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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

“Taking All the Credit ” by Svara Narasiah

Submitted to Contest #88

"So, we're doing you today," Talulla said, biting on the end of her pencil. "I know," Goldilocks replied a little sadly. "Does it have to be my turn? Why can't Ariel go?" Talulla leaned across the desk, her curly brown hair brushing the surface. "Because Ariel is basically a fish, and I would have to buy scuba gear before interviewing her." Goldilocks frowned. "But the story says she becomes human to marry the prince," she said. "Don't you have her in the basement anyway? And she was never a f--" "We're not supposed to be talking...

4 comments 4
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“Around and round Elysia” by Kathleen `Woods

Submitted to Contest #88

In this world like any of the others in revolution around the star of Elysia, there is unrest. The God Queen, in pursuit of infamy, had taken to conquering neighboring planets. She had taken so well in fact that there were no worlds left with true liberty from her demands. She was a tyrant, and by most metrics a brute, but against the odds she has lost her standing. It was a long and bloody battle, as bloody as vapor can be, but they had finally won out against her. And like any other leader overthrown from their prestige, the God Queen no l...

2 comments 2
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“Chia: The Goddess of Gold and Knowledge” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #88

On the Treville mountain range, built on the smallest, but sturdiest hill, stands the huge Temple of Chia—the goddess of wealth and knowledge.  Draped in the finest of gowns embodied with complex mathematical equations written in gold silk, Chia spends her day drinking the holy wine of the gods and waiting for people to visit her temple. For any brave soul that makes the one-thousand step journey, Chia had a deal to offer. You may offer her a knowledge she does not yet know in return for gold or the answer to a question of your choosing...

6 comments 6
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“The Injustice.” by Nettle Swanson

Submitted to Contest #88

B A N G .Ther i n gof gunshots travel through the air.B A N G .B A N G .B A N G. B A N G. B A N G. B A N G. B A N G. They won't stop shooting.T h e yt h i n kw e ' r et h ee n e m y.If you think racism is no longer prominent in today's world, you're wrong. Even a bat could see the way they look at us, like we wronged them by being born. How could you just stand and watch? We protest, peacefully of course, and we're called criminals.D i dy o uk n o wab l a c kp e r s o ni se i g h tt i m e sm o r el i k e l yt ob ew r o n g f u l l yc o n v i...

3 comments 3
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“Lost in the Woods” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #88

Finally, Wanda spots her potential meal, her first after a century. She is pretty lucky for there's not only one but two human beings walking towards her house. Wanda grins then licks the window pane. She spits in disgust after tasting the thick dust and wonders what happened to her home.'Every part of my house is supposedly edible,' she says in her wicked, hinge-like voice. She looks around the house and remembers that this is not her ginger-bread house anymore.'But never mind, I think I will have a really nice meal today,' she says as...

9 comments 9
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“Woman of the Night” by Kaleigh Montague

Submitted to Contest #88

AN: Just a little disclaimer, there might be some discrepancies in my grammar and how everything plays out in this plot because I was running on a tight time crunch. But nevertheless, I worked hard on this piece and will take any criticism. Also, I will go back after this is read and fix any mistakes. Also if you were interested in my story called the Infinite Reigns of Time, I'm planning on extending the story and trying to make a book out of it since it did so well. But enjoy! The dull white saucer in the sky, commonly known as the moon,...

8 comments 8
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“Poor Silly Souls” by Sam Ackman

Submitted to Contest #88

The younger the mind, the easier it can be used for the will of others. Those poor silly souls. * Eleanor looked at her reflection in the mirror.  The round almond eyes were perfectly framed by long curled brown hair.  Her plump red lips parted as she pulled in a steady breath, raising the intricate blue and silver necklace across her chest.  A small button nose finished off her face, lightly decorated by freckles across her cheeks.  All her life Eleanor had been told she was gifted by the god of beauty, a rare gift, ...

20 comments 20
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“THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE ” by Opher 51 2022 REYES

Submitted to Contest #88

A new test writing shows financial thought processes did not constantly spur that fact telling, and a few elective inspirations have been proposed. Their overall significance in some random setting is as yet not absolutely clear. This paper researches the significance of unadulterated untruth repugnance, an aversion for lies autonomous of their results. We propose a basic plan where unique thought processes considered in the writing foresee zero truth-telling, while unadulterated untruth abhorrence predicts a non-zero rate. In this way we de...

