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

Posted in Spring on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 246 stories

“A Fluttery Feeling” by Ed .

Submitted to Contest #90

GeorgeWhen I was eight years old, I used to have an enormous tree in my backyard. It somehow snaked its way up to the sky and clings to the clouds. It can be seen miles beyond miles away from the street I was in. I called it Mabel. Now that I am 11 and a half, I call it “The Tree'' or “You know what” or anything you may refer to “Thing” because “Mabel” is a name for your dog or your cat or maybe your guinea pig and fish even though I do not think fish would be happy with the name. Me and my friend Tim like to climb it but we never reach the ...

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“Seasons” by Francis Daisy

Submitted to Contest #90

Seriously, the largest trees we have ever seen are the Redwoods. Hundreds of feet tall; the tallest 380 feet tall. And, these trees are so big around, our family of five couldn’t even come close to reaching all the way around them even if we held hands and stretched our arms as wide as we could. We would only make it about a third of the way. We could park our car inside one of these trees. When we returned to New York after this trip, our trees looked like toothpicks compared to those trees we had seen in California. There is no sight like ...

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“The Tree of Lives” by Ava NDaw

Submitted to Contest #90

A white oak tree sat in Phelps Grove Park In Springfield, Missouri. White oaks grow best in Missouri, but this particular tree would grow best to play an important role in many individual’s lives. Liam was 12 when his father broke his pinky promise. Every day after school Liam would rush to the park to climb his favorite tree. He would sit on the highest branch to see all the other beautiful trees, flowers, and animals in the park. Liam dreamt of having his own treehouse built right into his tree and live there until he is to...

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“Curiosity ” by Madeleine Fromgei

Submitted to Contest #90

A crumpled paper slips through the rusting mail slot.Out of habit, my hand reaches for it. The paper is yellowed and the edges are wrinkled, folding over on themselves like dirty sheets ready to be washed. I don’t open it. I never do. I pick it up and place it in a bag with other crumpled letters, some stained with tears, some with ink, and others with blood.I hesitate before reaching out to the letter again. My fingers trace its corner, just waiting to be read, just waiting to be seen and known and loved.I put it back.I don’t read the lette...

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“Oh Tree” by Erika Crowley

Submitted to Contest #90

The bird’s enchanting melody lifted high in the midmorning breeze and echoed above him waking the world he sat in envy of. His brush would never capture the feeling of this moment, he thought, heartbroken. How could he immortalize what lived in his heart? Was the sparrow mocking him? Or was he cheering him on? He sighed and dipped his brush in the carefully selected mixture of acrylics. The copper tones should have been perfect. He closed his eyes and saw her. Maybe a touch more purple would make it right. He opened them again and gazed at t...

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“Black Walnut” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #90

There is, I am, a Black Walnut tree. in a small town in an eastern state, one whose name you don't need to know. I suspect I have been largely forgotten, but I am not quite correct in that suspicion because there is still one more who might remember. One other being who once leaned against my rough bark and clutched my fruit and leaves in her hands, breathing in. When the one who still remembers was still with me, she could still reach my branches and leaves. Now I am far too old and too tall for her to do that. Otherwise, she would still ...

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“Leaves of Poetry” by Nadya Garza

Submitted to Contest #90

The sun has died for the two hundred and ninety-third time this year. The bloodstained sky leaves golden patches on the ground. The autumn leaves lie defeated there, but at least, they aren’t begging for color…they are soaked in golden. I’m sitting in the dry grass under the only oak tree in the graveyard, my thoughts escaping from the choking hold of life here in García. I wasn’t born here in this small Mexican village. I was born in the city’s laughter, but I was brought here to the dry tears of this village when I lost…the scraps ...

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“The Little Spruce Tree Contest” by Kelsey Mason

Submitted to Contest #90

The Little Spruce Tree Contest “Sandra, this is really cute!” I exclaim at our December 10th Latke lunch celebration. Each year our writing group dines on Lynn’s famous Latke’s and exchange gifts during the December holiday season. Our six members are all here: Lynn hosting as always, Rose, Michele, Gail, Sandra and me. Sandra is a new, but not unknown member of our writing group. Fifteen years ago, Lynn, Rose and I took a ‘Memoir’ writing course at Ryerson University and she was one of the students. Her gift for each of us ...

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“Acacia” by Hannah Dominguez

Submitted to Contest #90

When Ann was younger, her mom and dad would always fight. She didn't understand why they were fighting, just that both were always upset with each other, making her upset too.So when she came home from school, hear yelling in the kitchen, she would go directly to her room without greeting them, change clothes, and go out again.She would walk and walk the neighborhood, sometimes try her luck and jump fences with a sign that says 'No Trespassing.' Well, she was young, she didn't understand the meaning of the sign, so she ignored it.That's...

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“If Trees Could Talk” by Ruth Smith

Submitted to Contest #90

There's a tree in our yard. Pa calls it a silver maple. He planted two of them last week. He waters them daily, talks to them, nurtures them. He says they will grow big and shelter the house from the sun. I like the one closer to the house. It is about my height. I talk to it, too. The other one is taller, more like my older brother who picks on me. The trees are growing taller. The one near our house is taller than me now, and its trunk is the width of my leg. It is still my favorite. I enjoy looking at the leaves when they turn yellow in...

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“A Darker Forest” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #90

“Here we are, kids. I used to play hide and seek with your auntie when I was your age. Lovely old tree, isn’t it?” His memory, like Movietone, pictured his black and white sister grabbing the biggest and best conkers from the ancient horse chestnut, branches bowed with the weight of prickly inedible fruit. The family Alsatian, Bruno, tail wagging, ran around in circles, begging for a ball to be lobbed into the trees. Bounded to and from child to trunk. “When are we going home?” asked Sadie. “Yeah come on Dad, there is no connection out here,...

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“10 Centimeters” by Nova Artino

Submitted to Contest #90

Kol. I was staring at the pale ocean water as it lay stagnant in the windless air. I have been laying here for a while now, pondering what my life would be like with someone to love. All of the touching and the feeling of my lips brushing against hers. Of course, I haven't been interested or even come to think of this until recently, it's almost embarrassing to admit. I tend to spend my free time swiping my feet off the banks of the ocean as I stare into the reflection of my eyes like I may get to see my future. I have hope for myself al...

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“A Tree's Century Renewal” by LM Konkel-Dixon

Submitted to Contest #90

*featuring characters from "Escaping the Fool Virus" and "A Spirit Set on Revenge" Aayan knocks gently on the trunk of the ancient tree before him. As a prince of the sea, his knowledge of things on land was limited, to say the least. This usually didn't bother him. But... he glances from his mother Kalena to her dear friend Iolana. The two wore identical expectant expressions. "So." He draws the word out. "This is what you wanted to show me?" Kalena takes hold of her son's hand and squeezes it gently. "Sweetie, I love you, and you're n...

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“Silent Watcher” by Thistle Arellano

Submitted to Contest #90

The tree had been there for as long as anyone could remember. Wide branches stretching up toward the blue sky as it towered, watching over the lush verdure that stretched toward the horizons. Pertinent and persistent, it stood, immutable and unwavering. Tiny green buds sprouted from the tips of branches and twigs with the promise to blossom come spring. Many travelers wandered by, each leaving their own mark, and the tree watched them all. It didn’t remember the name of the man that was the first to find it, a day, long, long ago. Th...

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“The Willow Tree” by Jess Mowdy

Submitted to Contest #90

It’s interesting how one life can be the intersection of many. Bright eyed and full of life, children are untouched by the dark clouds of sorrow. This was true of young Patty until her fifteenth year. The darkness held her for many months with no light to be seen. Friends and family gathered and prayed beside the lake where her heart played. On that spot they planted her Willow. All the love she had poured into that little tree and as she grew so did the tree. The Willow reached towards the sun as it watched over the family that would contin...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 246 stories

“A Fluttery Feeling” by Ed .

“Seasons” by Francis Daisy

“The Tree of Lives” by Ava NDaw

“Curiosity ” by Madeleine Fromgei

“Oh Tree” by Erika Crowley

“Black Walnut” by Kathleen March

“Leaves of Poetry” by Nadya Garza

“The Little Spruce Tree Contest” by Kelsey Mason

“Acacia” by Hannah Dominguez

“If Trees Could Talk” by Ruth Smith

“A Darker Forest” by Colin Devonshire

“10 Centimeters” by Nova Artino

“A Tree's Century Renewal” by LM Konkel-Dixon

“Silent Watcher” by Thistle Arellano

“The Willow Tree” by Jess Mowdy

🌟 Similar prompts

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

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

Write about a community that worships Mother Nature.

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

Contest #90

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

814

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: