Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#99: Summer Solstice

In the Northern Hemisphere, June 21st is the ‘summer solstice’ — the longest day of the calendar year and, in astronomical terms, the beginning of summer. In my part of the world, this season evokes a plethora of scenes: sunbathing on river banks, al fresco dining with friends, and trips to the seaside, all punctuated by the heady scents of summertime — potent florals, sunscreen and food sizzling on the grill.

The solstice celebration has its roots in ancient Paganism — where people would gather at sites like Stonehenge and wear protective garlands of herbs and flowers to ward off the evil spirits who, according to Pagan folklore, walk the earth more freely at this time. From a spiritual standpoint, the solstice is all about embracing the sun and its awesome power. Whether you love basking in the sun or prefer to stay inside with the curtains drawn, I thought this week's prompts could be a way for us Reedsians to mark the advent of summer too. Happy writing!

This week's prompts

Begin your story with somebody watching the sunrise, or sunset.

Fluff – 275 stories

Write about the longest day of the year, or a day that never seems to end.

Summer – 99 stories

End your story with somebody stepping out into the sunshine.

Summer – 211 stories

Write a story about somebody reminiscing on an event that happened many summers ago.

Summer – 217 stories

Write a story about characters going on a summer road trip.

Summer – 104 stories

Stories

“Dani's First Adventure” by Aiyana Henderson

Submitted to Contest #99

Tomorrow was the Fourth of July.This was my fifth cigarette this month.I wore a shit-eating grin to everyone in the public eye, lying through my teeth about how I had worn nicotine patches to cure my smoking addition.The irony wasn't lost on me being a former doctor that was celebrated in the Chicago community.Being a doctor was never something that I had envisioned for my life. It was my mother’s idea. As narcissistic as she was beautiful, Jacqueline Evelyn Tamblyn was the first person who taught me everythingI guess I fit that cliché after...

Read story

“Summer Solstice” by Cheryl Robertson

Submitted to Contest #99

A blue skirt, hair tied up in a white ribbon, delicate feet slipped into blue ankle strap heels – she looked through the haze trying to make out the figure slowly the mist lifts, and she can see the girl more clearly. The girl is beautiful, a high brow, arched eyebrows, high cheekbones, a pert nose, and full lips, with a crowing, glory of wavy chestnut hair, tied up in a white ribbon with a matching soft belt that nips in her tiny waist and accentuates her hourglass figure. Her perfect white teeth sparkle as she smiles at her refle...

Read story

“Flying South” by Pattie Hamburger

Submitted to Contest #99

The birds didn’t go south for the winter because, this year, the winter forgot to come. School started in September, and we began harvesting the potatoes, but Ma didn’t take out my shoes. Thanksgiving passed, but by the time all the trees were leafless and all the pumpkin pie was eaten, Ma still hadn’t taken out my shoes. Through December, the days were long and warm and I spent the evenings rocking on the porch. Last summer still felt like just a...

Read story

“A Friend In Need” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #99

Bobby Lockwood had been my best friend since first grade. We had played together, gone to school together, had sleepovers and did little league together. Our family life was a total opposite. Of course since I was an only child I was treatedlike royalty. Bobby on the other hand was blamed for everything that went wrong at his house. I cannot call it a home because for Bobby it was hell. At least once a week Bobby's stepfather would find a reason to beat him. I found out one weekend when we had a sleepover. When Bobby took h...

Read story

“The Settlers Project” by LuAnn Williamson

Submitted to Contest #99

Settlers Project By LuAnn Williamson The old woman sat in front of the window of her room. Paper white skin of her fragile cheeks resting on spotted hands. Her attention wavering between the window and the young woman, sitting in the chair next to her. “Thank you for agreeing to see me,” A beige hand with brightly painted fingernails brushed a strand of wavy, black hair away from dark brown eyes, the color of the rare chocolate....

Read story

“The value of a memory.” by Alexis Blewett

Submitted to Contest #99

pleaee note the non fiction part is the memory in the story…This summer I am going to lose my dad to cancer. I haven’t lost him as of 06/24/21 and I’m not sure when it’ll happen. Also the part about the trip to Vegas and the kid i. The crash…all true And I apologize for errors, I was actually sobbing as I wrote this, so please forgive me.Thank you for reading“You know I never noticed how time truly passes us by…At least not in a while…Haven’t had a summer this lonely in a longe time either….”I said swallowing hard as My gray haired companion...

Read story

“Summer Solstice” by Rose Rain

Submitted to Contest #99

“Like you know what’s best for her!” “Don’t say that to me. Of course I do! Who’s the one taking care of her all the time?” “Well, I’m sorry that my job is the only source of income we have!” “That’s not true! Stop acting like-” “Oh, please! Your art? How much money has that made?” Sniffling, I curl up into a ball and squeeze my eyes shut, hoping to block out the noise that carried through the small apartment. The darkness of my room seems to taunt me, an ever-present reminder of my loneliness, being hastily tucked in and forgotten. Photos ...

Read story

“Do listen to your intuition” by Duh_Bankit Lyngkhoi

Submitted to Contest #99

Do Listen to your intuition By Bankit Damian The sound of the tickling of the clock in his room woke him up from his deep slumber. "Oh... My God... It's already 7:00 o'clock" cried Doff as he kiced off the blankets and jumped out of the bed. It was a Summer day and the weather was hot and scorching. By that time everyone were seen busy and preparing for the picnic. "Come on Doff, give a helping hand.. " shouted Jessila, his eldest sister. Doff still in his slumber mood and was yourning at the same time, came forward to help Jesiila. By thi...

Read story

“Title: Reminiscence of peeping into childhood to attaining first teens” by Yashpaul Kalra

Submitted to Contest #99

It is a matter quite amazing to me to recollect few happenings from my childhood to my first teen’s age at sixteen. I still remember the first school around five years in ‘Cosmopolitan Middle School in Karachi in 1941 when I was five. I have fading Memories of Punjabi Sikh teachers and two old ones who were Christians. I remember all the years till the year of partition in August 1947 when I had seen or heard the cold blooded murder of Punjabi people captured in a Gurudwara.I ...

Read story

“"I Love Every Rain Drop"” by Evelyn Williams

Submitted to Contest #99

It's the summer of 19??.....and as I sit on the bed I'm talking to God and listening to HIM. I'm wondering why? What if and What could have been? When I look up to a noise I heard in the hallway, my eyes glanced the calendar, and it reminded me of a birthday that was coming up. When the summer hits South Carolina, look out! I often would tell my students in Science class that South Carolina has "Unpredictable Weather!" In the beginning of the year, they would laugh but as time progressed, they understood exactly what I meant. Hot and steamy ...

Read story

“Faded Summer Memory ” by Ghan Bahadur A.C.

Submitted to Contest #99

Bella was sitting on a comfy beach chair and she was gazing at the sunset. The sun was about to set at the end of the western horizon. It was turning into a pink ball, then into a yellow and purple ball and finally, it became a dark one and disappeared. But Bell was sitting motionless and it was really difficult to find out whether she was gazing at the sunset or contemplating something. The sunset was always peaceful and amazing. There was serene tranquility in this part of the earth. It was really beautiful and the more beautiful it was wh...

Read story

“Repression” by Tonatiuh Duran Meza

Submitted to Contest #99

Everything became a hazy mess after the name came through the other end of the phone, the word ringing inside of my head after going for so long without being affected by it. It had been years since I had gone to Ruidoso with my family, years since we had found a bit of solace from being disconnected from the commodities of the modern world for just a few days. The calming forests and the imposing yet beautiful sight no amount of photos could ever capture, making anyone who saw them wish for more than just memories of that place. That year ...

Read story

“CRISIS OF IDENTITY ” by Stephen Toochi

Submitted to Contest #99

CRISIS OF IDENTITYI would never have thought of him if not for the slicing of onions and the tears that stung my eyes. The moment preceding the happening was serene and void of panic. But turned on its head in seconds.It was the tenth of September 2003. The heat was relentless. I tried to catch my breath. Heaving a sigh and looking up from our verandah, a wall gecko makes its way to our window.“Kazeem! See gecko!” my sister shouted, pointing at the reptile. Particles of dust clammed to my feet as I untied my shoelaces, some sting my nostrils...

Read story

“The summer of '05” by Isabella Brathwaite

Submitted to Contest #99

I sat on the chair, my water bottle in the little drink holder, looking off into the golden sun as it rose from its peaceful slumber. Remembering the memories from this very place; the tide pulling the crystal blue water in and out, the salty smell of the breeze and the sound of contagious laughter of young teenagers. I reminisce about the has been, the past that has come, and gone, and the uncertainty of t...

Read story

“Tallis House” by Emma A

Submitted to Contest #99

Summer had always seemed to me to be without a doubt the best time of year. The cold and darkness of winter always carried with it a creeping depression, that I couldn’t shake off, well into the spring. It was only when the sun’s rays became powerful enough to warm, and not just brighten, that I finally acquired the good humour that a child was supposed to have. That is, until one summer, many years ago now, when the hot glare of the sun became a creeping accusation, rather than the purifying glow we had once known it to be. Since then the w...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

909

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 25, 2021 EST

Won by Tom Vandel 🏆

Title: The Men and the Lake

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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