in the garage of their house — one of those little red swiss army ones.I pocketed it and decided I would do what’s right.Next time he came for her, I defiantly pulled out that knife and stood between him and her saying he couldn’t do those things to her anymore. His face filled with hate and venom....

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“Redaction” by Sjan Evardsson

Submitted to Contest #75

Carter Carson nursed his whiskey. Droplets of condensation traced crooked paths to the mat below where they soaked into a ring that circumscribed the bottom of the glass. After each sip he was careful to place the glass back in the exact position it had been.A tap on his shoulder brought his attention back to his surroundings. “Hey Carter, what’s up?” She stood behind him, holding a bottle of beer. “You look like you could use some company.”“Maya, surprised to see you out on a weeknight,” he said. “Sit down. Even if I said no, you’d sit next...

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“What is Your Job?” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #75

I am here to help you leave your old life behind. That is my job. My important job. The other one, the institution where I work, is just to earn enough to pay the bills. My real job is sometimes risky, and it can make enemies for me. I have to keep that in mind. Still, I do the work because it matters. We all need to figure out what matters in life. That’s my belief, anyway. *** My name is Pilar, Pilar Landín. You may know me as Lavinia Rivers’ friend if you’ve read any of the other stories that are set in Santiago de Compostel...

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“Misty Memories ” by Kay (:

Submitted to Contest #75

I woke up in the middle of a field in what I presumed to be the middle of nowhere. I looked down and the only thing I had on was a torn and ragged dress. I had a splitting headache and I was very hungry and thirsty. Struggling, I got to my feet which felt like dead weights, my vision was fuzzy. I don’t remember how I got here but I had a terrible feeling that it wasn’t a good reason and I don’t want to know how I got here. All I wanted was a place to rest. Stumbling over myself I walked towards what I thought was a road or something of the k...

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“It's a Secret” by Cheryl Marita

Submitted to Contest #75

Prompt: Start your story with one character making a vow that they never would have a year before. It’s a Secret Cheryl Marita Rudy laughed at his reflection in the tiny mirror in the men’s bathroom. He didn’t even recognize himself after six months on Kwajalein Atoll Air Base. “Hey man, even with the sixty-hour weeks, you still show some island sun.” He enjoyed the warm, clear water. An escape from data, an escape from his broken heart that pushed him to jump at the c...

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“The Good And The Better” by Aris K

Submitted to Contest #75

“Quick, hide! Now!” Mars looked behind and saw a girl hiding behind a dumpster. He scratched his head and looked at her, very confused. -Excuse me, are you talking to me? He asked politely. He closely examined her face, internally rummaging through his list of acquaintances, desperately trying to guess who she was. -Don’t joke around Hawk, we have no time for that kind of crap! We have to go! She whispered impatiently and grabbed him by the hand. They ran towards the very end of the alleyway, where a wooden door was sloppily hidden behind a...

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“A Little Blue Baseball Cap” by Sunshine (:

Submitted to Contest #75

They all told me I was a miracle. That me being alive was in itself amazing. Fascinating, even. But sometimes I wish I didn’t have to be here. Because every time someone looks at me, my soul is completely out in the open. For them to judge. And stare. They keep telling me to try to remember. They keep describing it, but I don’t want to remember. And every voice that says that they’re trying to help me sounds like nails on a chalkboard, and my ears never manage to escape the tight grasp they hold around me. My heart is still shriveled up; I’m...

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“Take My Hand” by Daniel Roueche

Submitted to Contest #75

Spirit Number: 815 Gender: Male Age: 92 years old Name: Clarence “Take my hand,” I say. A tiny man named Clarence gives me the uncertain look I see every day. His eyes furrow, mouth hangs open as though he wants to say something. “Don’t try to speak yet. It takes a few minutes, but it’ll come back to you.” He stares at my hand for a second, then takes it. An inaudible sigh escapes his lips as his shoulders slump down into a noticeable curve. “It can be a bit jarring at first, b...

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“The Solution at Walcott Place” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #75

The device was humming, so they knew they just had to hit the button. “Good morning! How are we today?” The hologram was always a nice touch, thought Mildred. She and her partner made sure to get the most interactive features on the device. They had set up the appointment over a year ago and were not going to miss the set up for the price they paid. “Oh, uh, WE ARE WELL!” “George, again, you really do not have to raise your voice and yell.” “Oh, sorry.” He was still the same man that she responded to and pair bonded with after thei...

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“For Honor and Blood” by Tim Maddox

Submitted to Contest #75

“I have called you all here to ready the men to head to Serendia. My intention is to head to Ludune province and aid House Scur against the Kaladun invaders.” Mordecai quickly glanced around the room at each of his lieutenants. The Graecians, Alexios and Mateo, were stunned and turned to each other as if to ask the other whether they had heard correctly. Hakeem’s eyes fell into the fire so as not to betray the thoughts behind them. Ibrahim, the Emir’s official representative to his council, hid his mouth in his hand. The two Therovingi broth...

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“Something is just not right” by Dwavico .

Submitted to Contest #75

Waking up was the strangest thing. Everything felt just like every other morning but I sure had a lot of very bad and realistic dreams. So I open my eyes and I don't recognize the lighting above me. What the hell did I do last night? I can only remember the dreams. I'll have to ask somebody in hopes they can help me clear the fog. Wait a minute! Now it's not just like every other morning. I "feel" normal (no hangover or weird pains) but I usually, at least, remember snippets from the night before. Time to find out where I am bedded down. I ...

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“Transplant” by Sandra Claros

Submitted to Contest #75

- She needs a transplant - the doctor said to my father , after a pilgrimage from expensive clinics and hospitals to cheap clinics and hospitals . - it was the fault of the trip I took during my vacations when it was hot in there and I was looking for some water. So, in that scorching Sunday afternoon in the middle of a lonesome train station , where all doors were closed, I started to look for some water, taking my way out from the station. -...

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“Echoes of Emptiness ” by James Holgate

Submitted to Contest #75

The grey-scale pavement reflected an unwelcome and gloomy face back at Carlos as he stared down at his feet in dismay. 18 years ago an unfortunate event occurred, an unfortunate event that shunned the cerebellum of Carlos’ temple. For 18 years now he was sauntered the streets in curiosity and neglect. Despite his lack of memory he remembers that the unwelcome event was not something for the light-hearted. Henceforth he refuses to look back to his past and instead perseveres with the present to manufacture the future. A harsh blizzard sl...

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“Move On: Rock bottom” by An Echo

Submitted to Contest #75

Ever reached rock bottom? No, not that fantasy world with the talking fishes and tasty burgers. It's a mental place. And when you get there, your brain automatically tells you to leave. Get out. Move on. But it's never easy.Some of us didn't exactly stick the landing and we're broken pieces scattered around.Maybe we pick ourselves together, maybe we don't. Maybe we're too tired, tired of it all, tired from the drop, tired of being broken, tired of being put back together, tired of falling after getting back up, or like I said before just tir...

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“Be Good for Goodness' Sake” by Iris Silverman

Submitted to Contest #75

Before this year, I wouldn't have paid much attention to people’s laziness. I wouldn't have dwelled on the crowded chats in the lunchroom about the latest story on The Daily Mail or a patient they shouldn't have been talking about. And I would have turned my back when I saw staff treating break-rooms like private bedrooms— in a couple of different ways, if you know what I mean. It was just what people did. And I figured that nothing could really change people. But this year, people’s laziness began to cost lives, un-masked chats in the lunch...

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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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