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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

“"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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“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 White Rose ” by Lena Martinez

Submitted to Contest #88

“Well what are you going to do now? You got what you wanted, but at what cost.” I said as I slowly turned my head towards Sebastian. He was lost in thought as he held the white rose in his palms looking down at it. “Was it worth losing everyone just for a new world?” I said as I stood in front of him and he slowly looked up. “I still got you don’t I? It was a price I was willing to pay because now I can escape from all this power and live for once with you.” Sebastian said as he took the white rose in one hand and held it close to his face. ...

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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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“To Sacrifice a Heart” by Kai S

Submitted to Contest #88

It has been forever since the end of my life. I stand in the forest. I have not moved from this place for what feels like centuries. My family is gone and I have accepted the truth. Never will I be found. Never will I be rescued. I made my bed, and the time has come for me to lie in it. I think often that it is too bad it was not my memory that was given up. Alas, I remember everything about my life before. I remember my childhood. Filled with laughter and screams of fun. Running around in fields of wildflowers, rain soaking through ...

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“Royal Holiday” by Ryan Dupont

Submitted to Contest #88

Prince Alhan sat alone at a huge dining table, made to look small only by the immense size of the Great Hall that surrounded him. Herculean columns of stone, intricately carved with lavish designs, rose from the floors to support the goliath arches of the domed ceiling. A vast display of beautifully crafted stained glass windows, designed to depict various moments of historical glory for the Kingdom of Xanabar Ashar, filled the space between the giant, stone supports that buttressed the walls of the hall from the outside. A rainbow of multi-...

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“Silverskin” by Johan Rosenblad

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time there lived a miller and her husband and their daughter Silverskin in the land just to the left after the forest. One day the miller said to her daughter: “Silverskin, you must go to the village and buy some rapeseed oil for the mill. The wheels are squeaking and the flour comes out coarse.” Silverskin was a beautiful and kind-hearted young woman, and many boys from the village and the surrounding farms had already been courting her – but in vain, because Silverskin was sure there was a “one and true love” for her and she w...

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“Alice” by Sun Set

Submitted to Contest #88

"Excuse me mam but do I know you?". "No sir you don't" replied Alice. Heart pounding palms sweating she was a wreck. Born a princess in March 1997 but now just a regular Joe she had done the unthinkable. Daughter to the king and queen of Southern Nigeria she was born into wealth. From having her very own chauffeur to three security cars to ensure her safety at all times. But these 23 years were anything but all rosy. In the kingdom at 14 years of age, girls were normally introduced to the topic of being someone's wife and taught how to tre...

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“Positioning the Donkey” by Madeleine Fromgei

Submitted to Contest #88

The market’s bustle could be heard just beyond the hill."Come, son. Just a little further until we reach the bakery. Then we’ll go home and feast," said Juha, gesturing to the busy path before him.Juha was standing beside a donkey, and his son was riding on it.As they made their way down the path, villagers began to eye them with contempt.“Looks like Juha couldn’t raise his boy the right way. What a disgrace! Riding on the donkey while his poor old father has to walk beside him? To shame with that boy!” shouted a woman, covering her young da...

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“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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“Alfreda and the Mages” by Kristen Navis

Submitted to Contest #88

Alfreda stumbled into a mountain of a man on the edge of a small marketplace, delirious after days of travel. The first thing she noticed was how his thick brown hair stood out in contrast to his pale skin. The second thing she noticed was the sneer on his face as shoved her and spit out, “watch it, demon spawn.” The insult barely had time to register before she blacked out. Alfreda awoke in the same spot she had collapsed in, only this time the sun was much lower in the sky. As she came to, she noticed a woman with an elaborate head-wrap s...

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“Penelope” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #88

“Penelope Persimmon began life as a normal child,” an epologuian beginning to many a fireside tale. Many of those who professed to developing Penelope, did so out of a sense of self-aggrandizement. They, in no uncertain terms, were to create a child that would be, all things to all people. A daunting task for any conjurer of fictitious characters. Even more so, when dredged from the annals of humdrum lives that fed off the uncertainty in their own existence. Abel Bennet was not fond of pretending to be something he was no...

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“Link” by Chris Soe

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time, there was a great swordsman. He lived in a small town near the castle. His sword sliced through the air as he practiced. Children watch in awe as he continues swinging. His green cap moves with the air as he spins. The townspeople were mostly peaceful adults with a few children, but he was different. He was younger than an adult and was the youngest swordsman. He wielded a sword like nobody has ever seen. The children cheered for him as he slew monsters harassing the town. Nobody could perform his clean swings and jabs. But...

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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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$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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