Write about a character doing something they’ve done hundreds of times — only this time, it’s taken on a new meaning.

Posted in Character on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 148 stories

“A story of Resilience. You only stop learning when you die.” by Chacha Jaramillo

Submitted to Contest #101

I’m 53 now. I’m either half up the hill or down the hill, where the top is 100.Many will say I’m a crying baby for what you are about to read. Behind everyone there’s a story of survival, a story of adaptation and aceptante?I’m a normal human being, I believe in equality. We all deserve to be treated equally regardless of their sexuality, background or skin color.Life taught me that planning ahead never helps, at least in my case. For me the more I planned for something, the less chances for me to not happen were higher. It was li...

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“A Tribute” by Fiery Red

Submitted to Contest #101

The lady at number 213 woke to the first ray of light at dawn. Today the day was gloomier than usual. The grey clouds hid the sun and the trees danced back and forth in the wind. She was not compelled to start her day at six, but alas old habits die hard. She wrapped the shawl that sat on a rickety chair beside her bed. The chair too was old like her and a little blemished with age. It was made for her brother when he had started to go to school. Nevertheless, she used the chair like a pillar and slowly stood on her feet. Her legs were stiff...

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“The Power to Humiliate” by Ulfa Hassan

Submitted to Contest #101

I have been teaching for almost a year. I am accustomed to it now; the ways of the children and the work I must put in to ensure lessons run smoothly. On Monday mornings, I teach English and then History in the afternoon. The children tend to get somewhat rowdy after they have finished their lunch, like a group of football fans on a pub crawl after they’ve had a couple of drinks. It was difficult for me at first, to shout at the children when they don’t listen. It seems barbaric, inhuman to do such a thing. But I have lear...

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“The Performance We Shouldn't Have Done” by Iona Cottle

Submitted to Contest #101

The back room of the church is echoey and cold. It’s dusty as well, and I curl my lips up as I wave a hand in front of my face to keep the dust away. This is the worst place for a warm-up, and in any other circumstances I would be demanding to talk to the manager. “It’ll have to do,” I say. Isabella comes in behind me and looks round. “It’s fine. Thank you.” Her voice is duller than I remember, and so flat that I worry about how well she’ll do today. The door clicks shut and we’re left alone. “Better warm-up,” I say and start jumping...

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“It All Starts” by Lila Mottram

Submitted to Contest #101

It all starts with a car accident. The music's blaring and Liz's hands are in the air, her hips swinging side to side (to the best of their ability in a strapped seatbelt)- The window's open and the self-created wind has her brown hair whipping at her face. Kaleb smiles widely and turns up the music a little louder as he catches Ryan, Taylor, and Ema, all dancing, hips bumping in the back seat. The world was theirs. That's what he thought anyway. But every good moment has to end sometime, and theirs happened to end with burning rubber,...

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“Time After Time” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #101

Lying in my bed, I hear the clock tick and think of you ~ Cyndi Lauper The song came on the radio. It was old, but not that old. I wonder where the singer is nowadays? She had a fun voice and catchy tunes that told gritty stories. I wish I had copper hair. The song is still playing, but it's not on the radio now. It's in the car with me as I head somewhere far away from you. Scenes collapse in my head, or I should say they overlap. From the steering wheel and windshield I move to a more comfortable spot where it's possible to str...

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“cut them free” by A. S.

Submitted to Contest #101

TW: murder, suicide Her plasticine face shatters with each change of expression. The fragments of her skin melt into each other smoothing the cracks once her appearance bears a thin resemblance to the proper emotion. Her fingers press to her lips, a subtle, yet undeniable sign that this person is only pretending. That is if beneath it all she is even a person. The first signs of daylight appear over the fractured horizon of the mountains, sending waves of contempt flickering through my bones. Six in the morning, and already t...

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“An Eerie Lake By the Cliff” by Rafael S

Submitted to Contest #101

I gasped for air as sand ran away from my body, solidifying into one being. Looking at my sides all I could see was fog cleansing the tall trees covered in moss that were scattered throughout a path, that path led to a small particle of light at the end of that tunnel. Gathering enough strength, I got up and started to walk towards that light, bugs were flying and their buzzing sounds broke the silence of the woods. &...

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“The Longing Wayside of a Road” by Timothy Boyle

Submitted to Contest #101

The road stretched on for what those from out of town would say was miles. Folks from town however knew that it was only one mile from Charlie Reade’s home to the barbershop on the outskirts of town. It was a long, quiet, yet peaceable road. To Mr. Charlie Reade it was also a friendly road. As the spring sun crept up above the maples that skirted the road, a rabbit crossed at a tortoise’s pace. Mr. Reade watched the rabbit and wondered whether it was heading back to its hole, or out ...

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“Shackled” by Havilah Bail

Submitted to Contest #101

Mother had dragged me to many weddings in my lifetime. Sometimes it was a friend of hers. Sometimes it was a relative of fathers. Sometimes it was a friend of a cousin of a friend’s friend.Today was no different. I still had to sacrifice my Saturday sleep. I still had to empty my wallet for clothes and gifts. I still had to squeeze into an Ankara dress worth two months of salary. But this time, it was my sister dragging me to the wedding.We arrived three hours early to help the bride prepare. No, let me rephrase that. My little sister, Ngozi...

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“It's Quiet” by Frostie Whinery

Submitted to Contest #101

It's quiet. No, not exactly. There's sound, faint— a distant chorus vibrating from the trees outside my window where the katydid's quaver: katy katy did, katy katy didn't. katy katy did, katy katy didn't. It's an endless cry that I easily close my eyes to, nothing like the cry of a newborn, the newborn sleeping, finally, in the bassinet next to me. The thought of his cry jolts me and I sit up. Is he breathing? I stare at him: his chest, his ribs, waiting, watching, counting my own heartbeats until wait— I shuffle ...

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“Ella's Saviour” by Ciara Grau

Submitted to Contest #101

It was a normal day for Ella. Well, that’s what she thought. Little did she know that she may be able to have a better future. Under one circumstance. 6:03 a.m. She threw one of her white flattened down pillows at the alarm clock when it started buzzing obnoxiously and she couldn’t take it anymore. However, it didn’t turn off the first time, so two minutes later she finally threw the covers off of her and dragged herself out of bed. It was Monday. A day where most people dread. But not Ella. It’s the day she gets to leave her house. ...

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“The Boring” by Deborah Curci

Submitted to Contest #101

By Deborah Curci, writing as Kate Kersey Boris stood at the window, looking at the tossing sea that spread from horizon to horizon. He was alone when he muttered, “I just can’t take it anymore… the, the boring…”. He twitched lightly, shoulder meeting cheek, arms wrapped around himself in a reassuring self-hug. The well drilling rig had been out in the sea for as long as anyone cared to remember. It was as much part of the view as the gulls and the waves. Deep beneath those waves was a drill so large, with a bit so huge and fierce,...

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“The Repetition Task” by Navitha Paranavithana

Submitted to Contest #101

“Oh ,how many times have I pulled off early mornings and late nights every day which were dedicated to learning a new song on piano. But, I think I’ve barely scratched the surface of becoming a great pianist,” my inner voice scolded me aggressively.I didn't actually mean to treat myself like that, but sadly my ego took it too far. I was not a huge fan of music and I had a mixture of an amateur and soldier mindset, which is not the mindset that you would wish to have in your life. I was proud, reluctant and wanted to be spotlighted as a great...

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“The Gentle Cycle” by Kristina Ritchie

Submitted to Contest #101

The Gentle Cycle. By Kristina Ritchie This was by no means a typical Sunday afternoon; confusion, panic, and grief set in as I tried to handle a situation so strange, that there exists no parallel to describe it. A simple housekeeping routine turns into a mysterious death leading to more questions than answers. This particular Sunday had not begun with my usual coffee and morning news routine as I had been out of town for the weekend. I had returned home sometime early afternoon from a festival of sorts where I’d spent...

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Write about a character doing something they’ve done hundreds of times — only this time, it’s taken on a new meaning.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 148 stories

“A story of Resilience. You only stop learning when you die.” by Chacha Jaramillo

“A Tribute” by Fiery Red

“The Power to Humiliate” by Ulfa Hassan

“The Performance We Shouldn't Have Done” by Iona Cottle

“It All Starts” by Lila Mottram

“Time After Time” by Kathleen March

“cut them free” by A. S.

“An Eerie Lake By the Cliff” by Rafael S

“The Longing Wayside of a Road” by Timothy Boyle

“Shackled” by Havilah Bail

“It's Quiet” by Frostie Whinery

“Ella's Saviour” by Ciara Grau

“The Boring” by Deborah Curci

“The Repetition Task” by Navitha Paranavithana

“The Gentle Cycle” by Kristina Ritchie

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a character who fails to understand something until they have the full context.

Write a story in which the same line recurs three times.

Write a story about a character who always repeats themselves.

Write a story that involves a reflection in a mirror.

Contest #101

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

728

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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