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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

“Up to mischief! ” by Iona Coppin

Submitted to Contest #88

Tony was a rat. Both in the literal and metaphorical sense. He was a good for nothing, double crossing, snitch of a rodent, who would lie to the queen if it would earn him some scraps to eat. Tony found that this life of deception didn’t earn him many friends, but he didn’t need friends, all he needed was a full belly and a place to sleep. Which he had, until very recently. You see Tony had committed an unforgivable crime, a crime that will find you running for your life, both from the humans, and your fellow vermin. Tony had committed the c...

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“Little White Lies” by Sarah Bird

Submitted to Contest #88

9:07 Not again. Where does the time actually go? I’d love for scientists to work it out and tell me, because I literally haven’t got a clue. The drive to work should take twenty minutes. I left at 8.37. So that should give me three minutes spare for traffic and finding a parking space, right? Okay okay, so I got takeout coffee on the way. I’ll have finished my latte before I get into the office so nobody will know. But still, how can I be seven minutes late already? I swear I went through a time vortex or something, this is insane. Fortunate...

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“Yadidyas Tales” by Suraya Ngobeni

Submitted to Contest #88

In a isolated village deep down in the heart of the lushes jungle of Congo along the long river banks surround by trees and birds circling the crisp air the fresh smell of the rivers flowing. There was a young mischievous yet very intelligent young boy Yadidya was a dreamer and always aspired to live across the river. His father Jhon was a farmer he spent most of his labourer-es yet for fulling days on his stretches of land with garlic and ginger. He was a generally a happy man of 8 he always sang and danced, although he was a...

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“Bad Leads” by Kelita Sim

Submitted to Contest #88

Hue Nielson kept a tally chart on his desk wall.Every Monday, he arrived at his station somewhere between ten thirty and eleven, in his creased untucked suit and blonde bed hair with enough noise to overshadow his fellow salesmen in mid pitch. His priorities were off. The huddle on Monday was never his first priority, as it should have been for every sales representative at Gregory & Gordon. No, Hue Nielson’s first priority was to take a black marker, straighten the chart on the wall, and add a line to his tally. To the average eye, this...

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“Grim Truth” by Mia Mathew

Submitted to Contest #88

It was a world different from the one we live in now, or we might someday come to, where consequences of one’s lies and deceit were measured on the tiny book called Pselmatin that would follow you to till the end of time. The unspoken rule was that when a hundred lies were marked on your Pselmatin, it would complete the creation of a monster from the grim world of Gomorriah who would ultimately find you and eat you whole. Roman was no exception to the rule, but he considered himself too smart to exceed his lies over one hundred. In his youth...

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“"My King..."” by Eva Parker

Submitted to Contest #88

Trigger Warning: Slight Mentions of Gore/Blood and AbuseI stood leaning against the wall. My eyes were vailed in shadow. My arms crossed tightly against my chest.“If we move our troops here, we can finally snuff out the king’s guard and take him out,” Dagger said grinning. “I can finally take the throne.”I grunted as if I cared.“Aww, come on, Satya, let’s celebrate.”He smiled once more, but I shook my head. “And this will make you happy?”"Of course.” He frowned. “What is it?”"Nothing, of importance, my lord,” I said calmly."Of course, it isn...

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“I Am Selfish” by Delphine Hintz

Submitted to Contest #88

“My son was born on the day the mayflowers bloomed. The medicine woman heralded it as a good sign, that he would bring life wherever he went. That winter, his mother died. It was only him and I, my lord, and . . . and we did all we could. It was my first time being a father, yet here I had to be a mother, too, so that following spring whilst he finished his first year, I promised I would give him a love like no other, to make up for the love he had lost. “I talked to him, every night, and I told him I loved him more than the stars in the sk...

