Start your story with someone being presented with a dilemma.

Posted in Character on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 216 stories

“Against All Odds” by Estelle Westley

Submitted to Contest #95

Lilly looked down at Jake's still handsome face. He lay on his back, knees pulled up, eyes closed, and just a hint of a smile touching the corners his mouth. They had opened a bottle of Chardonnay to enjoy with their cheese and crackers and now Lilly was sitting with her back against the trunk of the huge oak tree where they had spread their picnic blanket. She was quite content as she picked up the last strawberry in the punnet, then her mind drifted back to the conversation with her mother that morning. It started with Lilly in her...

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“Absolutely not” by Garrett Michael

Submitted to Contest #95

A few thoughts are racing through Claire's mind as she stares at two doors, one to harmony and one to yearning. It's a bit cliche, really, Claire thinks. The harmony door has that predictable bright light shining through the cracks of the door. Claire hears some gospel choir from behind the door, and she rolls her eyes so hard she can see her brain. "Jesus chirst," Claire whispers. Immediately the door opens to a thirty-something-year-old man with low-cut hair and a trim beard. He's wearing what Claire would call an eggshell top sheet and ch...

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“Am I Home” by Babika Goel

Submitted to Contest #95

The discussion was in full swing. Should they hand over the body to the police and let them trace the family or should they get together and perform the last rites. The neighbours faced a dilemma. According to Hindu tradition, the eldest son is the kartaa (meaning, ‘the principal performer’) of the last rites, In the absence of a son, the grandson or any other close male relative of the deceased performs it. The neighbour who had heard Mr Patel’s scream from inside his house that sounded like a cry of wild abandonment had knocked on the ...

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“Even Tungsten Melts...” by Lennox Ducksworth

Submitted to Contest #95

It was terrifying. She might as well have been willingly going over a cliff into a volcano. Her heart told her so, as well as the tension in her body, even her racing thoughts, something alien to her. She always kept her thoughts under control. That’s what she was trained to do. Stay calm, and control your own mind, otherwise, the enemy will do it for you, and if they have your mind, they have your life. She kept her mind under her own for her entire life. Until that moment. It wasn't the first “dilemma” she was given, but it was the most im...

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“The Station” by Kaley Colter

Submitted to Contest #95

Sometimes I have trouble quieting my mind. Today is one of those days. Others' thoughts keep invading, overshadowing my own. Normally, I can set them aside and allow them to drift away into a mist of an ignorance of my making. Not today. The fault in the main shielding, the barrier between us and the vacuum of space, was to blame. I wasn't particularly worried about it. Others were. There had been faults before, and they were always corrected. The crew was especially motivated when their lives were on the line. I floated down the corrido...

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“THE BATTLES” by Ezioma Kalu

Submitted to Contest #95

"Now Coach Ezioma, it's time for you to make the big decision. Which of the contestants that performed tonight would be going straight to the battles and which would be going home from here?" Nkem threw the ten million Naira question at me. I quickly blew out my cheeks, then released. I ran my hand through my hair and exhaled deeply. "Ehm, this is a tough one," I muttered under my breath. Then, I tilted my head to the side and bit my upper lip. Indeed, I was almost drowning in the ocean of confusion and God knows my swimming skills are appal...

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“A last cup of chocolate” by Anny Alcantara

Submitted to Contest #95

Her. The wind brought a blast of arctic air, which penetrated depths, the very marrow of my bones. The gray sky felt hollow and damp. There was a mixture of freshly baked cookies, cinnamon, sweet vanilla, and coffee in the air. The evening sun began to make its course to its hiding place leaving a trail of violet rays as its final farewell. My hands were shaking, my lips were cracked, and I could not even manage to put on my gloves. Winter was too much for me to bear. Not too long ago I desired to be thin as I had been ...

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“One day you will shine, sugar” by Fresh Start0

Submitted to Contest #95

as soon as Mistress opened the door, I was greeted by a man. he was quite plump and chubby, his tie pinching the overlapping skin of this neck. Mistress jumped, her eyes darting from side to side. she obviously looked exasperated. the man standing beside her was too. a reel of sweat climbing down his forehead. mistress swallowed, giving me a fraudulent smile. "Ah, Amanda! you're early" she stammered, her pupils dodging around the room. my dark eyes were fixated on the man. "Who is this?" I mumbled, quite sharply, ey...

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“JINNAH” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #95

TW: death Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his friend Sasisekharan were casually chit-chatting over a cup of tea in a small hotel opposite the bank where they were employed. Suddenly Sasi got a phone call and he got worried and turned panicky. The tea they had ordered was not even completed, before then a phone call came and disturbed him. Sasi told Jinnah that his cousin just now called him and said that she was in hospital. In his hurry and horrified mind, did not bother to ask why and what of things. He ignored his tea and immediately stood...

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“DELPHIC DECISION” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #95

Should she or shouldn‘t she accept him? Please read what happens! Agriculturists normally reside in rural settings. Accordingly Lal who was a land owner and farmer lived in a village with his family which consisted of him, his wife and his daughter Lisa. Mehta, a dealer in agricultural products and inputs also preferred that village and lived there not far from Lal’s place. Both Lal and Mehta were moneyed and jointly sought to preserve and grow their wealth. To this end Mehta’s son Arvind was informally engaged to Lisa. Coming to Arvind...

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“The Dilemma of Diminishing Dreams.” by Pamela De Souza

Submitted to Contest #95

“You move one step forward Joeline . You will suffer the consequences. Did you get me ? You will marry the guy I want you to marry.” Joeline’s father closed the door in anger. “ But dad I want to do something more, explore in life, and will he help me in doing it? I don’t want to marry right now.” Yelled Joeline, without paying heed to listen to Joe her dad left the room locking her up. Joe was crying inside her room and imagining, marrying a man she did not even know. How can dad do this to me? Now I have only two options either leave the h...

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“Boy Trouble” by Lavender Blue

Submitted to Contest #95

(This story is written for young adult or middle grade readers) “I should have such a problem!” Elaine fluffs the pillow behind her back and settles comfortably into its softness. “If only...” She looks over at Jess and sighs. It's a deep sigh, one of longing and desire. “You are so lucky, Jess. So why aren't you smiling? Or swooning? Or something!!” This last word is said with such intensity that the rest of the girls in the group nod their approval of it's emphasis and look to Jess. “It's not as much fun as you are making it out to be....

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“Who Wins?” by Alina T

Submitted to Contest #95

"Jerry, if we don't choose the right story to win we could be named the worst judges ever!" Jimmy groaned and kicked back on his chair. "I know, I know!" Jerry yelped. "I am here!" Edna announced dramatically as she entered the room. Edna was also a Judge. Edna was a tall woman with long hair. Edna loved to have a dramatic effect on everything. She was probably the most annoying Judge. "You are late." Jimmy huffed as he put down a story called 'My Dog Ate A Poo And Liked It' "Yes. But I brought donuts!" Edna sang with a smile. Edna sat at th...

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“Should I Stay or Should I Go” by Daniel Norton

Submitted to Contest #95

Should I stay of should I go. That is the dilemma I have been pondering for the past several days. After growing up in a military family, yes I am or was a military brat, I determined that when I left home I would find a place to settle and would stay. I had hated that we had moved so much while I was growing up. It kept me afraid of making friends as I knew that as soon as I became tight with someone dad would be transferred and we would be moving again. That was not a big problem during grade school but when I reached junior h...

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“THE OLD MAN’S WILL ” by Arvind Kashyap

Submitted to Contest #95

THE OLD MAN’S WILL He ran out of money again. The times throughout pandemic were tough. It was no use regretting the decision to take up uncertain profession of law. The recollection of vivid events how his father had opposed his decision to be a lawyer came before his misty eyes. He was swayed by glamour and nobility of legal professional. He had heard at career building lecture that the legal profession is all trust. You betray God if you betray your client. That’s what he heard senior advocates talking about in the bar. He looked at th...

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Start your story with someone being presented with a dilemma.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 216 stories

“Against All Odds” by Estelle Westley

“Absolutely not” by Garrett Michael

“Am I Home” by Babika Goel

“Even Tungsten Melts...” by Lennox Ducksworth

“The Station” by Kaley Colter

“THE BATTLES” by Ezioma Kalu

“A last cup of chocolate” by Anny Alcantara

“One day you will shine, sugar” by Fresh Start0

“JINNAH” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

“DELPHIC DECISION” by Sivaram Govindaraj

“The Dilemma of Diminishing Dreams.” by Pamela De Souza

“Boy Trouble” by Lavender Blue

“Who Wins?” by Alina T

“Should I Stay or Should I Go” by Daniel Norton

“THE OLD MAN’S WILL ” by Arvind Kashyap

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone who’s extremely impulsive — or extremely indecisive.

A character stands in front of two doors. Write a story about what happens after they choose one to enter.

Write about someone making a seemingly inconsequential decision, which goes on to have important consequences.

Write about someone finally making their own choices.

Contest #95

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

920

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: