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 in which someone says “You'll never be content.”

Posted in Adults on Oct 28, 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?

✍️ 51 stories

“A Witch's Fortune ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #163

Dusk had always been Yvette’s favorite time of day. The sun was setting swiftly: a flame of red against the sea. The boom of surf and the sound of cars driving past the sidewalk intermingled with the ever-present cry of gulls as they scavenged for food left by tourists.  It’s nice to be a tourist, the brunette girl thought to herself. Her pale face had a touch of sun to go along with the smattering of freckles that went from the bridge of her nose to below her eyes. A large black raven was perched on her shoulder. “POPCORN!” The rav...

19 comments 19
Read story

“Love and hate” by Ruth Porritt

Submitted to Contest #163

Hello everyone, This story is the sequel to 'Blue Bates bed and breakfast'. (You can find 'Blue Bates bed and breakfast' in my previously published Reedsy contest stories. Thank you.) In this story, 'Love and hate' Weston and Miss Daniels return. Will they fall in love, and can they admit their feelings for each other? Next, can they avoid violent acts, or will they cause mayhem? Last, but not least, this story is dedicated to Liz Redt. Thank you for requesting this sequel. (I hope you enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it...

10 comments 10
Read story

“Content” by Arthur P. Dutton

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #163

They sat and picked through images of dogs. All breeds. Puppies, full grown, and tired old dogs. The three algorithms sat around the table and picked through the stacks together. They consumed the images they thought she would like, the rest they dropped through a hole in the center of the kitchen table. None of them had spoken in many zeptoseconds.“Father, what if I don’t want to make recommendations for Julie Hudson of Grove Park? What if I want to be emailed to people for free, like Pongle_567?” the smallest algorithm asked the largest.&n...

15 comments 15
Read story

“The Hollow” by Kev Neylon

Submitted to Contest #163

“You’ll never be content.” I didn’t know whether the words were supposed to be a prophecy, a curse, or just a bitter outburst. It was difficult to tell when you were dealing with a terribly upset witch. I should have known better by now. Dating witches never turned out well. Breaking up with them always turned out badly. And it was always me that did the breaking up. I suppose there was some truth in the statement. I wasn’t content. That’s why I broke up with Selda. And Ezzie before here, and Lileth before that. I tried not to remember an...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Reunion ” by Amanda Lieser

Submitted to Contest #163

CW: allusions to an affairValerie and Sarah walked into the cafeteria which was glittering, lit up by cafe lights in the shape of mini light bulbs with a soft, yellow glow. Ten tables, with numbers on little gold stands written on thick card stock in a flowing black in calligraphy, were arranged around the stone statue of the knight in the center of the room. A huge banner hung above the sign-in station bearing the knight in shining armor read “WELCOME CLASS OF 2017.” Soft pop music played over the speaker. “I’m so glad you came ou...

23 comments 23
Read story

“That Which Nourishes Me… (A Psychobilly Romance)” by Benjamin Boxer

Submitted to Contest #163

NOTE: This story contains a scene where a body literally hits a floor.PsychoBillieJean was a real rock-n-roller with a chip, a good head, and a tattoo on her shoulder. The tattoo read, "Quod me nutrit, me destruit." Whatever made her feel good--or just feel--she'd do it. She put a lid on her past because she couldn't unscrew it. When she found a good fit, she immediately threw it, and when she wanted to fight, everybody knew it. Her brimstone eyes stared their way through Hell's souls. I needed her; she needled me--her moan, a pandemonious ...

6 comments 6
Read story

“The Sapling” by T.S.A. Maiven

Submitted to Contest #163

The Sapling This is a tale that needs to be told. It’s set in a beautiful Newfoundland forest. Right out in the middle of no where, a place that no one sees except for the odd hiker here and there. In this luscious forest, the beauty is unmatched. there’s a kaleidoscope of colors on each and every freely growing foliage. There were so many varieties of grass, flowers, bushes, right up to the woodland wonders. The trees.  Tender wisps of fog embraced one tree and then the next. It was so smoothly jumping around each tree it was remin...

16 comments 16
Read story

“The Way Forward” by Terri Harrington

Submitted to Contest #163

The Way Forward “You’ll never be content,” he said. “We’ve got a good thing going, Amanda. Why ruin it?” That was a typical Tyler-like thing to say. First, he would plead, then he would rant, finally, he would purport to know her better than she knew herself. It was their fifth break-up in two years, and she was determined to make it stick this time. She wouldn’t allow him to use his words to destroy her resolve. “You know you can’t make it on your own.” He smirked. “You’ve never even spent a night by yourself.” “Whatever,” she said, risin...

