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!

Start your story with the line, “By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire.” (Whether this is a literal fire is up to you.)

Posted in Teens 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?

✍️ 324 stories

“To be Human” by Chelsea Angell

Submitted to Contest #63

Word Count: 1361 *  My muse has had this basic concept for a while. This intro seemed to fit so well, I decided to go with it. Perhaps not what you would expect from a seemingly straightforward autumn theme but finger's crossed it's enjoyed! To be Human. - By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. You could consider that to be the truth of both the autumnal colours cascading through the trees surrounding the compound and the leaves of paper (Pages? Folios? Oh, what does it matter anyway?) that I had left burning...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Single Brightest Red Leaf” by Jessica Tam

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Piles of burning leaves lined the streets, sitting in front of each house. I was standing alone in the middle of the road, the only one seemingly curious about these fires. What time was it? Was it too late for anyone else to notice? I looked for the time, but it was nowhere to be found.  I heard a soft beep that came from behind me as if someone needed to change the batteries on the fire alarm, but not the actual alarm signalling the fires. It was strange how quiet the street fe...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Burning Down” by Essy Dean

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire and all I could do was panic. That hadn't been how the day started. It had started normally with coffee and talking to my friend, Natalie. But when I looked away from my laptop screen, the trees in the backyard were on fire, throwing sparks and smoke into the air. They all seemed to land somewhere, spreading the fire. It blended with the leaves, turning to red, gold, orange. The heat from the fire rushed toward the door when I opened it to these how hot it was and it seared through eve...

1 comment 1
Read story

“The Sugar Maple Tree” by ENM .

Submitted to Contest #63

Trigger warning: suicide   By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Dressed in deep shades of burnt orange and carmine. I felt more at home in this very moment than I had over these past 6 months, despite being nurtured by my mother, husband, and son. Heaving a deep-heavy breath through my dry burning nose and out my spit drenched mouth, attempting to soak in the fresh autumn air I studied my surroundings, reintroducing them one by one. A rusted mailbox fastened by a singular nail, the light pastel blue of the cloudless s...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Flamming Frogs?” by Silvia Skye

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside the leaves were on fire, I guess someone let out the mischievous flamlings. They were supposed to be in a fireproof room in the back of the Laboratory.   The alarms kept blaring, as men in white coats ran around like the world was ending. I walked over to the tree and circled it, wondering how I was going to catch them without getting toasted. They were tiny little orange and red creatures that looked like a cross between a butterfly and a frog. They were perched on various branches, giggling. Gi...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Only One Left” by Rosalin Vatana

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The entire morning, I’d stayed outside, guarding the small pile of leaves that the gardener had raked. I absolutely refused to go inside, because if I did, the gardener would burn the leaves. But here I was, staring at the pile of leaves that were bursting into flames. I was angry at myself for even going inside in the first place.  “How could you?!” I yelled to the gardener in despair. Without waiting for an answer, I grabbed a bucket from my sister’s sandpit and poured water i...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Price” by Megan Jane Armstrong

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The soft licks of heat lapping my face, melting the frost that clung to the world. I watched my neighbours, my friends and family, run from what threatened to devour them; I watched their attempts all be for nought, for the fire swallowed them up. My world burned before my very eyes, leaving in the fire’s wake a barren wasteland. By the time I stepped outside, my world had already been forsaken. * A sharp chill clung to the air as I breathed in the scent of autumn, my heavy black boot...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Set Ablaze” by Lucinda Serenity

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The trees were blackened, the leaves now golden with flame. Ashes flew like snowfall. I watched the flames rise higher, burning the grass, burning everything except a path of stone in front of me, leading to the school. "That insane motherfu"- I run along the path, hearing screams and cries of my classmates. The flames somehow create a wall around me, protecting me from the danger but still reminding me of the heat that can kill me at any moment. I can see my classmates run the opp...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Chance and Change ” by SeAnna Lovett

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The sun was slowly cresting the horizon, flooding the sky with color and setting the autumn leaves blazing. I smiled, taking another sip of my coffee and breathing in the crisp air from my porch. A car horn sounded faintly in the distance and the morning chorus of birds traded songs back and forth.  What a morning it was, a beautiful fall morning. Of course, every morning was beautiful. It was a free restart, a fresh opportunity to go out into the world and be the best version of ...

3 comments 3
Read story

“The Eyes of Something Unknown” by Olivia Charlson

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time she stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Brilliant golden blazes danced toward the ground as the wind swept them off branches. The forest floor was covered in a carpet of orange that protested Margo’s heavy boots with a crunch as she ran from the cabin to the back of the yard with the small metal gate stitching across the grass and poking up at the sky. “Agnes!” She called. A giggle came from the pile of bushes that Margo had raked up earlier. She sighed, walking up to the leaves. She hesitated and smirked, picking up a...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The mystery Arsonist” by Refilwe Queen

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Who could have wanted to burn my son and I alive in my aunt's house? I wondered. The moment I saw the fire flames covering up all the leaves area,I panicked.i was so anxious whether my son and I gonna make it alive or not in that horrible incidence. After the argument I had with my husband last week Friday,I decided I should come to visit my aunt to cool myself down. We were always arguing about small matters and he made them to be big. It has been a year not visiting my aunt all becaus...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Dancing Flames” by Nurazani Intan

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Side by side, my brother and I walk through the streets, burning each and every house there. The flames grew with every single step we took. What a beautiful sight. I’m tired of the mistreatment, the pain, the trauma this town has caused us. I’m absolutely exhausted so we’re taking this into our own hands. My brother and I walk through the town, making it prettier that it already is. Then we head to and sit by the cliff side as we watch the town that raised us go up in flames. The hea...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Once Upon An Autumn Season” by O. Quenqy

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I step outside, the leaves were on fire. All the people are busy preparing for the Mid-autumn Festival. Up in the sky, birds flying towards south are visible. They must be migrating for winter."Good morning Mr. Nizar!" The twins, Max and Dave greeted me as I walk pass their backyard. They hurriedly went down the tree with fresh red apples in their hands. I suppose that tree is an apple tree. A small chuckle escape my lips realizing my dumbness."Happy autumn Mr. Nizar!" The twins said in chorus as they both reach out the apple in ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Year After” by Emily K

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. Scarlet, orange, and gold hues glowed with the sun’s rays, located in small piles scattered all over the old mossy sidewalk. The deep blue sky hosted a few swatches of wispy, stretched clouds, weak attempts of masking the secrets of the void beyond. A fresh, crisp autumn breeze whispered through the air, my first taste of non-stale air in three years. Strands of my dark, tangled hair floated against the sides of my face, brushing lightly against my cheek until I pulled the strays back b...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Leaves like fire ” by Sidra Malik

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire . Those reds, oranges and yellows. All cascading through the sky, dancing with the wind in their intricate dresses. Autumn  was here. The season of colour.    I stepped out of my dad's car ready to say goodbye for the rest of the week. His rusty blue door shut with a squeak and I waved as he rode off into the distance with the dancing leaves.   Mums house was cosy, the outside white with orange framed windows, it fits perfectly with the season of autumn. The...

1 comment 1
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a coffee shop that’s just introduced a new line of autumnal drinks.

Fall – 161 stories

Write about a character making fall decorations out of construction paper.

Kids – 45 stories

Write a story from the perspective of a bird migrating for the winter.

Winter – 128 stories

Write about two characters going apple picking.

Fall – 249 stories

Contest #63

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Autumnal

$50

Prize money

907

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 16, 2020 EST

Won by Masha Kurbatova 🏆

Title: come to atlanta!

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 ⭢