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Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2020
1116 wordsRated PG; some violencePrompt: Write a story that includes someone saying, "Thank you for that".Hi mom. After you stopped responding to my texts and picking up my calls (not that you did that much before), I figured you had finally blocked me, due to the “insufferable detail” I include in the stories I tell. Well, I’ll have you know that every word is valuable. To prove it to you, I’m writing you this letter to tell you about an amazing thing that happened to me on Sunday. I was in line, waiting for Benjamin Moore to open...
1607 wordsRated PG; death, injuryPrompt: End your story with someone dancing in the rain.When I woke up, I was somewhere else. I was still in the river I had fallen into. But I was floating upright, calmly. I was breathing. If I wanted to, I could probably speak. In front of me was a figure in a black robe. A hood obscured their face in darkness. In their long, thin, blue fingers, was a scythe. Oh no. “I didn’t think I would die yet.” “And yet, here you are.”The figure spoke in a surprisingly normal voice. High and clear. They remo...
1027 words Rated PG; Mentions of death, animal corpses Prompt: Write a story in which a miracle happens — or everyone thinks it did. Author's Note: This is for my friend. Congratulations. No one knew where she came from. That was kind of the point, though, wasn’t it? At first, when she had first been spotted in between the shelves, the employees tried to get her out. They chased her with brooms and put food right outside the exit. But she never left, no matter how hard they tried. Besides, the customers seemed to like her. She didn’t bite ...
1212 wordsRated PG; descriptions of past injuriesAuthor's note: thank you friend, for your amazing drawing as inspirationShe swore the jtterbugs got prettier every time she passed through this area.Willow sat on a log. It was wedged between two moss-coloured boulders. Her silver lantern rested next to her, the eternal flame within flickering yellow tonight. Her bare feet dangled over the edge, above the rocks and fungi below. The moon poked through a few trees. The area was warmly lit by the groups of jitterbugs moving around Willow. Th...
1591 wordsRated PG; violence, bloodPrompt: Start your story with someon making a cup of tea--either for themself or for someone else.The kettle whistles. I stop fidgeting with my broach and stand up from my chair. I walk to the other side of the room. Though, in this thin wavy dress and mary jane shoes, it feels as though I’m gliding across the uneven wood. I take a tea towel and lift the kettle off the handle suspended over the fire. I bring the kettle over to the table. Shakily, I tip the spout towards the cup I laid out a few minutes ago....
2543 wordsRated PG; violence, mild languagePrompt: Write a story including the phrase "Better late than never."Author's note: maybe I'm entering my "almost too long to enter" phase.I’ve done it.I made the conscious decision to lock my door. I was very much aware as I rode down the elevator to the lobby. I didn’t hesitate as I got in the car and began the path to Bernadette’s cabin. I had a clear head as I drove the path into the woods. I planned out my movements as I parked in the snow in front of her house, walked up the porch steps, and ra...
2852 wordsRated PG; violence, depressionPrompt: Write about a character working a thankless job.Author's note: Of course I come back after three weeks to give you a long story.Damsel in Distress castle, room 431, the 17th of November in a dystopian future. That’s where the story begins. Damsel in Distress castle is the official government building and museum of Damsel in Distress (the country). The building is very tall, in the shape of a cube. It’s made from black bricks, with three big windows that m...
1635 words Rated PG; violence, threats Prompt: Set your story at boundary between two realms Author's note: Yes, I've been busy, but I've returned at last before probably not posting for a month again The creature screams. Their eyes are lit with rage. They seek out the only other living organism on this deserted moon. I pull my cloak more tightly around my body and adjust the settings on my helmet. I’m going to need more oxygen due to being out of breath. I draw my sword of Felixum. I pat my pocket, where the package rests in a waterpr...
1160 wordsRated PG; blood, gorePrompt: Start your story with the line "You wanna do something fun?"“You wanna do something fun?”I look up to Bernard--still trying to catch my breath--and stare incredulously.“We’re currently being chased by humans if you haven’t noticed.”Bernard shrugs. His ebony braid falls from his shoulder. “Eh, no biggie. You have me to help us get away.”“You douche. Come on, let’s go.”In a swish of black smoke, I’m a bat. So is he. We rise above the trees, flapping frantically. Unlike real bats, our vision is as clear as...
1073 wordsRated PG; ViolencePrompt: Start your story with a vehicles pulling over for a hitchiker.I went hiking.I ran into the forest for a place to escape. It gave me so much more than that. Flowers, barely poking out of the ground. Trees, regaining their foliage. Frogs and snakes going about their business. Even a sparkling waterfall that I was able to touch. It was glorious, and I had never felt closer to nature.But now, I have to get back. and I’m lost.I’m out of the woods, thankfully. I saw a clearing in the trees and followed it until ...
1024 wordsRated PG; some mature themesAuthor's note: I know I just wrote Last-Minute Revelations, another hero/villain story, but I've been reading so many of the prompts I had to write another one.I’m sitting at the end of the boardwalk. My running shoes sit next to me. My bare feet are making circles in the water. The moon reflects off the lake, making shimmering streaks. The stars are clear out here--away from the busy city--so they also shine down upon the water, making it look like galaxy soup. I feel like I’m stirring it with my toes.&...
1625 wordsRated PG; unsettling imagery, mild languagePrompt; write a story about a character who's trying to fill an empty space, literally or metaphorically.Author's note: This story is for a friend of mine, who told me they were going to start celebrating Christmas now.“. . .should I put a snow person or a candy cane here?”I’m finishing up with decorations when Sophie opens the door. She looks at me--a stuffed snowperson in one hand and a plastic candy cane in the other--then at the apartment. Her mouth falls open as she takes the scene in...
1059 wordsRated PG; firearms and implications of gun violencePrompt: Write about a person of object vanishing into thin air“Have you seen my gun anywhere?”Mikom rushes into the room. His long hair is in a half ponytail. It was probably a full ponytail 15 minutes ago, but sprinting around the house has disheveled it. Now, black hair sticks out at odd ends and a chunk of it is spilling over his left shoulder, reaching his elbow.I exhale, snapping out of my thoughts.“Did you say gun?”Mikom’s eyes widen. His face is frozen. He pales a bit. He re...
1030 wordsRated PG; domestic violencePrompt: Write a game of 'truth or dare' that goes horribly wrong.“Truth or dare?”“Come on. You already know.”“Okay. . .why are you grounded?”“Damn it.”Vicky closes her eyes and sighs. One leg is stretched out onto the pavement, the other bent. She’s resting her elbow on her knee. She leans against the wall. Her hair falls out of her face. She’s not pleased with the question.“I was grounded for taking a train.”I furrow my eyebrows. Mido swallows the last bite of the oatmeal cookie in his hand before asking...
Submitted to Contest #105
1091 wordsRated PG; blood, painPrompt: Write about a character who can suddenly see things through another person's eyes--literally.Author's note: Really short story because this can't be extended.“Uh, I think it worked?”“Yeah, that’s right! It did! We did it!”Nama runs over and hugs me. She hides her face from me, burying it into my chest. I know why. However, I appreciate it, so I don’t call her out. It’s a little weird, with her being almost my height, but I can’t complain. She's also probably hiding so she doesn’t have to look at me, to ...
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