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“Tommy Comet Gets Cancelled” by Geoffrey Archer

Submitted to Contest #88

Liz From The Internet was focused, making sure she didn’t screw up. Being sure she was recording she was recording a wide shot. “I don’t think this is going to work Tommy.” She remarked as she zoomed in and out on her screen. “The two-way mirror is impossible for the camera to record the room.” Tommy Comet looked through the two-way mirror. “Well we have the CCTV footage.” Tommy almost felt bad for a moment while looking at his beaten and battered friend on the floor. Then he turned to the camera, “just keep it rolling, follow me as I walk i...

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“No Tears Left To Cry” by Lexi Strano

Submitted to Contest #88

She was there. We said goodbye. She never came back. I cried. I balled so hard until I didn’t have any tears left to cry. However my sadness continued to haunt my soul. I sat in the bathtub asking myself why? Why would this happen? Nothing makes sense, I told them. Everything was fine until it wasn’t. This was the day my mom died, I recollected, and this was the day my life had no clear meaning. I was nine, quite a few years ago, but I remember the day so clearly. I don’t even bother trying to forget, nothing will let me forget. I will not l...

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“Authority Problems” by Matt Brooks

Submitted to Contest #88

There was an authority problem in Clarke County and Sheriff Slater was the problem. He was elected sheriff only because of his father, Phillip Slater, a businessman extraordinaire. They had many connections with other big businesses and high-ranking political officials around the state. The dilemma with Sheriff Richard Slater was that he was a racist bastard. The only person he looked out for was himself and not the people he was serving. The injustices of the sheriff were not apparent to the average citizen when he started his first ...

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“You Don't Own Me” by Melissa Källström

Submitted to Contest #88

Sunday evening. Madison was busy playing online chess while her father sat slumped on the couch, feeding his face sloppily with potato chips and watching politics, chiming in angrily every now and then with his uninvited opinions. Does he think they can hear him? Madison wondered. She shook the thought from her mind and focused back on her game. Suddenly, the tv went off. “Did you hear that the people that want to tear down the elementary school are having a get-together tomorrow with free dinner?” her father asked, though Madi...

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“Silver Stars & Green Eyes” by Thea Rhodes

Submitted to Contest #88

Sitting on the bed, overlooking the big window she can see the first signs of spring: the birds coming out to sing, the leaves on the branches of the trees, slowly covering them in green and the shy rays of sunshine coming through the clouds after the cold and ruthless winter. And although she could see the world outside, she never felt more stuck, stuck in this world where she had to follow rules, to be someone and something she is not. The princess, that's who she was. Skylar Rose Lancaster, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Evernight, wi...

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“The Witch's Deal” by Sierra Vandreason

Submitted to Contest #88

I didn’t always hate my life. I used to think it was nice having maids, chefs, and servants. That was before my twin sister died, though. We had the highest level of medical care you could get in our kingdom, but when my sister Sally got the plague there was no helping her. At least that’s what they said. I was twelve at the time, so I didn’t understand the whole medical story, but basically, she developed a cough one day and then next thing I knew she was gone. Now I am nineteen and alone. I even try to refuse the servants who are paid to h...

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“One Soul” by Alexis Genest

Submitted to Contest #88

Scar ridden hands traced over his cold form, beautiful features haunting me. Hands drew over emerald eyes as I slid them closed. My throat bobbed with tears as I anchored them to my heart. Shivering, the memory of the cold dagger possessed me. Still I could feel the knife as it burned through his form like a flame to paper. "Do it," he had begged. "Go away from this place." I felt myself fall to the blood stained snow, turning my white gown a deep scarlet. My shaking fingers loosely hung to the edges of the fabric as I trembled with fear. ...

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“Sacrifices” by 日宁

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time, there was a wealthy princess, who came from a wealthy family. Although she had gold and riches, she was never happy. "Father, I want to go outside! Mother, I want to explore the world and go to other worlds!" She would beg. "No, the outside world is dangerous. I just want you to stay safe," They would always reply. But the princess did not believe them. She saw how the flowers flowed in the wind, and she saw the sun shining down on people. She wanted freedom, and she wanted to escape. One day, a little fairy flew to t...

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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.

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