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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

“Flash” by Chris D

Submitted to Contest #85

Augusta Wynd had a gift. Rather, if you asked her, she was going to call it a curse, because it made her feel like a freak. Regular girls didn't see visions of another world. Or if they did, they didn't go running to their friends to tell them about it. Former friends, that was. Once they'd decided she was a freak, they bullied her relentlessly. "Her parents named her a gust of wind. It's sad, really." "It's pronounced Wend," she would mutter to the floor, glaring at the scuffs on her saddle shoes. She had run home that afternoon, splashing ...

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“The Longest Distance” by Jen Lanter

Submitted to Contest #85

The girl slams the door. Tears cut rivulets of kohl eyeliner chiseling her cheeks and jowls; some leap from her chin to her white satin shirt. She’d done a stellar job keeping them in on the subway ride from midtown to the Upper West Side. She doesn’t remember getting off at 96th Street, or feeling the wind toss her copper curls during her walk to the apartment on Columbus Avenue, but they burst out the minute she unlocks the door to 6F. She doesn’t want her roommate to see her in this state, so she locks their bedroom door. They share ...

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“New House” by Lawrence Mead

Submitted to Contest #85

There was nothing that distinguished 201 E. Everton St. from it's neighbors. It stood, small and squat, on a street among other small and squat homes. The deep red sides of the house were peeling in some places, the roof was clean if not a bit worn, and there was nothing special or ornate about the detailing. It had been built some number of years ago, just prior to the exodus to the suburbs enabled by increased car ownership, the promise of cheap land and the desire to fill that empty land up. It had a small porch, empty except for a pa...

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“To Remember” by Tianna Andrews

Submitted to Contest #85

Sun peered in through the crudely-made skylight - a hole, really - and illuminated the dust particles floating in the gentle breeze that came through partially broken stained-glass windows. Rotting wooden pews, dust-covered and termite-bitten, lined the faded carpet from the entryway to the altar. The acrid stench of smog found its way into the church. The faraway noise of the high-speed rail and blaring sirens could be heard faintly, just barely touching the overwhelming silence. There had been a time, Nyx remembered, when the silence in th...

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“Meeting myself ” by Djeneba Toure

Submitted to Contest #85

Title ; meeting myself Angeline!” The guards heeled as they chased me around the castle. I ran as fast as I could in high heels and Avery tight corset, jumping the stairs as it would take too much time to run them. You're probably wondering why I’m running. Well let’s just say that the queen, my dearest mother, didn’t like that I tried to blow up her dinner party. See the princess life was never for me, I was always in trouble but this time “was the last straw”, like she hasn’t said that forty times. Whatever back to running. &...

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“Soul's Pizza” by Alison Lu

Submitted to Contest #85

Apartment Building J has stood in New York for at least twenty years, tall, dark, and strong. A generation of bright eyed individuals have filtered into the place, with all the dreams of youth, and have filtered out again, luster gone from their gazes—which, at that point, were generally directly fixated on whatever happened to be on the ground in front of them. When one leaves the structure known only as Apartment Building J, one would find it very hard to lift their eyes any higher than thirty-five degrees above the horizontal. Smith John ...

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“Murder! Madness!” by Nakshatra Raj

Submitted to Contest #85

I still remember that case, as clear as my heart; it was my best one after all.GREETINGS! I’m Paul Harris, a former detective and now, a writer. I know, I know what’re saying: but Paul you label every case as your best.I KNOW! But trust me this … is the absolute pinnacle. Let’s start from the beginning.***1947. I was still a young detective owning a staggering 43 cases solved to my respected name. The most handsome department about me, excluding my looks, was my case solving streak. 43 cases given to me, 43 solved; unsolved: none.I thought I...

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“Apartment #14B” by Arah Shumway

Submitted to Contest #85

August 14th, 2014 6:15 am Wayne Jergins woke up early on what would be his last day working for Hammond Construction Co. After several rejection letters, he finally received the letter informing him of his acceptance into Queens College. Fall semester began the following week and he was more than ready to leave behind the daily doldrums of construction. He had saved enough to pay for the first year. If needed, he supposed he could return to constr...

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“Double Answer” by Adra Verse

Submitted to Contest #85

I just walked through the entrance. The door closed itself, but very tightly. I don’t think there is an exit anymore. Still, I have to move on. I have to keep walking. This is the place, I’m sure. I kept on walking, and walking, and I quickly came to realize: this building is changing. The corridor I was walking two minutes ago, isn’t a corridor anymore. It’s constantly shifting, and it feels like a labyrinth. Maybe I should’ve stayed outside, but I have to find the answer. This building is very tall, has 300 floors, and each floor is a maze...

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“Once” by Scarlett Gardiner

Submitted to Contest #85

I was once nine and ran though empty corridors, wooden sword clutched in my hand, sprinting after a girl with long brown hair who moved like the air. The castle filled with our laugher and screams of fright. My days were spent in the sun and my evenings on my fathers lap, attempting to get a word of praise or the promise of a new sparring lesson. Life was simple and sweet.I was once thirteen and loud, my arms thrown over the shoulders of friends as we strutted to the dining hall after practise, we talked of new books and lessons and the thou...

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“The Move” by Scarlet Scribe

Submitted to Contest #85

“Mom. I can’t believe the bargain I got on my new apartment. The movers are due any minute then I’ll be out of this rat infested hole in the wall I have lived in for the last three months. It was all I could find when I came to Philadelphia but my new apartment is on the best side of town. I was able to take a life-time lease on it at almost the same as I paid for this old one. Tonight I sleep in luxury, well, I will when the furniture is delivered. Tonight I sleep on an air mattress on the floor but at least I won’t worry the rats will atta...

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“Ashes to ashes” by Georgette Ball

Submitted to Contest #85

A fine layer of dust sat upon the angel’s shoulders and halo. The tiny pink flower held between her praying hands was nearly indistinguishable under that same gray, but her cheeky smile and playful shrugging shoulders made him grin. She didn’t get here by accident. This area of the library was not often visited as it held aged children’s books, which had been donated by a local author, and as every lover a books knows, you can’t just throw a book in the garbage when no one wants to read it anymore. You must love and care for it as you woul...

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“The Bloody Tower” by T.H. Sherlock

Submitted to Contest #85

August 1483The Tower of London has always cast a dark shadow over the city. William the Conqueror, the invading Norman king, had originally ordered the Tower to be built as a symbol of his strength and majesty. He intended for the castle to forever be a looming presence on city skyline, so that the king’s power would never be forgotten in the hearts and minds of the English people.The white walls and turrets gleamed innocently in the early morning sunshine, belying the blood and sweat of the labourers who built the thick, stone walls with th...

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“Join or Die” by Delphine Hintz

Submitted to Contest #85

“Mister Hoban, I couldn’t find a thing wrong with it.” Mr. Hoban pursed his lips. Daniel shifted only slightly. “The arch here is off center.” “Yes, sir,” Daniel agreed of course, “but that’s a stone arch, sir. There’s nothing Peter or I can do about it.” “Yes,” Mr. Hoban still stared at the marble. “Your work is fine as usual. Who did this?” “I don’t know, but I can check, sir.” “Don’t bother. It will burn soon anyway.” Mr. Hoban looked sourly upon the glossy floors. He rolled his shoulders back. “More work for us then, yes? We shoul...

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“Same Place, Same Time ” by Ella Kinnett

Submitted to Contest #85

“ Rory, did you hear that?” I ask, hearing glass shatter. She nods and we both rush to the kitchen hoping to see what happened. All we find is a broken plate shattered in pieces on the ground.. “It was the wind,” Rory said, sounding kind of disappointed. I feel like she’s always looking to save the world sometimes she just has to accept that she can’t. “Rory, do you ever think that…” I hesitate because I can’t find a way to phrase what I’m trying to say. “Think what?” she says slightly annoyed in my hesitation. She always want...

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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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