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!

#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 – 118 stories

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

Adults – 71 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 – 194 stories

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

Kids – 176 stories

Write about an author famous for their fairy tale retellings.

Teens – 74 stories

Stories

“All Time Loki Part III: Less Obvious” by ℂ𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕒 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕨 🏳️‍🌈 (inactive For The Summer)

(Quick Note: These are not the actual myths. These are rewritten by moi, and probably not that mythologically accurate. Also, the vibe song for this story is I'm Ready by AJR. Carry on)🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍Well, stupid Kraken.My head flew back and hit the rock. I sank into darkness.But then I opened my eyes.A figure, shrouded in darkness stood in front of me. Whispers flew around me. He has been asleep for millenia, they said. But now he is awake. And he will ...

43 comments 43
Read story

“Push Through the Hard” by TJ Squared

This is for all those people who feel like they can't do it anymore, me included <333They never know the hidden sideYou put on a smile, they think you're alrightYou tell 'em your fine, doing just plain ol’ fine, But they never know what's forcing that line. It could be your feelings, your emotions running wild.But you know better, you’re no innocent child. It could be that thing that's bugging you, That thing that made you escape ...

19 comments 19
Read story

“Meta Abilities (Reedsy Cast, Part One, Tora POV)” by 𝔼𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟 ✳🏳️‍🌈

Trust me when I say this; there is nothing you could do to get me to like history class. Some enjoy it; and to you, I tip my hat and say “great job”, because this is killing me. Ms. Shindle drones on, her thin black glasses falling like dominoes. Her bun follows, and then the entire lesson plan. “For goodness sake, Matthews!” I bolt up as I hear my name, ignoring the snickers from the girls ...

81 comments 81
Read story

“Rune #16” by Creed .

Sheesh, I have literally posted three stories in one day! How crazy is that! For all who are still here, I give you, the next of Rune's adventures! Shoutout to Antman (Katelyn) for being so awesome and sticking by to read this series!____________Rune fell onto his backside, in shock. His face was blank, his breath tiny plumes. Goosebumps were raised on his bare arms. After only a few seconds, he trembled with cold. Tiny white flakes drifted from the sky. Rune’s ears twitched as they collected the white ...

5 comments 5
Read story

“Princess Otilia and the Terrible Idea” by Rachel Kenley Fry

“The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.” –Russell M. Nelson Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Slater, there lived a beautiful princess named Otilia. She lived with her Prince Charming, Thomas, and her seven beautiful children. Her world required work and strength, but it also provided her with all the love she needed. Her life was full of laughter and joy, until one da...

22 comments 22 SHORTLIST ⭐️
Read story

“Project Ignite (Arlyn and Violet)” by Creed .

Here it is, ya'll! Thank you for sticking by through all of these!___________Sulien, Lighterdome. Project Ignite, day nine.Devoire, Arlyn.Female.Age: 18.Threat level: 2.3.Retrieving patient in one hour...____________Arlyn allowed her mind to drift into her grieved past as she stroked Phoenix’s silky fur.Her father’s back, turned on his family. He left them.

20 comments 20
Read story

“Mixed” by Lani Lane

The car lurched to a stop in front of a stone cottage. Ivy crawled up the walls and even the trunks of the sycamore trees in the yard. The ground was a maze of overgrown grass, untrimmed hedges and flowers of all kinds and colors. It made my eyes hurt.“Try not to use magic, alright? For me,” said Dad from the front seat beside me. A hush of choral music murmured from the car speakers.“Whatever.” I didn’t hide the iciness from my voice as I stared out the window at the cacophony of...

12 comments 12
Read story

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered ” by Rhondalise Mitza

Blood pearled in small, bright beads at the base of her lips, dotting the edges of her mouth and staining her teeth the light color of strawberry jam. There was caution tape wrapped around her wrists. The bold black words against the Big Bird yellow background made her dizzy, but it didn’t matter. She was already sitting down. The chair underneath her was made of brittle peanut butter candy, the kind that you would find at any old grandma’s cabinet store. But this was no quaint shop in the woods. This was not the place you’d bring your ch...

9 comments 9
Read story

“Flint and Flame” by Christina Marie

My mother’s slaughtered corpse still cooled in the battlefield’s mud as I stood between my two sisters at the foot of our family’s gilded throne. Tallest to shortest, youngest to oldest, father placed the three of us on display like common goods in a storefront window.While we suffered the scrutiny of the conquering King, Anna and Maria kept their eyes on the floor and their shoulders folded. Their hands were clasped solemnly at their navels, and they did not fidget as fate calculated their worth.I held...

13 comments 13
Read story

“Νεράμαγεία” by Sasini Athapaththu

I'm Austin, Austin Usoro. I'm an outsider, a misfit, and obviously not a fairy. That's it and that's the end of the story. Wait...I might be an outsider and a misfit, but it's not your abilities or how others define yourself that truly defines who you are, it's how you define yourself.Before last summer I lived a perfectly normal life except for the fact that I had to lie about both my father and my brother. I had friends, almost everyone loved me and I was pretty good at school work, but everything cha...

8 comments 8
Read story

“Between the Stars” by Claire Lindsey

Owen sits in the garden, lost in thought. He looks out of place here, a tall, well-built man sitting alone under vines and roses. Fingers twisting along the rough wooden bench, he plans and unplans, running the future over in his mind. His phone rings, dragging him away from the abyss of time. It’s Ezra. Just seeing the name and photo sends his heart racing.“Hey,” he hears, “are we still on for tonight?”Owen nods nervously, forgetting he’s just a voice. “Uh, yeah. 7:00.”

24 comments 24
Read story

“Till forever falls apart” by Ayushi Roy

Bryce lay against the trunk kept in that one corner of the hall when he saw the silhouette of a young lady at the double-glazed, equally old and tall door. She was indeed a perfect sight for sore eyes - the way the furled gown hugged her curves, the way her teary and worn-out eyes still found a way to look so pretty in what she called the 'golden hour' and the way the strands of her blonde hair were all strangled among t...

33 comments 33
Read story

“Sidero’s Abyss” by Ashlyn Marie

Harwell, a red panda, worked as an accountant in the city of Tulsa, and animals often nodded approvingly when he informed them of this. They, similarly to him, understood the practicality of clear analyses. He still kept to himself in the structured town, though, and isolation left him content, not lonely as creatures often liked to falsify. Indeed, the solitary routine of traveling to Tulsa Bank, analyzing and snacking,...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Fires Of Spring” by Kylie Wallis

There had always been something different about Vanessa Delaney, even as a child. She had no idea who her parents were and was brought up by a lady she called Auntie Lorraine. From the beginning, Vanessa loved being outside. The clean, fresh air, surrounding greenery of her aunt's back garden, and the woods beyond, captivated her like nothing else.She made friends with the tiny creatures that lived within the flowers and plants. Sometimes she would look up at the sky and wish she had wings. Lorraine found Vanessa to be a...

7 comments 7
Read story

“The Spinner of Golden Tales” by H L McQuaid

Aedna sputters to the surface, blindly thrashing her legs and arms. The Pinkietoads leap from their lily pads, diving underwater, watching in wide-eyed wonder at the strange creature flailing in their pond.At last, Aedna opens her eyes. The pond is ringed by trees, but not the kind of trees she knows. The silvery bark sparkles in the sunshine, and the purple leaves whistle in the breeze as she swims awkwardly toward shore, finally standing when her feet find the muddy bottom.Two grey-ish green trolls, o...

19 comments 19
Read story

$50

Prize money

636

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!

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 ⭢