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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

“My devilish love” by Efrat Rosen

Submitted to Contest #9

The more I think of her, the more I yearn for her. When she isn't by my side, I can't but see her even then. But when she is… oh, it's always much more perfect than my wildest imagination. And here she is, at my house, a glass of wine in her hands."Morgan, what you doing here, my dear?""Your stupid roommate is late again," she moves the glass in circles "Would you like to accompany, my darling?""Of course." I sat at the table in front of her without a second thought "How was your day?""As normal as it can be. Men pass by and see my chest rat...

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“New Struggles. New Journey.” by Branden Finch-Cluff

Submitted to Contest #9

Brad always interacted with his Mom, and watching the football games every Sunday while pigging out on chips and other snacks, while rooting for their favorite team. When football wasn’t on, Brad and his Mom binged on several shows on what they considered to be the best streaming service around, the two of them were inseparable. They enjoyed talking about local legends and mysteries which spanned the entire world. All of this began to slow down when she started having heart troubles. Brad, being such a loving son took to his mother’s issues ...

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“I Once Was Me” by Cora R

Submitted to Contest #9

I was once me.I am not anymore.It is strange, not to be yourself any longer.But that is what happens when you crash to the earth, your wings pulled from your back, bleeding, slightly feathered strips of skin and bone all that’s left.I once had wings.I was once an angel-kin.I was once a princess.I once was me.I am not anymore.I am this.This wingless, horrible thing.A girl who can walk on clouds because she was born to, but cannot get to them. A girl who had wings, but cannot soar as she used to. All because of her father.Ah, yes. My fath...

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“Dawn of Womanhood ” by Audrey Friesen

Submitted to Contest #9

Felicity sat on Grammy's porch swing, her head cupped in her hands. The softly scented breezes rippled the sparkling waters of the ocean. Sunny rays spilled over her golden hair and pooled around her bare feet. She gazed out over the quiet village street and marveled at the lovely day that God created. She was blessed to live in this quaint, old village by the sea where her Scottish ancestors settled years ago. There was something so steadfast about this village. It had stood the test of time and hadn't changed much in the process. With all ...

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“Love Story” by Andrew Fletcher

Submitted to Contest #9

I have never felt worthy of the love of others. I’m not sure why. I came from a warm and loving home but I never thought that I would find my one true love. Before my parents died and left me alone, they’d always tell each other the story of how they met and fell in love. It was as though they were telling each other for the first time with me listening in beside them. The dramatic retelling was like a beautiful love story coming alive on stage. It always made my heart ache, because I never thought I’d get to do the same with a wife of my ow...

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“Train of Thought” by Christine Hungerford

Submitted to Contest #9

Silla hopped aboard the Warrensburg train at the last minute. She could not miss her trip to her best friend’s house. Silla was going there, she knew, as the short and shaggy-haired woman sat down with her small leather purse on a chair opposite the closing train doors, to discuss Bob’s love for her but her disinterest in him. He genuinely loved her. Even expressed that he had worked up the courage to possibly date her and even propose to her soon. However, Silla had politely declined, but she had been doing so for long enough. Bob just need...

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“A Place Called Nowhere” by Emerson Sylvestre

Submitted to Contest #9

This story begins in the past. Back when everything was empty, there was no life; only the humans and the trash they lived in. It was a miserable fate, but they had accepted it and moved on. The year was 2189, and Theo Williams had just graduated from East Grimswater High, the last school he’d ever attend. There was no time for post-secondary programs, as the average lifespan had shrunk down to a mere 40 years. With the end of school finally here, Theo’s mailbox had been bursting with invitations to numerous weddings. Ever since the council ...

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“A Sympathetic Interlocutor” by D.A. Cairns

Submitted to Contest #9

A Sympathetic InterlocutorbyD.A. Cairns Decorated was the word that first came to mind when he noticed her cheeks. Breaking eye contact only very briefly because he wanted to hold her gaze as long as possible, the strange patterns on her cheeks caught his attention. They might have been scars, burn scars or, had they been located somewhere else on her body, the kind of scars left after a surgical attempt to remove tattoos. The thought intrigued him and suspended the moment of greeting in time. Suddenly aware of her soft hand inside...

