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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#9: Little Women

On September 30th, 1868, the first volume of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was published. This December, 151 years later, the eighth(!) film adaptation of Little Women will be released in theatres. Suffice it to say, this book has stood the test of time and remains a favorite amongst readers.

In honor of Alcott's novel, this week's writing prompts are all themes and elements pulled from her seminal family drama. And don't worry if you haven't read the book or aren't too familiar with the March family — these themes are all universal!

This week's prompts

Write a story in which societal rituals and expectations play a key role.

Fiction – 18 stories

Write a story that focuses on the relationship between siblings.

Middle School – 57 stories

Write a story about someone whose lifestyle has changed and is learning to adjust to new circumstances.

High School – 34 stories

Write a story that uses flowers as a symbol.

Spring – 32 stories

Write a story about unrequited love.

Romance – 60 stories

Stories

“White Knuckles” by Charlie E.D.

Submitted to Contest #9

“Well, I… I guess this is goodbye,” Jay says, reluctantly pulling his hands out from where he’d tucked them in his pockets half an hour ago so he can sign. He’s not sure if he was trying to stop them from shaking, or trying to keep them from asking Penelope to stay. “I’m gonna miss you, Pen.”“It won’t be that bad,” Penelope says. She’s speaking slowly, because she’s got a carry-on bag in one hand, clutching her boarding pass and jacket in the other. “We’ll text and video chat.”“Yeah…”“Besides,” she adds, smirking, “you’ll be fine. You’ve got...

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“The Magnet” by Sarah Newland

Submitted to Contest #9

Kneeling at the foot of my bed, I search through my backpack for my missing heart-shaped eraser. I discover my Oklahoma magnet in the front pocket, buried under dirty tissues, candy wrappers, and dried out pens. I thought I’d lost it, but here it is. Guilt punches me in the gut and I squeeze my eyes shut. I had wanted Lily dead. Two years later and I still can’t forget. I stroke the magnet’s smooth surface with my thumb, feeling each of the fourteen ridges along the edge. The pea-sized Indian face is still as stern as ever. I stare at the O...

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“My sister and I” by Jerry Lambeth

Submitted to Contest #9

I never thought that my sister and I will be as close as we are now. Sure we still bicker with each other, but she's the closest thing to a best friend I will ever have. I guess you have to say everything started back in September the 9th 1988. My mother just given birth to me, a almost healthy baby boy beside the fact my umbilical cord was wrap around my neck when I was born. My father holding my five year old sister was looking through the glass into the nursery room. In that week only four babies was born, and I was the only male that was...

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“Conquering Dragons” by Kenneth Johnson

Submitted to Contest #9

Though it was a warm day, Jeffery felt a chill as the wind gusted. ”You can do anything you set your mind too!” His brother’s words circled his mind. He grabbed them and focused on their meaning.“Yes, I can!” He reached upward, straining.“A little more to the right,” Frank’s guiding words whispered in his ear.Jeff stretched until his fingertips found the small ledge. He carefully shifted his weight and raised his left foot. Finding a solid purchase, he pulled himself up another foot.The wind danced in and out of the fissures, playi...

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“SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST OF SIBLINGS” by Azemina Klobodanovic

Submitted to Contest #9

In the suburb of a Bosnian town, one winter night, she was completely conceived by mistake. It was not planned that her father, after three marriages and ten children who had already, to be the father of this eleventh child in a row. He was already in the years, and just at that time he had got grand-daughter of the son from his first marriage, therefore it was not questionable whether is it okay to come into the world this child too. If it would be born it would be pure surplus, burdensome and shame for this family, and Good heavens, d...

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“Peanut and the Volcano” by Dawn French

Submitted to Contest #9

Peanut and the VolcanoPart of the series Peanut Tales© A. L. Dawn FrenchSabastian James was deep in thought as he sat at the desk in the study, typing away on his laptop computer. He did not hear his younger sister Sabine, known as Peanut to all, entered the room, until she spoke.Peanut got the nickname when Daddy Max, one of her grandfathers had given her the name. As he said, she was as small as a peanut when she was born.Peanut’s full name was Sabine Clementine James, but she got called Sabine only when she was in trouble.At eight ye...

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“Chirping from its Nest. ” by Suraj Abhishek Gerata

Submitted to Contest #9

I'm shaving. Why, you ask? Well, whenever I see myself in the mirror with my beard and mustache, I see myself as some ISIS escapee lost within the white world. Except with a scarf missing over my coal dark hair and down around my long towering neck.I put the razor blade on my bushy cheek and began moving it. Then I received a video call from my sister."Brother, what are you up to?" my sister asked with a questioning look on her face. The background around her seemed so white and grandly lit. I could see massive glass doors near the corner of...

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“The Weird Sisters” by Caroline Eddy

Submitted to Contest #9

The Cleaver sisters had acquired more nicknames in their short years than a small city. The Ghouls, the Crazy Cleavers, “those three”, the Weird Sisters. (That was their personal favorite, the Weird Sisters. It was poetic and subtle in the way Miranda and Katy appreciated, but dramatic enough to satisfy Emma.) When your family bounced from Air Force base to Air Force base, state to state to state, you became stran...

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“ MY SISTER” by Yuva Shree

Submitted to Contest #9

There is a little village with a beautiful climate. It has a small range of mountain and cuckoos are singing with their sweet voice. Near a small waterfalls a group of boys are playing, one of them named jack who is lying of the rock asked "why this day is so silent?" and Richie his friend replied that silence always ends in danger. At the moment he said, the boys hear a huge sound coming from their village. Birds are scattering here and there. Richie and his friends run towards the village. There Grace who is a year elder sister of Hannah b...

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“Together” by Dominique Sahir-Walls

Submitted to Contest #9

Our mom had a way of shooting a person dead with her words. Like an automated gun, she could fire off insults with effortless speed that needed no guided target. Her enemies' emotional being would be so riddled with holes it wouldn't matter if any arteries were hit, the damage alone was the death. But in that way that all weapons had little say over their use, my mother found herself falling into the wrong hands on more than one occasion. Hands that would hold her in all the ways she was built to be controlled. Hands that laid waste to ...

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“Dark Houses” by Sheryl Barbera

Submitted to Contest #9

The lights are on inside the house. The young woman sits in the car, in the driveway, hands on the wheel, and her little sister sits beside her. The young woman is looking at her hands, at her cuticles in the light from the house. Her little sister is looking at the house next door.“Do you ever think about dark houses?” her little sister asks.“What?” the young woman says, and then with exasperation sighs, “No, I don’t.”“Like that one,” her little sister points, “I wonder if anyone’s inside.”“I don’t think they’re at home.”“Oh.”&...

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“Sisterly Love” by Mary Waters

Submitted to Contest #9

‘Mm, this lasagne is great. Now, what was I saying?’‘Harriet, must you talk with your mouth full? I’m in danger of eating your meal as well as my own with all that …overflow of food.’‘Never changed, eh? Steph, it’s actually ten years since we last spent any time, or in fact, had any contact and all you’re worried about is table manners.’‘Sorry. No, I’m not sorry, manners are important. You’re right though, ten years is a long time for sisters to be estranged. Perhaps that’s why I need to remind you that I prefer to be called Stephanie....

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“Drummed Up” by Danielle Gerhardt

Submitted to Contest #9

Samantha laid snuggled in the down comforter of her king size bed Saturday morning trying to fashion a reason to get up. She had gotten used to being single since the divorce a few years ago, yet hadn’t adjusted to being an empty-nester. Since Victor went off to college, loneliness had moved-in in his place. Working from home didn’t help the situation any. The days were long and quiet, not affording any opportunities to form friendships. Past friendships had dried up over the years due to distance, the divorce, and everyone being busy with t...

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“Packing Up Memories” by Ashlyn O'Boyle

Submitted to Contest #9

There was a dull thud against the door to Jackson’s bedroom, interrupting his process of attempting at packing up for college. He was leaving tomorrow to start a new chapter of his life and he was still trying to figure out how he was going to fit all of it into one car. His concentration was cut short as the door opened, a bundle of cardboard boxes falling into his room. Jackson stared at it before a familiar 16-year-old popped up, her brunette hair frizzy.“Mom told me to bring up these boxes so you can organize everything.”Jackson was sile...

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“HOME” by Nada Nadege

Submitted to Contest #9

“Elena! Why are you being so closed-minded?”I say chasing down the hallway after my big sister; she suddenly stops thanks to my fast reflex I stop at the right moment so I won’t bump with her. Her eyes are so intense to the point where I can’t keep eye contact with her more than two seconds, and she knows this she knows that she has power over me that's why she thinks she can change me.“Closes minded?” she asks scoffing “I am your big sister, and I know what’s right for you! This has nothing to do with me being open-minded or not; you’re jus...

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$50

Prize money

201

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 04, 2019 EST

Won by Sofia Lago 🏆

Title: What Dead Songbirds Sing

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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