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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

“What makes a prince charming” by Lorzy Saringo

Submitted to Contest #88

What makes a prince charming?For over the years people have been looking for a perfect prince charming they read in fairy tales. Someone who lights up their world, save them from their miserable situation, take away their pain and even death away. Someone so gentle, so manly, classy, well educated, intelligent, honorable and brave. Someone who will protect you, support you, love you and never leave you.For over 35 years I have been looking and waiting for this prince charming to come. I always imagine the prince of my dreams in the form of a...

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“The Infamous Keatan Tales” by C E Mutya

Submitted to Contest #88

He hadn’t meant for it to happen. It was just one of those things. They had just started popping up all over the place. Of course at first everybody thought it was some great media stunt, until things started to get bloody. You see, Rowan Fabio Keatan became the most famous fairy tale re-teller for all the wrong reasons. At the start of it all he really did just liked fairy tales. He liked to put twists on them, he liked to adapt and explore possibilities. And he was a good writer. Once you started reading one of his stories you just c...

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“Let Me Tell You a Story” by Elliot G

Submitted to Contest #88

I lay motionless on the firm and cold mattress staring up at the spotted ceiling. It was a revolting sight, full of mould and water-marks, a small crack near the far corner letting a few droplets of water seep through and hit the ground with a small plop! The foul and musty air would occasionally suffocate me, leading to an unpleasant coughing fit, and the lack of sunlight within the room was weakening. I rolled over and sighed, squeezing my eyes shut in despair. Though I had gotten used to the gloomy cell over the past few w...

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“Someone Who Always Lies” by Janine Hallett

Submitted to Contest #88

SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS LIES “What are you doing?’ came the voice of Johnno’s mother “I’m doing my homework”, shouted back Johnno as he quickly picked up the porn magazine he was pouring over and threw it under his bed, just in the nick of time as his mother slammed open the door and stormed into his room. “You are not doing your homework, I can’t see any school books or papers – what are you really doing my boy!” “I’ve just finished.” Answered Johnno in a very convincing and soft voice. The next day, wet and cold, all the children in the...

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“Free to Lie in Chains” by Kateri Buerkle

Submitted to Contest #88

“Where should I start?” he asked, laughing bitterly. “Benedict, why not start with the truth for once?” pleaded Rose. There was a long, agonized silence as Benedict stared sullenly outside at the pouring rain and flashes of lightning followed by fierce rumbles of thunder. Rose shuddered and huddled against him as the cold, biting wind drove icy sheets of rain into the rocky shelter they had fled to when the sudden squall had sprung upon them. “If only…” Benedict murmured. Then looking down at her shivering, vulnerable f...

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“Jack and the red Apples” by Rosivita Kwant

Submitted to Contest #88

Jack lived in a small house on a hill with his mother Joyce. As usual Joyce sent Jack into town to buy apples so she could make her delicious apple pie for dinner. As soon as he was done eating his breakfast, she put a brown basked with a little green sack, filled with some coins in it on the table."Jack, go and buy some red apples at the market in town." She said to him. &nbsp...

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“Farmyard Fable” by Andrew Ursrey

Submitted to Contest #88

Golden sunlight bathed the emerald valley below in its warm rays, shining brilliantly on a quaint farm below. From within the jungle of tall grass, a rat moved swiftly through the underbrush with a rumbling hunger in his belly. Stealthily the rat scurried towards the henhouse, drawn by the sight of seed on the ground. Rooster, standing proud and colorful, stepped between the rat and its goal. “Why have you come to my home, Rat?” asked the curious rooster. Fearful and unsure of how to proceed, the rat thought quickly and crafted a lie. ...

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“The Freedom in Virtue” by Theresa Faughnan

Submitted to Contest #88

Have you ever heard the expression “The truth will set you free?” I am here to tell you that that statement is very accurate. I am going to tell you a story about a woman who always lied. Her lies got bigger and bigger until one day she had herself in such a conundrum and had no way out. Let her story serve to you a lesson on the importance of truth. Kennedy grew up in a large family. She was one of five children. Smack dab in the middle. She spent the majority of her childhood fighting for a spot in the bathroom to get ready for scho...

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“Tale of betrayal and lie” by Riya Jadia

Submitted to Contest #88

''I only love you'', said he. " Lying ? Again ? Why ? Why is it so difficult for you to just be honest? My love wasn't enough for you? I don't deserve a liar and a cheater like you we are done ! I hate you." Teenage love is a very beautiful feeling, holding his hand, cuddling, giving cute hugs and the feeling of having someone who loves you and takes care of you is so amazing but not every love story has a fairy tale ending. Some are filled with pain, lies and loneliness such bonds gives only a temporary feeling of bliss and a long term depr...

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“The most awaited Sunday” by Uma S Nair

Submitted to Contest #88

Maya, the fifteen year old little girl, is enthusiastic today and is eagerly waiting for her father. As her tenth board exams are over, she will be taken to her dream home; as promised by her dad.Maya has lost her mother at the age of one. Her father Shyam has toiled hard for whole day and night to earn bread for their livelihood. Shyam and his wife Janet had a love marriage. Janet belonged to an affluent and orthodox Christian family. The very moment her fascination and inclination towards a destitute Hindu boy was realized at her home, her...

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“MUKONYO” by Elizabeth Mulisya

Submitted to Contest #88

Run! Run! Run! A pride of lions is coming to devour our cows, sheep and goats! run for your dear lives! shouted Mukonyo! the village fibster. Everyone in the village got into a frenzy, trying to save their domestic animals and their lives from the lions. Women running as fast as their thin legs would carry them and of course carrying their children on their backs and screaming on top of their voice! men trying to force the animals into their stables! it was a total commotion! everyone was on panic mode. Then suddenly Mukonyo falls down laug...

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“The Deceiver” by Clara Martin

Submitted to Contest #88

A long time ago, on the Old Locust Plantation located in southern Mississippi lived a man named Johnny Walker. Johnny was known on the plantation as the deceiver. Telling lies for him was like breathing in air for regular people. Wherever Johnny went turmoil followed. He loved eavesdropping and telling people's deepest, dark secrets. Back then in the 1940s, many black people worked for white people cleaning their houses, babysitting their children, cooking their meals, and planting crops in their fields. Mr. Adams had one of the largest wate...

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“A Piece of a Liar” by Alice Claude

Submitted to Contest #88

Nighttime hadn’t yet draped the landscape with its onyx cloths. It was in fact only evening, and yet fireflies, their bodies surrounded by cool yellow spheres, weaved in and out of foliage. As they flew along their looping paths, they shed light on the dark teals and emerald greens in their vicinity, spun around strangely shaped flowers, and spiraled alongside lush vines that held tree trunks in an iron grasp. In their light, one could see small creatures navigating their way to home, or to food, before they were wrapped up again in v...

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“Lying Anna ” by Sona Sethi

Submitted to Contest #88

“Anna, one of these days all these lies will get you in a lot of trouble,” warned Mom for the hundredth time.But did Anna listen? No. Eight-year old Anna just shook her head full of dark curls defiantly and went on telling lies. She told lies when she did not have to. She told lies even when telling the truth would be a lot easier.“Anna is that my magic eraser you are using?” asked Samantha, her best friend. “Did you take it from my pencil case without asking?”“No, it’s not yours.” replied Anna, as she continued erasing. “It’s mine.” “N...

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“The Fall of Ronald Drumph” by Pako Dunwhile

Submitted to Contest #88

The story of Ronald Drumph is one for the ages. A man whose exploits should have ended long ago by all accounts. He was raised by a famous mogul who encouraged him to be a heartless liar. Ronald was encouraged to always win, no matter what. Failure was not acceptable under any circumstances. His family valued winning, money and the representation of power more than anything. Love, affection and empathy were considered weaknesses. When Ronald was a young man, his father Frank Drumph, was able to secure Ronald to miss mandatory military servic...

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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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