Start your story with a character quitting their job, or getting fired.

Posted in Angst on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 35 stories

“The Perks of Being Fired” by Pavel Šoral

Submitted to Contest #109

CW: adult content, strong languageDisappointedly, yet quite predictably, she was leaving the Head Director’s office. All eyes were on her, adding to her unbearable embbarrasment, as she was passing through the aisle of that clinically cold open-space she hated so sincerely. They all know, oh, how clearly, she thought bitterly, as she felt that salty aftertaste still lingering in her mouth. Well, life can be a tough pill to swallow. And sometimes even swallowing doesn’t help. Nevermind, lesson learned.She straightened her posture in a po...

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“The Defense” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #109

I know I had to be fired, Mr. Dues, but did he have to call the cops?Yeah, yeah, still not sorry. How do I want to plead? Aren’t you the lawyer? Tell the judge...I don’t know. A reaction from the third vaccine affected my mental state. Better, call it an act of civil disobedience. Besides, I didn’t really hurt him. Gadget's lucky I didn’t have a Louisville slugger. Crybaby.Well, I guess you want to hear the story. So, relax as best you can in here. Got a cigarette by any chance? I didn’t use to smoke trust me. But 2021 isn’t shaping up...

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“Claire (de Lune)” by Calvin Alley

Submitted to Contest #109

My name is Claire, and I shower at night even though I don’t want to. Something about the fluorescent light, the dark window, the white tiles, it makes my skin feel too close to the bone. I tried, at first, to stay awake during the day, to shower and eat and everything while the sun was up. When it’s so bright outside you don’t even have to turn on the light, just keep the blinds up and let sunshine illuminate the bathroom, even through the fog and condensation on the glass - that’s when I like to shower best. But I work nights now, and even...

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“Copy Room” by Rachel Deeming

Submitted to Contest #109

Advisory: sexual advances; swearingStacy sat at her desk, thinking what to do. She had set herself an ultimatum: if it happened again, she would quit.It had happened again.To most, it might seem innocent, the occasional brushing past her when she was sandwiched between the counter and the photocopier where there was minimal room and he just had to get through, groin against buttock, his against hers. Sometimes he had to reach for something on the shelf above at the same time, leaving her to lean forward just a little but enough for her rear ...

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“Two Sides of the Same Coin” by Kristin Rothell

Submitted to Contest #109

“Fuck you. I’m done.” With a fierce set to his sharp jaw, Ethan Tromblay stood and slapped his shield on his Commander’s desk. He unholstered his sidearm, ejected the chambered round, and released the clip into his waiting hand. He slammed them all next to his badge. Without a backwards glance, he swept from Commander Holleran’s office and into the bullpen. Silence reigned, but he didn’t stop to gawk at the novelty. His desk was his first stop – one devoid of any personal touches. He’d never ...

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“BREAKING POINT” by Betty Tyrrell

Submitted to Contest #109

It’s official. I’m on permanent strike. After 68 years of drudgery I’m throwing in the tea towel, shredding the dusters - and the garbage guys can have my well-worn collection of mops, sponges et al. I’ve been a house cleaner since I was 8 years young, after my mother was widowed and left with two children to support in the dismal post -war period. I was 6 when my beloved Dad passed; my youngest brother opened his eyes, ready to celebrate his 3rd birthday, just as my father closed his for the last time. He was 26. But I’m not after sympa...

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“Pismo Beach ” by Maria Bray

Submitted to Contest #109

As it so happens, the words, “I QUIT” were quickly followed by, “You can’t quit! You’re fired!”Fine. Quit, fired, who gives a shit? I don’t qualify for unemployment anyway in the field I was in, so it hardly matters. If my demanding, never satisfied boss wants the last word, let him have it. As they say, no skin off my ass. My last thought as I walked away was, “Good luck filling my position, dickwad.”I might have also thought, “See you in hell,” but that’s not very nice, is it?I probably should have applied for something else before I quit,...

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“An Exercise in Futility” by DS VACILLATION

Submitted to Contest #109

If anyone walked by the car and happened to glance in, hopefully all they would see is her body slumped over the wheel as though she was taking a nap. Probably they wouldn’t notice the way she grasped it for support while she shook with sobs. They wouldn’t be able to hear her howling and gasping for breath like a two year old throwing a temper tantrum, nor would they see the way her eyelashes had clumped together into choppy sections as the tears liquefied her mascara, sticking together rather than running down her face in long dramatic blac...

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“The Firing” by Jacqueline Porter

Submitted to Contest #109

The Firing. Fani dressed carefully for the meeting. She wanted Ramon to see her the way she used to look, her dark eyes made enormous with kohl and her full mouth painted a rich crimson. Her last touch was to slide her blade inside the waistband of her jeans and button her grey linen jacket to conceal it. She was never punctual. But this time, she planned to arrive thirty minutes late. Propped against the flaking, sunbaked wall of the Hotel Pacifico, watching the street urchins hustle while her thirty minutes ticked b...

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“A Corrugated Dismissal” by Christine Johnson

Submitted to Contest #109

I wonder if I should take the stapler or is it theirs? After near twenty years, I am not sure where the laws of personal property delineate between ownership through purchase and ownership through usage. And paperclips. Are they inventoried? Will they come after me if the wire basket is short a few? I have never been fired before so I am not exactly sure what is the proper protocol for packing up my desk. “Laid off due to downsizing” is what Alissa the messenger said as I flipped the fifteen pages of the severance ...

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“One Crazy Morning” by Wayne Scheer

Submitted to Contest #109

One Crazy Morning The craziness began when I woke up and quit my job. I had no idea what I was dreaming because as soon as my eyes popped open the dream dissolved like melting images in a Dali painting. Without thinking, I grabbed my cellphone from my nightstand and speed dialed my supervisor to tell him I was quitting my job. Tom is also a friend and he offered me his honest reaction. "Go to hell, Robert. It's 4:30 in the damn morning." I thanked him for the time of day. "The reason I'm quitting," I said, "is because of a dr...

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“CRUMBLING WALLS” by Dee Wes

Submitted to Contest #109

Break through barriers-physical, mental, invisible-as though an ultimate requirement of youth branded Katalyst Smith upon birth and grew within her alongside her zest for life. The community college dropout cared little for History, her intended major, due to passive reviewing of what she judged as boring. She preferred to be free in embrace of life during a time new information about the world, the people in it, and their aspirations rode the winds that circulated through her community. Stagnant Falls was a small city in compariso...

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“Quitting Time” by Adam Applebaum

Submitted to Contest #109

"I can't do this anymore. I worked too hard and gave too many years of my life to continue in a place where I am miserable every day of the year." Those were the words I bellowed as I handed in my resignation letter. Fortunately, I'd saved up just enough money to leave for better things, but my savings won't last forever. I have to be strategic about finding a better place to exist. My name is Thomas, and today is the day I hit the road and find my way in life. Many States are offering attractive packages for the correct industries to move i...

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“Resignation” by Barbara Alfaro

Submitted to Contest #109

Perhaps it was the tickly feel of cool November air as she walked along the avenue or recalling the chocolate éclair and lovely Sauvignon Blanc in her fridge that suddenly caused Julie Stairs to have a lovely sense of well-being. More likely, it was the delicious fact that she had just resigned from her job at the publishing house. Precisely at 6:00 p.m., she placed her perfectly worded and extremely courteous letter of resignation on her department head’s desk. No doubt, Mr. Bardacke would see it first thing in the morning. Julie had given ...

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“Birds” by Ferran Plana

Submitted to Contest #109

I lost my job in the winter. To be honest, I was happy to be unemployed. I had worked so hard that I felt I needed rest. A couple of months dedicated to myself would not be bad until I got the next job. I would finally have time to practice yoga in the mornings, learn to bake cakes and, why not, read some gossip magazines that I hadn’t had the chance to touch since I was twenty. Jack came to the bed before leaving for work. “Honey, will you be good?” “Of course I will,” I said. “Text me if you need anything.” He kissed me in the forehea...

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Start your story with a character quitting their job, or getting fired.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 35 stories

“The Perks of Being Fired” by Pavel Šoral

“The Defense” by Michele Duess

“Claire (de Lune)” by Calvin Alley

“Copy Room” by Rachel Deeming

“Two Sides of the Same Coin” by Kristin Rothell

“BREAKING POINT” by Betty Tyrrell

“Pismo Beach ” by Maria Bray

“An Exercise in Futility” by DS VACILLATION

“The Firing” by Jacqueline Porter

“A Corrugated Dismissal” by Christine Johnson

“One Crazy Morning” by Wayne Scheer

“CRUMBLING WALLS” by Dee Wes

“Quitting Time” by Adam Applebaum

“Resignation” by Barbara Alfaro

“Birds” by Ferran Plana

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character who has landed their dream job, only to discover it isn’t quite what they imagined it to be.

Write about a character who leads a secret double life outside of their day job.

Set your story during the night shift.

Your character sits down at their desk on a Monday morning and finds a completely unexpected email in their inbox. Write about what happens next.

Contest #109

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

162

Contest entries

149

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: