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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#85: City Living

There’s something deeply compelling about cities, isn’t there? Whether it’s the influencer-driven styles of LA, the laid-back sophistication of Athens, or the perfectly manicured greenery of Singapore, each one truly has its own unique soul. Those who visit are awed and at times overwhelmed, either falling in love or swearing them off forever — while lifelong residents take up a fierce loyalty that nothing can shake.

When writing, it’s often helpful to think of your setting almost like another character. Cities are an excellent way to explore this line of thinking, so for this week, pick a favorite and invite your readers in. What gives your city (whether real or imagined) its local “flavor”? And what impression do the people there give to the many tourists traipsing down their streets? Tap into your inner tour guide — it's time to travel the world!

This week's prompts

Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Middle School – 153 stories

Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Historical Fiction – 154 stories

Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Adults – 283 stories

Write about someone fighting to change their city neighborhood for the better.

Teens – 44 stories

Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Teens – 34 stories

Stories

“DESTINY ” by Miraculous Life

Submitted to Contest #85

Mumbai the city of Dreams , the city where people rarely sleeps , which always shines through out the night. The city where everyone hustling and chasing there dreams, where everybody indulge in his /her own struggles. A women 23 years old sitting on the window seat on train with tears in her eyes which are about to fall with a mysterious smile . Nikki is basically from Haryana elope her house in quest of following her heart to make a career in singing. (She's cute, sweet but at the same time cruel too if somebody tease her).&...

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“Montreal” by Ann Layne

Submitted to Contest #85

Montreal is a city like no other. I was born and raised there. The winters were long and dreadful. I remember going skating and almost getting frost bite on my toes. I had to warm my feet by the furnace. The snow capped mountains made by the snow plows were great for tobogganing. But the months of January and February are bitter cold. Montreal is in the province of Quebec in Canada. Quebec being the only french speaking province in Canada. But don’t let ...

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“The New Old Fashioned Way” by Philip L.

Submitted to Contest #85

From the manipulative and misleading billboard advertisements, to the loud Italian shopkeepers yelling across the street, to the honking serenade of the taxi cabs echoing down the smoggy street, New York City has remained a unique, yet relatable home base that I have resided in for my short 14 year-old life. Truly one of a kind. I can still foggily recall my first memory of the city. My aunt had her cold fingers grasping the back of my neck, as we strolled out of Monticello's Bakery and Pastries, with bags of highly-caloric and greasy baked ...

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“The Place I Call Home” by Sonja V.

Submitted to Contest #85

The fresh breeze blew through my hair as I strode down Fifth Avenue. The air was stuffy as usual, and the traffic busier than ever. Cars rode too close to the sidewalk while horns blared their upsetting signals. People shoved their way around one another, yelling out and screaming as shoes got stepped on and things got thrown on the ground. Abandoned cats and dogs littered the streets along with the occasional homeless person, always holding up the cardboard sign asking for money. I ran into some a few times who kept follo...

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“Alone in Bencap” by Chris Wagner

Submitted to Contest #85

My alien girlfriend and I lay side by side on a giant Victoria Water Lily thing in an indoor lake, staring up at the starry night sky. "What do you think of Bencap?" she asked. I thought about it, but couldn't quite come up with an answer. Bencap was the kind of city I'd always dreamed of visiting ever since I was a kid watching Star Wars, but not everything was that fun. To make a long story short, I'm an engineer who used to live in a little town called Cole Camp. An alien spaceship crash landed in the woods a few mile...

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“Because She is Here” by Hannah Fransen

Submitted to Contest #85

She is here. She is jumping over every crack in the sidewalk, cooing at every pigeon, smiling at every passerby. She is laughing at our reflection in the dirty store windows, pulling on my sleeve to try out every new cafe, ogling at the dresses on the mannequins, telling me which ones she would wear to a party, which ones would look good on me. Not even the rain could stop her. She simply took an umbrella with her, her smile undimmed by the dark city sky. When we'd get home, she'd shoot the water from her umbrella onto me, and I'd laugh...

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“Can't have Nothin in Ho Chi Minh” by Joseph Dusbabek

Submitted to Contest #85

Jack just loved waking up to the smell of an overheating machine gun in the morning. He did a ninja getup and totally wasn’t assisted by any cables or pulleys that you totally can’t see. He was already in his commando outfit and smoking a big ol cigar to keep the runtime down. “Hey Jack, we’re out of toilet paper,” Copernicus shouted from the bathroom with the door somewhat cracked. “Can you get me some?” “Sure thing,” Jack said as he picked up another roll of shredded Chinese flags and handed it to Copernicus through the door. Upon le...

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“How To Be a Criminal” by Ayesha 🌙

Submitted to Contest #85

In this city, crime is simply a necessity. Not encouraged, of course, but in the poor side of Chicago, I’ve learned everything I need to know. I’ve been fighting to leave it every second, but I can’t deny that it doesn’t have its perks. It didn't hurt that the mall is packed to the brim with bustling crowds who have no idea that the best pickpocket in the city is in their midst. It’s simple, really. Large bucket hats are in style, and they’re way less conspicuous than baseball caps. Other than perfectly matching with my bl...

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“Good Or bad” by Aarti Sharma 2020

Submitted to Contest #85

I have live hate relationship with Delhi as I have lived here for several years. It has more options for jobs, businesses, education, entertainment, historical spots, religious places and for many other things. There is a large inflow of migrants over the years from other cities, states and other countries. Here are some good and bad reasons about living in this great city. Good things about living in Delhi National and political capital Delhi has been the national capital of India, for centuries. Because of its centered location, it pul...

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“Love In The Time Of COVID: A tale of obsession ” by Julia Abelsohn

Submitted to Contest #85

It was during the time of COVID and the world had turned upside down. He used to love this city but now it just seemed like a massive petri dish breeding the virus and spewing it out through the hot air vents and percolating it inside lungs hidden from view. So many offices were dark and abandoned now, their polished lobby floors the delight of the cleaners that could admire their handiwork without the mobs of boots splashing their trails of salty, grimy snow across them The streets were also mostly empty and there was nowhere to hide...

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“The City's Last Chance” by Alice Claude

Submitted to Contest #85

Another Manhattan. Rye poured into the cocktail glass. Somehow, it seemed to be trickling in slow motion, like honey. She couldn’t get herself to focus on anything else, so her eyes followed the crimson stream, catlike, until they reached the barman’s rough hand. They flitted to his face, and the barman surveyed her dubiously. Her deep brown eyes were round and lingered hauntingly at every area they encountered. Heavily applied makeup gathered under her weighed down lashes, wit...

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“SAL-LHR” by Isabella Ruffatti

Submitted to Contest #85

My name is Tatiana Morales. I’m 18. I love illustration, Doctor Who, and my family. Moving to London to study seemed like a great idea at the time. For years I’d dreamt of how my life in this city would be like, how I’d finally be free from the intrusive gazes and oppressive atmosphere of home. I’d go to uni, learn about things I was actually interested in for a change, and meet all kinds of interesting people. I’d sketch strangers in coffee shops, go to museums and stay for hours looking at art, explore the streets of Camden Town. At the ...

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“An ode to Dilli” by Book Worm

Submitted to Contest #85

Aarti decided to take the Rajdhani to Delhi after years instead of flying down. She looked out of the window and recognized stations whizzing past whose names she once knew by heart – Ghaziabad, Shahdara. When the train crossed Minto Bridge, she knew they were going to arrive at New Delhi junction within a few minutes confirmed by the excited cries of “Dilli aa gaya [We have arrived in Delhi]’ from co-passengers. Strains of a familiar language, glimpses of familiar people told her she had come home. But the rates the port...

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“Fear in the Windy City ” by Pako Dunwhile

Submitted to Contest #85

Jean-Pierre’s heart filled with dread. He hated the mere idea of traveling into Chicago. Marcus lived deep in the Windy City and had invited him for a weekend museum walk around. It was the Achilles's heel that would get through Jean-Pierre’s excuses for a visit. Their time together was all that Jean-Pierre could have hoped for. He appreciated the relaxed comfort that Marcus was able to give him under the rising monoliths that surrounded them. They passed comments to each other about the various exhibits before them within the halls of each ...

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“The Castellana” by Carmen C. Rodrigo

Submitted to Contest #85

Elena Rodríguez sipped contentedly from her still scalding Americano as she watched the usual flocks of people swarming the streets. It was 8.30 in the morning: peak rush hour at its best. However, whilst some would find the never-ending throngs of individuals disheartening, Elena couldn’t look more pleased with her surroundings. She wasn’t a very expressive person in matters of mien, but the flickering sparkle of amusement in her hazel eyes was enough portrayal of her prideful feeling of belonging to the urban life. Striding quickly throu...

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Ended on 23:59 - Mar 19, 2021 EST

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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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