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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

“Gala Night” by Arthur Tiberio

Submitted to Contest #9

The air before me had a lonely scent, quite contrasting with my surroundings, and when I closed my eyes I knew the Phantom. Its voice? As it ever was, I think – a ponderous melody not entirely unlike my own tremulous cords. The notes thrummed inside my head, awakening in somber neurons, and a bit of my hatred and sorrow ebbed from thoughts of Her and marched soldier-like to this new intruder. “I told you not to return.” Fear shook my resolve, and was met with a fiery grin. “I do not obey you. I obey only myself. And though I am, in a fashion...

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“Auntie Maggie's Birthday” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #9

AUNTIE MAGGIE’S BIRTHDAYI suppose every family has its own particular celebrations and punctuation in the calendar. Alongside Christmas or Chanukah, or whatever, alongside Valentine’s day or Halloween, or St Patrick’s Day or Mother’s Day – well, you get my message. I don’t need to go through a list of everything inspired by sincere faith or genuine affections, or the whims of the Greetings Cards industry. But I don’t mean the happy or sad ones that are random and sporadic like weddings or funerals – I’m talking about the annua...

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“Suffrage or Satin.” by Pauline Breatnach

Submitted to Contest #9

'Mama,' Lady Isabel called out from her boudoir, 'may I have the key to Papa's study?'' Of course, dearest Isabel,' Countess Beatrice replied, ' but why do you need the key to the study? Are you not presently engaged in choosing your gown for the Harvest Ball with Earl Edward as your escort?''Mama,' Isabel responded, 'my primary responsibility is presently to the Suffrage Movement. We have serious matters to address in London on Saturday. Suffrage has just been granted, a mere six months ago. Many legal matters remain to ...

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“Killer Blossoms” by K.B. Jensen

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #9

An extremely rare and late bloomer, the Palm of Casper is one of the most dangerous plants in the world. Experts say a single milligram of its beautiful, ivory blossoms is enough to kill five men. It’s the last flower you’d expect to find in an assortment of edible flowers on top of a wedding cake. The bride and groom certainly had no idea. It was rarely tested for in toxicology reports by medical examiners and its effects mimic severe food poisoning and can cause paralysis.When Henry nestled the narrow, vase-like flower among the other blos...

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“The Painful Truth” by Christine Anikpeh

Submitted to Contest #9

Fourteen years later, sitting in the same café were they had met with her four year old daughter Lisa who was focused on using her tongue to catch the cherry on the large glass of butter pecan and strawberry ice cream in front of her, Maya sighted him at the far end of the café, the one that got away. Her eyes took him all in, he hadn’t changed; he was still the most gorgeous man she ever laid eyes on. Then she noticed him reach across on the other side of the table to kiss another, almost as gorgeous as him, dressed almost like him, spottin...

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“Right” by Ellie Jones

Submitted to Contest #9

There are only two of us. That should make us two peas in a pod, right? The best of friends, right? Except we aren't. And we never were. Not even from the start. We've been polar opposites ever since birth. You came just two and a half years before me, yet you were never someone I could look up to. Oh, if only I could tell you how badly I wanted to. You used to tell people we weren't related; they’d think I was adopted. In school, you avoided me like I was a plague. You come and go, but you’re still always around me. At every angle and...

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“LIES” by Joy Lee

Submitted to Contest #9

"Kill him, Mark" Shots were fired endlessly and soon the screen blacked out and said 'YOU LOSE.'"Damn it Mark! We lost, again" Lisa shook her head. Glaring at Mark she thought of just about 100 different ways she could mess his so called 'fabulous' hair when suddenly everything turned black except a few bright red spots seen through the openings of the hands. She immediately knew who it was."Tern can you stop covering my eyes.... I promise I'll try not to kill your best friend if you do." Soon enough he did. She turned around to face him and...

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“The love's still there” by Iona Cottle

Submitted to Contest #9

The man sat in his car in the dark, drumming his fingers on the wheel and chewing his lower lip. The car was silent, and had been for the twenty minutes that he had been sat there, the popping of the engine cooling having long ago finished. Evening had fallen while he’d waited and the street lights had buzzed on over head, throwing shadows across the dashboard and tainting the car with their warm amber hue. A dozen times or more he had reached for the keys, to start up the car and drive away and forget all of this. But every time his hand ha...

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“Precious People” by Hamadryad 77

Submitted to Contest #9

Dear Brother, Fun fact: This is a letter you do not have to write back to. You have more supreme duties to focus your strength on and I do not want to distract you. I, on the other hand, am not married and doubt my life is ever headed in that direction. I have plenty of time to revisit things past and things as they could have been. The main purpose of this letter: To pour out my thoughts to you, as I was used to doing. Barred from owning your attention and relying on you as a brother, I am now unable to do so in person with any real satisfa...

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“Mr Mrs, Mr Mr.” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #9

“Good morning my dear, would you like a cup of tea?”“I could kill for a cuppa, thank you.”A croaky voice answered through bandages. The flowery quilt covered most of the escapee from a pyramid. I sniggered at the thought. I busied myself in our new kitchen, hunting for my favourite mug and its matching pink sister. Two bags of Lipton tossed accurately into the cups, proudly grinning at the unseen skill, then added the hot water. All I needed was the milk jug.“Where is it? Obviously, it is in the fridge.”Not only was the kitchen new, but...

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“Hard To Let Go” by Amber Eccles

Submitted to Contest #9

Andy's POVMikey and I have been dating ever since Mikey joined the band. At first, our relationship was filled with love and happiness. Both of us were truly happy. We couldn't live without each other.I could still remember when he asked me out for the first time.I was led down with my head on Mikey's lap. It had been a few weeks since he began trialling, and we had become really close. So close that I had started having feelings for him. I just loved being with him. He made me really happy, and all I wanted to do was call him my boyfriend."...

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“The Ways We Say 'I Love You'” by Erin Cashen

Submitted to Contest #9

Annie practically threw herself through the hospital room door. Leo was laying propped up, just slightly, in the bed, his golden curls matted to his forehead with sweat and blood. He turned to look at her and his face lit up in just that way that made him seem almost angelic. Blue eyes, golden curls, pale skin, and finely formed features. Sometimes she wondered if maybe he was an angel. Maybe that’s why his heart was constantly failing, he just didn’t belong to this world… “What are you staring at?” He laughed shakily and moved to the f...

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“Unrequited College Love” by Shiy Selvy

Submitted to Contest #9

I was fresh out of high school, not too fresh I guess because I was headed off to college. I had said my goodbyes to my parents tears filling my eyes. I knew I had to go but I wasn’t ready to leave my whole childhood. Thankfully I had my best friend with me, we were both heading to college in New York. I was a 5’2 light skinned with brown eyes and long curly hair, and my best friend was about 5'3 dark skinned with brown eyes and curly short light brown hair. As we stepped off the plane I could feel the wind brushing against my skin and throu...

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“Manfred and Me” by Linda Stern

Submitted to Contest #9

Manfred padded into my hospital room wearing bedroom slippers and no socks about three the next day, not wanting me to expect regular visits of compassion, his being busy with his cockroach collection and all. Told him I neither expected nor wanted them, his camaraderie being something I had gotten used to doing without some fifteen years ago around the time we began sharing the dim little flat I hated to admit was home. He did tell me he wouldn’t rent out my room while I was laid up, felt he owed me at least that since I was his brother and...

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“Tits Up” by Caroline Sucher

Submitted to Contest #9

“It’s just an invitation to a club, for Christ sake. He didn’t ask you to marry him, Molly.” “Noooo,” Molly said, dragging out the word as she shifted the phone to her left hand so she could yank up her high-waist control-top underpants with her right. When she pulled the material high enough to cover her stomach, her right cheek escaped out the bottom and waggled back and forth like it was gasping for air. “But it is an invitation to a club which Google says is known for…” she paused as she pushed the speakerphone button and ...

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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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