Start your story with someone having a run of bad luck.

Posted in Angst on Jan 6, 2023

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✍️ 42 stories

“A Fallen Millionaire” by Lincan Liu

Submitted to Contest #180

Oliver sat by the window, blowing the last cigar and watching tall buildings outside move away from him. Shortly came into his eyes were not glimmers of the metropolis but vast fields lying under the dark sky. The chilly wind roared, beating against the window repeatedly, like a debt collector from hell sent by his father. “I will fulfill my pledge. Take back what I’ve lost,” he whispered, with a few tears creeping down his cheeks. The glories he boosted about, sitting on a luxury yacht, drinking with famous singers, or traveling by pres...

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“Critical Inaccuracy, Chapter 1 of 7 - A Common Goal” by Jared Meeks

Submitted to Contest #180

It was just another typical, boring, completely ordinary, spring morning. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, yada yada.Only, today was not just a typical morning. For Torrain..."Today's the day.", said Torrain, fresh out of bed, "I've got no time to waste, I've gotta get ready for my interview!".Torrain hopped out of his bed with a child-like excitement, as he stretched, and got himself ready to get himself ready.He took a shower, humming the whole way through, followed by a clean shave.Torrain looked deep into the mirror with a stee...

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“Knock Knock..” by Sorelle Fisher

Submitted to Contest #180

BZZZ BZZZ BZZZ B- -one eye closed, Ava Rangiheuea tapped her phone to silence the incessant alarm sounds that blared from it. She took note of the time on her screen - 6:01 - before unceremoniously clunking the device on the wooden side-table. She allowed her head to collapse back onto the flat pillow, her caramel skin warm beneath the light-blue cotton layers. She loved the tranquil energy of the mornings. It was quiet; the usually reliable Auckland traffic having not yet reached its peak hustle. Time ...

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“Cherry Blossom” by Kaia Jai

Submitted to Contest #180

Cherry Blossom Monday, early April. Tip tap tip tap. I sluggishly roll out of bed in my small studio apartment and look out one of the few windows that remind me these walls are not a prison. It’s grey and raining. Gross. This is why I never liked April. It’s always rainy and cold, especially here in Vancouver. It’s harder to get out of bed on rainy days, and today I’m already running late and need to get ready for work. It’s a thirty minute walk to get there, which includes the time it takes for me to get a coffee at Sprouters, my second...

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“The Fare” by Amanda Doak

Submitted to Contest #180

Content warning: hostage situation, off-stage death. I checked my watch and drained the last of the cold coffee from my mug at 4:30 Friday afternoon when Kevin walked through my office door with nine files and a smug half smile. “Bottoms up, Beck. Might as well get some more. Your weekend just ended before it began.” He slapped the files on my desk. My notepad fluttered in protest. “What’s this?” &nbs...

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“A run of bad luck” by Rod Ritter

Submitted to Contest #180

Arnold winced as a mobster's boot connected with his ribs. His eyes went wide as he struggled to draw in a breath, clutching his side with one arm and desperately trying to block the next strike with the other.“This is the third time, Arnold!” a short, stubby man said. He leaned against a large garbage bin in the alley while his colleague proceeded to play soccer with Arnold's body. Arnold tried to respond in between kicks but all he could manage were a few blood-spattering grunts.“Get him up, Bugsy,” the short man said. Arnold was swiftly l...

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“The Hand You Are Dealt” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #180

She sat on the stairs, tears streaming down her face and just watched as they fell on to and soaked the front of her jeans. Her sobs were loud, the wailing that followed full of despair. As she looked down through the laundry door and the clothes dumped in a pile on the tiles, flecks of what looked like white coconut flakes scattered on the weekly wash, a fresh wave of amger and disbelief hit her. She began to feel a little sick in her stomach and the headache over her eye was getting worse. The light was dimming when she finally stood...

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“CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD ” by Amsalan Doraisingam

Submitted to Contest #180

Danny punched his thighs in frustration. “Useless piece of shit,” he said before he poked at random keys on the keyboard of his comatose laptop. He yanked the cables out, swung the screen shut and gave the base of the battered machine a few hard thumps.You need an extra hard reset, he thought. His mind then focused on a litany of curse words that his mouth was too exhausted to articulate out loud.The laptop fizzed to life. This time, the blue screen of death gained lucidity and transformed to his desktop page. He searched his pockets for a c...

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“High School Angst” by Josh Abel

Submitted to Contest #180

High School Angst By Josh Abel When I entered high school I had a full beard and a medical condition (a seizure disorder) that wasn't under control with medication. In junior high I was called Abraham Lincoln because of the beard, ho...

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“A Hotdog in the Snow” by Ashley Fartara

Submitted to Contest #180

I don't even think I walked this fast when I took Intro to Jogging my sophomore year.It's 9:01 am and my professor for my 300 level social media class still locks the classroom doors as if we're in a poorly-budgeted remake of The Breakfast Club. It also doesn't help that it's been snowing since Monday and in my hungover stupor I chose the not-yet-trending UGG slippers to drudge through the snowpocalypse in.Nevertheless, this bitch persisted.It's January of my senior year of college and the fact that I am stress sweating over a social media c...

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“misfortune” by James Mckinley

Submitted to Contest #180

Oh how my foot hurts! My back aches and I think I am coming down with something. I have a headache to end all headaches. My whole life has fallen apart! I can't wait until I can get into a hot shower and then into bed. Oh crap, what is this on my door. A notice from the landlord, the hot water is going to be out for the next two days, why me! I was doing so well! I was sailing along without a care in the world, now the world hates me! I cannot figure out what is going on? I get into my apartment and nearly fall over a package that my landlor...

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“One Unlucky Day” by Danielle Hatton

Submitted to Contest #180

One Unlucky Day “ Mom? Mom, aren’t you supposed to be leaving for work?” Jacob asked me.My oldest son, standing by my bed, looking down at me.You may wonder how I know he was standing by my bed. Well, even though my eyes were shut, I could feel it. A mom knows, right?“What is it, Jacob?” I asked him. My brain was mush and I just wanted to sleep. He better have a good reason for waking me up.“Mom, it’s 7:30 and I am pretty sure you overslept.” He told me.I slowly sat up, blinking my eyes, “What! What time is it?” I yelled suddenly in a p...

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“Have you met Sue? ” by Suzanne Lobo

Submitted to Contest #180

Trigger warning this story contains multiple sensitive contents.1.Sue was a coin toss for bad luck. I know you think you are suffering, but I am going to invalidate all of your pain by consoling (one-upping) you with someone else's life, which was a train wreck into a dumpster on fire because deep down, we are all sadists who take pleasure in other people's misery.I met Sue when I was five. The cops were on the opposite block; our neighbours had another "argument." A cop came out of the house cuffing a little girl, Sue. I heard she shot her ...

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“The Fortunes of the Misfortunate” by Rosemary Kash

Submitted to Contest #180

The Gods hated Jared. In the grand scheme of the universe, they saw fit to curse him. “Why? Why me?” Jared would despair, time and time again. Perhaps he unknowingly offended a descendant. Maybe they hated the sound of his voice. He could have stepped on the wrong worm. Not that Jared goes around purposely stepping on worms. We all know how the ground turns into a minefield after a hard rain. Despite one's best step, things just happen. Things just kept happening to Jared. Unfortunate things. Despite his best efforts, Jared's luck wa...

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“The Brighter Side ” by Diamond Star

Submitted to Contest #180

“Get out of the way lady!”Jolted, I take an awkward step back, spilling the over priced coffee I waited fifteen minutes for all over my pale pink blouse. “Watch it, asshole!” I yell back while leaning forward, futilely attempting to blot the stain. The careless bicyclist waves me off with a dismissive hand, already turning the corner.“Great, now I’ll have to stop home to change” I mutter to myself just as my phone rings. I lower my large tote bag from my shoulder to the crease in my elbow, pushing around the stack of papers, tissues, chocola...

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Start your story with someone having a run of bad luck.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 42 stories

“A Fallen Millionaire” by Lincan Liu

“Critical Inaccuracy, Chapter 1 of 7 - A Common Goal” by Jared Meeks

“Knock Knock..” by Sorelle Fisher

“Cherry Blossom” by Kaia Jai

“The Fare” by Amanda Doak

“A run of bad luck” by Rod Ritter

“The Hand You Are Dealt” by Valerie Preston

“CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD ” by Amsalan Doraisingam

“High School Angst” by Josh Abel

“A Hotdog in the Snow” by Ashley Fartara

“misfortune” by James Mckinley

“One Unlucky Day” by Danielle Hatton

“Have you met Sue? ” by Suzanne Lobo

“The Fortunes of the Misfortunate” by Rosemary Kash

“The Brighter Side ” by Diamond Star

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that hinges on the outcome of a coin flip.

Write about someone losing their lucky charm.

Set your story in a casino.

Write about someone whose luck is running out.

Contest #180

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

214

Contest entries

99

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: