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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

“Crimes and How to Stop Them” by Ayesha 🌙

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city: turning the corner is forever a mystery. You never know if you’ll find scavenging raccoons, off-the-clock clowns, or a dead body. Unfortunately, I’ve seen all three. The Manhattan School of Arts has never been my dream. Unfortunately, when your father runs the school, it’s kind of hard not to get in. My grades have always been good though, and the private school and personal tutor didn’t hurt. Neither did any of the hundred lectures given to me, “Preston, you need to start taking this seri...

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“The City of Angels” by Sharojo Halhalo

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, nobody knows why they're here and nobody wants to get out. Some of us were born here, undeniably chained to this lifestyle no matter what. Some of us were lured here by our very own ego. Either way, we choose to stay here, to rot here. On the outside, to the people who existed before the creation of this city, they think we are all doomed to shit. It's true. We're all slowly decaying away here, but at least we feel like a million bucks doing it. This is the city of angels under the demon's influence. You onl...

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“That's the thing about this city” by Kelly Alaniz

Submitted to Contest #85

Kelly Alaniz3/17/21#234City Living"THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THIS CITY. " That's the thing about this city; it is not a city rather, it's a town on the northern coast of California. The name of it is Eureka because, years ago gold was discovered in some of the creeks and rivers that are abundant here. Not so much anymore though, and Eureka has undergone many changes over the last century. Some good, some bad but, for the most part Eureka is a fairly nice place to live. There are a l...

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“Among the Gutters” by Anton Bulatao

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city. When you look past the fame and glamour, it's no different from any other of its kind. The people up top live in luxury afforded to them by their bloodlines and maintained by connections and wealth. Those below are forced to scrape by and are looked down upon for it. Any attempts to escape or advance are stamped down. I doubt the guards looking for me even know why I am to be arrested. If experience has taught me anything, it's that the enforcers in places like this are either desperate for employment or j...

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“The Cursed City” by Kaelianna Mcmillan

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city. This damned, cursed city. When the sun sinks below the towering buildings, like honey falling to the bottom of a mug of tea, and the shadows stretch long over the streets, it transforms. A city that was chock full of people, merley hours before, emptied of shoppers, taxi's, hawkers and performers- colorful ribbons, spray paint cans and wares of all sorts stuffed precariously into bags, cars and boxes as the first hint of the impending evening. The music that fills the streets, spilling from restaurants and l...

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“Quent” by Shelby Lemerande

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, it changes people. No one who comes into this city ever walks out the same. It has a way of messing with minds, making us believe one thing, but in actuality, it’s the exact opposite. Some of us choose to stay just because we don’t want to deal with the drawback if we left. That’s the other thing, it’s like a drug. You can never get enough, but you try anyway. You become addicted to this city....... This is the city of Quent, in the state of Lazbirt, in the country of Fretgy. It’s not a normal city, an...

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“Starlit City” by Suma Jayachandar

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… It can change itself into different worlds for different people. It can line up pull carts with all kinds of greens, purples, oranges, reds, whites and the colours in between for the buzzing evening crowds dragging their feet after the day’s work. It can offer them the pleasure of pinching, squeezing, smelling and haggling before they carry some greens or reds and ask their wives to cook dinner. It can also line up dimly lit restaurants, brightly lit cafes, bustling bistros and neon-lit nightclubs into which...

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“The Thing About West Holpry” by Cara H

Submitted to Contest #85

The Thing About West Holpry A Walk in the Wild West End “That’s the thing about this city.” The crone’s voice was barely audible, but her companion would have known her thoughts even if she had not spoken. From a superficial viewpoint, she was an unremarkable woman of medium height and build with a countenance that none would consider comely. The crone had cultivated her appearance to call as little attention as possible to herself, her wild gray hair and the deep lines on her face shielding her from the nuisance of having to parry the unde...

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“Journey of no return” by Opemipo Openaike

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. What did you say? Are you talking to me? Yes Oga, I said that’s the thing about this city. I mean the heavy road traffic, even after 10pm, traffic in Lagos is still so tough. Philip wasn’t paying attention to the taxi driver that picked him up at the airport. His mind was in several places. He didn’t even have any clues as to which one he should focus on. He was concerned about getting to Dan’s house on time so he could call his wife and tell her he was already in his hotel room. He was also bothered about t...

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“WITH OPEN ARMS” by Dhevalence .

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… she’s a lady; she cries, and a tempest rages over the spiring buildings; she beams, as bright as neon in the dark of night; she breathes like a zephyr in the blended air. And here’s the thing… she’s my lady.I'd felt dragged through the mud, dumped in the gutter and left for dead, so I’d turned my back on her, but I couldn’t stay away. No matter how far away from her I was, she was prickly in my head, a raging fire in my heart.Trembling as I approached her, my dry, flaming skin absorbed the sweat welling up o...

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“Shocking red, Bright White, Mesmerizing black” by Annabelle Otero

Submitted to Contest #85

TW: MURDERThat's the thing about this city. It's quiet, normal, peaceful at times even. You fall in love with it's silence, its charm. Then, when you're least expecting it, snap. Something terrible happens. Bad people do bad things to bad people. Bad things drive good people to do bad things. Good people try to do good things, but it's never enough.That's what I figured out after about a week or two of living here. When I moved in, I moved in to an apartment that was just big enough for me and a guest. There was one extra room, but I turned ...

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“Aunee” by Karma Schulze

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city; no matter how hard you try to go unnoticed, their eyes are always on you. I am always being watched, no matter where I go. The cameras are the most annoying part of my day to day life, sitting on the light posts and the corners of buildings. I know he is watching the screens in the security room at the castle. I know he had his Royal Technology Team hack into every camera layed out in Aunee just so he could watch my every move. It doesn’t matter how drastically I change my outward appearance, I always...

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“Jack” by Stephen Taylor

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city – one day it is the best place on earth, bustling, vibrant and full of colour – the next, it feels drab and dreary; drizzle falling and dark clouds filling the grey sky. I wander aimlessly through the streets, gazing into the shop fronts that I pass, longing to push open the door and walk in, to browse through the many wondrous things on show. How good would a new suit look on me? New shoes, shiny enough to see my face in them – Italian leather, definitely Italian leather. A taxi shoots ...

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“Forgotten” by Carol Keefer

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, a place where people never sleep,” I muse, catching a local bus, escaping the chill of the night air, vanishing among people with their lifeless eyes and deaf ears. Hush tones, breaking the sheer silence, drawing the attention of a few watchful glances that flicker with interest. I lean my head against the cold window, and though it does not offer any comfort, it at least gives me rest as my eyes flutter shut. ‘The nightlife, with all of its enchantment, comes with a price.’ It comes withou...

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“Grandma's Home” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #85

“The thing about this city, it’s always changing, growing, getting better. You know that old saying — out with the old, in with the new. Your grandma’s house is the old. And I’m the new.” I looked at the piece of shit in front of me. “You ripped her off. You stole her house.” “I did not. She had a lawyer—” “Your lawyer.” “Regardless, she agreed, and she signed the papers. Ergo, your Grandma sold me her house. All legal, and above board. And, I don’t think that I have to remind you, your grandma ha...

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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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