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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 – 236 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 Theto Region” by Luna Wood

Submitted to Contest #80

The TV blares in the other room, "Our new president Ella Lewis has now made her first decree as president. She has put forth the decision to divide everyone into the United States into their categories based on the personality test that has now been shipped to your house. Please open the box and return to the TV." I get up and walk over to the TV to see my parents with the box in front of them. "Sweetie come here. We need to take the personality test." I walk over to my mom. She hands me a pill. I stare at her and she says, "You have to swa...

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“The girl who lived” by Katerina Kirilenko

Submitted to Contest #80

’Calm down, Leila! I cannot believe this stresses you out. After everything that happened…everyone knows your story. Your life is an open book.’’Come on, little girl, don’t be shy! Do you hear the crowd out there, cheering? These people came to express their gratitude. You changed the lives of millions – you made history, darling!’Leila did not look good at all. Her whole body was trembling and she was pale like a ghost – this last comparison might actually be an insult to the ghosts, since they actually look more alive.’M…may I rehearse it ...

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“Little Sis” by Julia C

Submitted to Contest #80

“I was born in 1994. My mother is a nurse, and my father is a professor. I was never meant to be anything great. I wanted to be an engineer. That was my goal in life: go to college, get an engineering degree, and become an engineer. That was the plan. But then he decided to throw a wrench in my perfect dream. In 1998, my life changed for the better. My litter sister, Isabella, was born. She was always lovely. She liked things a certain way, and that made it easy to take care of her. For example, she would only ever be called Bell. Nothing e...

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“White Coat” by Chris D

Submitted to Contest #80

It is a positively insane notion, and yet he finds himself sitting in a chair opposite of a massive crowd as someone introduces him on stage, frantic as he skims through his index cards one last time. The emcee calls him by name, and he stands. His index cards scatter to the floor. Stooping down to gather them, he quickens his pace. His heart syncs up to match it. It was fine to be that peculiar doctor with a dream. It was another to be talking about that dream in front of millions of people. Okay, so maybe there are only five hundred ...

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“Lights, Camera...Action” by Susan Whitlock

Submitted to Contest #80

Cameraman 3, Dan Cheselford, felt like he was going to throw up. He paced around the small room they had placed him in, to go over the script before it was time to go on air. Go on air? How was that going to work? He was the one who put others on air, not the one smiling into the lights. His lips felt numb. Were they still there? He patted them to make sure. Dan's boss, Alan Tideman, had assured him that he was the best choice for this assignment. The regular anchors, and their back ups, were all either awol - or refused to do this story. ...

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“Nothing Unites Like Hatred” by Daryl Oliver

Submitted to Contest #80

Donald was noble as he stood on the platform and looked out at the myriad of people. Ever since he was a child he feared this day. As a child, Donald never imagined that he would be where he was today. He never wanted to talk to a group of people and tell them about himself. Donald would have been happy to stay a child forever. But that was all changing on this day.Now he was only seconds away from making the most important action of his life. From the television in the previous room, he knew that the entire world was watching and he would b...

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“Landon's Cupcakes” by Ema Humajova

Submitted to Contest #80

Sometimes, it seems as though Landon despises everything and anything happiness-evoking. He wakes up at the crack of dawn every morning even though he has to be at work at ten. Landon drinks his morning coffee straight because he doesn’t believe in the concept of something so sinister, tasting anything other than outright dreadful. He showers outside, in his do-it-yourself shower made of a garden hose and an A-shaped wooden structure. He makes sure to shower while it’s still relatively dark because his neighbour Katy once caught him flauntin...

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“Mer Socks” by Sara Blanch

Submitted to Contest #80

As I sit here nervously awaiting my cue, I know I should be going over my palm cards...yet all I can do is ponder over the particular events of my life so far that had led me to this moment. I had only been in the Mer Kingdom for less than a month...a month that had done wonders for my physical health thanks to my true nature yet had been bordlerine disastrous for me emotionally and mentally. Growing up on NSW's central coast, I had always had a passion for the water and the environment. In fact, I had spent most of my childhood in the...

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“A Conversation at Dinner A child's viewpoint in the Riots of Los Angeles, CA ” by RockSTEADY Recordz

Submitted to Contest #80

A Conversation at Dinner A child's viewpoint in the Riots of Los Angeles, CA Everybody's yelling, everybody screaming I don't know what's on the TV things are simmering people are screaming. I watched, I pondered. I went to play with my dolls, and I came back. They were still burning and screaming all of the stores and pretty places gone.I had asked my mother what was wrong? She told me in the world, we couldn't find any understanding that not everyone is a criminal. Not everyone is a bully not everybody else is allowed to do what they ...

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“1492: The year the gods came to visit” by Carolina Boscarino

Submitted to Contest #80

I see something in the horizon, not sure what it is yet but looks big. Not like a normal boat that we use and far too big to be a shark. It is approaching fast; it is a boat – definitely. But not one of ours, never saw one like this. Maybe it is a boat from the gods, but why would the gods come visit us? Oh, NO! I know exactly why they are here! It is all my fault, they are not here to visit the village, they came to get me and give me my punishment for lying to my mother yesterday about not drinking the cane juice. It was me; I could not re...

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“Dara(Goodness)” by Dolapo Akanni

Submitted to Contest #80

A child witnessing a major historical event. The winner for the under- 18 race competition for the South-western Nigeria competition is Dara Akin, the master of ceremony announced over the microphone again. She was sure she heard it the first time but her mind was fixed somewhere. In between the drifted moments, Dara tugged her mother, gazing at her with a puzzled look. Mum, I won the race showing off her set of beautiful teeth. She held in her hand the golden trophy. The trophy gleamed in the hot afternoon sun with red and blue r...

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“Just another day” by Ari LaMay

Submitted to Contest #80

Hi my name is Imani and this is the story about how my life changed forever. To set the scene I am a 12 year old African American female who lives with both her mom and dad in Los Angeles California. It was a day like any other day where my dad would pick me up from school, and ask me, “how was your day, anything interesting happened”? I responded as I normally do “nope nothing happened just boring school.” But something was different about this day we were driving home as usual when a cop started driving behind us. ...

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“I am me and I am part of something great” by Queenie Maye

Submitted to Contest #80

It started out like any other day. I woke up and heard my Mama shuffling around down stairs. “Kara! Please tell me you're up. We are going to be late again.” I ripped my blanket off of me and yelled. “Yeah Mama. I’m up!” Instantly she yelled up the stairs. “Can you please help me finish getting your brother ready? I need to finish getting dressed for work. Mr.Morrison won’t have be lookin’ a mess in the office again today.” Mr. Morrison, he was a simple minded white man that was always on Mama...

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“Time Stands Still” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #80

Four year old Sammy is still half dressed and perched on the wide window ledge looking out of the window. His mother rushes through the room and sees him there. "Sammy! It's eight forty-five and you're still not dressed. We are already running late. You should already be at day care and I should be at work." "Mommy. Is daddy at work?" Sammy casually asks. "Yes, He left over thirty minutes ago. Why are you still at the window?" "Mommy?" "What!" She is getting rather angry now. "Why is daddy's office smoki...

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“The Cavalcade.” by Patricia Green

Submitted to Contest #80

THE CAVALCADE. Bridget sat on the edge of the sofa in her panda pyjamas, cuddling her teddy, and peering intently at the television, as she chewed on a fingernail. The early morning news was all about the President visiting her City tomorrow. Bridget had a crush on Mr Kennedy, although she wasn’t aware why, or what it was, at the time, she just knew she loved to hear all about him. Bridget’s Mother Clare realised, and thought it was so cute. Even Clare thought he was very handsome, in a President sort of way, of course. “Mum, Mum, look, Mr ...

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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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