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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#80: Living History

It's an important truth that those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it. Unfortunately, sometimes we find ourselves living through historical moments whether we’ve prepared for them or not.

This week, we’re going to examine all the ways that people live through — and shape — history. Whether that’s an important activist organizer, a daring political leader, or just someone trying to educate people on the past so they can avoid previous mistakes, history is made up the actions of each and every one of us. How will your characters change the course of their world?

This week's prompts

Write about someone who never planned to make history but is now about to deliver a speech in front of millions.

Teens – 104 stories

Write about a child witnessing a major historical event.

Dramatic – 237 stories

Start your story with someone entering a museum, and end it with them settling down to join a sit-in.

High School – 41 stories

Write about an elderly character who was part of a historic movement years ago.

Historical Fiction – 134 stories

Start your story with a major news event breaking — one that will change the world forever.

Dystopian – 156 stories

Stories

“The Time I defeated the Spanish Armada” by Siobhan Mulalley

Submitted to Contest #80

It was early in the morning and we were wondering what to do with the Drunken Sailor, or Lieutenant or whatever he said he was. He had turned up at the Tavern last night telling us that the Armada had been spotted and all able-bodied men and boys were to make their way to the docks to join ships and fight the good fight for the Queen and for England. Naturally, as able-bodied men we were less than enthused by the idea. It’s not like we were not used to the sea, many of us were fishermen, but killing fish is a lot easier than killing the Span...

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“Diana's Life Tips #65: Make Snacks Before a Demon Tells You Scandals from His Childhood” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #80

Author’s note: This is part of a series of stand-alone [with provided, relevant information] stories called “Diana’s Life Tips”. Relevant information: Daemon is a demon Diana accidentally summoned. They’ve both seen Cerberus around Diana’s high school. Diana accidentally stole a piece of paper with a mysterious plan on it. *** “Wait so... What?” Diana twisted her head around in confusion, trying to make her thoughts bounce and mingle more so she could actually understand the words being told to her. Her lips pressed into a puzzled express...

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“Kitty and the Wind” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #80

You can call me Kit, or Kitty, or K. Just don’t call me Kate, or Katey like my mom tries to call me because she thinks it is so “ladylike” and “proper”. It’s Kitty with my friends, and I think that we are going to be very friendly when I tell you my story. So, nothing happens in my town. We live near the ocean and it is colder than cold after November, so when we have Christmas or New Year’s Day, we gotta stay inside and keep the fireplace full of driftwood or whatever scraps we can grab from the lumberyard my dad works at (he alw...

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“inv(A)s(I)ion” by Amir Sher

Submitted to Contest #80

Rick was standing in the open kitchen, making a sandwich while watching CNN on the living room big screen. The screen was split into three. The morning show host was on the left part. She was too young and overwhelmed to handle this kind of situation that was bestowed on her instead of delivering a piece about “morning exercises for busy moms.” On the right side of the screen was the CEO of Tyrell Robotics. He looked calmer and more confident than the young host, but his red eyes revealed his lack of sleep. The middle part of the screen disp...

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“My Grandfather- The Life Connoisseur” by Fram Kim

Submitted to Contest #80

BASED ON A TRUE STORYI happened to be born in the highlands of Kenya. A saying goes you can never choose your parent or where you are born. I will proudly say that I grew in a loving and caring home though it had its ups and downs. Both of my parents were government officials working in the city and my grandfather detested us staying in Nairobi purporting that it was confusing just like the Movie Inception by Leonardo DiCaprio. It was therefore reached into a consensus that I and my siblings should stay under the watch of my grandpa living c...

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“Black Lives Matter” by Kimberly C

Submitted to Contest #80

It was a wonderfully warm winter afternoon as she strolled down the sidewalk outside the Smithsonian Institute. More precisely, she was headed for the National Museum of American History and the Woolworth's Counter exhibit. There was a "Black Lives Matter" Program she was determined to attend. Nicole had chin-length, glossy red hair and bright blue eyes. Her fair skin glowed brightly against the gold knit crew neck sweater she wore with denim jeans. A heavy yet feminine cut denim jacket with golden roses embroidered on flared sleeves co...

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“THE FLOWERS” by Doug LeBlanc

Submitted to Contest #80

THE FLOWERS I The fragrance drew her to the cave. She was twelve years old, and alone. It was mid-winter in Poland, and Anna was taking a different route home from school. It was a fairly warm day for February, and Anna liked to go places no one else ever went to. She loved to see the deep snow in the forest valley. Pristine in its loveliness, it looked so pure without a footstep anywhere, save for hers. She felt ...