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“PENDENT” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #9

Devaki, the maid servant, while sweeping, picked up a piece of paper lying on the floor and gave it to Vasudevan. He realised it was a prescription from a doctor from a fertility centre. “My goodness! Who requires assistance-, my son or my daughter in law! He wondered. Since it was a highly personal topic for open discussion, he decided to meet the doctor and find out. He had his own fears of some unknown bitter curses raining on his family. Some years ago, he had a neighbour who came to reside in the next portion. They had a peculiar proble...

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“TWINS” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #9

TWINSBy Andrew Paul Grell“Amah, why are there holes in the world?”“Whatever do you mean, BaoBao?”“We walk on the world but then there are holes in it, some go down, some sideways, holes.”“You mean like the yaodong cave we live in? Those are holes so we can have a place to live in peace. Would you rather live in a city, in a box, with everyone knowing what you say and do, and then they try to correct you if you do or say the wrong things? That’s why there are holes in the world, Bendan. Don’t you like our television, our b...

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“Crossroads Under the Oak” by Maia Tamlin

Submitted to Contest #9

As he took another drag of the cigarette comfortably sitting between his strong fingers his eyes seemed to glaze over. The moment the hot flame had kissed the tip of his cigarette he had made sure to move a meter away from me, making sure the smoke and its foul smell would not reach my nose. Of course, at this point, I didn’t care. I’d gotten used to the scent it was all around him. His chequered shirt I had borrowed that one time, his entire room, but worst was his bag. It reeked more than I was comfortable with still. He brought it everywh...

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“Firefly Wishes ” by Raven Major

Submitted to Contest #9

“Okay now what?” Laura asks her big sister Jenny. She has a lightning bug pinched between her fingers. She giggles, and her nose does that weird thing where it gets all wrinkly in the middle. It is a hot and humid July night in Virginia. Jenny and Laura have been living with their mom and grandmother for a few months now. Jenny likes her grandmother’s house and everything, but she prefers their old house. That one had two stories and a fireplace where they would hang their stockings for Santa. She also had her own...

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“The Grim Reaper Has Feelings Too” by Mikayla Mislak

Submitted to Contest #9

The first time I saw him, I really wanted to kill him. Unfortunately for me though, it wasn’t his time yet, far from it actually. He was twenty-nine and due to live until he was ninety-three, quite old for a human. Of course, I’d been around since the dawn of time and sixty-four years was about a blink of an eye for me (well, if I had eyes that is), but still! I knew these next sixty-four years would be agonizingly long, especially if Mother Time played another trick on me. I saw him first when I was in a nursing home in a place the humans ...

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“Friend-Zoned at Work” by Chastity Rylan

Submitted to Contest #9

My heart flutters. The butterflies in my stomach are going hectic. Palms clammy. Watching him walk through the aisles of the store, I feel myself smiling.“What are you smiling at?” Iphis jokes with me.“Not a thing.”“Manda I know you better than that.”“Damn it, I’m too high to think right now.”We both laugh as we go through the aisles.He presses his hands on my hips and guides me in front of him. Due to his height, he has to straddle me as he takes his steps. I wonder what people think when they see him and I walking through the store togethe...

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“The Garden” by John Patterson

Submitted to Contest #9

“Remember how red Mom’s roses used to be? Like crazy red, right?”Only clinking plates replied from the other room. Susan was packing up the kitchen. The flowers weren’t that great anymore. Weeds had started to choke out what was left of the garden.“Yeah, crazy red…Hey, sis. Need some help in there?”“I’m fine, Dylan. Go pack somewhere else.”How did we wind up strangers? Me. It’s always been me. Dylan, the screw-up, at your service.We were tight as kids. Freshman year there was this kid—Frankie, horrible guy, bullied me every day. I was smalle...

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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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