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!

Write a story that weaves together multiple lives through their connection to a particular tree.

Posted in Spring on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 246 stories

“President Tree” by Dalia Navarez

Submitted to Contest #90

Disclaimer: Facts provided throughout this literary journal may or may not be true. Do not use to reference any relevant information regarding that of the beloved George Washington. Please enjoy! Saturday February 22, 1738 Garnets and looms do not cease to amaze me, yet, for reasons I cannot explain, my father’s cherry tree is where I write this. My sister Betty, my brothers and I have named him Robbie. The shade of Robbie’s leaves and ants along his rough bark delight me with the simple wonders that can never be explained. I had to contes...

0 comments 0
Read story

“A Mighty Oak” by Tricia Shulist

Submitted to Contest #90

I’ve been standing in this exact same spot for over four hundred years. I am a mighty oak. I provide shade in the summer, food for animals in the autumn, oxygen for people and animals everywhere. I have stood sentinel before there were roads, before there were cities and towns, before there were buildings, before there was anything except the forest. I was once part of a vast, never-ending woodland. As far as the eye could see, there were trees. Not just oaks, but ash, birch, hickory and walnut trees. Everg...

11 comments 11
Read story

“Pineapple Tree” by Bev P

Submitted to Contest #90

Lauren sat in a circle with the other freshmen who had gathered for the orientation day festivities, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her neatly pressed blouse as they waited. This moment was months of hard work in the making. Lauren had fallen in love with the university unexpectedly the prior spring during a trip with her high school band. It was her state’s oldest university, and though not on her original list of considered institutions, she was unexpectedly charmed by the historical campus. Owing to its pre-automotive era construction...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Tree of Life” by Jessica Meeker

Submitted to Contest #90

I've seen many things since the time of my planting. I've seen good men die, I've seen boys and girls grow up. I've witnessed marriages, and funerals, and celebrations of life alike. I've seen these creatures that are called "human" or "people" hold hands and celebrate. I've seen them shoot each other down with their guns, all in the name of peace. I've seen them create, and destroy. The first human I ever met was an older man. I know him only by what his saplings called him, "Pop-pop". So that's what I came to know him as. Pop-pop was t...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Red Cedar” by Sarah A

Submitted to Contest #90

Melinda – 2004 – Norfolk, Virginia              “How are you feeling today, Betsy?”  I ask my patient, who has just been admitted, but who I’ve known for years.                 “Okay.  Just in for a tune up.”  She chuckles, as she tells me she’s here for what many Cystic Fibrosis patients have to regularly come in for.  A few weeks of strong IV antibiotics t...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Atop of the hill” by Jesh McGee

Submitted to Contest #90

Hills and meadows, blue spring skies, cool, clean air.  The hills swirl delicately up then down, leaving what looks like the aftermath of a dream time serpents zigzagging journey over  the earth.  A perfect green covers each hill.  Long, breezy grass sways gently in whatever direction the wind blows.  Rivers flow down the hills and into small lakes as clear as glass.  The lakes glisten and shine like crystal, and single rays of sunlight bounce of their surfaces like perfect mirrors....

0 comments 0
Read story

“Tera’s Revenge” by Gianluca Barbara

Submitted to Contest #90

“The exile… she returns!” It was the anxious yet unmistakable voice of the young elf, Aluin, who called upon the rest of the council from the base of the Great Oaktree of Vlalea.His call was greeted by another young elf whose sharp green eyes and shoulder-length brown hair were the unmistakable hallmark of Lamilith. She peered over her branch, which was high upon the summit of the tree, only to behold the flustered Aluin who was pacing about the inferior quarters.“It is Aluin!” she cried, addressing others behind her. “Ready yourself, brothe...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Out Of My Tree!” by Devi VK

Submitted to Contest #90

February ’76“What does she even teach them?” Jay Ranjan snarled, walking languidly with his groupies up the unpaved road that led to the spot, making her shape out from a distance. “Who knows,” Santosh replied, kicking an empty aluminum can, raising tiny swirls of dust.“Could’ve stayed home, sewed, knitted, cooked - done anything but decides to teach instead. Strange!” Raju quipped, eager to join the conversation. “She can do whatever she wants,” Jay said, “as long as she stays away from...my tree,” He wanted to say ‘my property’, ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“My ojīchan tree” by Stories Through The Heart

Submitted to Contest #90

People around me give me a name, and it's ojīchan. It means 'grandfather'. And, I am the tree spirit of that 'oak tree'. That big, old and strong tree is me. And the boy who is coming while calling my name is one of my love child, 'Hiro'. He had a pretty cute face, big eyes, black hair and top of that innocent smile, oh! It melts my heart. It's like our daily routine after Hiro, come back from his school, he come there to play with his friends. But first he hug me while calling me ojīchan. It's such a heart warming experience. Well, yes!...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Shady's Shadow” by Elliot Turman

Submitted to Contest #90

Mrs. Sherwood assigned our class to write a romantic poem regarding anything we see on campus. As she let class out for us to look around, pondering what we’d want to write about - I already had my subject in mind. I fumbled down the crowded university hallways, trying to maneuver my slight stature through the flocks of students fervently racing to their classes, tutor sessions, meetings, or whatever occurrence had them in such a hurry. Inhaling one giant breath, I pushed open the east end doorway, closing my eyes while doing so. I stoo...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Oak’s Interaction” by Helen L

Submitted to Contest #90

Warning: this story involves domestic violence. The Oak’s Interaction with StephI really, really, have to go. My sweatpants are already damp from the little bit of pee that I was unable to control leaving my bladder, and I just hope that the seat of the camry isn’t going to smell like piss for the next month. Daryl, my husband of almost three years, would have a fit if he found out. I can’t believe he even let me go to visit my mom without him; I know how mad he gets when I go out on my own. And now I’m going to upset him more with my c...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Love Tree” by Luna Zoldyk

Submitted to Contest #90

Short Story “The Love Tree” Lia lazily stared into the view shown in the windows of the running train as it heads towards the village of Cantaloupe where she was supposed to write an article regarding a certain festival celebrated in that village to honor a 300 year old tree. She sighed and saw her breath turn into smoke upon remembering the boring assignment given to her by her editor. Out of all the possible assignments she could have been assigned with, she had to be stuck with a boring festival. The rushing view outside slowly stilled ...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Tree Line” by Steve Cripwell

Submitted to Contest #90

I stood under its branches as they reached heavenward, the thick canopy of leaves soaking up the sun. I looked at my son standing opposite me, the limited light showing his face, dappled like leopard skin. This was our birthday ritual, to visit the oak tree as a family.  My grandfather had brought my father here every birthday morning for the whole of his life, as had his father. Then up until his accident, my father brought me too. Here I was, continuing the tradition with my son. Why the tree was held in such high esteem by my ancesto...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Grand Oak” by Sena Aydın

Submitted to Contest #90

I’ve never seen a hotter summer than that one in 15 years. My clothes were clinging on with the sweat running down my face, back, and every single spot of my body that you can possibly think of. My clothes, all black, were not helping. The Grand Oak was the only source of shadow; however, no one wanted to stay under it because of the loop hanging down on one of its thick branches. “Do you have any last wishes?” the Priest asked. The man sitting on the ground with his hands tied in the back said nothing. “You killed two men. You stole. Yo...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Matthew, The Tree” by Bonnie Seach

Submitted to Contest #90

Bonnie Seach Word count 1928 The aircraft spluttered, lost altitude and plunged into a tree. The pilot died instantly. His wife was able to carry their young child to a safe crevice in the rock laden hillside. She tenderly comforted him as best she could. She was injured and had lost blood.  Water! She had to find water. Leaving the boy sleeping in a tiny cave she salvaged two water bottles from the wreck and hobbled toward mist in the distance. Was that the sound of water nearby, flowing rapidly? She pushed her way through the...

0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in which an endangered species (of plant or animal) plays a central role.

Middle School – 94 stories

Set your story in a world living with the consequences of a climate apocalypse.

Science Fiction – 134 stories

Write about a community that worships Mother Nature.

Summer – 82 stories

Start your story with someone sitting on a crowded train and end it with them looking out over beautiful natural scenery.

Spring – 258 stories

Contest #90

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Down to Earth

$50

Prize money

814

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 23, 2021 EST

Won by Nina Chyll 🏆

Title: The Tree Surgeon's Dictionary

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

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 ⭢