Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#81: Candy Hearts

Ah, love. From the first spark of attraction to the soul-deep contentment of a long-established relationship, romantic love is a force that continues to mystify, enthrall, and surprise us.

And while there’s plenty to criticize about Valentine’s Day, it’s still a nice excuse for people in romantic relationships to stop and appreciate their partners for a day. Especially during lockdown, when quarters are tight and nerves are often frayed, it’s important to remember why we chose the person (or people) we coupled up with.

What better time for a writer to dive headfirst into romances? No matter how many times we tell a love story, each relationship is going to have its own unique joys and frustrations, and we want to feel them all. So feel free to let your sappy side out — this week we’re celebrating love!

This week's prompts

Write about two people reconnecting after a rough patch in their relationship.

Romance – 247 stories

Write a love story about an older couple who’ve been together since they were teenagers.

Romance – 168 stories

Write about a first date that surprises both people, but in different ways.

Romance – 161 stories

Start your story with one character setting up a romantic dinner, and end it with them looking at a framed wedding photo.

Romance – 181 stories

Write about someone asking out an old crush, only to realize their crush doesn’t remember they’ve ever met before.

Romance – 158 stories

Stories

“Perfect Timing” by Renee Avery

Submitted to Contest #81

I smoothed my mother’s cream-colored tablecloth over the kitchen table, ironing out the creases with my palm. The material felt silky and smooth against my skin, triggering memories I’d once stowed away for safekeeping. The purple flowers she’d hand-stitched around the hem brought a smile to my face. She was so proud of herself when she presented the tablecloth to us after spending hours perfecting each stitch. Her joy was infectious, and my sister and I couldn’t help getting swept up in her energy. Alongside the happy memories, of Christma...

Read story

“One Kiss” by Marcia H.

Submitted to Contest #81

Aretha sat in front of her computer and slowly turned it on. She never thought she would be sitting in front of a computer trying to find a date at 58 years old but here she was. Her granddaughter had told her about a site for “old people” as she put it. Although Aretha didn’t think she was as ancient as her granddaughter thought she was, she agreed to have her granddaughter, Adina, help her make a dating profile. Aretha didn’t think anything was going to come out of it but she was tired of being alone and tired of not having someone other t...

Read story

“A Tale of A Hopeless Romantic” by Magnus Mulyadi

Submitted to Contest #81

“Are you sure you’ve never heard of this family name before?” I said. The customer service woman sitting across me massaged her forehead and blew her breath. “Sir, like I’ve said before, we don’t know!” she fumed. “Besides this family moved out eight years ago, which means if this family used a property agent to sell their house, they wouldn’t be using us.” Two of her colleagues who were sitting on her right turned their heads and stared at us. The room became silent and I could hear the soft purr of the air conditioner. Luckil...

Read story

“Just remember” by Scarlett Masley

Submitted to Contest #81

"Ring, Ring, Ring" The bell rings and the third period is over. Thank God. I don't think that I could have listened to Mr. Lawson talk anymore about quantum physics without dying from boredom. I meet my best friend Indigo at my locker. Indigo is short with brown hair, green eyes and beautiful olive skin. "Hey Blair, I know you've been looking for somebody to ask to the dance, so I've been keeping an eye out for you and I think I found the perfect guy," Indigo exclaims, clearly very proud of herself. She points over to a crowd of boys. ...

Read story

“Only Time Can Tell” by Reamae Jorolan

Submitted to Contest #81

It was seven o'clock in the morning when Jane arrived in her school. Every day she arrived in school earlier than her classmates. She wanted to read books in their school library. She has one only friend who understands her attitude. Jane was not close to her classmates aside from her best friend. Her friend was the total opposite of her. Her name is Liziel. She was close to their classmates, a friend of all people around them. Her best friend was popular in their school so most of their classmates and schoolmates questioned their friendship...

Read story

“What the-” by Brennan Bilberry

Submitted to Contest #81

My heart is beating in my chest. But the funny thing is I don't really know why. I haven't liked Justin since third grade. It wasn't even my idea to ask him out. I was dared. Daring during The week before Valentines, a tradition in my friend group. Kind of, it's not the same now that all the girls actually have boyfriends. So this year it was just Lauren, Jemma, Gracie and I. Four of the original ten. Anyways...they all devised this plan. To have me walk up to Justin Brown and ask him out...on a date. So here goes nothing."Hey Justin I was h...

Read story

“Coffee Crush” by Patricia Green

Submitted to Contest #81

Annie sat at the kitchen table drinking her morning cuppa, just as she did every other morning. Being on leave got a little tedious sometimes, trying to find things to keep herself occupied. Today she felt a little different, she couldn’t really explain it, just that something was irking her. She scrunched up her mouth and furrowed her brow, what was it? The humdrum news squawked at her from the kitchen radio. “This is the biggest day of the year for the florists and they’ll be hoping lovers / sweethearts by the dozen arrive to buy their red...

Read story

“What Are The Odds?” by Kay Swenn

Submitted to Contest #81

God she's still so pretty. I thought to myself. I hadn't seen Mackenzie for years at that point, I guess not since our statistics class sophomore year of college. Now she was working at the same restaurant as me? That's just fate right there. And she must've had the some kind of pull during the hiring process because I totally lied on my application `and still got the job. I must say, I truly was shocked when I got the acceptance phone call. But hey, never look a gift horse in the mouth. But, during this particular thought, I was glancing a...

Read story

“Swipe Right” by T.H. Sherlock

Submitted to Contest #81

‘Left, right, left, right’.Jaya swiped through the online profiles, with the militance of a pint-sized army general, taking no longer than a few seconds to assess each potential match. I had to admire my housemate’s efficiency as she trawled through a catalogue of topless selfies and people looking for ‘someone to share adventures with’. Jaya – phone in one hand, glass of wine in the other – took no prisoners.‘This one loves travelling and food’, Jaya laughed, ‘could be a match, Lucy?’‘I love food too’, I agreed, my mouth stuffed with cold p...

Read story

“Remembering” by S Gupta

Submitted to Contest #81

Part 1 Your hair gleamed in the milky sunlight which streamed through the lightly dusted blinds of the lecture theatre. Its rich coffee bean colour illuminating as the rays danced above each curl, flooding each arch and trough. I watched as you raised your pencil to your mouth, your soft pink powdery lips moulding to exhibit an expression of content curiosity.What a strange thing it is, is it not? To see someone so familiar yet unfamiliar. A face from the past, unchanged yet at the same time different. Out of touch, out of time. Yet my heart...

Read story

“Swipe” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #81

“Nope.” Swipe left. “Nope.” Swipe left. “Nope.” Swipe left. I sighed. This was never going to work. And who decided that this was the best way to meet people? I sighed again. Instead of putting myself through more electronic torture, I sat back in my chair, cradling my glass of red wine. Trying to find my true love was certainly easier with a glass of merlot at my side, but still not great. Ding! Incoming text. I could use the distraction. I looked at my phone. Liv: How’s it g...

Read story

“NEW MEMORIES” by Dolapo Omoleme

Submitted to Contest #81

His father managed to drag him out of the house that afternoon after relentlessly pestering him all through the day. They took a long stroll around the neighborhood, then made a stop at Mrs. Baker’s candy shop in the business district of the community. He had many memories from the time he worked there during his high-school years, and his father was determined to remind him of as many as he could recall of those he had been involved in making. It was his first time visiting in years. Once upon a distant time, he had deeply loved Brownsvil...

Read story

“Prince Ali, Amorous He” by DREW LANE

Submitted to Contest #81

“Alistair Green... Your team arrived three hours ago," the hotel receptionist said as he looked up his screen. “Your colleague, Harry, said -” “That's fine, I spoke to him.” Ali hinted at his key - that trip had exhausted him, and he was in no mood for details.As he pressed the lift button, Ali realised he had forgotten his luggage at the reception desk. He went back and grabbed it from the floor, avoiding the mocking eyes of the receptionist. What he needed was a month of sleep, not a ski trip.Ali rolled from side to side in his bed. S...

Read story

“Forever My Bonnie” by Maeve G

Submitted to Contest #81

“You’re Roger you say?” she said. “I don’t know a Roger.” Her words crushed me. I turned away so she wouldn’t see the tears running down my face. Already the rose in my hand had started to droop. She didn’t remember me. How could the love of my life not recognize me? I had known this day was coming but I never imagined it would feel this devastating. My wife Bonnie had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in March of 2016. When the doctor broke the news I was crushed. My wife, my friend, the person who was always there for me, was...

Read story

“No More Tears” by Jen Thompson

Submitted to Contest #81

A tear trickled down my cheek and dropped off my chin. It landed on the comforter on top of the queen size bed. The covers were pulled up and tight. The corners were tucked under the mattress. I picked up the closest pillow and fluffed it before I put it on my side of the bed. My side of the bed started to show the trickle of fallen tears. No. I won’t cry about this. Not anymore. My hand wiped the remaining tears off my cheeks. I inhaled as deep as I could and took my time with the rele...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

915

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 19, 2021 EST

Won by Molly Quinnell 🏆

Title: Golden Cheekbones and the Rising Sun

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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