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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

“The downfall of Adelaide” by Hayley Carter

Submitted to Contest #88

I was running, trying to get away from them as I ran for my life. The people that were after me already killed my father and mother, the king and queen of Adelaide, the world of the 7 suns. The realm was miraculous but I don’t know what went wrong. Last night my Father and I were bickering over that I needed to marry a man to rule the kingdom of Adelaide and I was refuting that I didn’t need a man or a woman to rule my world for success. He was in a sense an authoritarian. It had to be done his way now or no supper for me. I took this banter...

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“The price of foolishness” by Na B

Submitted to Contest #88

How come that portcullises always have a purpose?Some are meant to prevent the evil going in and others to keep it from spreading.Yet something even more peculiar is that this portcullis stops even the rain from falling in the castle’s yard.The fates have been watching the young princess trying to be a man,learning sword fighting,how to ride like one,and even dress in pants and tunics.She knew that she was to be married to her second cousin,duke of Pheerys,what an insufferable prick,he was already lording over her,that after they will be mar...

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“Ready to Stand” by Jared Hammer

Submitted to Contest #88

I was never very popular growing up. You'd think I would be. My family was rich. My dad owned an aerospace engineering and technology conglomerate. "The King of California" they called him. He was worth over a trillion dollars by the time he was thirty. And yet, nothing about his net worth could do anything to help my genetic disorder—my special sauce, as he always called it—a funny little walk I have caused by weakened muscles in my legs. I was born that way. It's been a part of me for as long as I remember, so I never thought I was weird u...

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“Desire and Deceit” by Christina Howell

Submitted to Contest #88

Desire and Deceit “Once again, my pet.” Philip’s beckoning hand tugged me forward. I rose from the bench before our simple wooden cottage and joined him—willing my eyes away from the space where the concentric rings of limestone blocks met open air. How often had I huddled for comfort against the earthen wall next to my straw pallet after waking from dreams of falling? I chose to focus on Philip in his sinewy glory. He smiled and brushed the back of his hand against my cheek. “Are you ready?” Though my belly quivered at t...

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“Restoration” by Ashley D. Gilyard

Submitted to Contest #88

Densie (Denise Ella-Mae Grayce Dennington Draylig), princess and heir to the Drayligean Throne returned from her quest of locating her parents with no more answers than she learned before she departed the kingdom. With the QUEEN and KING presumed dead, The Oracle vanished for her own protection, and the Princess and Prince ruled Draylig. Princess Densie heard many capture, death, and exile conjectures, but would not believe this be their fate. In the QUEEN’s absence, Princess Densie assumed the role of ruler of Draylig, as she refused a quee...

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“Queer as Folk” by Julia Abelsohn

Submitted to Contest #88

When they moved into the neighborhood you could see it right away. Even as the moving van was unloading their furniture and boxes from the truck you somehow got a sense that this family was not like the other families on the street. For one thing they were actually using a moving company to do their labour. Most of the others had done the heavy lifting themselves after borrowing some distant cousin or other’s truck for the job and getting a couple of buddies to help out while plying them with liquid refreshments. This move was executed in a ...

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“Life of a Half Elf ” by Christian Hinrichsen

Submitted to Contest #88

Life of a Half Elf christianhinrichsen4@gmail.com Life was never easy to a person of my history part Human and part Drow but with the friendship and guidance of my surrogate father Master Bennings, he taught me the reality of life. My name is Kayla Bennings and this is my story. Master Bennings took me in when neither of my parents' families accepted me. To them, I was a freak of nature and did not take the title of their families. Though I got my love from my mother it was not enough. So she joined me and took me to the Druid Circle Sch...

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“Brownie Girl” by Zvikomborero Mukamba

Submitted to Contest #88

“Give me back my talisman!” shouted a girl. She was surrounded by short men with pointy ears and crude smiles. She had a torn, brown blouse and tattered black stockings. Th men had green, neat, freshly pressed clothes. The ringleader was the brownie clan’s favourite son. He had the handsomest pointed ears, vibrant carrot hair, eyes as blue as the pond they used. He had a triangular, red hat he wore every day. “No, way Stretch!” He rattled the chain in front of her. Her dark face gnarled in effort, trying to catch him. Sonny s...

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“Folly” by NR. Yet

Submitted to Contest #88

Bene Silverstar walked down the corridor of the royal palace. Why did I have to listen to her? His dejected glare contrasted his battle stiffened face quite well. Everyone knew him. Some by name, some by his reputation. Bene was famous, or rather infamous in the holy city of Rajkat. “Morning, Lord Bene. “ A man with a forced smile approached. The sheer intensity of the smile marked the man suspicious. The man’s shining hairless head and his round appearance were the trademark of his worth or perhaps his position. People watched the two from...

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“The Disappearing Act” by Emma Jones

Submitted to Contest #88

Haylee was a little girl, not bad looking enough to be ugly, but not good looking enough to be pretty. She always had trouble fitting in and never felt safe enough to share her mind. Although, she had a secret, making it harder for her to fit in. No one knew that secret, not even her parents. How that came to be? She didn't know, but she still was not going to tell anyone. “Mom I really don’t want to go today. It is not fair; Myer isn’t going today. Why do I have to go?” She complained ...

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“My Hell ” by Samuel Yi

Submitted to Contest #88

TW: Suicide The night is dark. Darker than chocolate. You know what else is dark? People. Its been a week since I teleported into an unknown world. The people here look like humans, like you and me. But they have powers. Powers that are unusual. When we think of a supernatural power, we think about flying, shooting lasers out of our eyes, or reading minds. No dear reader. I'm not talking about those powers. These powers that these people hold dear is not supernatural. It is worse. They have the power to hurt or help. No, these people aren't ...

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“Shadow of the Wicked” by Angeline Wilson

Submitted to Contest #88

Water starts filling my shoes. The suede shoes busting at the seams. I turn a corner rapidly, burning my heels as I turn. My breath starts to quicken, hyperventilation. One of the easiest ways to die surprisingly. I start to slip up, tripping on imaginary rocks below my feet. Keep running, just keep running. Its the only way to survive in this very moment. My arm movements become loose, swinging wildly at my sides. Keep running, keep running. "Which way did he go? " Faint voices in the distance. My arms fluctuating. I swing my body through ...

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“Trolls from the rainforest” by Damian Nowacki

Submitted to Contest #88

Deep in the Amazon Rainforest (sponsored by Amazon) was life. Not just any life, but magical life. That is because, it was called ‘Troll’s Street’, that’s where the Brazilian trolls lived. These were simple, small trolls with green hair, long green hair. Their hair always stuck up into the air, like a lamppost of some kind. Like ears a bug. Or an antenna. They had small black eyes, a nose that fitted perfectly into their face and a mouth with green lips. They had s...

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“The Safe Place” by Lyra Dhani

Submitted to Contest #88

Every inch of his body was hurt. Herin had to catch his breath every five minutes just to stay concious. He could still hear the echoes of the hunter chasing behind him, their tauntings still fresh in his mind. In front of him, all he could see with his bleeding eyes was the darkness of the forest. With his blood pouring from his chest, the shadow wouldn’t be able to help him. They could smell his blood. Herin had nowhere to hide and no place to run. This is it, his ghoulish brain supplied helpfully. I am going to die here. At least,...

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“August Queen” by Annie Ruhangakiza

Submitted to Contest #88

It all started with this desire to try out something new. Her therapist had thought it, a good idea, for her to channel her depression into anything that would get her back into the world. But what world would she fit in? She had asked her therapist. What world would help her forget her reality? What world would give her the creativity she needed to get out of her crappy job and crappy boss? What world would not see right through her like her ex did? In what world would people see her as one of their own? Not some oversized girl with...

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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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