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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

“A Visionary Character” by Ana Perez

Submitted to Contest #88

Astounding. That is what Elijah Carter would consider his books. It was a very bold choice of him to parade so much about his book when, it had just come out and people had not yet expressed their opinion. But indeed, the books were astonishing. He would select a classic fairy tale, such as Cinderella, or Snow White, and he would add a twist that would make it very pleasant to read. Whether it was Hansel and Gretel in a dystopian setting, or Sleeping Beauty in a modern high school atmosphere, he always found a way to hook people. Carter woul...

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“Neil, the Story (Re)Teller” by Mariana Del Rosal

Submitted to Contest #88

NOTE: All of the following is part of my imagination; please take it only as a humble tribute to one of my favorite writers of all times, because little of this is based on his actual life.In the cold winter of 1960 in Portchester, his mother began reading him fairy tales even before he could raise his little head. It felt magical for the baby despite the fact he didn’t understand the words. Newborn Neil would struggle to keep his little brown eyes open because he knew the lovely voice would fade if he fell asleep. Yet, the fairy tales conti...

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“Wild Kelpies in the sea” by Mona Del Valle

Submitted to Contest #88

Hugo listened and sighed. He listened closely; his breath was deep and slow, in the powerful rhythm of the waves of the evening sea rushing towards the stony shore. The diffuse twilight of an early spring evening made it hard to make out individual waves in the living breathing mass of the sea. A family with two small children was gathering up their toys, before they left accompanied by the fading light. A lonely hiker was urging his unwilling dog to jump into the car, parked nearby. Eventually, all the noise died away, the lights of the car...

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“Mr Cinder” by Anne Scherliess

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time in a land far far away there lived a man who was sought out far and wide for forging new words out of old stories. Pardon my french but this is utter garbage. Neither am I living "once upon a time", but right now, nor "far far away", actually I am just around the corner from your fancy publisher and I am not "sought out far and wide" by anybody. Well, yes, but this is an essay about an author who is famous for retelling our beloved fairy tales, so I thought... First mistake. you shouldn't think. Because I am a w...

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“A Talk With Him” by Megha Sharma

Submitted to Contest #88

The sun was shining as bright as it could when I woke up. So dead of me. “I shouldn’t have slept so late in the night. Oh god!” I put my hand on my face while leaving the bed. I walked to the table near the window while collecting my fuzzy hairs and putting them into a rubber band, and picked my spectacles which were hanging on a vintage typewriter my father gave me when I was 7 when wrote my first ever poem. But as time pa...

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“The Book on the Shelf” by Beth White

Submitted to Contest #88

Riley walked along the rocky beach in the quiet late afternoon. The only sound was the ocean lapping at her feet. It was still chilly on the cape, but she had been raised there by her grandmother. The cold didn’t bother her. The blissful silence was interrupted by ringing. It wouldn’t stop and was getting louder and louder. “What is that?” she asked aloud as she lifted her head from her desk. It was early morning light steamed in the window. Through bleary eyes she stared at her cell phone. Thr...

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“The Last Days of Victor Usher” by Christine O'Brien

Submitted to Contest #88

“If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you” - Friedrich Nietzsche I have written my own death. My name is Victor Usher, and I feel I must explain what has happened to me before I can no longer do so. It will not help the inevitable police investigation, but maybe it will save others from the end I cannot escape. I am a relatively successful author of fairy tale to novel adaptions. Not those vapid, candy coated ones corporations like Disney shell out. Those are an insult to the very purpose of a fairy tale. The...

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“The little Boy, and the Fishing Competition” by Jasia Viana

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time, there was a boy. He loved school and riding horses. His schoolhouse was a tiny place because his village was small, too. It was just a small wooden building with desks, chairs, and a chalkboard. But it was his sanctuary. At home, he was poor; but here, rich or poor, everyone was in the same place. They were all getting the same education even if they had more money than someone else. He especially loved his teacher. Her name was Mrs. White. She lived a simple life and loved her students. Due to her and his family's influenc...

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“April Tiger Pack” by Tyler H

Submitted to Contest #88

March 31st was the last peaceful day for the wealthy. The entire month of April felt like nightmares coming to life. For the past 60 years, right as time passed from march 31st to April 1st, the attacks began. Attacks on politicians, generals, and all the higher ups in the castle. The castle of Brim, where everyone who dreamed big wanted to live. So much money and power. Everyone seemed happy there. However, in April the air filled with worry, the castle became eerie. No one wanted to leave their houses, all jobs were closed for the ...

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“Fable” by Matthew Ducza

Submitted to Contest #88

fable /ˈfeɪb(ə)l/ n. 1. A short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral. The fable of the sick lion and the wary fox V. Archaic. 2. Tell fictitious tales. “I do not dream nor fable” Oxford Languages Dictionary Edmund was surprised himself sometimes how much value he projected onto people when they could do something for him. In any other situation this person was someone he would regard with minimal interest. ‘Is there anything you would like to know about the position?’ asked Mr Kahnweiler, the Manager...

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“Miserable Lies and Love Filled Truths ” by Ellie Peter

Submitted to Contest #88

“My name is Fiona, nice to meet you!” That’s not my name. Tell the truth. My name is not Fiona, or Sienna, or Marlow. It’s Theodora. Theodora Tornsey. When my entire world is full of lies, that is my one truth. &nbs...

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“TALL TALES AND FAIRY TALES” by Claire Tennant

Submitted to Contest #88

Intro: Fiona Brice had cause to remember one particular day in her childhood one weekend she willingly helped her mother clear Grandma’s house, in readiness for auction. On the kitchen table, there was a large white box, without a label or pictures, to identify its contents. Still, she was puzzled, and Mum happily obliged her need “That’s for you I think, Fi,” Mum said, as she made them their mid-morning coffee. Curiosity got the better of Fiona. Opening the box lid she saw them, slightly faded with age but most definitely the...

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“Title: A sordid lies conspiracy ” by Yashpaul Kalra

Submitted to Contest #88

Virendra Singh I the primary protagonist with his wife named Shubhashani. This couple was almost a replica of Shakespeare’s tragic drama named “Macbeth”. Macbeth had a great ambition of becoming the King of Denmark and this couple Virendra and Subhashini wanted to become owners of one Property as the sole owners. But there were four someone elder and some other Youngers who too were entitled to get their shares out of their father’s properties, other properties in Comparisons were of quiet lesser financial values. It is generally a known fac...

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“A Tale of Two Friends- The Rabbit and The Snake” by Evelyn Nicole Soriano

Submitted to Contest #88

How did I end up in this police box... Look at me... I'm cute. I'm adorable. I'm just an innocent little bunny rabbit. How could I have done something so wrong to end up with nothing but a piece of paper and pen, alone in a police box. What? You don't believe me? Listen to my story, and judge me... I am innocent!I am a humble little rabbit called Miss Tipsy. I have it all, you know. Nice home, dashing looks, cute boyfriend, plus, to top it all up, I am her majesty, the queen Lioness' royal fashion designer and dress maker. Everyone in the fo...

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“White Lies” by Gillian Del Mundo

Submitted to Contest #88

In the Truth Village, hidden in the depths of Somertos, with its intertwined trees and singing crickets, its villagers are rewarded with a rich harvest every day, and never-ending prosperity. The children live safely in its sacred grounds, boisterously playing near the crystal clear lake, the source of their nourishment. The adults and elderly live in harmony, settling around the bonfire, exchanging stories in tranquility, never exaggerated nor underplayed. Because all the villagers know the price they have to pay in order to stay in this ...

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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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