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“Witness to History” by Nikki Sandoval

Submitted to Contest #80

Let me tell you about one fateful day in November of 1963. I was about 10 years old and was waiting for the President of the United States of America to land at the Dallas airport, I was near the fence and people were pushing forward and my father created a safe space for me so I would not get smashed into the fence. When the plane landed it was very loud and there was some screeching, my father said it was from the brakes on the plane bringing the plane to a stop. Then these men pushed some big stairs to the plane, and the door opened, and ...

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“We Lost Our Innocence” by Vaughn Collar

Submitted to Contest #80

You know, being a part of something memorable doesn’t seem like it at the time. For me, it was tragic. The Kent State massacre. I knew a couple of the victims, at least a little. Allison was in one of my classes, and William was a good friend of another friend of mine. Yeah, I had been aware of the protest to happen that Monday, and honestly planned to be a part of the protest. Looking back now, I realize how momentous that day was. It was like the nation had its rose-colored...

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“The Person Problem” by Joe Marlowe

Submitted to Contest #80

Francisco never forgot the day of the rally. As a boy, he’d always enjoyed going to town; she always got him one of those ice cream sundaes with the mashed strawberries in the bottom - but his mother dragged him to the rally. Francisco had never really wanted to know what a man’s head looked like after repeated hits from a nightstick, but he’d found out that day. After, whenever he’d wanted an ice cream sundae, it was always the ones with the blueberries. &nb...

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“Thirteen, An Unlucky Number” by Stan Allen

Submitted to Contest #80

Christi asked, “Papa, what are you watching?” Seven year old Christi Doyle crawled into her grandfather’s lap and waited for the answer to her question. James Doyle had volunteered to babysit while the girls parents went shopping. James Replied, “I’m watching a space movie called Apollo Thirteen. It’s based on true events. Why don’t you sit here and watch it with me. you may learn something new?” Christi said, “You mean that is real.” James replied, “Those men are actors, but the movie is about a real event. Christi asked, “How do you know i...

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“Selma Daze ” by Christian Hinrichsen

Submitted to Contest #80

Selma Daze christianhinrichsen4@gmail.com As history appears and goes by each day. There have many traumatic experiences that have led to a huge portion of our lives. We have witnessed stories of the American Civil War to power events such as the recent Insurrection on Capitol Hill. What would we do if we could go back and stop some event that changed the course of history? If it could be done there have been many tales that such events have a significant impact and would change history. This is one story that I hope you enjoy however th...

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“BACK IN MY DAY...” by Ronald Gagnon

Submitted to Contest #80

"What are you thinking about, Granpaw? All I can see of you across the fire.. is your bent head... I can't even see your face... That silly old hat covers it like that..." "Donnie, This silly old hat... as you call it, is probably one of the reasons this old grandpaw is still alive... So don't you go making light of it... That crazy green thing that covers your head ain't no prize, either... But don't you ever stop wearing it." "Yeah, mom tells me every day... Something about the way the sun shines through that atmosphere stuff that...

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“The End of Our World” by Mandy McCool

Submitted to Contest #80

Emergency sirens were thirteen minutes too late to warn us of our fate. Our sky twisted into a swirl of gray clouds with a blood red sunset, thunder and cracks of explosions indistinguishable in the distance. Even the air that surrounded us peaked with electricity as I pulled my sister’s hand, feet pounded the earth eager to grab each step. It was the tiny details that seemed so memorable: the smell of smoke, the sweat of Isabelle’s small hand fighting against our grip, the burning air in my lungs, and the nausea that forced me to finally st...

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“Selfish” by Joohee Yoon

Submitted to Contest #80

(This does not follow any specific timeline) Name: Lyria Askoff, the paper reads. Parents: Isaac Askoff (presumed dead) and Nyla Askoff (dead) Hometown: Cliffwood Township (destroyed during the Fourth Bombing) Other Affiliations/Relatives: Unknown The man sighs, flipping the page over to skim over the first few categories.Age: 5 (Birthday: 5/11/2081)Height: 3'11 Weight: 58 lbs Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown He clicks his tongue, shaking his head.What a shame. The rich and powerful start these wars, and the poor and weak have to pay the ...

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Ended on 23:59 - Feb 12, 2021 EST

A winner will be announced soon.

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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