6 comments 6
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“Beast on the Brink” by Kate Le Roux

Submitted to Contest #88

He stands in front of the bathroom mirror, adjusting his tie, thinking it would be so easy if he could simply adjust the droop of his eyelids, the mismatched colours of his scars, his uneven hairline. Is it too much, to put on a collar and tie for this? He has already decided that there is no point getting smart from the waist down for a Zoom interview and is still in his sweatpants, his feet bare as he pads around his penthouse. Ten years, twelve books – he leans closer towards the mirror, turning slightly to the left, pointlessly examining...

3 comments 3
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“Clementine” by Sachi Shah

Submitted to Contest #88

Clementine knew many things. She knew her name, for this had been given to her by the Kind Lady that left scraps out for her to eat in the Garden.And she knew the Garden as this was where she had resided her whole life. In the mornings, she watched the Birds pecking for worms before the sun had barely peeked over the horizon; in the evenings, she watched the Fox scamper around the trash, retrieving remnants to take back to her brood.She knew the names of all the creatures, big and small, from the Owls to the Squirrels and even the Hedge...

5 comments 5
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“The Homecoming Jester” by Goblin King

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time, in a land “that is like, actually the worst place in the world”, a congealed mess of odors swept through the commons. The lunch ladies insisted this came from their passionate work in the kitchen. They also maintained that this ‘ungodly stench’, as the students called it, actually smelled good. The students only agreed with the lunch ladies on one of these points. The FDA agreed with neither, classifying the lunch ladies’ work as “Synthetic Nutrition Supplements”. Black and orange signs hung throughout the room, hanging ...

4 comments 4
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“Queen Fib's Lies” by Svara Narasiah

Submitted to Contest #88

Lies are powerful things. They can make you or break you, but whatever the result, they are not the truth. Every human on earth has lied at least ten times. How could you not? Sometimes lying is instinctive, and you do it before really thinking about what you're saying. That's OKAY, it happens. But sometimes lies can spin out of control, and they come in a flood, one after the other, until you're not really sure whether what you're saying is the truth or not. It can do a lot of damage to a person. Especially if that person is a queen. ...

6 comments 6
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“Love or Freedom” by SpaceHuman 🌌

Submitted to Contest #88

SpaceHuman's Note: *Hi. I hope life is cul 4 u. I can't find my stories in the directory, but when I try to edit them it says they have already been approved. So I'm very confuzzled. If any1 has any advice plz comment, otherwise, enjoy my not the best story :).I stand over my weak, and almost still mother. It's a hard sight to stare at. I watch her tears wet the dried blood on her cheeks, causing me to shed some water as well. She turns her head away from me and with the remaining strength she has, pulls off her opal pendant that hangs tight...

4 comments 4
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“A Tale Of Two Foes” by Lily Rebecca 🐰🐾

Submitted to Contest #88

"I'm telling you, you'll want me to do the reading this afternoon," "Why?" The other voice on the end of the phone was daunting, teasing almost "Just trust me," "If you say so," the line went dead. Bear hung up and looked around his office. His newly published book was lying on the desk, half-read. A bookmark with paw prints lined the side of it. A gift, from his mother. She had proclaimed that he'd done something worthy. Finally. When his book had been published people had raved about it. Now he had been asked to do a reading. Of his book. ...

11 comments 11
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“A Song about Snow” by Arwen Dove

Submitted to Contest #88

My story does not begin with the likes of tiaras and royal balls. Rather, with a song.It started one day when there was a ‘knockety knock’ on my front door…You see, I was singing at the time, my sweet, lovely voice floating out the window. I hate to brag, but when I sing, it’s like hearing an angel singing from the heavens. This was the song I was singing;“My life is full of fantasies,My life is filled with wonder.Everywhere I look I see, a smile…A smile to me!Once, a little bird told me in a lullaby,That dreams always do come true!But, my l...

9 comments 9
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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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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