Set your story in New York, where someone’s been waiting for your character.

Posted in Adventure on Mar 17, 2023

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✍️ 39 stories

“A touch of YaYa” by Rya Johnson

Submitted to Contest #190

‘Damnit! He’s already at Lilia’s waiting on me!’ Darbi squeals as she reads Brian’s text on her iPhone. ‘Just a couple more pins.’ Blake murmurs softly as her brow wrinkles in concentration- her nimble fingers putting the finishing touches on Darbi’s soft romantic hairstyle. ‘There!’ Blake announces as she backs away from her station- a proud smile gracing her face. ‘It’s perfect! Oh Thank you Blake!’ Darbi gushes as she admires her reflection. ‘Shit! I have g...

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“If I can make it there” by Isobel Tynan

Submitted to Contest #190

People talk about getting that harrowing call from home. A gravely ill parent, a tragic accident. The adrenalin-fuelled charge to the airport. Touch-and-go whether you’d make it back in time. My version of gut-wrenching dread, the one that keeps me up at night, is different. It’s rounding a corner or strolling into a coffee shop. For just a moment, my thoughts are elsewhere, and my guard is down. Then, slap-bag. I bump into someone from home. Perhaps there’s an initial half-smile. A hazy acknowledgment. But this is no meet...

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“Searching” by Claire Ibarra

Submitted to Contest #190

Kiko’s Deli was usually crowded, though Margaret now felt the noise and bustle turned up a notch. She counted eleven people in the line in front of her. A biker couple wearing black leather and knee-high boots stood next to her, and a motley batch of people surrounded her. A few read the chalkboard menu as they inched along in the line, while most thumb-tapped like mad on cell phones. Kiko made the best café con leche in the neighborhood, and Margaret’s habit was to endure the ...

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“My Wrecked Weekend” by Amy Rosenthal

Submitted to Contest #190

This story does contain wine, death, and car accidents. Viewer discretion is advised. I pulled into the parking lot, turned off the ignition, and stared blankly out the windshield, my heart hammered like it wanted to jump right out of my chest. “Just breathe,” I told myself as I leaned my head onto the steering wheel. I caressed my beloved white Volvo fondly. “Thanks, Betty. You got me through all that.” It had been a bit of a harrowing journey to get here from New York City once I could finally leave the office. First bumper-to-bumpe...

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“That Mustardy Dip They Call Cheese” by Carina Caccia

Submitted to Contest #190

Would it be clichéd to say the past stalks me like a shadow? Would my readers groan? Would you protest? Could I say it tucks itself into the folds of the dark each time I turn around to confront it? like being trailed by a figure in a trench coat, two lamp-posts back. How else might I articulate this pervasive lack of closure? And can a lack of anything really be pervasive? And how is it that absence can feel so present? I believed five years had made a difference, but now I twiddle my thumbs and wonder if my progress has been make-believe...

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“A Source of Comfort” by L.O. Baker

Submitted to Contest #190

“Did you know they filtered their water?” “Anna.” “Built the whole system themselves. They even had heated pools. And, to carve the Al-Khazneh-” “Anna-” “-they would start from the top and work their way down. The stairs they used are still there, and there’s even, like, imprinted ladders on the sides. It’s incredible.” “We’re here.” “What? Oh.” My rambling halted along with my feet. I stared at the storefront, the sidewalk broken and wobbly beneath my boots. The brick walls standing tall, if a bit dirtied, but what part of...

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“Bri's Child” by Wrenley Ashford

Submitted to Contest #190

Bri looked back down at her phone, opening it in a rush to reread the email he’d sent her. Her eyes scanned over each word, anxiously drinking them in, hoping they would read differently than last time. But the words on the screen weren't magic, meaning Peter either lied, got caught up somewhere, or was in deep trouble. Lost in thought and worry, Bri easily lost her balance when someone slammed into her as they speed walked past. The infant in Bri’s arms let loose a scream and started crying hysterically. Bri pushed herself off the wall she...

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“THE WAITING GAME” by Ray Doyle

Submitted to Contest #190

THE WAITING GAME There are places in the world that you may have never visited but feel as familiar as your hometown. New York had always figured high on my list of locations where I felt an emotional pull but no particular desire to experience in the flesh. My work with the Irish airline Aer Lingus saw me land and take off worldwide but only stay for a few hours. Over the years, my bucket list of return destinations grew longer, but the ‘Big Apple’ was not on it. Brother-in-law, Matt had migrated to the US ...

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“Blinding Light” by Michael Nguyen

Submitted to Contest #190

“You work for me. I want everyone to know that”, shouted Mr. Pondscum. “You belong to me while your uncle isn’t here.” We were on the 50th floor of a New York business sales floor. I came from Canada to work for my uncle who owned this corporation. “Yes sir anything you say.” I replied.“Today will be your training day. You only get one. You have tables to wipe, floors to sweep and food to get. Now go down to 1st avenue and get me a Leo’s bagel.”He said that while eating a bagel but I didn’t question that.“But I came here to be a ma...

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Set your story in New York, where someone’s been waiting for your character.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 39 stories

“A touch of YaYa” by Rya Johnson

“If I can make it there” by Isobel Tynan

“Searching” by Claire Ibarra

“My Wrecked Weekend” by Amy Rosenthal

“That Mustardy Dip They Call Cheese” by Carina Caccia

“A Source of Comfort” by L.O. Baker

“Bri's Child” by Wrenley Ashford

“THE WAITING GAME” by Ray Doyle

“Blinding Light” by Michael Nguyen

🌟 Similar prompts

Start a story that begins with a character saying “Speak now.”

Write about someone who decides to make their own version of something old.

Write a story about a fandom

Start your story with someone vowing to take revenge.

Contest #190

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

250

Contest entries

114

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: