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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

“Lost by comparison” by Sajid Bijapure

Submitted to Contest #85

Hameed was glad when he finally got transferred to his home town. He had spent nearly ten years away from home, working in three different towns. He worked around three years in each place. Those ten years he spent yearning for his hometown where he had spent his childhood. After completing his college education he got a job in a company that had branches in many cities including his own. But they had vacancy only in a sequestered little village far away. "In a year or two, there will be a vacancy in a branch in or around your city" said one...

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“Jemima Goes Shopping” by Imogen Stead

Submitted to Contest #85

Jemima Goes ShoppingIt was a crisp Autumn morning, I had told Hugo it was my monthly meeting with my old school friend Charlotte. I was now on my way to the train station to catch the 9.53 from Chalfont St Peter to Marylebone. From there, I would pick up the Bakerloo line to Oxford Circus. Usually there was enough time for a mooch around Liberty’s fabric and haberdashery department or perhaps Selfridges, maybe even the Wallace Collection, that is if I could be bothered to brave the throng of shoppers.My trips into town gave me the ...

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“Blinding Lights” by Maycie Holdeman

Submitted to Contest #85

When I look out at the city lights, I remember just how beautiful New York City can be, and why I moved here in the first place. But then I remember how tragic this city is and what it took from me. ...I’m woken up to Keisha vigorously shaking me and shouting, “Wake up sleepy head! Today’s the big day! Your first day as a model!” she squealed. A couple weeks ago, I came to New York so I could apply to be a model at one of th...

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“The Park” by Gary Crawford

Submitted to Contest #85

THE PARK, by Gary S. Crawford Some of us stayed here through the highs and lows. It didn’t start out as a city. It was more of a settlement once the railroad extended down the shoreline. A small town, just like the other line of towns spawned by the growth of the railroad. But the founders of my town had better ideas. After all, a big town a few miles north, where the rail line had originally ended, was reaping the benefits of becoming a resort, with ocean beaches and lakes, numerous hotels, and even a horse race track. Nightlife, gambli...

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“Dear Diary” by PremiumGoose Gaming

Submitted to Contest #85

Dear Diary Tasha, Age 15 Feb 2, 2016 Hello creeps, future boyfriends, or nosy parents (seriously mom stop). I wanted to start a diary and what better time is it now than on the first day I move in. We drove a long. long, long... you get the idea. All the way from the state of Oklahoma. At least back in Oklahoma we had the fresh air and a nice breeze but as soon as I got out of the car the LA air hit me by surprise. Still can not get used to it even though this is now my new home, yippie! I cant even lie its been in a way; Peculiar. But I got...

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“Everything” by Magnolia D

Submitted to Contest #85

A young girl makes her way down a worn, paved street, the heat waves that radiate up from the dark pavement distorting her fragile image as she leaves the airport. She clutches a worn, black backpack to her side, dark eyes darting to and fro, lingering on nothing and yet everything as she processes the sight before her. She has finally arrived in the city of her dreams, where her best friend and college lie together, yet... this was not what she was expecting. A shaky breath is inhaled, a full bottom lip trembles, and she blinks rapidly ...

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“Quare: The City Upstairs Sees You” by Laurie Molnar

Submitted to Contest #85

Sometimes, we feel alone. We don’t feel comfortable in our own skin, or in extreme cases we don’t even feel safe. Why? I’ve had many conversations prompted by these questions with my psychologist and bathroom mirror. A year ago, I had an excellent routine: woke up early, meditated, worked out, ate with pescatarian dietary restrictions, and started my day with determination to do my absolute best. “But, why?” my doctor would ask me, to which I replied: “it’s healthy.” If what I said was in fact right, how did my well being take such a rapid d...

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“The cicadas are calling” by Mei Joan Guyll

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, 6 million humans cramped into a space less than half the size of London. Visitors to Singapore would expect encounters with concrete jungles at every turn. Personal space? Forget it. And yet, I found myself wandering in a nature reserve, no one else in sight. Only birds and butterflies flitting from flower to flower, as I strolled lazily through well tended paths, under the shade of mighty giant-leaved tropical trees. I am accompanied by the high-pitched whine of a cicada, a brown winged insect native to Asi...

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“The Towers” by Virginia Soto

Submitted to Contest #85

On the morning of September 10, 2001, Sarah Wong wakes up to the sound of her alarm clock. She gets out of bed and cleans her room, then walks into the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. As she places two slices of bread into the toaster, her french bulldog, Muffin, comes in and paws Sarah’s ankle, barking. “Good morning to you, too,” Sarah says, smiling. “You want some breakfast?” The dog barks twice. “I’ll take that as a yes.” She pets the top of Muffin’s head. She turns away and opens the cabinet over the counter, grab...

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“A Day in Chicago” by Chelsie Hermsen

Submitted to Contest #85

It's four AM. Most people are sleeping, but I'm not. I'm just hitting my stride. Some people call me a vampire because I like to stay up at night. I like the solitude the night brings me. I feed off it. I like looking out my window and seeing the pretty lights of downtown. I love the city because it has pretty lights at night that my small little town of 1,200 that I grew up in did not have. At 4:30, ...

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“I wish.. (A Memoir)” by Alina Powers

Submitted to Contest #85

As the double doors of the train stretched open, I stepped down the passenger car with purple bag dangling heavy over my shoulders. The bag that he gave me as a parting gift and assumed it would easily replace his presence! Funny, it in-turn acts as a constant reminder of what I had, once up on a time, when I was with him. I was finally back in my city, the beautiful San Diego, mecca of my heart, home to a zillion beautiful memories. I love and hate this city for the same reasons now ! I stepped out of the station waiting for my Uber to pick...

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“Inverted Relationship” by Shail Kumari

Submitted to Contest #85

Steven Watson was a boy in his early childhood and lived with his grandmother Amma Watson in Los Angeles . Steven was a happy natured boy and had a very beautiful life. Steven and Amma Loved each other so much and were more like best friendsrather than being a grandma & grandson . They played together, ate together , slept together and were enjoying their life . Amma was a librarian in the same school where steven used to study . Steven was a fun loving boy and had many friends in his primary school . Amma used to get up early in the mor...

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“Ruby Slippers” by Ali Anthony Bell

Submitted to Contest #85

It was St. Patrick’s Day, so Alexander Blackwell headed out to Shannon Pub, just a 10-minute walk from his studio at 84 Boulvard Raspail in the 6th District. Of course, there was green beer, but Alex didn’t go for it, he took a stool and ordered a Bushmills Irish whiskey instead. He was already dressed for the occasion, with the black suit, white shirt, emerald green silk tie and matching pocket square he had worn to work. Even if it was a Monday, St. Patrick’s wasn’t to be missed.Sitting nearby, Yacout Benazziza, a 24-year-old law student w...

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“Spring of Deception” by Jessica Freeman

Submitted to Contest #85

The sun was pouring through the cracks in my blinds as the view of my entire room came into focus. I could hear the birds for the first time in a long time singing their morning songs back and forth to one another. It was the start of my most relaxing weekend yet as the weather forecast showed sunny and 45. I had made so many plans to get outside and enjoy the sunshine that had been hiding for the past five months. I could almost feel my skin crawling towards the warmth of the morning sun as I revealed my face to the bright blue sky. There w...

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“Like the Wind” by Hil Horvath

Submitted to Contest #85

“I will never again feel warmth.” The young woman was sure of it. After a decade living in an eight-month polar vortex, Chicago was in her bones and kept her blood from running warm. This was evidenced by the saurian skin encasing her now witchlike hands. Hands whose dry white cracks, seemingly etched in the winter weather that made them this way, ensured the snow would always be with her, even through a summer spent far, far away. She remembered dreaming of a life in the Windy City but couldn’t recall those fantasies foreshado...

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Ended on 23:59 - Mar 19, 2021 EST

A winner will be announced soon.

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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