Set your story during a sudden change of season.

Posted in Fall on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 26 stories

“Elysium” by Mike North

Submitted to Contest #118

George stared at his imaginary flag from the comfort of his chair in the garden. Freshened by an early morning shower, there was a horizontal stripe of lush green grass, which ran away down past the pond and giant willows to the border beyond, there was no fence, just a yard or two where the grass and weeds on either side were allowed to grow unfettered. Next, there was an equal stripe of gold as the barley rose up and took command covering the entire centre ground, leading eventually to the hedgerow in the far distance, it moved and sw...

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“The Last Day of Winter” by P. R. Darkwood

Submitted to Contest #118

Trigger Warning: This story contains a mild mention of blood, minor violence, and slightly scary imagery. A biting cold nipped at Grevan’s ears as he trudged through the waist deep blanket of snow covering the field in which he laid as a child. He reached his cracked mud-stained fingers up to the dark leather collar draped over his shoulder, pulling it up to shelter his exposed neck and ears. He continued to plod through the frozen wasteland that laid before him, his old joints cracking and creaking like an old wooden ship rocking at its...

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“Dungeon Town” by Jimmy Creole

Submitted to Contest #118

The midmorning sun filters through damp leaves and rotting branches, casting a harsh mockery across Johan’s face. It was supposed to rain again today, and so of course the sun is up to its usual mischief, filling Johan’s squinting eyes with beams of disobedient light between every treetop, like the pinions of some great bird drifting lazily across the sky. He sighs. If it were any cloudier, he could have argued with himself to stay home, but the sky is mercilessly clear today. No excuses. He hears it in his father’s voice. “Alright, Dad.” ...

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“The Changeling” by Kevin Morley

Submitted to Contest #118

Today’s the day I change. It’s a little thing, really—a shift in perspective. An acceptance—if I can accept something so fundamentally different. The wind howls across the hilltop, rippling my coat around my body and pressing me deliberately forward. Its chill draws forth a shiver—unwelcome, unbidden, and a mirror to time’s blitzkrieg. I grab the rail and stare over the cliff before drawing back a pace. Back to safety. Before me, the river bends around the opposing mountain, churning, angry, and swollen. From this height, it is silent in i...

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“The Winter of Her Life” by Noelle C. Lee

Submitted to Contest #118

I haven’t seen her for almost a year. Yes, the pandemic was certainly the cause of my lack of visitation. I’m apprehensive about what I’m going to see. I really don’t know what to expect.All masked up. Double-triple protected. Pre- vaccine availability. Face mask, face shield, gloves, antibacterial spray, all the requirements to visit mom in an assisted living facility. I’m armed but not ready for what I’m about to encounter. My gentle mother with a kind soul morphed into someone terrifying, before my eyes. The look of deadness, emptine...

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“Autumn Fires” by Liz Stoeber

Submitted to Contest #118

CW: Blood The crisp autumn air stung the back of her throat as she rode her bike down the hill out of her neighborhood. Her wardrobe was ill-prepared for a climate like this, so she made do with a long pair of leggings and a thick sweatshirt. She pedaled and pedaled and pedaled, thinking of warm things to trick her body into making the trip to class.Warm things.Butter on a stovetop.Sheets fresh from the dryer.A fall-scented candle.Logs in a fireplace.Smoke coming from a chimney.Smoke.Smoke?Her nose was burning with the intense and distinct s...

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“A passing. ” by Eimantas Brundza

Submitted to Contest #118

I left it all, the life I had is buried behind me now. Never thought I could live like this. Dressed in rags, I have more holes in my pocket than a fishing net. No more unnecessary bloodshed, no more buttlicking advisors and emissaries. No more fancy dinners and parties or drama and intrigue. A simple life for me from now on. A commoner's life. This is the best life I have ever had, ever. I swear. A loving wife, three beautiful daughters and a son. Quite hectic at times but it's great, I love them to the bottom of my hear...

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“Metamorphosis” by Brian Casey

Submitted to Contest #118

I began the day like any other normal day by working hard and running errands, like so many other people in this world. When I was on my way home for the day, I finally had a chance to look at the world around me. I watched with open eyes, eyes that were focused on the world around me and not on myself. I saw the leaves of the trees and how they had been changing and that is where my mind focused. What felt like not too long ago these leaves were lush green, now they were various shades of reds, yellows and oranges. But they also had a ti...

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“It's Your Funeral ” by Vincent Cruz

Submitted to Contest #118

Fall. It has fallen over the world in an instant. Yesterday it was ninety five degrees and the whole state was in a drought. The river nearly ran dry, the earth parched for water and full of fire. But today the rain came so suddenly that those who woke up to it rose in confusion and awe. Pushing back the curtains and staring at the sky falling. What is this? What is it that could be falling from the sky? And the leaves which yesterday were clinging to trees now tumble, carried by the gusting and powerful wind. On the bus ride to Café ...

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“Zigeunerweisen” by Bernardus Bernard

Submitted to Contest #118

When my bow slashes the keynote of the piece, the last autumn leaf dislocates itself from the mystifying and lonely branch as it waves a stern goodbye. The sky is blue, the colour palette sap green with cinnamon brown. I saw the autumn leaf departs in my peripheral vision, or rather, did I feel it? Either way, I was too fixated on the strings scraping away at my skin. Daydreams of awe at these sheep guts and their talents at blossoming such somnambulist songs. The winter wind blows ever so close, hot and cold at the same time. In this danc...

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“Watch For The Change In Seasons.” by Abigael David

Submitted to Contest #118

By the river is where the little girl sits, her dress delicately flowing with the current as she rests on the edge of the bank, letting her feet dangle into the crystal clear waters lined with stones. Her hair mimics the colors of tigers-eye, its golden colored strands reflecting the sunlight in such a way that sets his heart aflame. He watches her from the forest. The forest which is alive with greens presented in a variety of shades, shades born from the new era of spring waking from it's cold slumber. She hums an innocent tune as he...

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Set your story during a sudden change of season.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 26 stories

“Elysium” by Mike North

“The Last Day of Winter” by P. R. Darkwood

“Dungeon Town” by Jimmy Creole

“The Changeling” by Kevin Morley

“The Winter of Her Life” by Noelle C. Lee

“Autumn Fires” by Liz Stoeber

“A passing. ” by Eimantas Brundza

“Metamorphosis” by Brian Casey

“It's Your Funeral ” by Vincent Cruz

“Zigeunerweisen” by Bernardus Bernard

“Watch For The Change In Seasons.” by Abigael David

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with “Today’s the day I change.”

Write about a character, animal or human, who is reborn as something totally different.

Write your story from the perspective of an outsider watching something or someone change.

Your character picks up a fallen leaf and can’t believe what they discover underneath it. What happens next?

Contest #118

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

204

Contest entries

140

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: