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Writing Contest~
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Writing Contest~
Writing Contest~
I'll give a one-word theme, and then you have to write a 100-1,000 word
story based on it. The winner I pick will then give a new one-word
theme, and they'll judge the next round. (So basically like the Poetry Contest thread, but for writing :)) The rules are:
1. It must be related to the theme in some way.
2. It must be in the 100-1,000 word limit.
3. It can be any genre.
4. No fanfiction, please.
The theme is: Bird
I will be judging on May 22th, so that should give you about two weeks. I
can extend the date if nessesary. I'm excited to see your responses!
submitted by pangolin, age she | they, Outskirts of the Galaxy
(May 8, 2023 - 12:25 pm)
(May 8, 2023 - 12:25 pm)
Ofc!
(January 10, 2024 - 9:31 pm)
-Change
I glanced around my empty room, short of a few boxes that were in the corners. I walk from my bedroom, and into the living room with last minute stuff to pack. There were still a lot of books on the shelf, and so I stroked the spines and dragged a box over to the shelf. I slowly loaded the precious treasure of stories into containers, whispering to the covers that I would see them soon. Soon, the shelf was empty, and I glanced around before stuffing a book or two into my backpack nearby. I would read them on the road.
The front door opened, and my parents came in with the moving people.
“Oh, good, you have finished the shelf,” my mother said, sounding relieved. “That’s it then,” she said to the two guys behind my dad.
And so, a few hours later, our old house was virtually empty. I walk through the bare rooms one last time, then heave up my backpack, walking out the door for the last time.
Outside, the day was bright and cheery, as though it had no idea that I was leaving this place for good. The flowers that lined the path swayed gently in the warm breeze, and birds chirped happily in trees as squirrels played.
“Come on,” Dad said from the car. “The truck is about to leave!”
“Coming,” I mumble, glancing back at the house one last time.
I get in the car, and then we drive down our private road, away from the place I’ve known since forever. I can’t stop the tears as we turn onto the highway.
Over the country, past forests and through cities, over mountains and down in hollers. The world blurs by outside, my legs are cramped. The words on the book float off the page, and I can’t feel how much I hate change.
I check my phone, wondering if my friends have texted me. Nada. Actually, no one had texted me in weeks. So much for friends forever. I snort and close my eyes and try to sleep.
Before I know it, my dad is pulling into a neighborhood. Our new neighborhood. I huff, already missing our old, large property and no people nearby. I enjoyed my privacy.
Our new house was smaller, but it had an upstairs, and there was a flower garden in front. I get out of the car slowly, suspiciously, before walking into it behind my parents. It smells dusty and like a wet dog. I wrinkle my nose. It doesn’t smell like home at all.
My room is on the far side of the house, with a window seat in it. Well, thank goodness for that. I’ve always wanted a window seat.
The days whirl by, unpacking and settling into our new home. Gradually, the smell of wet dog fades away, replaced with our familiar lemongrass scent.
About a week later, when I was unpacking the last box of my beloved books, the doorbell rang. I slowly rise, and peep out the window. It looked like two kids my age. I answered the door.
“Hi!” The girl with curly brown hair and a bright smile greets me. “We’re the people right across the street! This is my older brother Sean,” she points behind her at the tall boy with short curly hair and dark eyes.
“Hey,” Sean said with an easy smile.
“Anyway, it’s super cool that y’all moved in! There are NO other kids our age here, so I was super excited when I saw you the other day! I was like, yusss!” She paused, then coughed. She talked really fast. “Anyways, what I’m trying to say is, my name is Olivia, and I love books!”
She held out a hand, and I shook with her, a slight smile creeping on my face. Maybe change wasn’t so bad after all.
(January 11, 2024 - 11:02 am)
Change:
I look around the classroom, filled with the raucous cries and laughter of my classmates. Art class is always like this. I rest my head against my hands, trying to put on a bored expression, trying to put on a mask, like always.
But despite that, despite my attempts to concentrate on my drawing, my eyes are drawn back to her. She’s in a group of her friends like always, with a beaming smile on her face. I want to walk over, to say a greeting, but my feet won’t move. They’re like stone, stuck to the floor. And I remember. Oh, so vividly. We’re not close anymore, our dynamic has changed.
And so I sit at my table, pencil in hand, graphite marks on the side of my palm, looking down at the sketch, all alone.
Silence in the middle of this noise.
I look up at the movement out of the corner of my eye, then back down. She’s still laughing, still smiling, surrounded by many. And I’m here, all alone, trying to keep the tears from welling. I wipe my eyes and look back down at the drawing.
It’s a girl, slightly smiling, eyes sparkling, but there is a sadness to her. The lopsided smile on her face, a half-hearted wave, and a slight slouch. Like she's trying to keep a smile on her face
As I finish the last lines, a soft voice startles me. “What a pretty drawing,” a person says with a smile. “But she seems down.”
