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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

“Are you afraid of the dark? ” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city, it’s not what it seems,” Akari shivered and rested her hands on her hips. She wouldn’t let this small piece of information beat her. She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and looked straight at the boy in front of her. Noah shrugged and turned away. Akari stopped him, her hand shskaing. “What do you mean?” “I mean, that when everything seems fine, it never is, there’s always more to it,” “Like what?” Noah started to walk away. “Please tall me Noah!” Akari pleaded, looking straight into his g...

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“Rumor has it” by Vanessa Queens

Submitted to Contest #85

AN ODD THING- That’s the thing about this city, said the old man and hurried to catch the bus without looking back.Paula and Linda were speechless. They couldn’t believe their ears. They started to think that the trip away from university was a bad idea. In the end, they decided to stay and spend the night in that city. It was part of their university assignment anyway. In the morning they would catch the bus to the capital, where their university was. So they went to the nearest hotel and asked...

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“DEMORA” by Cole Lane

Submitted to Contest #85

** I set out to write about an elderly man sitting in a park, watching his city change, and somehow ended up with this. :) **"Arm the damn thing, we have to go.""I'm working as fast as I can, " Jaime Cutter says, glaring at her brother, stabbing codes into the keypad.A few moments later, she closes and locks the keypad panel, "I've set the timer for 30 minutes. This is beast Schon, we need to be far away when it detonates.""So let's move." Schon Cutter says opening the roof access door. He checks each stairwell as they descend to the last st...

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“A Day In The City” by Ann Tillinghast

Submitted to Contest #85

Another day of waking up with the sound of sirens zooming by outside. I'm not ready to start the day. I stay in bed for a few more minutes. "Alright, I better get up and get ready". I walked to the bathroom to take a shower. I'm singing-along with my morning playlist on Youtube. I get out of the shower. I feel refreshed.Outside on the busy streets of the city, I walk to church on a Saturday morning. I stop at the corner waiting for the light to turn red. While the light was changing red, a bright blue car sped through the light and as it sla...

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“Return to Limecaster” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #85

You can never go back. That’s one of the most common clichés THEY, that amorphous, admonishing THEY like to trot out. Or its slightly more wordy variant, You shouldn’t try to go back, which tells you that not only is it impossible (that word try!) it is also morally, or at least psychologically questionable (that word should!). Well, I don’t care. I don’t care in the slightest, and when I was told that the publishing firm I was working for wanted someone to be relocated to their new office in Limecaster, I almost literally jumped at the chan...

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“This city never sleeps” by Vanessa Queens

Submitted to Contest #85

DOING THE WORK“This city never sleeps,” thought Jamie as she walked down the main street, cigarette in one hand, digital camera in the other, heading for her apartment. It had been a busy day and she felt dead beat.Her job as a freelance photographer was more than a steady income for her; it was a passion; she loved to immortalize people, places and things, especially those that go unnoticed. During the past week she had been wandering the city streets, taking impressive or unusual shots of the city life.She switched on the lights, closing t...

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“Shhhh...” by Veda Vivek💎

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city- it’s broken, never to be fixed again. Up and down the same streets, again and again, and no friendly faces.Glares.Murderous glances. Distrusting eyes. These are the things that meet everyone’s sight as they walk into this dead city. It doesn’t matter if they haven’t done anything bad. It is just the way it is. Boarded windows.Shredded wood.Broken glass, representing the lives of everyone here.These things litter the sidewalks, hiding bad omens and bad karma. Broken hearts.Crushed spi...

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“On a Night like This” by Bianka Nova

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… It bites! It mercilessly sticks its teeth in your skin and sends thousands of little ice pins to cast their freezing spell all over your body. No amount of body armor can stop your breath from hanging like a dying cobweb in the air around you. Small teary puddles gather at the corners of your eyes as they try to get accustomed to the cold. Now you comprehend the genius work that Mother Nature had put into the creation of the human body. If you’ve ever wondered why your tears are salty – it’s so that they don...

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“Severn 6201.5” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city… As strange as it may seem to some, I like it here. My name is Johnathan. I live here with my mother and father and my older sister, Katelyn. She can be a bit of a pain sometimes, but I guess she is kind of cool at the same time. Katelyn is one of the popular kids in school, so her friends are always stopping by...

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“The Barras” by Rachel Loughran

Submitted to Contest #85

The sun was setting, and the great Victorian glass roof over Glasgow Central station was glowing; washing the marble floors with gold and pink and casting a luminous, dancing light on the station clock, under which a nervous young man stood, fiddling with his pocket square and trying very hard indeed not to touch his painstakingly coiffed duck’s arse hairdo. “That’s the train fae Ayr in, Tam,” said a friend, elbowing him in the ribs for good measure. “This Mary better no be the ugly pal.”“I’m sure she’s gorgeous Billy,” Tam muttered. “S...

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“100 Years” by Amanda Fox

Submitted to Contest #85

1907 The smoke forced her outside. As she gasped for air, an unsolicited hand rested on her lower back to steady her. Henrietta flinched and spun away to face Thomas. “Mr. Ambrewster,” she choked out. “What are you doing here at this hour?” Henrietta heard the fire brigade’s bells growing louder as they neared her burning house. Her mind cleared. “Alice! Where’s Alice?” She grabbed hold of Thomas’ arm, her eyes pleading. “Have you seen her? Has she made it outside?” Thomas smiled beat...

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“Beirut” by Celine Aoun

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, it breaks your heart whether or not you stay. You can leave and be forever haunted by a spirit that constantly reminds you that you don’t belong or you can stay, hoping not to die a stupid preventable death and spend the rest of your life trying to convince yourself that you’ve made the right decision. Beirut, also known as the city that never sleeps, not sure if it’s in relation to the wild nightlife or the trauma-induced insomnia. Either way, you get the point.My eyes are still closed but I can feel my sub...

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“Raiders From the East” by Jakin Files

Submitted to Contest #85

His head smashed into the low wooden doorpost of the Flagon Inn as he was leaving. All eyes were on him as he rubbed his head, trying to suppress the throbbing pain. He noticed the awkward glances he was receiving and smiled.“Ouch!” he said, amusingly.Several men laughed as they returned their attention to their gambling. A serving girl smiled and resumed her duties. The innkeeper nodded sympathetically.“Watch yer head ther’ mister,” he said, “it’s a bit low.”Alan smiled as he closed the door behind him and started down the dirt street, his ...

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“Therapy” by Raazia Sajid

Submitted to Contest #85

At the four-way intersection I narrowly dodge a Tiba 2, who narrowly dodges a Pride. Both their traffic lights are green. You’d think this would qualify as a near death experience, especially considering the roads are slick with Aban rain. But really, this is just another Tuesday in Tehran. Welcome to the city of contrasts: where immodest dressing is punishable by law and yet the level of PDA is surprisingly high. Where people drive like maniacs then pull over at the Wall of Kindness to leave spare clothes for strangers. Zahra is early; no...

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“From fauna to flora” by Yumna Iqbal

Submitted to Contest #85

As I stood there and looked up at that 961 metre building; second to none; that had always been a gold mine, close to my heart; my feelings were inexpressible. Every single corner of its magnificent beauty was breathtaking. Graceful white lotus flowers were lined up near the fence as they danced with the blowing wind. The princely gates were covered with the most magnificent and lavish colors surrounded by marble linings. Inside, there was such intricate work done; the silver and gold patched walled alleys had such deep meaning and I could f...

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Stories

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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