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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#94: Stubborn as a Bull

Those who dabble in astrology may know that we’re nearing the end of Taurus season — and that one of the “typical” Taurus traits is stubbornness. I’m only a casual fan of horoscopes, but I will say I’ve met a few stubborn Tauruses in my time; that said, I’m pretty sure that’s because most human beings are stubborn, not because it’s intrinsic to those born in late April and May.

 

Still, Taurus season is a great excuse to delve into this fascinating character trait! Stubbornness, tenacity, perseverance, or stupidity: whatever you call it, this week’s prompts are all about the refusal to give up or give in, and all that might mean for your characters.

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone sticking to a course of action even when it’s clearly wrong.

Middle School – 182 stories

Start your story with someone accepting a dare.

Middle School – 185 stories

Write a story about two people who need each other, but are too stubborn to admit it.

Teens – 164 stories

End your story with someone finally conceding to another’s point of view.

Middle School – 97 stories

Write a story in which a character justifies an argument with: “Because I said so.”

Middle School – 97 stories

Stories

“Life & Love” by Ashley Hassan

Submitted to Contest #94

TW: Profanity, Mention of Anxiety & DepressionI'm going to do my best to explain myself. Whether or not you want to talk about it, or ignore it , or disregard what I'm saying is up to you. For some time I've been feeling some type of way towards you and us in general. I know I have my faults and sometimes I don't make the best decisions, I act out a lot and I make decisions based on emotion which isn’t the best quality to have in a relationship, and I know I'm not the most patient or easiest person to deal with but when it comes dow...

2 comments 2
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“Mean” by Caroline Fonteno

Submitted to Contest #94

Dear Diary,I had just gotten to school when I heard Maria the meanie. She was talking to a 3rd grade girl named Jessie.“Give me your lunch money.” Maria demanded.“But… but why?” Jessie stammered.That was a mistake.“Why!” Maria said, outraged. “Why!” Because I said so!”Maria pushed Jessie onto the ground. Jessie started crying. Since my little sister is bffs with Jessie I decided to do what’s right. I walked over to Jessie.“Are you alright?” I asked her.She nodded weakly. I stood to face Maria. “Go away.” I said.“And how are you going to...

3 comments 3
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“The Last Bus to Eternity” by Tina Eddie

Submitted to Contest #94

December, 1956. Lower Manhattan, New York. A young woman swathed in a thick winter attire, accompanied by the ancillary overcoat, was sitting at the glass bus shelter, waiting for the last bus to Brooklyn. The fragile glass cover and the overcoat did little to do away with the inclement weather.        A restless young man scurried across the zebra crossing and ambled along the pavement, finally stopping at the bus shelter. The young woman tugged at her beanie, pulling it down beyond its capacity....

15 comments 15
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“Malfunction” by Ash W

Submitted to Contest #94

“Hey Aaron?” Mist asked, sliding into Aaron’s room. He was still unpacking some of his things from university. “I need your help with something.”  “Math?” He asked, dropping a shirt onto his bed.   “Time.”  Aaron froze, setting his phone down. They hadn’t had trouble with the time machine in ages. What could be wrong now? “Mist, what did you do?” He asked. “And how long has this been going on?”  “A few weeks.” Mist murmured. “I was messing around with a few wires and then when I went on the computer, it...

2 comments 2
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“Do Not Resuscitate” by T. C. Emerys

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #94

I bury my toes in the sand of Ryde Beach. The layers move from dry and cosy to damp and cloying as my feet undulate like worms. I don’t like the look of them anymore – pale and crusty from years indoors. Years of hospitals. Years of waiting rooms. No one moves to the Isle of Wight to sit inside. That’s what Mum would have said. She used to like the sun on her feet. I remember she would always slip her shoes off when I took her for her walks here, in the early days, before everything. “Wash between your toes,” she always muttered to me when I...

19 comments 19
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“Part One: The girl” by Esther :)

Submitted to Contest #94

SORSHA I’ll fix this. The words are fixated in the very middle of the paper. The rest is blank. White nothingness.  I’ll fix this. My fingers trace the soft curves of the f’s and the gentle swishes of the l’s. I see the rings around the words, some smearing the ink.  Dried tears.  But they aren’t mine. I’m too numb to cry now.  I flip the note over, hoping to find some kind of instructions. Where to go.What to do. Anything. Instead I find two words. Love, Dad“That’s all?” I mumble, ...

17 comments 17
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“Adolescent Love” by Ashley Hassan

Submitted to Contest #94

They say you don't find love, but rather love finds you. Well to say the least, Diana had not foreseen finding love, nor love finding her. With all that she had been through with him, after all that had been said and done, she didn't believe that they would find their way back to each other this time. It just couldn't be possible, not after everything that had been said and done. Yet there she was, hanging her feet off her bed on a dry afternoon, hoping for a sliver of happiness to reach her, when she received a..... * DING * Imessage from I...

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“Defining Yourself” by Jane Curtis

Submitted to Contest #94

I was born on April 21st. I am a bull, and it has served me well. My stubbornness keeps me grounded. I faced a dare, the dare to live. This is that story. Defining Yourself: by Texasjane I survived my birth mother's attempt to abort me. When I was a few hours old she wrapped me in a newspaper, went down an alley, and pushed me deep into a trash can. My big brother who was 4 followed her. He fished me out of the trash and took me to a neighbor's house. We children lived mostly under the house for protection. We were not bathed because...

6 comments 6
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“The Dare of truth” by Opher 51 2022 REYES

Submitted to Contest #94

My folks are the absolute most exhausting individuals alive. They make logs look energizing. Well that is the manner by which I used to think about my folks yet at any point sense we played truth or might I venture to think much diversely of them.  One day I was simply sitting in my room attracting and tuning in to music when my dad came in.  "Sam today our companions are coming over for game evening," he said with an excited look all over, similar to when he sees our canine, Jenny, turn over onto her stomach.  "So you n...

2 comments 2
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“When You Do The Wrong Thing” by Dhwani Jain

Submitted to Contest #94

"I am going in. If I don't come back within an hour, call my parents! Hope to see you soon." "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, it is illegal to trespass in this area of the forest. If the Forest Rangers or the Police catches you, you will be jailed for a very long time." "I know Aakash, but this is my only chance to get a photograph of the Great Indian Rhinoceros. If I don't get it in by Monday, my boss will kill me!" "But Jai..." Before he could say anything, I was up and over the fence, into the deep, lush green forest. I ...

15 comments 15
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“Heredity” by Abigail Lyra

Submitted to Contest #94

The movie had a predictable plot. Heroic, unappreciated kids fight off scary, bad aliens and save the world, cracking witty jokes along the way. Happily ever after ending. Maya watched it anyway. Afterward, she and Thom walked home. Not hand-in-hand — they were too old for that now. Maya broke the silence. “I told you the movie was going to be bad.”   “It wasn’t bad.”   “Well, it wasn’t good.”   “Whatever.”   Maya pressed on laboriously. “And they got all the details wrong, too. You...

5 comments 5
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“How I created my masterpiece?” by Barath Harish

Submitted to Contest #94

Tiptoed at the edge of the stairs,a cat glared at me.......  Is it good? I’m afraid it doesn’t make an engaging start. Tiptoed is a perfect word to start a poem, I guess. Even if it isn't, I will not change it. Seriously? I’m not a robot! This is the twenty-third word I’m using to replace the word ‘walked’ which is followed by ‘strolled’, ‘wandered’, ‘treaded’, and a ton of other fancy words which I haven’t ever heard in my life. “Are you mad? The first word is t...

1 comment 1
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“One step.” by Jeanne Lejeune

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #94

TW: gore One step will lead to another and you will be free from the loop. Free to live the rest of your life. Just walk away.   Cameron ignores his reflection waving from the store windows across the street, opting to focus on the sky instead, watching the scaffolding above the entrance to the cinema with wary intention. Sneaking looks in between nodding along to Felix’s excited commentary on the inconsistencies between the third and fourth installments of…it’s been so long he can’t remember what movie it is. “Look out!” He pulls on ...

2 comments 2
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“T'Skala and Vivian Steal a Rocket (Part 1)” by Link Arneson

Submitted to Contest #94

“You want me to skip school?” I scratched my head with my cyborg arm, touching the back of my neck. “I don’t know.” “C’mon, it’ll be fun!” T’Skala looked at me with three wide, pleading eyes. “I used to do it all the time on Taurus Prime! You just have to pretend you’re sick.” “People do that on Earth too, T’Skala,” I said, rolling my eyes. “That’s like the oldest trick in the book.” “Well do people on Earth also have custom androids to take their place and act sick?” the foreign exchange student asked. “Come on, you know Earth is light year...

0 comments 0
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“Two Drops” by Dhwani Jain

Submitted to Contest #94

This story is about two water droplets...which were on their way to become water drops.  Rain had poured out on the streets, the buildings, the trees, the cars. Soon, everything was drenched. The rain had later halted down to a drizzle and had continued like ways since the past night. The cars were soaked with little raindrops.  Now, I believe all of you have at least once thought about how a drop on the window pane of your car moves down and eventually 'engulfs' the other drop(s). Well, this is not just due to gravity. There i...

34 comments 34
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$50

Prize money

725

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 21, 2021 EST

Won by Caroline Greaser 🏆

Title: How to Cook Pasta

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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