1 comment 1
Read story

“A Tragic Bloom” by Ruby Pix

Submitted to Contest #163

During a time of old, arranged marriages were considered to be a grand gesture, thought up by the parents of children with excellent mannerisms, behavior, and overall high status. It was also a plus if both individuals were beautiful. So naturally, parents tried to pair their children who they believed were perfect for each other. Usually this meant that anything not working towards that goal was seen as time-consuming and a hindrance to their growth. Likewise, it also meant their children had no say in who they were told to marry, even if t...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Insurance against Loss” by Phoenix Long

Submitted to Contest #163

In the innermost pocket of my backpack are an insulin pen and three Ativan tabs. They are my insurance policy. The insulin pen contains 300 units of lispro insulin, which would be fatal if injected all at once. But it would take at least 15 minutes to work, during which a person feels impending doom along with a host of other unpleasant sensations as their blood sugar drops. The Ativans, then, had to be taken first – to smooth the ride to oblivion. The insulin pen expires in 90 days. So that’s how long I have. Last night during dinner I...

4 comments 4
Read story

“The girl in the red hat” by Skye Adkins

Submitted to Contest #163

Adam had always been the rational type. He loved numbers and statistics. He didn’t believe in destiny, until that fateful rainy Monday morning, when he was stuck in a queue at his favourite coffee shop. He didn’t like when things didn’t go as planned and this waiting was delaying his daily schedule. He tapped his foot impatiently, checking his watch every few seconds, while the line seemed to move at a snail’s pace. When it was finally his turn to order, someone bumped into him, and he felt a scalding heat on his chest.  “What the ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Machine God Hungers” by Austin Baker

Submitted to Contest #163

(Hello, quick content warning here for themes of suicide, mental health, and real world issues.)The Machine God hungers, and we march into its waiting maw. Step by step in neat little lines through mazes of twisted iron, blinking red lights burning our retinas from above, the cracked pavement abrasive against the soles of our feet.The air holds the memory of ash and smoke, though the fires they spawned from burned out long ago. It brings stinging tears to the eye. As they roll down our cheeks and the salty taste of them fall upon our tongues...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Lemon House: Anna” by A H Nazzareno

Submitted to Contest #163

I'm going to record all this. To set the record straight. Here it goes:My name is Anna. It's December 24, 2016.My ex-husband Leo's resonating prediction still hurts, even though the verbal wasp foray was uttered long before strands of gray and hip fat materialized. After running away from a contentious, jaw-dropping family dinner party a half hour ago, I still can’t shake the bitter warning from 1998. I will never forget the washed-out glare on Leo’s scruffy nineteen-year-old mug, peering over a cracked car window on Christmas Eve: “You’ll n...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Moving On Day” by Michele Mitchell

Submitted to Contest #163

After the women carried the last tote bag into the loft and gently tossed it into the empty bedroom sans the king- sized bed Millicent put together the day she moved in, she slid in her socks  on her vinyl plank flooring and flipped open her laptop which was sitting on the kitchen island.  Millicent or Millie as her friends called her, tapped a few buttons and in an instant her new third floor apartment overlooking the pool was filled with Marvin Gaye’s Got To Give It Up.  That signaled the start of the celebrati...

10 comments 10
Read story

“Firewood” by Christopher Katalinas

Submitted to Contest #163

Chop.The wood splits evenly, and to my satisfaction. Each swing results in a log fit for a king’s hearth.Chop.Which is a silly thought. It isn’t like a king cares about what logs go into his fireplace, only that it burns.Chop.But if he did, he’d be pretty damned pleased with my work.Chop.And if he isn’t then I have a whole forest to get more from.Chop.“Screw that king, anyway,” I mutter. “Who says my wood isn’t good enough? Has he ever chopped wood, anyway? What does he know?”Chop.That’s enough.I set the axe down and gather up the freshly cu...

0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone breaking an awkward silence at a family dinner.

Adults – 36 stories

Write about a character who is living through a major historical event — whether they know it or not.

Historical Fiction – 40 stories

Write about a character who risks everything to pursue their heart’s desires.

Romance – 19 stories

Write a story about someone facing death for the first time in their life.

Sad – 88 stories

Contest #163

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Leo Tolstoy

$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

126

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 16, 2022 EST

Won by Zack Powell 🏆

Title: 10 Ways to Explain Your Husband's Death to Your Son

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 ⭢