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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#83: Tropical Getaway

Sometimes we all need a break from our current circumstances. When the world feels gray and lifeless, thoughts of warm beaches and sunny skies can sound more appealing than ever.

Travel has been hard to come by for a while now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make an escape through our imaginations. So this week, let’s slather on the sunscreen, steal what daylight we can, and take our characters to the crystal beaches most of us can only imagine.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who goes to extreme lengths to get themselves to a tropical island.

Adventure – 91 stories

Start your story with someone emerging from the sea, and end it with them looking up at the stars.

Fantasy – 277 stories

Write about someone who’s lived on a tropical island their whole life and is leaving it for the very first time.

Dystopian – 83 stories

Write about someone who books a bargain vacation, only to be told when they arrive that they need to share a hotel suite with a stranger.

Dramatic – 148 stories

Write a fantasy story about water gods or spirits.

Fantasy – 227 stories

Stories

“Ouroboros ” by Elizabeth Inkim

Submitted to Contest #83

Of all the things Beom thought she would be doing on harvest day, sitting on her heels before the village chief and the council of elders was definitely not one of them. After hours of listening to him ramble on about nothing, the urge to interrupt was overwhelming. Looking past the Chief, she could see the endless stretch of blue through a crack in the woven wall. Tuning out the grumble of voices, she could hear faint sounds of drums and smell the spiced rum in the air.Fiddling with her bracelets, she could still feel the salt on her skin f...

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“The Spirits in the Water” by Joshie Seahorse

Submitted to Contest #83

Lot's of people Want to find spirits. And this story is where they got to. Back then, I was exploring through the woods. Looking for interests, I found something I hadn't seen before. It was very interesting and it lived underwater, You could say it was "Watery" or "Spirity" But I think neither, I think it is a water-spirit. OKay let's start at the beginning, The very beginning. It was a warm Spring day in May, And I wanted to do something interesting, So I went exploring in the Forest nearby where I live. So I was just wondering around ...

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“Memory lane ” by Ivana Carrington

Submitted to Contest #83

Ever since I was such a young girl they told me about my father. Died before I was born is what i've always been told. Memories with him are quite brief but still remain in my head today. The last day I ever saw my father, on the island. On that island. The island of no return they like to call it. I always told myself that one day I would go back, uncover the mystery that's been lurking deep within the sea. Now is that day, the day I return to "The island of no return". I quickly gather my things, as well as my fathers journals,notebo...

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“Last wish ” by Luwada Baby Girl

Submitted to Contest #83

Her name was jasmine, an eighteen years old young lady with some silver lining blue eyes and blondy hair, fine body and a sweet little voice just like the melodies of the birds. Her life was however as dull as the rotten potato that ends up spoiling the rest of the sack, well that's because she went through a lot and her only thrive was to get herself a place in tropical island. One day jasmine was sleeping in her room at night when suddenly she dreamt of an island with such beauty of nature, however her dream was disturbing as she saw the...

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“Tenkha” by John Del Rio

Submitted to Contest #83

Gerald looked confused; it was a look that often crossed his coarse features. Teague told him;”I said we need to get you a change of clothes Gerald”The enterprise bruiser tilted his head slightly; like a hound who had heard an unusual sound. So Teague continued with; “you look like bloody murder man.”This was absolutely the case: the large man was currently in his shirtsleeves, having discarded his cotton jersey because it was drenched with his life’s blood. This was due to Gerald’s encounter with Vittorio in a back room of the Italian eater...

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“When the Plumbing Went Wrong” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #83

“That’ll be fine,” said Naomi, when the smartly dressed young woman with the intimidatingly sincere smile on the Reception Desk at the Sea Breeze holiday village told her of the new arrangements. But she was barely out of the reception area with its tamed cacti and unnaturally glossy yucca plants when she thought. No. No it isn’t fine at all. Why did I say it? She knew why she had said it, and there was not one reason, but two, and they were intertwined and contradictory. Naomi had known what manuals written for counsellors call Challenging ...

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“New In Town” by Patricia Green

Submitted to Contest #83

NEW IN TOWN. Tommy sat on the white sandy beach, a gentle breeze blowing his long, blonde curly hair, watching, and listening to the tropical blue waves roll gently into shore. He had sat here every morning for as long as he could remember and would never grow tired of this scene, but today he felt like something was missing, or more like he was missing something. Tommy’s Mother May, walked down the dunes and sat down beside her eldest son. “It’s so lovely at this time of the day, but it’s going to get very hot later. Are you okay Tommy? Y...

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“The Stars that Watch the Sea” by C. M. Fergason

Submitted to Contest #83

Her first breath above the water comes out part gasp and part sob. The air above the sea is cold, crisp, and unfamiliar in the ever darkening night. She pulls herself with tired arms and cramping fingers across the beach, sand slipping through her hands with each grasping tug. For a time she does nothing more than lie there, on her side so the sand doesn’t get in her lungs, though she thinks that may be preferable to this. Every breath is a rasp, until she’s strong enough to let out another strangled sob. She stays this way until morning ...

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“Remembering a Friend” by Asumi Pringle

Submitted to Contest #83

Trigger Warning: Attempted suicide and mention of deathI was so close to reaching the bottom. Then I could finally be with my best friend, Jasmine. As soon as I would get there, I would let my breath out and it would all be over. Memories of Jasmine flooded her mind as she reached the end. As soon as she touched, a force was pulling her up. No! This can't be happening! she was doing everything she could to make this thing let go of her. Her head broke the surface and she was coughing."How could you! Why did you save me?!" She starts crying "...

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“God of Water” by Gerald Daniels

Submitted to Contest #83

God of Water Deep within the cavernous, multi-layered waters of the ocean trench I lie still and slumbering, unaware of the eons of silent time that have passed since my body became peaceful once again. A warm, soothing current washes through me, encouraging and full of promise, but daring me to rise through its balmy, turbid structure. Like a brave and foo...

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“My Manuscripts” by Naduni De Silva

Submitted to Contest #83

Being an author is no easy task as much as I love writing and going through different plots in my head to find the best one to include in my story. People think that being an author is the easiest job in the world but in reality it is hard. No matter how much one like writing, if there is not a single person to read and comment on new chapters, it feels like failure. It feels like your writing is bad and that’s why no one wants to check it out. A book can either be a success or a failure. If one finds the right audience it can be a huge succ...

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“A view You'll never Forget” by Scarlette Ash

Submitted to Contest #83

The ocean breeze whips my unmanageable hair in various directions, blocking my view of the light blue sky in the horizon. Where we're going, will my hair suddenly be tame? Will I die of such changes? Running barefoot on my island and growing with the grass, the trees, the meadow, it's been my whole life. Why must I leave it? Marriage, honor, tradition, it is the way of our people. These are words my father has repeated thousands of times, yet I cannot bear to hear them once more. For I fear that if I do, I will run into the embrace of the se...

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“You belong here” by Veda Vivek💎

Submitted to Contest #83

The water was playing with my hair. Some clownfish were playing hide and seek in the anemone. Other fish were darting around, running through the water. The water glistened on the surface where the sunlight hit it. I could feel the sea tickling my cheek, whispering secrets in my ear. “ You belong here.”I did. I fondly remember the days my dad, brother, and I would play in the open sea. We would have mini splash wars. Every time there was a big wave, my dad would shield my brother and me, laughing as the wave slammed against him. I would...

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“Queen” by Cassia Savage

Submitted to Contest #83

“Thanks, Rose,” the words shiver down my tongue, like they never expected to come out. My sister smiles at me. “Don’t thank me. It was nothing.” You don’t know what you mean to me. You’ve taken care of me since you were old enough to walk, and you’re still taking care of me now. “I’m going to miss my car,” I tell her. “And you...” She laughs as I run out the door, waving. “Bye, queen!” I don’t look back. I need this break. It will not start and end with me not being able to le...

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“Cottage by the Sea” by Emerald Lace

Submitted to Contest #83

He stood on the edge cliff near the sea while the storm whipped around him, enraged and hostile---matched his mood. The lightning struck from the sky and met violently with the sand on the shore beneath him, causing the ground to shimmy under his feet. Maybe he should get in his lorry and head back towards his cottage on the west end of town. He’d left his job to pursue the craft that flowed within his heart, and when that hadn’t brought in enough money to suit his girlfriend, she’d left him with only a note. Then today, he’d met with a pote...

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$50

Prize money

826

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 05, 2021 EST

Won by Madalyn Meyers 🏆

Title: Burn Damage

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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