#98: Origin Stories
Every year, on the fifth day of the lunisolar calendar’s fifth month (which happens to be this Monday!), the Dragon Boat Festival commences with gusto all across China. Within three days of celebration, people attend dragon boat races (as expected), eat sticky rice dumplings (zongzi), and hang aromatic plants around the house to ward off evil spirits.
The origins of the festival are obscure: some say it commemorates the death of a poetic and patriotic official who was exiled from the ancient Chu state. Others say it celebrates a filial daughter who lost her life searching for her father, who fell in the river during the organization of a boat race. While father and daughter were reunited in death, their misfortune connects to yet another alternative origin story for the festival: the fifth day of the fifth month was considered the unluckiest day of the year, and the festivities are carried out to keep this bad energy at bay.
Taking inspiration from these fascinating stories, and from their multiplicity, I present to you the prompts for this week! Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with the festival itself: since the tales behind this occasion are so diverse, there’s something for everyone.
This week's prompts
Write about someone who’s desperately trying to change their luck.
Teens
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101 stories
Set your story on (or in) a winding river.
Middle School
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122 stories
Write a story involving a character who cannot return home.
Angst
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321 stories
Stories
“A Single mistake ” by Chanda Jha
Submitted to Contest #98
“Against Us” by Ash W
Submitted to Contest #98
“The Shift Of Time” by Advik Godbole
Submitted to Contest #98
“Curdled: The Fracturing of an American Family” by Jayke Luland
Submitted to Contest #98
“The Links” by Colin Devonshire
Submitted to Contest #98
“Cherry, Cherry, Pineapple, Cherry” by Story Time
Submitted to Contest #98
“The River's Edge ⭐” by Vicky S
Submitted to Contest #98
“Wish me Luck!” by Retee Satish
Submitted to Contest #98
“Dysfunctional Tales from Beyond the Grave” by Tommie Michele
Submitted to Contest #98
“What The Forest Knows” by Phoebe Barr
Submitted to Contest #98
“A brave young lady who dared to change her fortune.” by NJ Stell
Submitted to Contest #98
“The Ash-Silver River” by Kat Sencen
Submitted to Contest #98
“Just Keep Rollin’ Along…” by Kathleen March
Submitted to Contest #98
“To the Desert” by Phoebe Barr
Submitted to Contest #98
$50
Prize money
753
Contest entries
0
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Jun 18, 2021 EST
Won by Mary Sheehan 🏆
Title: Blessed Home
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.
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