Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Posted in Adults on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 283 stories

“The New Neighbor” by Kimberly Hallman

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city – we take all kinds.” The older man said it with an earnest smile and a tip of his wide-brimmed hat, and I believed him. “I’ve heard that about this place,” I said as I pulled another box out of the rented moving van. “The real estate agent made it sound like a reason to avoid this city, but in my experience, acceptance is usually a good thing.” “I agree, son,” the older man sai...

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“Here There Be...(well, you know)” by Susan D Onem

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city-- dragon turds. Dragon turds are EVERYWHERE. I swear, does no one believe in picking up after their pet anymore? I mean yeah, you might need a drum-liner-sized garbage-bag. You’re the one who bought the extra large dragon, though, aren’t you? Not to mention feeding your extra-large dragon all that junk food. Sheep, cattle, door-to-door serfs, the list goes on, doesn't it? If you'd stuck to healthy servings of dragon kibble, Poopsie wouldn't have tummy issues! You should've taken that into con...

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“The world We Live In” by Parody Loving

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city is this week's writing assignment prompt. Today is March 15, 2021, and I moved to Atlanta Georgia at least two weeks ago. Since I've barely lived in Georgia I had no clue how to answer the question. The day went on and my mind was too focused on what my answer would be. I had to present to a class through a zoom class filled with 10th graders and that was already one thing I was worried about. Would I go silent, would I just take a zero, or would I really try to think of a well-thought-out answer? My brain wa...

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“Benny's City” by Greg Pierce

Submitted to Contest #85

Benny’s City That’s the thing about this city, Dixon Creek runs thru the poorest neighborhoods. The city owns the land on both sides of the creek, about a hundred yards on each side, until the creek empties its filth into the Pearl River. Old growth trees and thickets surround the creek which twists and turns as it slithers toward the fast-running river. Bike trails, human trails, secret places abound among the thickets and trees. Murders are committed, rapes perpetrated, deals made, and crimes planned along its banks and among the trees. T...

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“A Perfect Place” by Tori Tottomley

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city… it reeks of desperation. Not the kind that you find in say, Los Angeles, where everyone is obsessed with being famous. No, San Alma's kind of desperation trembles within its residents while they take out the garbage, do the laundry, or the school run. Jacked-up on anxiety, they tell themselves over and over that they are different from the other families living on the estate, in identical houses. But they are not. They let their busy lives fog over their desire for a greater purpose. It's disgusting." &n...

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“The More Things Change.” by Lyn VJ Bennett Wilson

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, it truly never changes. It’s not only historic, but also cold, industrial and decrepit. It’s the perfect place to run if you were trying to escape the consequences of a crime. Many people would call what happened a murder. It was a hit-and-run drunk or drugged driving incident that left only death in its wake. I’m Tracy Blane, and I’m a reporter for the Linoak County Gazette. Erie City may be as cold as ice, but I find myself on the trail of a very hot story. This shopwo...

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“Our city is just the way we like it...” by Flora Bell

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city," the man smiled, carefully lowering the shield from above his head. "You don't know what's going to happen next.""That is quite true," the woman at his side said, shaking her leg and making slimy green goo fly everywhere. "Last week it was dragons, the week before that, zombies determined to be Starbucks barista's.""And last month we had a song pandemic!" The man continued. "Caused everyone to sing when they spoke and speak when they sang; it was rather hilarious if I had to admit!""You have to be on your t...

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“Phantomscape” by Amber Zhao

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city…some believe it’s haunted.There are the urban legends that every tough street-smart teen hears, about petrifying phantoms that only weave spells of darkness and enchantment in the inky blackness of night-glimpsed from top-floor casement windows.Here are students who blanch, with faces like undercooked pudding, whenever ghosts are even mentioned, coupled with the name of this mysterious city- Everfall. Some can sense the suspenseful chill in the air and the sense of a supernatural stalker, watching, waiting, a...

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“Blessing” by Andrea Kepple

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, business is transacted, neighbors greet one another, the little tasks of each zidan are completed within all-encompassing safety, protected from the army encamped outside the city walls. On that zidan when the Kingdom of Hexeoral, commanded by King Bertramus the Confident, invaded our lands, citizens flooded through the city gates looking for refuge, safety, an oasis of peace, away from the violence and death breaching the border, flooding our land. The protective spell was cast and fully realized, e...

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“Fallen” by Nosihle Magwentshu

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city”, he muttered to himself as someone tripped over his buddy and started swearing calling them filth and scum. This place was cruel, cold and very dirty, well this part of the city at least which is why he and Badger had chosen to sleep there the previous night. Luckily for the idiot in the suit Badger was fast asleep and did not feel a thing otherwise there would have been hell to pay for that man. He grudgingly got up and gathered his things around him not that there was much to gather but what is a ma...

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“Calvin Klein’s Hotter Brother” by M.W. Nel

Submitted to Contest #85

Isaac“That’s the thing about this city; you’ll never know who and what you’ll meet around the corner.”“And cut.” The director yelled from his seat behind the camera.“Finally! I wondered if we’d ever be done.” My co-star, Franco said as he stood up from the poker table.“Hopefully it’ll be the last time I have to say those words again.” I shrugged off my jacket and handed it to one of the costume crew members.“How many scenes do you have left?” Franco asked.“Tomorrow is my last day of shooting.”“Shit, man. And how do you feel?”We made our way ...

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“Thank You for the Memories” by Manndi DeBoef

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city... It gets in your blood. Those that were not born in this small city, USA, berg of central north America, simply do not understand. It is a bit like the Hotel California where, "you can check out anytime, but you can never leave". I was born in this city. I lived the first eighteen years of my life in this city. I reached epic monumental milestones in this city. I left this city. I no longer live in this city. Yet, when I visit, it feels like a place lost in time. Nothing has changed, yet everything is ...

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“The City Wall” by Anna Weber

Submitted to Contest #85

Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…” “That’s the thing about this city,” She said through mouthfuls of her Double-Decker Breezy-Bite sandwich. “You never know what’s coming next. It’s all a mystery!” She briefly put down her sandwich to gesture with her hands above her head. “Oh, come on Cindy. Don’t go on about this again.” I scoffed. “It’s true!” She wiped the sauce off her face and put her hands down on the table. “Think about it. What do you do every day?” I rolled my eyes. “I check the mail, I do my work, ...

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“My Reality” by E.J. A.

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, it never stays the same. Every day is a new adventure to look forward to. Or that’s what I used to think anyways. Change is exciting. The slightest changes can make someone so happy; can make their life so much better. But change can be really scary too. I’m scared. I’ve only lived here a couple years and for the most part I’ve loved it. Watching the sky change over the all powerful ocean as dawn becomes day is the only reason I make an effort to wake up so early. I love my city, but what I need is a h...

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“That's this City” by Judith Macha

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, it’s not called a city by the inhabitants, they call it a village. But it’s still a city, you can’t call a place with more than a hundred thousand inhabitants a village or even a town. But a village sounds better, it gives them a sense of brotherhood, and self-reliance. This is a city that runs for twenty four seven and never stops. Everybody has a designated job, and responsibility. There are actors, artists, writers, musicians, engineers, architects, farmers, doctors, administrators, teachers and a le...

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Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 283 stories

“The New Neighbor” by Kimberly Hallman

“Here There Be...(well, you know)” by Susan D Onem

“The world We Live In” by Parody Loving

“Benny's City” by Greg Pierce

“A Perfect Place” by Tori Tottomley

“The More Things Change.” by Lyn VJ Bennett Wilson

“Our city is just the way we like it...” by Flora Bell

“Phantomscape” by Amber Zhao

“Blessing” by Andrea Kepple

“Fallen” by Nosihle Magwentshu

“Calvin Klein’s Hotter Brother” by M.W. Nel

“Thank You for the Memories” by Manndi DeBoef

“The City Wall” by Anna Weber

“My Reality” by E.J. A.

“That's this City” by Judith Macha

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Write about someone fighting to change their city neighborhood for the better.

Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Contest #85

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

671

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: