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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

“The Perfect City” by Ian Crombie

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, it’s everything an urbanite could dream of. A sprawling city crawling with diversity of all kinds. The people come from all walks of life, from everywhere in the world, all bustling about the city and heading to their set destinations. Stop and talk to any of them and you will learn something new and hear a new perspective. The people here respect diversity of thought too. Everyone has a voice and everyone can voice opinions without fear of being shouted down or harmed. The buildings are as diver...

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“Scrags” by Marian Reiley

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city," Scrags said. "There's so many gullable fools here! I've got enough marks to last me half a century." Oliver rolled his eyes as he regarded his scruffy companion. "So what?" Oliver said. "You keep scamming people either the gangsters or coppers are gonna get you. It's a dangerous game you're playing." Scrags reached across the restaurant table to pat his youger brother on the arm. "Oliver," he said. "You've always looked out for me. But you don't seem to remember I've been around the block a couple mor...

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“Fantasy” by ShaDaria Samuel

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city.” Two Years Earlier Andrew Maye smiled as he stared out of the bus window at every attraction that the city of Fantasy had to offer. The children, treated like adults. The trees, completely naked even though it was Spring. Andrew didn’t see a single frown the whole way to his hotel. Andrew stopped and exhaled calmly in front of his room door when he arrived. A maid helped him unload his bags as she opened the door for him. “This place is amazing,” Andrew said. “How can y’all live here? This is such...

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“Power Lunch Diaries” by TW Williamson

Submitted to Contest #85

Power Lunch Diaries “That’s the thing about this city…” Dear Diary: I know that I have been neglecting you lately, but I’ve been very busy with my new job and everything. Not to worry though, because I’ve finally gotten a break in my hectic schedule. So I’ll bring you up to date about my first week at my new job. On my first day, I met a lot of new people, but immediately forgot most of their names. Except for one person, a young lady named Rita. She was very friendly, with an engaging personality. Plus, she didn’t ask me anything about wor...

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“Glitch in the Universe” by Alex Hosh

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, you see, we were not meant to exist. We're a phenomenon that will soon be erased, just like the universe wills it. I came to this revelation at, unfortunately, a young age, an age that should've still preserved that childish innocence that is an innate trait in all of us. It was, I remember, an ideally warm and bright day. The birds chirped their usual 5-note tune, and Mom had just set the table with a steaming stack of pancakes fresh from the griddle. "Good morning, Phoenix," she greeted, untying her cartoo...

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“Alleyways” by Rose Lee

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, the streets are wide and brightly lit, overflowing with people, but the alleys and side streets are lucky to have a single flickering street light. People hurry about, taking shortcuts and ducking down narrow pathways but we are all taught from a young age; alleys at night-time are not to be travelled down. If you enter an alley and you can't see where it ends, turn around and leave. Always have a fire starter and light source but never bring a knife. If something seems to beckon you down an alley let it alo...

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“Forgotten” by Nadine Lacuarta

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, you've lived in it for two decades and you still get lost. It's not that it ridiculously spans over a million miles. Someone who designed this place just probably thought it was fun to mess with people’s heads.The buildings scatter like a labyrinth, with the roads leading to a dead-end and the walkways running in circles. Each time someone boldly attempts to draw a map, another person discovers a corner, and they’d have to consolidate all over again. The city just keeps getting bigger and bigger. The fact th...

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“The city I call home” by Aysha Queale

Submitted to Contest #85

That‘s the thing about this city, it has it‘s magic and its history. This city is the capital of Australia, not Sydney or Melbourne as some people want you to believe. Canberra is it’s name which is based off native dialect meaning ‘meeting place’. It’s also said to mean ‘woman‘s breasts’. We mostly call it the bush capital because no matter where you are in the city there will be bush land, mountains and known native animals. Most parts of the city have paddocks of free land usually filled with cows, horses and mobs of kangaroos...

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“A woman in the City” by Rebecca Hackney

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city it is terrible. It is noisy, stinky, way over priced and not to mention the only jobs for women are demeaning. The jobs are waitress or maid, if you do get an office job it’s making copies or getting coffee. How is anyone supposed to show their potential, if no one is willing to hire them? Marie was fed up, tired of this city. She has been here for a while and it is the same thing over and over again. This city has the best technology job market, if you are a man. The companies are sexist and old school think...

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“Love In The City” by Parvesh Boodhoo

Submitted to Contest #85

Love In The City That’s the thing about this city that wants Sahil to stay forever. Plato had ever said, “This city is what it is because our citizens are what they are.” Individuals play a great role in a society and that makes hand a wonderful city and country respectively. Huge buildings which block the sun, the splendid sea view with huge vessels on it and the lovely smiles and greeting of the people. Despite many hearts may be filled with hatred but at first sight, the smile counts. Sahil was not new to the city but he loves to ...

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“Grounded Constellations” by Elle Papa

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city— it blesses infinities down upon you.This thought was one that even the clearest and fondest of eyesmight not even catch upon.Just as how my Nana said, we live in such vigor but only dawdle with hopelessness,until we no longer recognize if we actually dwell in the darkness or merely hide behind the blindfold that renders us blind.Perhaps some of us may never know this, yet I used to demurely question how one would choose gloom when they’ve lived in materialistic heaven—where angels swept you off your fee...

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“Home ” by Grace Irihbor

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city it gave me the home I never have had. Rescued me from giving up and feeling sorry for myself. It made me look at each day with new eyes. With new energy and that maybe today can be better than yesterday". "Is that so" Eric said. How can you call this the home you never had, Jude? You have a home and mother who loves you in her own way. What about those who do not even have anybody to love them or who do not have a home to go to at the end of the day. After everything, we only have the midnight sky as ou...

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“Surprise” by Sean Tarzy

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, nobody cares about nobody….” All I did was give this drunk, homeless guy a dollar. I didn’t sign up for an intimate conversation. I didn’t ask for a philosophy class. Why do I always end up in this kind of bullshit? “That’s why I appreciate you man, you’re a good person. God has a plan for you, man.” I nod my hea...

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“Kurfürstenstraße” by Hanna Levine

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city," Cynthia interrupted from the corner of the drawing room. "It will never daunt those who understand how to live in it." The three others stood dumbstruck, gaping at her. Marguerite, probably because she'd never heard anyone interrupt her fiance. Meanwhile, Frau Scheuner looked as though she had been jolted from a stupor. Edmund cleared his throat and announced, "I use that term only referring to how the city must seem to an outsider. You may not know this, but the nation is shifting rapidly toward industr...

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“Learning the Ropes” by A Mehendale

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, see. It takes care of its own.”Bang.****************************************************************************Alyx stands by the sink in the corner. Cool water falls from the tap, just the wrong side of numbing. Slowly, methodically, she cleans her hands under the stream, alternating, finger by finger, than thumb, than wrist.It’s something of a ritual for her. ‘End the day with clean hands’. ‘Wash away the world and your sins’. ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness’. Her mother had had a hundred such phrases ...

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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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