Write a story about a character who struggles to translate their thoughts and feelings into words and action.

Posted in Angst on Dec 16, 2022

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✍️ 53 stories

“Schmallenberg” by Alexey Williams

Submitted to Contest #177

Then there was the sound of the rain slapping against the window. Mrs. Fischer was sitting on the edge of the bed in her bathrobe. I could see that she was speaking, but I couldn’t hear her so I told her that I was mostly deaf. My hearing was particularly bad in the morning. I read her lips. She said: “Don’t you have a hearing aid?” I did have a hearing aid, but it didn’t work well in the morning. There was a doleful silence, and I walked out of the room. It was her house. Her children were sitting in the kitchen when I walked in. They wer...

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“The Universal Language” by Linda Haley

Submitted to Contest #177

+ The Universal Language! This is basically a true story, in that it happened to me many years ago. I was young and used to work in a factory that made all kinds of shirts. (T-shirts, football shirts, baseball and hockey shirts). A lot of Italian people worked there. I, myself, am not Italian. I knew very few words of the language but could not speak in Italian. Now there was a new lady that had just started working in the factory. I cannot remember her name so I will call her A...

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“For Every Star in the Sky” by Angela Taylor

Submitted to Contest #177

It's been three months since I first met Brandon at his magic show. There have been several dates, late night phone calls, and endless texts, confirming our feelings and plans. There was even a conversation about where we stand. This is the conversation I have always dreaded with any relationship, but this one seemed even more daunting. You see, I very much care for Brandon. I have grown to love nearly every aspect of him. His laugh, his sense of humor, his touch, his silent reluctance to let me help him with hi...

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“I Won't Close It This Time” by Katherine Meyer

Submitted to Contest #177

I stood at the end of my bed, completely lost in my thoughts. I've only been at Newbury High for a week, but I can't get Jane out of my mind. Even when I work on my homework, her bright smile fills my chest with warmth. My body flopped onto the bed, and I rolled over to face the ceiling. Today she asked me to go to Chiles with her and her friends, but I declined her offer. I've never been social, and it's not hard for me to say no, but something about her clouds my judgment. Earlier, when she asked me, I held my stance and made the right dec...

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“This May Destroy Us” by Cora Weaver

Submitted to Contest #177

My reflection stares back at me. The only imperfection is my dark hair, which has the stubborn habit of sticking up, but I manage. I always must appear to the public as the well-groomed prince they know, clean-shaven with round, amber eyes and a strong jaw. My father, King Montgomery of Yiyiroth, made a point of telling me that rather excessively when I was a young boy. Now, at age seventeen, I am expected to appear at the side of my parents on all formal occasions, training for the day I inherit the throne. The obligations that come with be...

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“Overwhelmed” by Benjamin Okojie

Submitted to Contest #177

Dear Diary, Today was really annoying, my friend was being a jerk. Also, I started this diary because other than my mom I have no one to talk to but she’s busy with work. Anyways, jack was really pissing me off. Today at lunch he said I’m a right-footed player with two left feet. Everyone laughed at me, and so did Claire. I really like Claire but now she probably thinks I’m a joke cause of jack. I should tell him but what if he gets upset at me, or I hurt his feelings. Well I’m going to try tomorrow so he doesn’t do it again. That’s al...

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“Fucking feelings” by Alexander Valdem

Submitted to Contest #177

“Tell me how you feel.” How should I answer that question? I knew I needed help with all the feelings in me. I had to tell someone, but as I sat in that plush and deep chair at the therapists’ office, I could not get anything out. Where to start? What to tell him? I could tell him I dropped out of one of my classes. My ex is taking that class, and I could not stand to watch his smug face every day, standing there with our friends, his friends now, and talking shit about me. Telling them it is my fault that we broke up, instead of being a...

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“The Ape” by Robert Goswell

Submitted to Contest #177

Please note, this story contains instances of bullying, child abuse and self-harm. Reader's Disgression advised and thank you for your consideration.The ApeIt is often said that it isn’t possible to know someone until one walks a mile in their shoes. After all, humans are not generally very bright; they can be judgmental, mean, and quite self-centred. Empathy, compassion and respect are not skills that all possess, and it’s worse when puberty sets in.It was early 1991, February perhaps, and Travis Lastley was floating along in his first year...

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“It Robs” by Kimberly Walker

Submitted to Contest #177

It Robs When I decided on medicine some seven decades ago, I didn’t think I would become one of my subjects, patients, or a victim of this dreaded fate. Let me explain quickly before I forget what I want to say. When I received money for my birthday, Christmas, or an “A” on my report card, I’d buy the latest New England Journal of Medicine; as early as 12. I wanted to be the one who cured that foggy problem gramps had in the evenings. It was hard to watch my hero not be able to remember what he entered a room for after 5 pm at first. Mom nor...

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“JOURNAL FOR SKYLA” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #177

Dear Journal My name is Skyla, I bought you yesterday at the store to help me put my thoughts and feelings into words and action. It's always been a struggle for me to put my thoughts and feelings into words. Taking action with my thoughts and feelings has also been a problem for me. I never been a go-getter. You can say I'm shy. I never stood out. The background has always been my friend. I'm hoping my dearest journal who I'm going to call Reina, which means Queen in Spanish would help me in my time of need. Next week is the annual Arts for...

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“Wrapped in a Bow” by Cassidy June

Submitted to Contest #177

Looking out the window, Gwen was starting to think a white Christmas wasn’t all it was wrapped up to be. While tapping her fingers on the table, she started to hum to herself; willing her thoughts to come up with her next poem. Poetry wasn’t something that really came naturally to her, in fact, she only recently discovered that she liked writing down her feelings and expressing them to her peers. Her problem was that expressing her feelings wasn’t really something she had ever learned how to do. It was a week ‘til Christmas and all th...

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“The Christmas Blues” by A. Neptune

Submitted to Contest #177

It was a dark, windy, and cold night in Chicago when I returned home from work four days before Christmas. My phone had been buzzing in my pocket every ten minutes for the last hour, but I couldn't bring myself to look at it. I knew who it was.I walked in the door to my crummy, one-bedroom apartment. I could afford a house, but that means commitment. Commitment scares me. I sit on the couch, and the phone's steady buzzing returns. Then, it stops and is quickly followed by one final buzz. "A text. I can handle a text." Even the text brought a...

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“A New Day” by Kenneth Kendall

Submitted to Contest #177

I can do it! I am in control! I am everything I believe I am! I make the decisions that determine my future! Today is the first day of the rest of my life! Chase woke up with the same affirmations playing aloud that were his lullaby just seven hours prior. And each of the night-lighted nights before. Lip syncing, hoping the confidence would somehow permeate his core, that he might one day be able to shout them from the mountain top. But today did not require climbing any mountains. Thinking back to yesterday’s session with Dr. Kelcheck,...

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“My Lille-Ulv” by LE' FROG

Submitted to Contest #177

It happened a fortnight ago, and I still hadn't told Askel, or Jane. The scars still stained my torso, and I swallowed hard as I stared at them incredulously once again through the mirror on the vanity. Just as I had been these past couple weeks. I still couldn't really, process what happened. It was all so fast, and the bites, the scratches, they healed so fast. I didn't even know what to fathom. But I gasped when I heard a knock on my bedroom door, and then a man clear their voice. "Lille-Ulv? May I come in?". I dropped my night gown, ...

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“Rule No. 3” by Lunny Muffin

Submitted to Contest #177

Ever since the accident, he has been living with his grandmother and for quite some time he could not speak. At first everyone thought it was the result of the accident but after extensive physical examinations the doctors and speech pathologist all concluded that nothing was bodily wrong. It was very strange that he could not utter a word and most of the experts were baffled. The once loud and very outspoken boy had become this way but the obvious conclusion that many accepted was he was psychologically traumatized by the tragedy. A tragedy...

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Contest #177

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Title: Colonel Mustard in the Kitchen Without a Hearing Aid

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Write a story about a character who struggles to translate their thoughts and feelings into words and action.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 53 stories

“Schmallenberg” by Alexey Williams

“The Universal Language” by Linda Haley

“For Every Star in the Sky” by Angela Taylor

“I Won't Close It This Time” by Katherine Meyer

“This May Destroy Us” by Cora Weaver

“Overwhelmed” by Benjamin Okojie

“Fucking feelings” by Alexander Valdem

“The Ape” by Robert Goswell

“It Robs” by Kimberly Walker

“JOURNAL FOR SKYLA” by Melinda Madrigal

“Wrapped in a Bow” by Cassidy June

“The Christmas Blues” by A. Neptune

“A New Day” by Kenneth Kendall

“My Lille-Ulv” by LE' FROG

“Rule No. 3” by Lunny Muffin

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two or more characters who don't speak each other's language (literally or metaphorically), but still find a way to communicate.

Set your story in a meeting where a professional interpreter takes some liberties, with major consequences.

Write about someone who is slowly forgetting their mother tongue or losing their language.

Lost in a foreign city where they don’t speak the language, your character uses a translation app to get around, but constantly runs into problems.

Contest #177

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

150

Contest entries

70

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: