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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#8: Off on an Adventure

Life is an adventure — especially when you read adventure books! Let's be honest, not many of us have gone on exciting and harrowing voyages across mighty seas. But we can when we read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Or we can go an epic journey through space just by flipping through the pages of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. A commute to work, a lazy Sunday afternoon, or a spare hour before bed can all become a grand adventure with the right book.

In case you haven't already guessed, this week's writing prompts all challenge you to write about adventure! And if you need a little extra inspiration, check out our list of the 100 best adventure books — and feel free to let me know what books you think are missing!

🥇 Winner

“Astro Naught” by Joshua G. J. Insole

🏆 Winner of Contest #8

“It’s okay, Ground Control. I know you did everything you could.” Charles sat at his desk, staring at the blank screen. Nobody said a word. There was a slight hissing of static. He swallowed hard, and there was an audible click in his throat. His mouth was dry. His heart was thudding intensely in his chest. Charles felt as if someone had fastened a belt around his torso and was gradually pulling it tighter and tighter. After what seemed like an eternity, Stan broke the silence. “Come in, Pete.” The static hissed. “Pete. Come in.” Hhhhhhhh. “...

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⭐️ Shortlisted

“Going Home” by Jessica C

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #8

The house is still there. It's different than I remember it. Hadn't it been yellow? Wasn't there a clapboard fence around the back yard? It's been 15 years. I guess I don't remember right. Molly pulls a vape pen from her purse. She says she quit smoking two years ago, but I don't believe her. Her leather jacket smells faintly like Bert's Tavern on Main, and Molly's never been one to tell the whole truth. “Wow,” she says in a tone that's somehow sincere and condescending at the same time. “How about that? Still standi...

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“Quiet Forgetfulness” by Evelyn Pyakurel

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #8

The sea was a quiet place, and Aisha was a quiet person. Not a soul around to say a word; even the seagulls were quiet, the creatures of the deep opting to keep their calls within the water. The waves were beautiful ripples of fabric, marred only by her boat; it was a little thing, made of ice with the ends turning black from all the dark magic poured into making it. It had no sail nor oars, but simply followed its owner. Said owner was the large serpent lazily swimming just under the surface, just ...

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“Reverse” by Will Lopez

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #8

The sun came up. Its warmth seeped into the icicles that had formed during the night, sending a wave of crackles across the mountaintop. In his snug, rock-walled house, Norbu blinked a few times, rolled to his feet, and stretched. His mate Dalha stirred beside him, but did not wake. Norbu padded into the next chamber, where their two children sat curled in a bed of brightly colored cloth. That was good; if the sunrise had not woken them, they would sleep for at least another hour.He shook his head, clearing the fog of sleep from his min...

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“A Night Out on the Town” by Alicia Gilliam

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #8

“Everything okay, mister?” The patrolman aimed his flashlight directly at me. I swallowed hard and shielded my eyes. There was no satisfactory way to explain why anybody would be on the streets of Oakhill at 11:45 at night. “Fine, officer.” “Out a bit late, aren’t you?” “Yes, sir. Just enjoying the fresh air.” A weak first attempt. “Fresh air, huh?” “The AC is broken back home.” I held my breath. The blinding light dropped to the ground in front of my feet. No one could blame a man for seeking escape from a stale apartment in this heat...

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This week's prompts

Write a story about an adventure on the water.

Adventure – 36 stories

Write a story about an adventure in the desert.

Adventure – 23 stories

Write a story about an adventure in space.

Science Fiction – 28 stories

Write a story about an adventure on a shipwrecked island.

Adventure – 23 stories

Write a story about an adventure in a small town.

Adventure – 63 stories

Stories

“Astro Naught” by Joshua G. J. Insole

🏆 Winner of Contest #8

“It’s okay, Ground Control. I know you did everything you could.” Charles sat at his desk, staring at the blank screen. Nobody said a word. There was a slight hissing of static. He swallowed hard, and there was an audible click in his throat. His mouth was dry. His heart was thudding intensely in his chest. Charles felt as if someone had fastened a belt around his torso and was gradually pulling it tighter and tighter. After what seemed like an eternity, Stan broke the silence. “Come in, Pete.” The static hissed. “Pete. Come in.” Hhhhhhhh. “...

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“The Desert Mouse” by Zilla Babbitt

Submitted to Contest #8

The mellow sun rises over the shifting sands of the Sahara Desert. Dawn.Over a ridge, far in the midst of the desert, peeks a small golden desert mouse. It gazes over the rippling sea of sand, rubs its nose, cocks its head, and does an about-face to go back down to its hole alongside the oasis.It freezes suddenly as a slender, striking, evil head rises menacingly before the mouse. It is one of the Yellow Snakes; snakes so venomous it can kill a man in thirty seconds. Carnivorous, the Yellow Snake flicks its tongue in the direction of the mou...

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“ It Was Halloween” by Cam Croz

Submitted to Contest #8

Have you ever heard of the abandoned school? The school my mama attended to when she was my age. Nobody knows what happened to it. My mama seems to have forgotten. Anita Dunlap, my very best friend, told me that two bats live there. One short and stubby and the other long and windy. Of course, she was joking. Such a silly thing could never be real. “Ivette it's time for school” my mama hollered, “You're going to be late.” It was Halloween today. The sky was inky black, my window was all foggy. The spooky touch that Halloween brings wa...

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“Going Home” by Jessica C

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #8

The house is still there. It's different than I remember it. Hadn't it been yellow? Wasn't there a clapboard fence around the back yard? It's been 15 years. I guess I don't remember right. Molly pulls a vape pen from her purse. She says she quit smoking two years ago, but I don't believe her. Her leather jacket smells faintly like Bert's Tavern on Main, and Molly's never been one to tell the whole truth. “Wow,” she says in a tone that's somehow sincere and condescending at the same time. “How about that? Still standi...

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“Pondview, East Carolina” by Holly Pierce

Submitted to Contest #8

adventure, noun an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous experience or activity I never expected anything exciting to happen to me in the small town of Pondview, East Carolina, but with my luck, it was inevitable. Well, I guess my luck isn’t all bad, considering I didn’t die. An adventure seemed like something anyone would want when they were bored, but this kind of adventure was something nobody wanted. July 4, 3020 was supposed to be a day to celebrate our country. Instead,...

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“A Change of Luck ” by Anna K Firth

Submitted to Contest #8

Once, when the world was smaller than it is now, but much more unknown, a peacock sat sunning himself on a rock in a grassy field. The sun slanted down across his lovely feathers in a pleasant, drowsy way, and the peacock had nothing to do, and nowhere to be. He was almost asleep when he heard a rustling in the grass. The peacock stood up. He ruffled his feathers carefully, tucking them into position, ready to face whatever it was. In a moment it came into view. The peacock jumped in surprise. He had only seen these t...

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“Desert Escape” by Joseph Gozum

Submitted to Contest #8

The sweltering heat made John sluggish, and it did not help that the sun's rays felt like the sting of being slapped on the skin. His water bottle was nearly full, but he did not account for the temperature to affect the liquid inside. He took a gulp and nearly spat the water out, it was boiling hot. He capped the bottle and proceeded east trudging over the sandy dune when he spotted another traveler. He hoped that he was not seeing things, and rushed towards the unsuspecting person.“Hey!” he yelled, waving his hand. “Hello.”The person stopp...

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“Quiet Forgetfulness” by Evelyn Pyakurel

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #8

The sea was a quiet place, and Aisha was a quiet person. Not a soul around to say a word; even the seagulls were quiet, the creatures of the deep opting to keep their calls within the water. The waves were beautiful ripples of fabric, marred only by her boat; it was a little thing, made of ice with the ends turning black from all the dark magic poured into making it. It had no sail nor oars, but simply followed its owner. Said owner was the large serpent lazily swimming just under the surface, just ...

Read story

“Pinky Promise” by Matt Strempel

Submitted to Contest #8

“If you break a pinky promise, you’ll die within a year.”That’s what my neighbour, Geoffrey Collins used to say when we were kids. I’m looking at his old bedroom window from the base of the gum where his tyre swing used to be; where I’d call 'cooee!' to get him to come out and join me.There’s only the frayed top of the rope tied to the branch now. There was a persistent rumour it’s where Mr Collins hanged himself, but that’s bullshit. It was just Geoffrey’s swing.It was the shed where Geoffrey found his dad dangling.No one’s lived here ...

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“Reverse” by Will Lopez

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #8

The sun came up. Its warmth seeped into the icicles that had formed during the night, sending a wave of crackles across the mountaintop. In his snug, rock-walled house, Norbu blinked a few times, rolled to his feet, and stretched. His mate Dalha stirred beside him, but did not wake. Norbu padded into the next chamber, where their two children sat curled in a bed of brightly colored cloth. That was good; if the sunrise had not woken them, they would sleep for at least another hour.He shook his head, clearing the fog of sleep from his min...

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“Treasure Fleet” by Lee Kull

Submitted to Contest #8

North Atlantic Ocean off the Azores, Fall, 1544Fog shrouded the Spanish flagship as she sliced through the sea, her heavy cargo settling her low in the water. Capitán Juan Salvaro stood ill-at-ease at the helm, staring intently at the vast sheet of white before him, as if he could part the veil with the intensity of his eyes alone. The air was as heavy with tension and portent as it was with moisture.These were bad waters to be sailing. Pirates scoured these waters, knowing the Azores were the common stopping place for vessels returning home...

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“Don't Cuss the Rope” by Lee Kull

Submitted to Contest #8

I swear, I ain’t never seen a more ornery, no-good hog than that Horace. “Prize winner my eye,” I muttered under my breath as I retied the rope that fastened the gate closed for what felt like the hundredth time. Every time I closed him in, he’d find some way to get hisself loose again, and I’d have to go chase him and catch him and throw him back in there. It seemed like a daily occurrence, and half the time I couldn’t even see how he got out to begin with.I finally figured that he must’ve stretched the rope just enough to shove his squirmy...

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“Mirage” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #8

It felt like being in a crowded parking lot, when someone way up ahead is waiting for that choice spot. No one can move in or out. Or forward. Only we were in the desert, not in a parking lot. There were no cars around. Not even a road. Scrub, dust and old rock filled our view all the way to the pass leading to Mirage, our destination. Oh yeah, it was stifling hot.The three of us walked steadily, but we made no discernible progress.Avery and Joe were my companions. We had water, extra shoes, sun block and our purpose - the package we needed ...

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“HMS Adventure” by Marte Van Der Linden

Submitted to Contest #8

The little raft danced on the waves like a dandelion seed on the wind. It was picked up and tossed down and hurled sideways through the water. Five pairs of hands clung on to the splintered beams. Five pair of eyes were clenched shut against the lashing water. Five yells sounded over the noise of the storm as the raft crested a wave and plunged into nothingness, then the voices were abruptly cut off as the water closed over them.And when the raft finally scraped onto a sandy beach, five utterly bedraggled figures staggered ashore.“Get her ou...

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“The Sands of Sa'arad” by Arthur Tiberio

Submitted to Contest #8

"... 'And here the rising sun first touches the golden earth, and the glory of Zoltaeg, the Risen, still lives in the hearts of the people of bronze.'"The words were whipped away from him by the rising wind, and he sighed, lowering the tattered book in his hands with gloomy disdain. "I'm going to kill Wensley."Beside him, knee-deep in snow, a bundled figure coughed loudly into one heavy fur glove. "It's not - a-kaff! - all bad... I'm sure we must be close."But his words were lost on his companion, whose face had settled into its familiar "ba...

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$50

Prize money

173

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 27, 2019 EST

Won by Joshua G. J. Insole 🏆

Title: Astro Naught

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.

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