I look up. Someone is standing right by me, with short brown hair, shining green eyes, and circular glasses; with a friendly smile on their face.
“Oh, thank you…” I say politely. “I guess that’s correct.” I laugh, trying to seem friendly.
They nod. “What about you? How are you feeling? I spotted you all alone, and you looked like you needed some company.”
I give a tiny nod of my head and sigh. “I guess I did need some company. It’s just… There are some things I need to get used to.” They pull up a chair at my table and sit down.
“That’s true. Change is hard, for me as well. I’m pretty new here, and things are difficult to get used to now.” They hand me a dandelion. “But there is always a silver lining.”
I close my eyes and blow a puff of air on the dandelion, watching the seeds fly away and out the open window, almost dancing in the soft wind.
I just sit and watch, while they’re intently focused on folding colorful papers into stars and swans. Out of the corner of my eye, I think I see a butterfly flying past.
“Maybe…” I murmur, and things don’t feel so lonely.
(January 17, 2024 - 11:40 am)
There aren't that many entries, so are we able to do it with just two or...? Because tomorrow is the last day for the deadline (or so I believe) and only two of us have made entries for this.
(January 19, 2024 - 3:53 pm)
Oh that's right. I'll move the deadline to January 31, and if there's only just those two entries by then, then I'll judge those.
(January 19, 2024 - 7:53 pm)
Okay, thanks!
(January 20, 2024 - 12:08 pm)
(January 31, 2024 - 4:24 pm)
Both of your stories were amazing btw!!! :) It was hard to choose.
Second Place - Hawkstar!
I love the story of moving houses, and how it's definitely a big change (sometimes scary). I really enjoyed the ending where the main character decides that, "maybe change wasn't so bad after all". Overall, really superb job! I always enjoy reading your writing :)
First Place - Dawn!
This story was really good. I like how you painted the beginning with the main character all alone, putting on a mask, sketching a drawing while trying to pretend it doesn't bother them. I especially love the ending, where someone goes up to the main character and talks to them, about how there's always a silver lining. Anyways, congratulations! You're the next judge!
(January 31, 2024 - 10:01 pm)
Thanks! Hawkstar, I really liked your story about moving away and a positive part of change. The next theme is Dream and I'll be judging on Feb. 15
I'm excited to see everyone's stories!
(P.S Pls let me know if the theme has been done before)
(February 1, 2024 - 9:33 am)
Oh congrats, @Dawn!! Your story was really good :) I enjoyed reading it <33 And thanks for the praise Moon Wolf! And no, Dream has not been chosen as far as I'm aware. I'll writing something soon!
(February 1, 2024 - 4:07 pm)
:)
(February 2, 2024 - 1:22 pm)
A bit short, and not my best work, but it's okay.
Do you want to fly and choose to be free? Close your eyes, slow your breaths, and imagine.
Darkness spirals inward, twisting in on itself. Splashes of color occasionally interrupt the shadows, a burst of blue and sparkling of yellow, dancing red with silver. Then, consciousness ceases, and peaceful blankness ensues.
A flash of light, and then a scene unfolds.
Gentle rolling hills, covered with green grass and dotted with grazing cows and summer trees. A stream curves around the bottoms of the hills, bubbling cheerfully over rocks. The bright, warm sun catches on the splashes, flashing the water and making it look like diamonds. The sky is an endless blue, only disrupted by the occasional fluffy white cloud. A warm breeze is blowing, making the leaves and branches on the trees dance and helping the flowers bob around with the bees.
You turn your attention to where you apparently sit. Under a wide oak, in the shade, on a mossy crook between roots. It’s surprisingly comfortable, and you snuggle in deeper. Birds chirp and squirrels dash around, and everything shifts.
High on a mountain meadow, you are running through the high grass, and then you jump, soaring into the clouds, chasing an eagle. Your hair is whipped back, and you grin as you spiral into a dive, brushing the tall grass with your toes. You then swoop back up and over the mountain, before slowly descending down it.
Suddenly, your flight is stopped, and you no longer float, but instead drop like a rock. All landscape blurs past, and the ground is the sky and the sky the ground and also the sides and you fall into tingling darkness, never landing.
You could fly and you choose to be free, but you need to remember that all dreams don’t have a happy ending.
(February 11, 2024 - 12:46 pm)
I'll probably extend the deadline if there aren't any new submissions tomorrow
(February 14, 2024 - 2:35 pm)
okie!
<kimki> Either Kwani is saying something about kimchi, or she has caught my obssesion over korean boys whom last/first names are Kim XD
(February 14, 2024 - 7:06 pm)
Lol!
(February 15, 2024 - 9:55 am)