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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#88: Fairy Tale Truths

Did you know that April 2nd marks Hans Christian Andersen’s 216th birthday? Andersen’s work has been adapted and reimagined so many times it's become part of our literary DNA. In fact, it's hard to imagine the world of fairy tales without them. And while some were based on old folklore, many sprang from his own imagination — sometimes even incorporating details of his life and using the genre's fantastical trappings to write parables about his experiences.

This week we invite you to use your stories to explore larger truths. Whether you set them in a magical fairy tale realm or not, stories are a wonderful way to examine important ideas. So sit back, reflect, and prepare to let your imagination run wild through the forest.

This week's prompts

Write a cautionary fable about someone who always lies.

Adults – 116 stories

Write a story about an ordinary person speaking truth to power.

Adults – 68 stories

Write about a prince or princess who is asked to give up something valuable as part of a deal to escape the world they come from.

Fantasy – 190 stories

Write a fairy tale about an outsider trying to fit in.

Kids – 173 stories

Write about an author famous for their fairy tale retellings.

Teens – 73 stories

Stories

“Break Even” by Rachel Nelms

Submitted to Contest #88

“You don’t want to live in a society like this, yet you don’t want to do anything about it!” His words cut through the air sharper than any knife she had ever experienced. His eyes were ablaze, and his face was darkened. The anger that radiated from him was causing him to pant, chest rising and falling heavily as he glared at her. Her eyes narrow slightly, teeth grinding a bit before turning her back to him once again, not bothering to respond to him. Instead, she kneels down, picking up the bloody pocket knife that she had been cleani...

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“Lying Her Way To Death” by Maria Moore

Submitted to Contest #88

Once there was a girl, named Cryssandra, whom lived in New York and liked making up stories. She wanted to be a writer, some day, and she would think of the most fantastic tales, ever told, and tell them to everyone she knew.She told that the stories came to her mind from some other dimension, but no one believed her. When she wasn't telling these tall tales, Cryssandra was trying to compete with her friends about who could tell the best lies. She always won.She would argue with her brother, Mathias, about what killed the dinosaurs. He...

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“Ocean Spray” by Shaun Calvert

Submitted to Contest #88

The cabin was silent save the faint melancholy groaning of timbers as the ship rolled over the cold swells of the ocean outside. These waves were few are far between, and the crew would joke these were the only one’s brave enough to strike pirate queen Jezebel’s ship. A warm orange glow emitted from the solitary lantern hanging deceptively motionless from a chain as the room seemed to shift around it. Shadows grew and shrank as if dancing around the light source. The captain’s quarters were richly furnished with all manner of exotic fabrics...

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“The Two Sided Man” by Hana J

Submitted to Contest #88

Be warned of the man beneath the hood. The black straggling veil. For he has a wicked tendency to tell you you’re untold future. He will ruin you, he will spite you with his words and cast you truths at the palm of his hand. Be warned of the truths of this two sided man. “This book is stupid,” AJ says, skimming through the pages. “What book?” I ask ...

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“"Alien brotherhood."by Ye Wint Aung” by Ye Wint Aung

Submitted to Contest #88

We can’t tell aliens are real or just in our imaginations; there can be life on other planets and galaxies. We can’t explore all of the planets. Some of them might have high tech while the other aliens are learning. Bastis is an alien Prince from billions of light years a way from Earth, living on a planet called “Astero Sphere”. They call their planet Astero Sphere because the planets are actually asteroids and it’s round and kind of like a sphere. There is only one kind of living creature there. It’s them, they’re kind of like us humans ...

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“LOVE CONQUERS ALL” by Anna Komuhangi

Submitted to Contest #88

Standing at her balcony room she couldn't help but notice the route that her prince used to go back home. she loved him so much and wanted to be with him for all eternity even knowing that they would loose much on their side. it was either they keep their titles or loose them for them to achieve their love but yet his kingdom relied on his strength so much as the leader of the army. five years ago it was decided that they would get married and they could not wait to get married their and each time they meant and would go for a walk they were...

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“The Buried Rose” by Rosie 95

Submitted to Contest #88

Rowara sat on a marble stone, her feet barely touching the water below. She couldn't concentrate. Her thoughts were jumbled with memories and sorrow. So much had happened in the last two weeks.For her fourteenth birthday, she had asked her mother if they could go on an expedition. She had wanted to have some peace, settle down, and maybe have an adventure to recall later in life. In the middle ...

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“Don't Hesitate To Call Home” by Zoha Yasir

Submitted to Contest #88

Family. It wasn't a choice we had, but a gift. A place we call home. To some of us, it is what we live for, and to others, what we escape for. When we went face to face with all our fears and learned our lessons through the tears, it was the same people who we tried to run away from because they didn't understand us, or we felt like an outcast who stood by us and became the ladder we needed to climb our way up to find the light again. When we fell into the most bottomless pits of misery, heart wrecks, sadness, depression, and felt the utmost...

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“The Other side of the Savior ” by Bisi Adekola

Submitted to Contest #88

Who else need to know how villainous John Kerry was? would one think killing one's sister is a crime ? yes! it is. But to John Kerry, it was a kill for amusement.If John Kerry could slain his own younger sister, whose offense was 'asking why he raped her housemaid', no head is too big to roll before him.He was as ruthless as king pharaoh in the scripture, but was as cool as a helpless poor lad before he was elected as the president. He used to lay flat before the nobleness of all –before the cripples, like a hungry dog stung by bees.He would...

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“"POWER IN THE WORK FORCE"” by Robin Simon

Submitted to Contest #88

Lidia Jenkins, is an editor for a news paper in her town, very quiet, kept to herself kind of person, but she will chase any story and will be at every rally there is that will stand for justice and truth. Everyone complimented her on how great a job she would do on every assignment but this particular day she came across the reading on the march for equality and it gave her idea. I am a hard working woman, and spite all that I have to deal with at work, we need to be heard and people need to understand we need to stand up for getting the ...

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“Dude” by Chris Wagner

Submitted to Contest #88

My bonfire crackled, sending dancing sparks between the twisting oaks of Death Forest. Fully orchestrated music flowed through the creaking boughs, a song I'd heard at least ten times since I'd arrived. Sages called it Ballad of Death Forest. Rather uninspired, if you ask me. I'd once tried to locate the string quartet, but it only led me to a tree near a goblin encampment, where I ended up hog tied inside a tent until Dude rescued me. Dude! Such an exotic name! I had to find him again, no matter the cost! I un...

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“Two Lies and Aruth” by Tara Tyler Robinson

Submitted to Contest #88

TWO LIES AND ARUTH Three friends walked arm in arm in arm down a narrow road. They gossiped and giggled as fourteen-year-old maidens tend to do. But these were no ordinary maidens, not daughters from the local farm or shop. Fuscia was Princess of the land, out on a secret jaunt, joined by her two trusted handmaid friends—Kandace and Aruthel. “Aruthel, where did you get such a horrid name?” Plump Kandace asked as she chewed on an apple. She had a healthy appetite and no tact whatsoever. Fuscia scowled playfully at her. “Now Kandi, it’s p...

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“The Fox Faery” by Myriam Bell

Submitted to Contest #88

Note: I have taken a small liberty with the prompt, I haven't submitted anything in such a long time, I hope you'll forgive me. So this is a story about an outsider failing to fit in.Faeries are by nature vivacious and sociable, but as it is with humans, each has his or her own specific traits, with qualities and flaws in various measure. The faery whose story I’m about to tell you was called Lorelianna. In contrast to most of the Fair Folk she was a very timid creature. She loved the animals of the forest, and would often seek their company...

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“Shattered Lies” by Zoha Yasir

Submitted to Contest #88

"Stop!" I say out loud. Stop thinking about it. These memories are so real, and I can feel them slicing through my veins like the sharp end of a dagger, the taste of the salt tears on my lips. "Intrusive thoughts," I think to myself. Memories that I try to suppress but always find their way back when they are triggered. I gripped on so tightly even though my palms were sore and burned. My nails dug deep onto the cushion beside me to give myself a better grasp to give myself with one more hope that I would succeed. But I failed. It costed my ...

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“Princess Azula and I” by Luciel Frazer

Submitted to Contest #88

My mother always warned me not to play by the river bank and I never dared to disobey her. On one particular afternoon however she had left me with her nephew Forward, and I found myself acting differently. My mother knew how much me and Forward did not like each other.I told her several times that I did not need a babysitter. Being twelve,I was old enough to take care of myself. I knew how to light a fire and make my own food. What else did I need a babysitter for?.It was not as if i was going to make the house catch fire. Which was not a d...

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$50

Prize money

622

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 09, 2021 EST

Won by Shannon Ethel 🏆

Title: No More Happy Endings

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!

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