Write a story about a highly-strung character learning to slow down, or someone pursuing a quieter way of life.

Posted in Character on May 31, 2024

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✍️ 55 stories

“Flaccid Perpetua” by Charles Edward Cheese

Submitted to Contest #253

-But are you doing ok…You backspace on the WhatsApp text as the turning in your stomach tells you that this is why you are sitting on this old sofa in your colleague’s converted garage in the first place.The money from the house being sold had been transferred into your bank account earlier that day and you are treating yourself to a delicious serving of fish and chips you got delivered by Uber Eats. The delivery driver was from Somalia, who got citizenship through asylum as his family was murdered in Mogadishu in 2013. His name was Mo....

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“A Day at the Beach” by Angie Lucas

Submitted to Contest #253

“What should we do today, Milo?” Dorothy smiles brightly at her six-year-old son, running her hand over his soft wavy hair affectionately. He lets her, as he is curled up by her side on the couch, but she wonders for how long. She knows she spoils him, indulges him whenever she can, but who can blame her? It’s hard enough to be a single mother, and Milo’s wide brown eyes and dimpled smile make him impossible to resist. He turns to her now with a hopeful look that melts her heart. “The beach?” he asks. School has just let out for the sum...

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“Sofia Sloth’s Journey to Mindfulness” by Anika Klix

Submitted to Contest #253

It was the best kind of day. The sun was out but it was not too warm to play. A few fluffy white clouds were drifting across the sky making all kinds of fun shapes if only one looked up to notice. Sofia Sloth was ready to find a friend, so she went to the park to do just that. She was happy to see many new friends she could play with and made her way over to the monkey bars. “Hi, what are you playing?” asked Sofia. “I am trying to get across the bars as fast as I can. Want to try? Mandy Monkey sped across the bars very quickly before w...

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“A Moment of Stillness” by Tyrone Winder

Submitted to Contest #253

A mystical realm where communication was a silent ballet of gestures and expressions. In this quiet world, silence reigned, and tranquillity was restless. Yet, even here, the unspoken words weighed heavily on Ella, a gentle soul with a song sung as a sweet acapella. Ella, an elephant with her soft, welcoming eyes. Her presence radiated warmth throughout the forest skies. Her tender demeanour drew others to her like moths to a flame. Her kind face contrasted her scars from past-life pain. She bore the scars from a tale of a tragic...

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“My Yellow Fellow” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #253

My husband, Daryl, and his peculiar behavior had been a growing concern, and these feelings I had about him lingered, refusing to dissipate. Unexplainable incidents disrupted our daily routine, leaving me perplexed and disoriented.I had a headache. No, it was a muscle ache. It was both. It was neither. He was the cause of it. And you know what? I would get nowhere if I tried to figure out why he changed.“You don’t cook your spaghetti anymore!” I accused him one night.“We eat out too much,” was his reply.“No, we don’t! Name the last time.”Dar...

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“Sink” by Derek White

Submitted to Contest #253

The seas were taking a heavy toll on The Captains vessel tonight. Though the seas were typically rather volatile even on a good day, he couldn’t help but think of just how vicious and unforgiving they were in the days before. Heavy swells lapped up against the side of the hull heaving him around his ship unforgivingly. The Captain had found himself in a storm that he had foreseen. He had observed all the warning signs and alerts that a storm was to be expected but headed no mind as to what was to come, reasoning that it was unlikely that he,...

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“Terra Firma” by Joshua Copus - Oxland

Submitted to Contest #253

My species claims humans are futile. Farming is often cited as an example. Humans toil all their lives using tractors, threshers, and other primitive tools to cultivate fruit and vegetables for food and flowers for dyes. All of which can be produced in a nanosecond with our technology. It started as a formal conversation among our government. We discussed where to build a new interplanetary fuel station, and one member of my crew jokingly suggested Earth. We laughed, then the topic shifted from Earth’s fuel sources (even their best nuc...

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“The Anti-Villain” by Noah Graham

Submitted to Contest #253

“Honey… they’ve busted 2 of my tutors on immigration, which means I’ll be running at a loss this month, again… I ermmm… I know why it’s not a good idea… but…” Mina started I was just 13 the first time I killed a “man”. “Look you f*&king Dumb*ss your idiocy is the reason our ecology teacher gives the same lesson over and over and can’t get on to anything interesting” I said to Walter smashing his head into the locker. His friends started to advance on me but remembered what I did when outnumbered in elementary school. I don’t remember ho...

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“Boomer Bloomers!” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #253

Sit back, relax, and you can enjoy a narrative of a life chapter. It is all about a Benny Hill moment for a shy boy, so long ago. How did these younger ones appear on our planet in this day and age? Some might wonder, indeed, always check the bloodline, to consider what your grandparents were getting up to. They were the boomers, dear readers, now recalling their younger years with a good sense of humor, and fond memories of attraction. It was all leading to 'off with bloomers' and procreation. Very creative, 'our generation.'Cole was only...

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“The Unexpected Break” by Sofia Mullan

Submitted to Contest #253

The silence in Allan's normally bustling office was deafening. The phone, once a relentless harbinger of deadlines and crises, sat dormant. His inbox, usually overflowing with urgent emails, displayed a stark emptiness. Allan, a tightly wound coil for the past eighteen years, was finally unraveled, courtesy of a promotion that never came. He'd dedicated his life to the mining company, clawing his way up from a fresh-faced trainee to a respected supervisor. For eighteen long months, he'd practically lived at the mine, filling in for the perpe...

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“CeeCee's Burnout” by L.E. Alice

Submitted to Contest #253

Oh my God. I can’t keep living like this. I’m exhausted, CeeCee thought to herself as she stood in front of the refrigerator, doors wide open, as she peered into the cold box, hoping dinner would just magically appear. If one more person asks me what’s for dinner, I literally just might scream. Feeling a wave of defeat wash over her, she closed the doors and she made her way over to a nearby comfortable swivel chair, collapsed into it and rested her head in her hands. “You good,” her husband asked as he walked into ...

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“The Stars We Still See” by D'Spencer Luyao

Submitted to Contest #253

On a Thursday night in the dead of winter, in a state where the word “winter” meant almost nothing, the world was made only of boxes on paper. Some of these boxes were crossed out, but far too many of them were not. One of these unchecked boxes sat next to a homework assignment that was not due that night, but had to be done that night anyway, because if it was not, then it would need to be done the next day, and the next day already held its own set of unchecked boxes. ...

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“The Cereal Killer” by Elza Dayers

Submitted to Contest #253

At birth, we board the train and meet our parents. We believe they will always travel by our side but one day they step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Some ride the train looking out the rear, yearning for what was near and dear, watching hills roll by and marking every year. Kyle stands on his bathroom Spider-Mat brushing his teeth. Stickers frame the mirror: X-Men, Cars, Toy Story, Barbie, etc. His dirty clothes lay next to the overflowing laundry basket: a yellow Duck Camp shirt, cargo pants, knee-high green Dino socks. The bristles s...

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“Here's to What Matters” by Susan Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #253

“What do you mean you aren’t going?” Minnie’s words cut to the quick.“It’s just that I have to look after some things here. You know I had intended to be there." Mae was answering, but her voice sounded like someone else’s even to herself.“This isn’t you, Mae. I’ve never seen you taking a step back from anything. Are you sure you’re OK?” Before she could answer a feeble voice called her from the back room. “Mae? Could you get me a fresh glass of water? My throat is so dry.” Mae cringed at the intrusion, but tied up her conversation with...

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“The Thunder Chopper” by Cameron Hoormann

Submitted to Contest #253

I heard the Thunder Chopper roaring down the road. The motor's guttural scream made Caleb sit up and start barking. "Quiet," I tell him. He whimpered but barked no more. I knew I had a few minutes before Greg would be here. You always heard the Chopper before you saw it. I put down my book and grabbed my gun. Across the sun-beaten plain I saw the black flash of machine and rider carving up the road, snaking around turns and rocketing down straightaways. All the while the motor's sound got louder as it got closer. I built that bike. I to...

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Write a story about a highly-strung character learning to slow down, or someone pursuing a quieter way of life.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 55 stories

“Flaccid Perpetua” by Charles Edward Cheese

“A Day at the Beach” by Angie Lucas

“Sofia Sloth’s Journey to Mindfulness” by Anika Klix

“A Moment of Stillness” by Tyrone Winder

“My Yellow Fellow” by Joe Smallwood

“Sink” by Derek White

“Terra Firma” by Joshua Copus - Oxland

“The Anti-Villain” by Noah Graham

“Boomer Bloomers!” by Julie Grenness

“The Unexpected Break” by Sofia Mullan

“CeeCee's Burnout” by L.E. Alice

“The Stars We Still See” by D'Spencer Luyao

“The Cereal Killer” by Elza Dayers

“Here's to What Matters” by Susan Jenkins

“The Thunder Chopper” by Cameron Hoormann

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story over the course of a few minutes; no flashbacks, no flashforwards.

Start your story with a character canceling their plans.

Write a story that contains the line, "I wish we could stay here forever."

Write about a character who has the ability to pause the passage of time.

Contest #253

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

334

Contest entries

117

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: