Write about a character who’s never encountered a problem they couldn’t buy their way out of — until they do.

Posted in Angst on Oct 31, 2022

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✍️ 25 stories

“The Dark Files of Lazarus: Case Number 13” by Steffen Lettau

Submitted to Contest #159

Lazarus, the city built upon the ashes of Los Angeles, has irony in mounds as high as the carbon-steel coins piling up in the newly formed vaults. Theo Baxton was the thirteenth child born into this city after its establishment. Blessed at birth, cursed at life - again, the irony piles on. Superstitions aside, young Theo had the average childhood of those in the city; a busy father, a mother who stayed at home making a side business for her personal hobbies, schools located on the outskirts as a means to accommodate all from different wa...

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“A Devil of A Visit” by Benjamin Spivey

Submitted to Contest #159

Terry McColloch was the kind of man who could be described perfectly with one word. Successful. He was not a particularly interesting person, but he could talk the talk and walk the walk and so he was, well, successful. He liked nice things. In fact, he expected them. He had grown up in the comfortable lap of that codling lady known as luxury, and he had made an easy transition into Harvard and then into business. What is meant by business? Terry didn’t even know. It was just business. And that is enough. Terry drove an expensive car, wore a...

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“Field Day” by Kara Williams

Submitted to Contest #159

Sheryl got out of the driver’s seat and stood in the parking lot, a bright yellow sports penny both clinging and hanging on her body like a static electric diaper. Her grey slacks and white collar framing the obnoxious jersey in business attire. Piper, her daughter, stood at her side, matching yellow penny grazing her bare kneecaps, cheek sucked between her teeth nervously. They had arrived at Field Day late, but they were there, pennies a-blazin. Sheryl scoped the field: ten thousand sneaker-wearing moms and fanny ...

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“And Then There Was Her” by Kaitlyn M.

Submitted to Contest #159

"I'll start this off simple: I'm not spoiled. "Sure, that sentence in itself sounds entirely selfish, but there's more to me than meets the eye. I'm kind, I'm sweet, and I am considered a nerd by most cute girls. Just because I was born into a very fortunate family doesn't mean I'm some spoon-fed child. "And I'm not bratty. I ask for what I want, if I don't get it then that's fine. Usually, I don't have to deal with that. I can pay someone, anyone, to do it for me. Either way, I'm in my early twenties, for Christ's sake. I'm not incapabl...

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“The Namesake” by Ela Mikh

Submitted to Contest #159

The 1990s He smirked. That was a piece of cake. He dodged another one. All these things his mother taught him, came in handy and turned out to be … so NOT true. She told him he had to be a decent guy, help others, and spread good vibes and joy. Not everyone was so lucky to be blessed with his brain and power. If it was up to him, he would change the old ways so the guys stop comparing who “has it bigger” and measure the size of their brains instead. That’s where the real strength was! His family was so poor when he was growing up but as he m...

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“Down on the Bayou” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #159

Ty Flynn is the latest Hollywood action movie star. He is making money hand over fist by starring in a plethora of action films. He grew up on the streets of LA and has never had this much money in his entire life. Ty has been enjoying his fame by spending vast amounts on homes, cars, and motorcycles. There are also many rumors of the wild parties taking place on his private yacht.Ty is no stranger to the courts, where he is accused of misconduct and sexual harassment by young women, mainly set extras. Ty...

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“Welcome to Hell” by Barbara Moser

Submitted to Contest #159

“Welcome to Hell, Myra Goldstein. Your call is very important to us and will be answered in the order it was received. Did you know that you can now conveniently check the status of your complaint online at www.your.call.doesn’t.matter.com?" “But that website is down!” My voice echoed off the surround sound system in the cavern walls as the recording played yet again. I pushed several buttons on the ancient rotary phone on the desk in front of me and swiveled in my chair. “How do I turn the volume down?” &...

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“Ain't No ATM in Coward” by Chris Rohe

Submitted to Contest #159

“The loneliest road in America, so what do you think, honey? What should we check out?” “Don’t you remember Stan? We came this way years ago on our way to Reno for our honeymoon. Let’s see here.” Stacey looked at her smartphone and began searching google maps. “Hmm, hey, listen to this. Coward, Nevada, is just a bit off the main road, maybe 20 miles away. Let me see what Wikipedia says. Coward, Nevada population of 150 by the 2000 census. Ha! I must not even bother with it anymore. That’s been 20 years. First founded in 1900 due to a cop...

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“Of Course, Mr. Sinclair” by Megan May

Submitted to Contest #159

Terry Sinclair boarded his private jet alongside his security team. He sat down and poured himself a glass of Domaine Leroy Les Beaux Monts. “Ahh,” he sighed, savoring a large sip of the wine. “Where to now?” His bodyguard Lance confirmed the itinerary. “Heading to Paris, then London. We’ll be there in less than two hours, sir.” “Great, I can get some sleep,” Terry yawned and rubbed his hands over his neatly combed, auburn hair. His young face was handsomely impassive as he stared blankly out the window at Berlin’s twinkling lights. A ...

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“Back to School” by T. S. Memory

Submitted to Contest #159

Roger sat on his bed and admired his most prized possession, the Galaxy. It was the most intricate and dazzling glass marble he ever laid eyes on, a black sphere housing a white spiral swirl with tiny luminous dots. It was the envy of everyone in school. Roger could stare and get lost in its beauty for hours. Alas, he had mere minutes before he had to prepare for the first day back to school after the holidays. The dreaded day when his debts would come due in the form of holiday assignments. Roger’s teachers made it abundantly clear his e...

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“The Judas Bird” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #159

The Judas bird is a fish. But you wouldn’t know that. Few people do. The only reason I know of the Judas bird is that I have more money than everyone else does. I have so much money that my money makes more money than almost anyone else has on the planet, so I get to know things that other people don’t and I get to do things that other people don’t. The natural question people have at this juncture is somewhere along the lines of why? All of the questions centre around why I have this money and underneath it all is greed, ...

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“Last Wishes” by Samuel Yates

Submitted to Contest #159

I have been an apothecary for most of my adult life after my grandfather decided I was a natural for it; and he decided he wanted to travel the world and gave me the keys to his shop.For about twenty years, I have helped people who felt I was their last resort. Most of them just wanted to live a little bit longer, to get their affairs in order, to say their final goodbyes, and I was ok with that.A few months ago, a long-time friend came to me, asking for my help with her father. He had been involved in a car wreck, and he was dying. She aske...

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“No Amount of Money Talks” by Gavionara Ra

Submitted to Contest #159

Profanity use, mention of sexual abuse and sexual violenceLibelle Debonette stared out the small cell window with painful boredom. She hummed a gentle tune, played with her tied up hands, and swayed her head left and right. It wasn't the first time she was kidnapped, nor will it be the last. Being a member of the richest family in the entire state, it made sense it would be a common occurrence. However, Libelle was targeted more often than her other family. Was it her enchanting beauty that made it irresistible to filthy peasants of the worl...

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“Price of a Soul” by ER Castaneda

Submitted to Contest #159

John Avalon’s 18-year-old intoxicated daughter smashed into the back of a blue Nissan Sentra while going 110 miles in her 2020, bright yellow Porsche 911 Carrera S on a Saturday night while driving back from Club Starlight. Mom and the five-year-old daughter in the Sentra didn’t make it. Dad was rushed to the hospital in serious condition. John’s daughter escaped the wreckage with a few scratches and bruises. “Da-dee!” John’s daughter screamed into the phone after the accident. “My new Porsche was just totaled! Pl...

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“Six - Twelve Months” by Malik White

Submitted to Contest #159

Six to twelve months. Fifteen different doctors around the world and they all gave the same diagnosis. Some tried to give me treatments but when they obviously weren’t working I decided that if I’m going to die, it’s not going to be in a hospital bed. Six to twelve months was the estimated timeframe. So I spent most of that time traveling and enjoying good food. Then came the massive parties filled with drugs, alcohol, and tons of people that I didn’t care about. If my accountant saw how much money I wasted in those months alone, he’d have a...

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Write about a character who’s never encountered a problem they couldn’t buy their way out of — until they do.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 25 stories

“The Dark Files of Lazarus: Case Number 13” by Steffen Lettau

“A Devil of A Visit” by Benjamin Spivey

“Field Day” by Kara Williams

“And Then There Was Her” by Kaitlyn M.

“The Namesake” by Ela Mikh

“Down on the Bayou” by Ralph Aldrich

“Welcome to Hell” by Barbara Moser

“Ain't No ATM in Coward” by Chris Rohe

“Of Course, Mr. Sinclair” by Megan May

“Back to School” by T. S. Memory

“The Judas Bird” by Jed Cope

“Last Wishes” by Samuel Yates

“No Amount of Money Talks” by Gavionara Ra

“Price of a Soul” by ER Castaneda

“Six - Twelve Months” by Malik White

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character accepting a bribe.

Set your story in a world where the currency isn’t money — or at least not money as we understand it.

Write about somebody down on their luck who unexpectedly comes into a large amount of money.

Your character checks their balance at an ATM and is surprised by the number they see.

Contest #159

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

216

Contest entries

88

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: