Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog

Menu

✕
CONNECT
Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships
ABOUT
About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story that starts with a character-revealing something unusual about themselves.

Posted in Character on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 142 stories

“You See Sir” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #44

“You See Sir” “You see sir, the truth is, I’m a leprechaun.” As Patrick looked at the small man, thin and short, sort of withered like an old leather belt, he could almost believe what he had just been told. The problem with that interpretation was that Patrick had just come out of the local Irish pub, and the small man was standing in the alleyway just beside it. He pretty much knew what was going to come next – an appeal for money, whatever he could spare, or words similar to that. “I was wondering, sir, if you had any loose chan...

3 comments 3
Read story

“The Gift of Magic” by Brigidh McKeen

Submitted to Contest #44

The Gift of MagicBy Brigidh McKeenBrigidh sat quiet as she called the forces of the world to ground and center her. She was a Crone. One experienced with the magics that this world held. This world had little magic left. Too much science had taken over and drowned out the magic’s song. It took many years to learn to hear the song of magic but with much training any practitioner of magic could find the quiet and peaceful tune it held. In time most people in their later years of practice would learn to feel that vibration and the rhythmic beat...

0 comments 0
Read story

“lamp” by Niké A.

Submitted to Contest #44

For someone who has a way of lighting up every room, I feel like I'm left in the dark on a lot of things. Ignorance is bliss, sure, but pure and utter confusion is less than appealing. I would love to ask a few questions to these people, this family. I would love to ask why the man always sips his morning coffee with a frown on his face and dark bags under his eyes. I would love to ask why the woman gingerly tiptoes around the house like a thief and clutches cleaning supplies to her person like a knight would clutch a shield. I would love to...

6 comments 6
Read story

“Something Unusual ” by Lisa Hollis

Submitted to Contest #44

Something unusual It is Monday, April 29, 2030 The time is 4:30 PM to be technical it is 16:30. At first glance, the building I am about to enter looks like a glorified hotel with every window exactly the same every shape and careful design in its place, every suite identical so there is no mistake, you can guess what any room looks like with 100% accuracy. Don’t let it fool you, it does look nice but it really is far more institutionalized than what meets the eye, upon entering you must swipe in numbers and an automated voice...

5 comments 5
Read story

“A day in a life. ” by Vianney Muñoz

Submitted to Contest #44

The strangest thing just happened to me today: on the way to work I came across an old newspaper posting my picture and mentioning that I had been reported as a missing person. The newspaper is four months old, and reading the article, it says my wife had been all this time looking for me, apparently, I left for work and never came back, nobody knows where I have been. There is also a detailed description of the clothes I was wearing the day I allegedly disappeared, a detailed description of my physique, my age, everything relevant in findin...

2 comments 2
Read story

“A Happy Heart” by Ramona Tennison

Submitted to Contest #44

Jill was a dear friend of mine and later when I married her brother, Jim, she became my sister-in-law.Jill told me about a time in her life that was very difficult and I have never forgotten it nor has anyone else, especially her family.She was a young mother with five children ranging from newborn and the other four ages 7, 8, 9, 10. She was recently divorced, in a new town where she didn't know anyone and living in a small house. Her child support payments never came on time or not at all and because of her recent move, Jill did not have a...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Different” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #44

Being in middle school is bad. Being a minotaur in a mostly human middle school is worse. Being a new transfer student, and a minotaur, and transferring to a mostly human middle school is hell on Earth.  It had already been a month since I transferred from the mid-Earth realm to Ohio, and I still hated it. Today was no exception as I felt the sharp sting of an apple hitting the back of my skull. “Hey, Bully! Eat up!” Some boy shouted at me. “My name is Billy,” I muttered weakly. “Whatever you say, Bully!”  The group of boys walked ...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Zephyrs of Change” by Caitlyn Ash

Submitted to Contest #44

“Alright, Peter, your turn,” Tom said slowly, distracted by the race car game the three boys were playing.  Peter looked away from the screen and thought for a moment. “Something different about myself, right?” he clarified.  The boy to his right, Bradly, added, “Unusual. Something unusual.”  An idea popped into his head, “Oh! I like to draw. You guys don’t know that about me,”  Tom seemed surprised. “Really?” he asked. “I should have known you were a softy.”  While Bradly snickered, Peter was offended. “I am not a s...

8 comments 8
Read story

“I've Forgot to Tell You ” by Nour Too

Submitted to Contest #44

   “You're a weirdo,” that was what they used to call me back when we were in Shandong, China. Ever since, my little secret became everything I’d desperately want to hide from the world. Not that I was a shy, insecure kiddo, but it was because of my toes.    Peering at my feet, I cringed in embarrassed. It wasn’t unusual for me to have that feeling deep down, yet I tried, always, to conceal it in front of others. Who could ever understand that having four toes instead of the normal five was completely norma...

8 comments 8
Read story

“Though It Takes A Thousand Lifetimes” by Cara H

Submitted to Contest #44

Though It Takes A Thousand LifetimesA Great SorrowPepper Baiij worked as a nurse’s aide but her real interests tended to remain unspoken. Pepper possessed clairvoyant and clairsentient abilities. She supposed that she could technically be considered a medium, although she shied away from describing herself as such. Most of the time, she sensed emotions rather than hard facts. However, she had seen more than one full-torso apparition during her time working at the sixty-year-old Trinity Gardens Retirement Community and Care Center.Over the ye...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Haven” by Luther Maxwell

Submitted to Contest #44

Something about the gentle fall of rain always made Coen feel so gloomy. Perhaps it was the cold feel of it against his skin, or the smell that lingered in the air… Or perhaps it was simply because it reminded him of his plight. Pulling out a locket with a photo of an infant, he sighed. How old was she now? Five? Six? How long had he even been gone? “Coen!” A familiar voice called, pulling his gaze back to the stone pathway just outside of his home. It was Sheila- she was supposed to be keeping watch in the East, if he remembered correctly. ...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Sunday Chicken” by Karolina Guilcapi

Submitted to Contest #44

I once worked with a girl who bought a rotisserie chicken every Sunday. She then explained in detail, how she would break down the bird into five equal portions and have herself a chicken lunch every day. This was not news to me, as her desk was next to mine and we often ate at our computers. We hovered with our plastic dishes over keyboards while trying to read emails, the smell of microwaved chicken wafting through the office. I was witness to her rushed chicken lunches regularly. Nonetheless, she was adamant that I learn her routine and t...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Love that never was” by Anushree Choudhury

Submitted to Contest #44

The day dawned bright and warm ; it had to; it was the 10th of June. The roads were bustling with vehicles and people. Some of them were the CEO's of the leading companies, surprisingly all of them were headed to the same place-"The biggest midsession business meet" organised by none other than the most successful business tycoon of the era-'Rohan Mehra .'It was almost the time for the meeting to commence, all the invited members arrived except for his own business partner, his true support and confidant-'Riya Mehra', his sister. He could no...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Flickering Fear” by Gwen Anderson

Submitted to Contest #44

She had never feared fire.Maybe fear isn’t the right word. She wasn’t an idiot; she was still aware that the flames could burn her, hurt her. She was moderately careful as a result, though she didn’t flinch when the campfire blew towards her. Didn’t hesitate to run across the hot coals that night on the beach. Didn’t turn down the opportunity to feed more wood into the fire’s crackling mouth.Her parents thought her naïve, but she knew better than to listen.She once told me that a sense of calm washed over her when she watched the flames. The...

5 comments 5
Read story

“The story of the last lead holder” by Richard Deatherage

Submitted to Contest #44

The story of the last lead holder          Back in the summer of 1979, a project that started off as an attempt by his High School Drafting Teacher to keep him from cutting class, actually put Richard Deatherage on the path to his career.         Recognizing Richard's boredom with remedial drafting, the Teacher instead had Deatherage draft and design a new custom home plan for a friend while he was in detention. The plans turned out to be accepted ...

0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that starts with two characters saying goodbye.

Character – 248 stories

Write a story that starts with a life-changing event.

Novel – 175 stories

Write a story that starts with someone returning from a trip.

Character – 111 stories

Write a story that starts by establishing its setting in a different time period — without explicitly stating what that period is.

Historical Fiction – 114 stories

Contest #44

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Just the Beginning

$50

Prize money

790

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 05, 2020 EST

Won by D. Holmes 🏆

Title: A Gamble

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