Write about a person who's been called to mentor someone in a special skill, but doesn't really want to.

Posted in Adventure on Sep 22, 2023

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✍️ 27 stories

“Project Un: Maker” by Samuel Bowen

Submitted to Contest #217

“Time and time again we have surpassed our limitations. We sail the stars. What horizon lies beyond us that we cannot grasp with patience hands?” - Captain’s log, R. Gunson, Paradigm Prime [Subject: Dr. L. Maker] [Bio: Doctor of genetic sciences, clearance level 4] [Location: Lab 09] [Archive LT: Live] [Designation: Protocol 1507_Restricted Observation] “We are what we make,” Dr. Lawrence Maker muttered at the monstrosity before him. The shrapnel covered, multi limbed, beast of a man howled at the two way mirror. Spittle splattered the...

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“The Reincarnation of My Failure” by Abigail Hope Sundahl

Submitted to Contest #217

Over the years, I have trained many, but boys like him rarely appear in a millennium.“Master Muida, we need you!” The part when they call me “Master” always makes me want to run. To direct them to any other powerful being that is more skilled, more qualified, and much more refined.It’s the part when they say “We need you” that makes me stay.But this time, I’m not sure I can.The tawny youth knelt outside my door. He resembled a man I’ve not seen in a thousand moons, yet one I will not forget after thousands more cross the sky.Years have made ...

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“Death” by Peter Gerber

Submitted to Contest #217

“ Listen here pal, i ain't selling you any more cocaine! You pay up late,plus I'm starting to think you might’ve developed a slight cocaine addiction problem and I don't want any part of it!” “C’mon old man! Why do you always have to do me like this?” “If I knew you were going to be knocking on my door every 5 days, I wouldn't have sold you anything in the first place! My other clients have been complaining about a certain “junky” hanging outside my apartment and its affecting business! Now scram you little weasel!” “Ill pay you in...

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“Teaching a Sacrifice” by Hermit Of The Lame Lands

Submitted to Contest #217

I have not enjoyed life for a while now. I’m a Teacher in my family, and I teach the Caster a terrible burden. It weighs on us both heavily. I almost wish we could switch positions. I’m an old man, and I don’t want to go through these lessons again. I don’t want to teach someone else how they’re going to die. There is a powerful demon that once plagued these lands. Our family, the Zindels, protected our hometown from it with a powerful, terrible sealing magic. The Death Lock. A magical seal that is fueled with the soul of the Caster. B...

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“Dear Life” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #217

“You’re not ready.” The words were barked. The words were a denial. Those words hit hard and they hurt deep. “I would never be ready. Not by your reckoning anyway,” said the young lad. Turner walked away. There was nothing more to say, not as far as he was concerned. And so it went. The lad returned every evening. He was not short on determination. Turner thought him stubborn. That could be a good thing, but it was likely bad. Stubborn people found it difficult to listen. And if they did listen, then they seemed incapable of ke...

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“Lesson Number Two” by B Hart

Submitted to Contest #217

Warning: Language“His name is Daphne, sir – Rupert Daphne.”“Daphne?!” Bill Hargrave blurted disdainfully. “You must be joking, Burnsley.”He lurched over Burnsley’s shoulder, prying the printed list from his hands. His eyes jerked up and down the pages hoping it were a gag.“’Fraid not, sir. Daphne was, is, the only recruit we deemed worthy of such mentorship. He’s a bright boy, sir.” Burnsley responded cheerily. “He’s not quite like his father; rather brilliant actually.”Bill ran his hand through his greying hair as he made out Daphne’s name ...

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“Dynamite Has A Short Fuse, And So Do I” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #217

Parnell, Iowa 1885 “I still have half a dozen ponies to break and get to market,” Avery Cooke says. “Besides, Skeeter’s not ready for something like this.” Snuffing out his pungent cigar, Andor Cressy, the rotund owner of the Zenith Mines and the Top Dollar Ranch gives Avery a grim look. Avery corrects himself. “Mister Skeeter.” “And don’t you forget it. You people have been free for twenty years and you act like you’re my equal. I ain’t above whippin’ nobody, black or white, who sasses me. When I say teach the boy how to use dynamite...

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“Lobster Fishing and Nail Polish Don't Mix” by Jacqueline Monty

Submitted to Contest #217

I was seventeen when I signed up for the lobster fishing mentorship. I went to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Vocational High School in Bristol, Maine, past the Lincoln Academy that was set on a hill looking down at us voc-cattle as they called us. We called our school the Longfellow voc school. Funny to name the school after a poet when it’s really a career & tech school with both cosmetology and animal husbandry. I was late for orientation and viewed the sign-up sheets. All mentors were filled except Captain Underpants, or that’s ...

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“Bird Strike” by James Walter

Submitted to Contest #217

Swinging slower and slower overhead, all four blades were nearly stopped. "Time to find out how bad it is." Jose pulled off his headset slipping it on his shoulder and opened the sliding door. Awkwardly he climbed the side of the helicopter to the hydraulic deck, climbing past Chewy who gave him the thumbs up from the pilot's chair. He slung his tool pouch over his shoulder. Terrance climbed up deftly behind him, "That bird came out of nowhere!" Following the blood streak to the engine, Jose hopped onto the cowling and popped the two ta...

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“Mentoring an Artist” by Denise Clarke-Argo

Submitted to Contest #217

Mentoring an Artist Chapter 1: The Call Anya sat in her studio, lost in thought. She was a renowned artist, her paintings and sculptures displayed in galleries around the world. But today, she felt uninspired. Her phone rang, startling her out of her reverie. It was her friend and colleague, Sarah. "Anya, I have some great news," Sarah said. "You've been chosen to mentor a young artist!" Anya's heart sank. She had never been one to teach, and she wasn't sure she had the patience for it. But she couldn't le...

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“Death #599” by Kathryn Harris

Submitted to Contest #217

He could tell Death #216 wanted to break the news lightly. Her sallow cheekbones protruded with extra prominence under the unfriendly, corporate lights. After looking at the panel of eight Deaths, he realized a summon to the Committee's headquarters, if nothing else, tended to provide a physical esteem boost. He would certainly need it today. "Death #599, thank you for gathering to meet with us. We obviously understand how busy your daily schedule is."He nodded in acknowledgement. Silent. Elegant. Composed.Death #216's voice filled the ...

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“Good Luck ” by Michael Hellwig

Submitted to Contest #217

Sitting in his black Ford Explorer in the company parking lot. James was approaching retirement age, and it couldn’t come fast enough for him. He just needed two more years of monthly contributions to his Fidelity portfolio. And financially he would be free of society’s rat race. Furthermore, when that milestone was achieved. His life would consist of long morning walks, afternoon naps, and late evening fishing excursions. Just thinking about these prospects got him feeling all giddy and excited inside. Parked facing outwards from the Priva...

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Write about a person who's been called to mentor someone in a special skill, but doesn't really want to.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 27 stories

“Project Un: Maker” by Samuel Bowen

“The Reincarnation of My Failure” by Abigail Hope Sundahl

“Death” by Peter Gerber

“Teaching a Sacrifice” by Hermit Of The Lame Lands

“Dear Life” by Jed Cope

“Lesson Number Two” by B Hart

“Dynamite Has A Short Fuse, And So Do I” by Michael Jefferson

“Lobster Fishing and Nail Polish Don't Mix” by Jacqueline Monty

“Bird Strike” by James Walter

“Mentoring an Artist” by Denise Clarke-Argo

“Death #599” by Kathryn Harris

“Good Luck ” by Michael Hellwig

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two characters who like each other but don’t get a happily-ever-after.

Set your story in a creepy mansion — except nothing horrifying takes place in it.

Write about a sleuth who’s a little too keen, but not because they have a traumatic past they won’t talk about.

Write a story about a warrior who doesn’t want to kill the dragon.

Contest #217

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

284

Contest entries

130

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: