Center your story around a character who is obsessed with an object.

Posted in Character on Sep 23, 2024

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✍️ 66 stories

“The Head of Goliath” by Charles Houston

Submitted to Contest #269

Karl Krauze would soon escape the familial bonds of his first eighteen years, all spent in his family’s modest house in Graz, Austria. School had been nightmarish at times but now he could start a new life as a university student in Vienna. For as long as he could remember he had doodled, sketched and drawn. He knew he had a good measure of talent which he could hone at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, some 200 kilometers to the northeast. He hoped he’d forget the beatings from a pair of bigger, mean classmates and the occasional beating...

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“The End” by M Jargins

Submitted to Contest #269

The book had no particular place it was detained in for very long—it showed up in history quite randomly. It was always depicted as an immoral scroll, or more recently, a depressing book with devils crawling off the binding.It required him to be in this drab place.He stretched his fingers, viewing the world through a tint of riotous red. It was refreshing but novel to have a human body again. How long had it been since last he was able to breathe? Oh, yes, at the least, a century or more—though he couldn’t be sure. Human time slogged around ...

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“Two Faced Teddy Bear” by Kaitlyn Krieser

Submitted to Contest #269

I wake up, chained to a bed, in a strange room I do not recognize, the light in the center of the room dim. When my eyes adjust, I realize this room is like a prison room, but the front is a solid cement wall, with a door with probably a hundred heavy locks on the front, made of solid steel. I test the restraints, solid, no getting out of here. I spot the teddy bear sitting in the corner of the room. I scream, trying to get out of my bed, to grab it and protect it from where it sits, and I try to kick at the bed, but my feet are bound too. A...

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“Objects” by David Nutt

Submitted to Contest #269

Objects As the clouds of eternal darkness were slowly dominating my life I sat in my study in a complacent mood. My life had been rich in traveling throughout the world with the added joy of finding and buying i...

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“The Reunion” by Shara Sterzl

Submitted to Contest #269

I’m excited to see Aunt Sally but there was a special bond between me and Flora and honestly when I think about it, I feel kind of guilty. Guilty that I didn’t keep up the friendship, guilty I moved away, guilty I grew up and wanted to experience all the ups and downs and pleasures of being an adult. But what was I to have done? I know it’s natural to grow up and leave childhood friends behind, but Flora was there for me through so much. How could I have done such a thing? I wonder how I will feel meeting Flora again? I have mixed feelings a...

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“The Sapphire Locket” by Day Williams

Submitted to Contest #269

Eleanor put the final touches on her restoration of an Amish chair. This week she had restored several chairs and two faded paintings. She was proud of her work. At precisely 12 o’clock she would take her lunch break and eat the lunch she had prepared for herself. She would walk exactly one mile to the city clock and back. During her walk, she would keep her head down so she would not make eye contact with anybody. She would go into the women’s bathroom and take off her sapphire locket and rub it and admire it. At precisely 1 o’clock she wou...

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“MAGIC BY THE BOX” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #269

MAGIC BY THE BOXCriticize me all you want, I know you will mock me, when you get here, Paul. I don’t care if you don’t believe in magic. What’s the harm? But I’m not even in a hurry. Look, I haven’t even opened the box, have I? I haven’t even untied the string. Or touched the tape! It is still sitting here on the kitchen table with the twine, the tape and the postage stamps intact. There must be something special inside if they used tape and doubled up on the twine, don’t you think? And how long has it been sitting th...

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“A Ticking, Talking Time Bomb” by Drake Sinasac

Submitted to Contest #269

I awoke with a scream, my nightshirt drenched from sweats of unquenched passion; a lingering smell of forgotten desire. As always my mind drifted to familiar thoughts. What time is it?! Relax. Calm yourself. It is not against the law to sleep. I dared to drift back asunder, to dream in a world filled with endless creations — of women far too beautiful; of birds that sang mystical symphonies; of colours that did not exist. The warmth of my bed was intoxicating — completely and utterly — for it was a terribly cold and terribly wick...

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“Telephone” by Lee B

Submitted to Contest #269

Telephone Maddie sat in the dingy, low-lighted room, waiting for the telephone to ring. She glanced at the wall mounted clock as it ticked, ticked, ticked. Her gaze shifted quickly back to the un-ringing phone. With sweat dripping from her brow, she nervously looked back up at the clock. The seconds ticked by deafeningly. Her heart was racing. Her eyes darted back to the still silent phone. Her gaze remained on the object as the clock’s Second hand’s ticks pounded tauntingly within her head. She focused all of her might on the phon...

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“Signs” by Austin Collard

Submitted to Contest #269

As soon as he walked in his eyes were stuck on that big, bright neon billboard. The bartender worked to greet him as he burst into the empty bar, but the new patron froze in his tailored suit, his head snapping to the blinding blue and white lights and the little red glow that said “Miller” like a cherry on top. Now that’s a sign that works, the patron thought to himself, still standing, still staring. It’s so bright. Any longer at it and I might go blind! And in a lesser mood,...

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“Price to Pay” by Nyasa Menaria

Submitted to Contest #269

The cave was quiet, except for the soft drip of water. Callum McGrath stood in the center, his flashlight casting long shadows on the rough walls. His heart pounded—not from fear, but from the thrill of discovery. He'd found it at last. The golden box. He knelt down, brushing away dust and dirt that had gathered on the ornate surface. The box gleamed under his light, its edges smooth, like it hadn't aged a day. The legend was real. Tracy Hartman, the greatest treasure hunter of her time, had vanished without a trace, leaving behind thi...

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“The Nest” by Thomas E. Moore

Submitted to Contest #269

Just a small flight away, not a whisper from the wall, upon the fork in the brush, that can be the nest. We need a nest before the season is over, because we need hatchlings before the season is over. The nest comes first and needs to be a good nest. My mate is getting food. I shouldn’t mind the people inside as they never open the wall beyond a crack. The lady won’t have it. The man tried once, and she sang very loudly. They’re mates for three seasons now. Now, the man is breaking his nest down as he always does not a moment passed first li...

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“Warrickson” by William Keleny

Submitted to Contest #269

WarricksonBy William Keleny Cathy rang the doorbell and clutched the bag of apples with both hands. “Forgot my key,” she said as Freddy opened the door. “I got what you need for the pudding.” &nbs...

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“The Switch” by Lee Golightly

Submitted to Contest #269

This story contains allusions to cancer and death. “It’s nice to meet you, Colin,” said Amy. “I’m sorry I’m not available right now. Please leave a message,” said Colin. Amy nodded and smoothed down the scrubs encasing her legs. The books, of course, had explained how to handle this situation, but it was always helpful to have the assistance of the family too. They knew things. She turned and looked at the figure in the recliner. “He’s nervous,” drawled Hank in a rich Southern baritone. “Give him a few...

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“10-Millimeter Reflection” by Maddox Umholtz

Submitted to Contest #269

For the first time, the introspection paid its dividends, as the evening clouds slid, much like some butter in the heavens godly pan, radiating the crimson polish of the day’s contraction. In the opposing sky, the intangible black threatens its reveal. This threat usually would hasten Opie’s promenade, but his newfound enlightenment through divulging in long, drawn out, self-reporting, and armchair-esque philosophical thought has caused a longer-than-usual exploration. His pace along the street swayed and lurched, consistently inconsistent, ...

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Center your story around a character who is obsessed with an object.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 66 stories

“The Head of Goliath” by Charles Houston

“The End” by M Jargins

“Two Faced Teddy Bear” by Kaitlyn Krieser

“Objects” by David Nutt

“The Reunion” by Shara Sterzl

“The Sapphire Locket” by Day Williams

“MAGIC BY THE BOX” by Frances Goulart

“A Ticking, Talking Time Bomb” by Drake Sinasac

“Telephone” by Lee B

“Signs” by Austin Collard

“Price to Pay” by Nyasa Menaria

“The Nest” by Thomas E. Moore

“Warrickson” by William Keleny

“The Switch” by Lee Golightly

“10-Millimeter Reflection” by Maddox Umholtz

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about an object that changed everything for a character.

Send your characters on an unforgettable quest to find an essential object.

Write a story about an ordinary object that becomes magical (either literally or figuratively).

Show how an object’s meaning can change as a character changes.

Contest #269

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

312

Contest entries

122

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: