Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#87: Fool Me Once

From trickster gods to office pranks, humans have long been fascinated by mischief and mayhem. There’s just something about breaking free of the rules of polite society and causing a bit of chaos that appeals deeply to our psyche.

This week, let’s embrace that playful spirit. Whether it’s someone being pranked or doing the pranking, there’s plenty of opportunity to dive deep into your characters’ motives and reactions. No joke — it’s time to break out the (metaphorical) cream pies and throw some anarchy at your protagonists.

This week's prompts

Write about a mischievous pixie or trickster god.

Kids – 205 stories

Write about someone who’s spent a whole year planning a big prank, and now they’re finally ready to pull it off.

Middle School – 75 stories

Write about someone who hates pranks and spends April Fools’ Day doing good deeds instead.

Holiday – 69 stories

Start your story with a big company pulling an April Fools’ prank that ends up going horribly wrong.

Holiday – 82 stories

Write about someone who goes to great lengths to avoid being pranked on April 1st, only to realize they had the date wrong and it’s already April 2nd.

Holiday – 60 stories

Stories

“a King, a Queen, and a court fool ” by K. L.

Submitted to Contest #87

Beware readers, for bewitched you shall be when you hear the storiesStories of a trickster god centuries agoStories that fascinate still the starry eyes of little onesO’ the tales you’ll hear of his adventuresOf how he used to trick a King into giving him bags of goldOf how he used his wit to trade a Queen’s mirror for bags of grassOf how he roamed through villages and towns and kingdomsSpreading his trickery with a mouth of honeyOf how he stood atop a roof with the face of a fox. But alas, as they say: what is great shall never lastThey sai...

Read story

“Two Mothers” by HBR Patel

Submitted to Contest #87

'A Mother is supposed to sing a lullaby without asking anything in return from their child,' said Sam to his mother. 'Yes, my intelligent observer. But can't a son follow his mother's wish?' asked Sam's Mother. 'Definitely.' 'Then do one good thing tomorrow. You have to describe it and then only I will sing a lullaby for you. Promise?' 'Pinky Promise,' Sam interlocked his pinky finger with that of his mother's. 'Mom, why you only come at night and not during the day. I miss you during the entire day. Before that car acciden...

Read story

“Wicked” by Arielle Lakarnchua

Submitted to Contest #87

This coffee shop had become one of his regular haunts for those rare moments when he wanted peace and quiet. Being as out of the way as it was, it had an abundance of both. Usually. Today, there was a stuffed shirt loudly berating the barista for forgetting some aspect of his ridiculously overwrought and comically complicated drink order. Why people felt the need to exercise their authority over poorly-paid employees was beyond him. What was the fun in making someone already...

Read story

“The Dwarf and the King” by Trey Skyes

Submitted to Contest #87

The Dwarf and the King On a hot summer day in a small kingdom, a dwarf and the king walked into a tavern near the city outskirts. The king donned flowing golden silk to match his gleaming crown and greaves. A sword sheathed in bear hides and plated silver hung on his back. He looked tremendous next to the dwarf who had on but only gray robes concealing worn and holed cotton beneath. They both sat at a wooden counter, and the king noticed the dwarf struggling to climb the creaky stool. He chuckled and ordered a fire ale, one of the tavern...

Read story

“Pan's Messenger” by Kat. L Haywood

Submitted to Contest #87

The messenger fluttered her iridescent wings as she hopped from foot to foot, waiting, as all of those who had gathered were. Malafawn lent against the great throne, hewn from the most ancient of the forests Weeping Willow’s. The deep fissures of its bark prickled at his hide, his thoughts astray as he considered the tremendous potential of the day if only he could escape the formalities of Pan’s court. A softness came over the Lord of the Wildlings' face as he lowered the scrawled invitation to his lap, a softness that had Malafawn’s deep b...

Read story

“The Trickster God, Bloody Mary” by Faye Angela Colinares

Submitted to Contest #87

“Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.” There was silence in the room for a moment, which given that said room was dark and lit only by candles made the atmosphere only more eerie. But when that moment ended, the candles went out, leaving the room in pitch black darkness. And the teenagers in the room didn't have time to freak out about that, because the mirror they were standing in front of suddenly showed a shadowy figure that was none of their reflections. One of them screamed as the shadow came closer and closer, and pressed herse...

Read story

“White and Gold ” by Walker Faison

Submitted to Contest #87

White and Gold Hi Greg, Can you hear me? Good. Take it easy, big guy. You’ll be able to move again when I leave your mind. I have chosen you because you’re exemplary. That’s not a compliment. Perhaps, if you can change...forget it. I feel like sharing. Look at me. Let’s start with the dress. The dress. It was meant to be funny. Which, objectively, it was. I’d been away. I’d popped off down the spheres to hear the sound a forgotten promise makes when it passes through the heart of a living star at the speed of rage. There was a symposium ...

Read story

“The Legend of the April Pixie” by Rylee Mitchell

Submitted to Contest #87

Chapter 1 “All the mystery and madness in the world can always be traced back to a small and seemingly innocent creator. Something so small you can barely see it,” Mother said. “Would you like to know why we celebrate this creature every year on the first of April?” I shook my head, slowly, knowing that mother tended to go over board with the folk tales she told me, swearing up and down that they were true. “I don't know, I have school in the morning and it's getting late,” I said. “Oh, come on, don't be such a downer.&...

Read story

“Dainty” by Nico 93

Submitted to Contest #87

Dainty’s visible aura was tinted mint green. Her large eyes would feign innocence except they were almost squinting, giving her plotting mind away. Her full lips and turned up nose made her appear trustworthy except for the scrunch in her nose like she always sniffing around, except for her curved sneaky smile. Her pink paper thin wings, almost translucent, are how she got her name. With an elegant and mesmerizing twist of her hand her aura would extend and forest green sparks quietly and softly popped from her fingers. A telling sign that c...

Read story

“San Francisco and San Diego ” by Ley Heffley

Submitted to Contest #87

The night fell over. Everything was carm and quiet. It was dark as a werewolf's fur and the houses were like moons because of lights. San was having a wash as soon as he could because if he got late to school, he will have to walk through The Jungle Wood all by himself with his 3 friends.San is a thirteen year old pixie boy who goes to Greenwood School. He lives in Francisco with his family. Most of the times he does experiments with his conjuring powers and if you visit his bedroom, you'll go mad as his room's a mess. His family photos that...

Read story

“On Being a Big Thing in a Small Package” by Shari Tiedens

Submitted to Contest #87

What did I ever do to deserve this? Nothing, that’s what. Well, nothing I can be blamed for. I didn’t know what to make of it at first, her sudden appearance. A small, grub-like creature, always attached to one of the Subjects. A parasite, I thought, wondering if I should try to remove it for them. It took me months to realize I had a new Subject, one that had not yet fully formed. That amused me. I remembered it myself, being in search of a shape and a purpose. A form finally given to me by the male, not long after I found him. My firs...

Read story

“Trick or Treat” by Kendra Van Doorn

Submitted to Contest #87

Trick or Treat Adelina ran down the stairs her wings flapping behind her. She burst through the door a little too loud causing heads to turn to see her. “You are late.” Flora glared at her. “Sorry.” Adelina squeaked and sat down in the last row. “As I was saying.” Flora continued. “As you all know, Pixies get their name when they are 2 years old. And remember this will be a test question. It is because we name all of you based off your appearance and personality.” Adel...

Read story

“The Girl with Someone Extra” by LuAnn Williamson

Submitted to Contest #87

The Girl with Someone Extra By LuAnn Williamson “Must you leave so soon?” Bridget, frequently called Gidget, due to her small size, tried to put just the right tone in her voice. A question that sounded sad but not needy. “Yes, Dear,” His moss green eyes sparkled as if trying to blink back a tear. “It’s a long drive back home. It always seems longer to drive back because I miss you all the way home.” “Why did I have...

Read story

“A Pixie's Magic” by Nancy Hibbert

Submitted to Contest #87

Mindy stretched and straightened her frock of petals and clover leaves as she walked about the mushrooms and flowers. There’d never been a finer home. Mushrooms protected from rain and the waffling scents of irises and sweet alliums invigorated. Ah, there. What could be better than a daisy? Wrapping her golden palms about its stem, Mindy arched her back and shifted her weight so fragrant dewdrops showered her. Being apple heavy, her vigorous swaying did no harm. Refreshed by the cool water, Mindy ...

Read story

“Lady of Mischief ” by Vanessa Lombard

Submitted to Contest #87

Ragnor finally arrives, after 12 long days of travel. The folk tales weren't wrong, this place is disgusting. A thick, heavy stench assaults his senses, that of rotten plant materials, oozing for countless days in the sun. The air is warm and somehow dirty. Its dense consistency is pushing down on his already tired shoulders, freezing him in his tracks. The light shining through the dense canopy of trees creates a yellow-green atmospheric glow around the lush wetlands. There is not even the smallest bit of ground in sight, every inch of soil...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

491

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 02, 2021 EST

Won by Catherine Hill 🏆

Title: Samill the Trickster

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.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