Center your story around a character’s personal exploration, whether it's trying a new hobby, visiting an unfamiliar place, or learning something completely new.

Posted in Character on Apr 19, 2024

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✍️ 88 stories

“Creation” by Carolyn O'B

Submitted to Contest #247

Victor’s entire body jerked, and when he opened his fluttering eyes, he discovered that he was teetering on the edge of his mattress. He rolled onto his back and turned his head, staring quizzically at the figures on the shelves across the room. A variety of creatures looked back at him. He threw back the comforter, stretched, and tumbled to the floor with a thump. Fully awake now, he stood and lumbered over to the shelves while running his fingers through his disheveled, raven locks.&nbs...

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“Subversive Swimming” by Miki O

Submitted to Contest #247

That night, Mary would receive thirty-one phone calls from her mother. The first came the moment she knocked on the door to Crystal’s house. For a moment, she stood and waited. From behind the door, there were sounds of cheering, arguing, yelling, and eventually, incoming stomping. The door flew open, the doorknob hitting the wall inside with a loud “thunk”. There stood Crystal, with a neon blue can in one hand and a cigarette in her mouth. She chuckled at the sight of Mary. “Hey, bitch. Thought you pussied out.” Mary winced at the language....

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“discover who you were always meant to be” by Catherine Kilian

Submitted to Contest #247

Reedsyprompts #247 With such seldom exercised optimism, I foolishly doubted that anyone, least of all, my family, would be unwilling to accept my transformation, nor understand the re-evolution of my identity. I irrationally hoped that they would also be able to see the same, incredible discovery of self; this metamorphosis of woman – mother, sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece, child, human, wraith, beast – that I finally held the ability to see. I preposterously choose the belief that I have always been the person who stands in fr...

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“The Foggy Mist” by Ed Wooten

Submitted to Contest #247

THE FOGGY MISTED WOOTEN Physical fitness, confidence, and drive for exploration have been my assets since high school. I’ve always maintained good physical conditioning and regard myself an avid outdoorsman. I’ve even considered auditioning for the Naked and Afraid television series. I recently celebrated my fortieth birthday and decided to prove I still possess my prowess in mountain climbing. In addition to mountain climbing and exploring nature, I also pride myself as a novice writer and a photography buff.Six days ago, I began this mid...

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“Excerpt from 'in the river running or choking on water and white bread.'” by Adrian Pedraza

Submitted to Contest #247

that day was spent of more kicking of the rocks and scouring of the parking lots and we walked along dusty lonely freeways that led around and through orchards orange and yellow and vibrant and wet and just so wonderful i wanted to travel the world. she spoke of mexico, i spoke of france, and we both agreed on new york: man what would that be like? we never thought we would know, but the symbolic beauty of it, its cities and towers and lights and people and one-dollar food–the whole lot of it, how amazing! i feared our romanticizing of such ...

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“Clara's Melody” by Sofia Peralta

Submitted to Contest #247

He had found the stone brick tower overgrown with moss and ivy. This was strange since it was currently wintertime and the earth was swaddled with a blanket of snow. Even stranger was the feeling of warmth that the boy gained as he entered the tower. It was like spring was trapped here, existing forever in this place. The tower was in a deprecated state. There was little inside besides a few closets and a large staircase that went up.What perplexed the boy the most were the stacks of papers. Some were torn, others stained. The sheer amount ...

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“Run Rabbit” by Mark Buro

Submitted to Contest #247

Warning: Religious themes and graphic content. All day, every day, August Wittman is accompanied by the ticking of the clocks. They maintain tempo in his monotonous timetable. The clocks exist as a metronome, producing a steady beat for August to operate through. He reinstalls the weight to the first chain of the old grandfather clock, the minute-hand pulsing as though blood was being pumped into its mechanical heart. August's own body comes into synchronization with the clock, the pendulum swinging as though an extension of his breath. Al...

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“The Son of a Hero” by Aeryn Goodspeed

Submitted to Contest #247

(Glossary included at the end)I am a shadow within a shadow.Dusk pondered over the words he’d scribbled in the margins of his worksheet. The stone pulp of the paper had absorbed the ink of his idle hand easily enough, but now he was having trouble absorbing it into his brain. What had he just done? He’d been starting to draw something–a stick figure, maybe, of an Ortuxan with a sword. Or one with a spear. But what had flowed from the ink was instead a picture of a different kind; one that he hadn’t learned from–“Duskauger,” said a voice from...

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“Rabbit Games,” by Darsh Mishra

Submitted to Contest #247

"Okay class, I know you are all excited about winter break, but here is one last question before you go," Mr. Miller asks his college students. " If you throw a penny at 15mph out of a car moving at 100mph, how fast would the penny go?" A while goes by after Mr. Miller asks this question "Does anyone have the answer for this question?" Mr. Miller asks his class. Then a student raised their hand."The penny would go at 115 miles per hour since the energy from the moving car would be transmitted into the penny and if the penny goes at that much...

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“Your move, grandad” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #247

The lounge in the nursing room was silent apart from a young man listening to his elderly grandfather. “So this piece, the bishop, moves in a diagonal line and this one…the…the?” “…the rook, grandad.” “The rook moves in a straight line?” “That’s right. And the knight moves in a sort of “L” shape, moving two squares in a line and then one square at a right angle. All the pieces are different.” “Oh no no no. I don’t think I can start a new hobby at my time of life. What’s it called again?” “Chess.” “Chess. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that...

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“Reviving Her Picasso ” by Natalie Ballestero

Submitted to Contest #247

Cora briskly strolled up to her shiny, grey car, pushing the unlock button on her key fob as she reached the driver side door. She grabbed the door handle and yanked it open, flopping down into the driver's seat, forcefully shutting the door, and pushing the lock button. She raised the key with shaking hands and put the key into the ignition, slowly turning it tell the engine began to hum. Cora leaned back, resting her upper body in the curve o...

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“Adventure of a lifetime” by Judy Mosher

Submitted to Contest #247

I settled into my seat and looked eagerly out the window of the car as the conductor started his spiel of safety directions. I looked away from the window long enough to register the total disinterest of the other passengers as well (does anyone ever listen to the safety speeches)? Who could concentrate with the captivating adventure awaiting us. I could already see the mountains in the distance and the winding stream out the window begged to be followed. The conductor was dwindling down and I turned my attention back as ...

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“A Mahogany Bench” by R K

Submitted to Contest #247

The park was cold and empty, but I still thought it would be a greater comfort than my room in my parent's house, where they would glance at me accusingly as I tumbled up the stairs. My friend Sian was with me, and much less drunk than I was, which would not have been too difficult. After a treacherous five minute walk out of the taxi and towards the park's entrance, we arrive at Sian's favorite childhood spot: a mahogany bench. The seats are red and probably filthy, and when we sit down on them, Sian has puts his head on my shoulder. “...

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“A Cry For Help Disguised In a Makeover” by Hirra Khan

Submitted to Contest #247

“It’s short enough already” my mom says as she’s about to put down the scissors after finally agreeing to give me a haircut that I had been asking for weeks. “No, keep cutting it. I want it shorter” I assure her as she’s getting ready to walk away from the scene. “If I cut it any shorter, you’ll start to complain that I went too short the same way you always do.” My mom has always been my personal barber, who runs after me every couple months with a pair of scissors in her hands telling me that it’s time to cut my hair as they have gott...

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“When Love Requires Death” by Naya's A Writer

Submitted to Contest #247

I’ve always been a serious learner. Before I graduated, I grinded my nose into my homework every day, night and hour. My friends told me to take a break and go out, maybe do something else other than studying, but I’d always refuse. The side of my middle finger was always red, for there was a pencil in my fingers as long as I was awake. A homework or exam preparation sheet was always in front of me, even at mealtimes. I barely slept each semester, but, oddly, I never had any eyebags or got tired. If I do sleep, I will fall asleep holdi...

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Center your story around a character’s personal exploration, whether it's trying a new hobby, visiting an unfamiliar place, or learning something completely new.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 88 stories

“Creation” by Carolyn O'B

“Subversive Swimming” by Miki O

“discover who you were always meant to be” by Catherine Kilian

“The Foggy Mist” by Ed Wooten

“Excerpt from 'in the river running or choking on water and white bread.'” by Adrian Pedraza

“Clara's Melody” by Sofia Peralta

“Run Rabbit” by Mark Buro

“The Son of a Hero” by Aeryn Goodspeed

“Rabbit Games,” by Darsh Mishra

“Your move, grandad” by Paul Simpkin

“Reviving Her Picasso ” by Natalie Ballestero

“Adventure of a lifetime” by Judy Mosher

“A Mahogany Bench” by R K

“A Cry For Help Disguised In a Makeover” by Hirra Khan

“When Love Requires Death” by Naya's A Writer

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in the form of diary entries, written by an explorer as they make their way through what they thought was an untouched location.

Set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong.

Imagine a world where exploration is forbidden, and write a story about a character who defies this rule to satisfy their innate curiosity.

Write a narrative about a group of scientists exploring the deepest parts of the ocean.

Contest #247

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

258

Contest entries

102

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: