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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

“In No One! ” by Dwavico .

Submitted to Contest #88

If you look at pretty much anything that happens to people in life, they always seem to have something that they consider a problem. It's that, "Life's hard" bull crap. Until something really bad happens. I have always been a trustful person. If you pick the right people for the right things, life is good. You can always count on a good friend. The secret is to keep standards low and never over-burden anyone. Wow! That's kinda the whole, "straw that broke..." and "you can't get blood..." things rolled into one. If I kept asking the same per...

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“lately in the village...” by Moon Bookstore

Submitted to Contest #88

lately in the village..."surprises always happen", genoa finished her topic talking to 'lady' the unwanted horse whom has appeared in the barn waiting to be attended. "i am no liar to beggars or the hungry..." 'we haven't enough valuable time to sacrifice our own we make a living with', raising to her manners and a glare to provide no attention. "we ain't either mad; we are smart but a bit crazy." Mira scooted along her washing dishes; tuned to knowledgeable to her choices in the village garden. a letter smelt of burnt ash was picked up ...

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“Pinocchio ” by Kendra Campos

Submitted to Contest #88

The Adventures of Pinocchio, Italian title Le avventure di Pinocchio: Storia di un burattino (“The Adventures of Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet”), classic children’s novel written by C. Collodi that first appeared in serial form in 1881 in the Giornale dei Bambini (“Children’s Magazine”) and was published as a book in 1883. It tells the story of the little marionette who wants to be a real boy, and it is perhaps best known as the basis for the 1940 Disney film. PinocchioIllustration of Pi...

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“Ace of Lies” by Stacy Clair

Submitted to Contest #88

I adopted the nickname Ace when I was ten years old. My legal name always carried a weight I refused to bear. I loved the ability to change myself at a moment’s notice. I watched my parents and peers remain in the same tired doldrum day after day. I knew, early on, that wouldn’t be my fate. I learned if I added a flourish here and an embellishment there my audience hung on my every word. Little dramatics never hurt anyone, right? At twelve years old I told my English teacher my mother had died unexpectedly the n...

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“Truthful Lies” by Christopher Doriott

Submitted to Contest #88

Two hundred million dollars, and that was after Uncle Sam received his cut! Dennis Wilderbee sighed, shook his head, and tucked his Powerball ticket into his wallet. He knew he would not win but the fantasy of it was very intriguing. Even a man such as himself, seventy pounds overweight and balding, could land any number of beautiful women with that kind of money. After replacing the wallet into his inner pocket he tugged at his jacket. He hated wearing suits. They were always binding and pinching, especially around his waist, but toda...

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“The Downside to Having a Power” by Ethan Long

Submitted to Contest #88

“Inroqua,” The fire ring erupted into flames from dry wood. Ramses put away the book he had read the mysterious word from as it settled into a comfy campfire. He pulled up a seat across from Kira. “That’s really handy.” He dipped his head back and forth. “Yeah, it is. But before I had a favor, I could make a fire with just these two hands. So can...

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“THE LIE.” by Patricia Green

Submitted to Contest #88

Lily and Liam were twins. They would both be 21 years old, in two weeks time. According to the ancestry of their family, when they reached 21 years they would both receive 10,000 million pounds to purchase land for their future kingdom. There was only one, very strange, clause in the agreement. They must not be under five feet tall. Lily and Liam both passed this test with flying colours. Lily was a very shapely five foot seven, while Liam was a tall, very manly, six foot two. “ They rac...

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“Ákángbó” by Deborah Ojo

Submitted to Contest #88

Night falls slowly, gently, like a curtain over the day. Perhaps some would call it beautiful, but we are too used to the sunset to notice the dying sun's reflection on the compound floor, enriching the deep red clay. The voices of people settling in for the evening waft in on the wind–Mama Alagbo, the medicine woman, scolding her apprentices; Iya Ayo's children squabbling over whose turn it is to wash the dishes; young men excitedly discussing a game of ludo. In our own compound, Iya Agba, our grandmother, settles into her rocking chair.&nb...

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“The Differden” by Danielle Burke

Submitted to Contest #88

My mother feared my brother, Dragan, was dying, but she didn’t say that. Instead, she saddled the horse, prepared a pallet behind, and appointed me his nurse, only pausing long enough to say we were seeing a friend who could help. She hoped. “Mother,” I whispered into the night air. “Yes, Tristle?” “Be careful what path you take. Dragan has formed many enemies of late. He falsifies. Tells the palace guards our neighbors are spies for the River Kingdom.” I saw her lay the reins on the side of the horse's neck, gu...

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“Tongue of Silver Blade” by Amy Jayne Conley

Submitted to Contest #88

“With the invention of consequence came the advent of lying. The first lie told was to avoid consequence of action, and it had worked, for back then there had been no proof. Lying, twisting the truth, became commonplace, and in a world of ‘innocent until proven guilty’, word was writ. Word was bond. Even if that bond was based on lies. “As society grew, so too did the finesse of lying. Lying was no longer used as an avoidance of consequence of action, but also as an avoidance of consequence of hurt feelings. A lover would lie to a partner...

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“Liar's Brows” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #88

“LIAR!”Shannon cringed. She was being screamed at by a little, wizened old woman who sounded a lot like Valerie The Witch, from The Princess Bride. And to be honest, she did kind of look like her as well. “Honestly, Officer—“ Shannon looked at his name tag, “Prescott, she ran into me.” Looking at him, she hoped he would see her as the more believable party. Shannon was a well-groomed thirty-something professional woman. She was driving a new SUV, she had a spotless driving record, and had not so much as a parkin...

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“The Birthday Suit” by Theresa Stefaniak

Submitted to Contest #88

Long ago and faraway, there was a flourishing kingdom at the center of a prosperous empire. Every year, on the Emperor’s birthday, the capital city threw a festival. It began with grand parade marching from his castle to the coast. Elephants marched through the town square, followed by fan dancers, drummers, and fire eaters. Musicians played from morning until nightfall, and everyone was invited to dance. It ended all ended at a large bonfire and a feast large enough to feed the whole city and then some. T...

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“A VOICE OF THE YOUNG” by Gabrielle A

Submitted to Contest #88

Tom kept kicking the mud coated ball, running off to pick it up from the goal post and running back energetically to his initial position. He was concentrating with all his might, calculating distance and the right acceleration but concentrating on the net at the center of the wide field only made his eyes heavy and his vision hazy. His mother would be out again to scold him for the third time as to why he should get rid of that ugly ball, quit the game and make himself useful in the house. The ball kept speeding off to the right side o...

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“The Unvarnished Truth” by James Mckinley

Submitted to Contest #88

The traffic outside was loud! Marcus didn’t want to get up yet. His head was throbbing, it felt like the rhythmic beat of a machine gun. He knew he shouldn’t have stayed out late last night celebrating with friends. Now the 26 year old activist is what his dad calls “Paying The Bill”! It isn’t a bill he wants to pay right now. He looks at the clock through blurred eyes, it is 10:30 am. Too dam early, but he needs to get up and pull it together. So out of bed and on to the tread mill, a trick he learned playing baseball in high school , exer...

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“Root of an idea” by Saint Lucifer

Submitted to Contest #88

“It has to be you.” The old man said in a harsh, subdued tone. “The King will remember you.” The meeting was held near the towns square. In the only barn that was not facing the main street. A single candle was lit, bathing the old wooden building in more shadows than light. Around the candle 5 men were crouching. The elders sat on crates so they did not have to put up the struggle of getting up from the straw covered ground again. Only Mad, the youngest men in the circle, sat there cross legged, arms folded and shaking his head. “No, no. I...

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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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