Write about a character who breaks free from a tradition to create a new one.

Posted in Character on Jun 30, 2023

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✍️ 26 stories

“The Bus” by Emilia Horton

Submitted to Contest #205

The bus 6 came at 6:36, as it did yesterday and the day before. As it did each morning. Anne stepped in the bus, smiled at the driver, the same old bald man wearing his white polo shirt, two buttons undone in summer and buttoned up in winter. It was winter now. The last button dug in the fat of his neck. He did not smile back but watched her tap her bus pass against the machine. She ticked her foot, 3, 2, 1 and there it was, the two beeps. She walked to her seat. It wasn’t carved to be so, but it is where she always sat, in the middle, in fr...

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“IN FULL REGALIA” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #205

Levi knew more about what he wasn’t than what he was. He felt like a rogue puzzle piece. He was not athletic, he was not exceptionally funny or bright, he wasn’t interested in smoking weed, nor was he gleeful enough for glee club, and so on. A natural offshoot to being a one-of-a-kind kid is isolation, exclusion, one-ism, enjoying your own company comfort-thinking, learning how to harness introspection so that you become your own think tank and you do quite well with it. Of course, you’re the only one who knows anything ...

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“Road House 1969” by Tommy R Hicks

Submitted to Contest #205

ROAD HOUSE 1969 It was Saturday night, and they were on their way to the Roadhouse. Red was driving, Art rode ‘shotgun,’ and Lil’ Bob and Jimmy sat in the back. Clarence, an older friend of Red’s from the notoriously reputed 25th Avenue, aka ‘2-5,’ insisted that Red take his Chrysler Coupe for a night out on the town. He didn’t need the car, he was working the midnight shift at the Steel Mill. In the morning, Red had to be on his way back to school. Summer vacation was up.&nb...

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“Clockwork” by Liz Leness

Submitted to Contest #205

"Hi, welcome to Martha's, can I interest you in some lemonade? I just made a fresh pitcher, but I can also make raspberry, blueberry or pomegranate lemonade, whichever tickle's your fancy," the bell above the front door chimes and I instinctively look at who my next guests are. Anticipating to see a brown tweed jacket with legs and a pocket square, and flowing blue floral dress -- or yellow, or pink, or red, whatever she was feeling that particular Sunday, but always matching the pocket square -- stroll through the door, but instea...

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“The Rite of Rebellion” by Quinn Micheals

Submitted to Contest #205

Tala stood by my side, proud, unwavering, and with a fierceness in her eyes that burned through every elder that tried to intimidate me. Her normally onyx eyes shone with a fiery glow that I realized wasn’t reflected from the ominous reverent bonfire that burned in front of us, but rather the full corn moon that ignited the night sky in an amber ambience. “Easy Tala,” I whispered, trying to reassure her that the situation wasn’t cause for vigilance, though I wasn’t so sure myself. She looked up at me with a weary gaze that said, ‘...

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“The Call of the Full Moon” by Melody Watson

Submitted to Contest #205

The Call of the Full Moon “I've been thinking”, Dad said as he stuffed a fork full of roast and gravy into his mouth. Everyone glanced up from their home cooked roast beef dinners, seeing his mouth was too full to continue, all went back to their own meals. “This is juicy, Nadine. Very good,” Dad smiled in my direction. “As I was saying, I've been thinking.” he paused as he drank some milk. A collective sigh surrounded the table. Chuckling, Dad wiped his milk moustache with a worn linen napkin. “I might be able to hold all of your attentio...

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“Embrace” by Merin Prince

Submitted to Contest #205

I could not bring myself to ring the doorbell. I could hear the laughter from behind the door and wondered if I was better off staying at my apartment this year. I could share this sweet potato casserole with my girlfriend this thanksgiving. I could even go for a little painting with a twist session or a pumpkin carving class with her… No. I need to face them. I need to give them the benefit of the doubt and convince them. A heavy set of footsteps followed the doorbell’s shriller-than-usual tone. I could recognize those footsteps anywhere. I...

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“Maev and the Broken Oath ” by Daniel Rosas

Submitted to Contest #205

“You ask for direction. A specific line upon which to follow. This, I cannot give,” the Oracle began her voice thin and light. “Circumstances can make fate feel like a certainty. An inevitable destination regardless of one’s own desires. For Erylis, the Bringer of Death, and Princess of Vestroya she finds herself in the rather vexing confines of a familiar location in her home world of Haut-Rhin. A place she should n’er have returned and yet,” the Oracle paused holding up a taloned hand. “Now she will face the very destiny she wished to avoi...

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“Trevor” by Jane Sparrow

Submitted to Contest #205

Trevor Christmas is Mother's day in our house. And by that, I don't mean Mothers day gets skipped, but rather that Christmas is the sun, and we are the planets. She has a laminated checklist stuck to the inside of the pantry, it stays there all year round. Under the subheading, October, is "decorating". It begins with a slathering of outdoor lights to the roof, gutters, walls — anywhere that can hold a hook or a nail. Inside, snowflake pom poms are hung from the ceiling and little reindeer trinket dishes are placed ...

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“Ritual” by Mark VanTassel

Submitted to Contest #205

Ritual By Mark VanTassel Metai crossed the field, careful not to touch the blood or body parts that dotted the hard packed clay. He found Buti at the far side, laying on his back. A spear had taken him in the neck, and a sword or knife had opened his belly. “Don’t worry, Brother,” Metai said. “I have you now.” He unfolded a large piece of linen and carefully rolled Buti into the cloth. For the final few wraps he included a couple of poles. Once the precious bundle was secure, he lifted the ends of the poles and started back to the vill...

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“Uncharted Territory” by May Gables

Submitted to Contest #205

This story isn’t over and I don’t think it ever will be, because like most things in life, there is rarely ever a tidy ending. I try to be gentle with myself as my mind drowns me in memories and sensations of her last days. I let those memories, like a raging, stormy ocean, toss me around and spill over into my eyes. I let the tears roll down my cheeks like hot, salty rivers. I let the sobs shake my body as my world spins on an unhinged axis until the ocean settles and I can resume my carefully rehearsed peace. I don’t know wha...

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Write about a character who breaks free from a tradition to create a new one.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 26 stories

“The Bus” by Emilia Horton

“IN FULL REGALIA” by Susan Catucci

“Road House 1969” by Tommy R Hicks

“Clockwork” by Liz Leness

“The Rite of Rebellion” by Quinn Micheals

“The Call of the Full Moon” by Melody Watson

“Embrace” by Merin Prince

“Maev and the Broken Oath ” by Daniel Rosas

“Trevor” by Jane Sparrow

“Ritual” by Mark VanTassel

“Uncharted Territory” by May Gables

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story during a full moon night.

Make your protagonist go through a rite of passage.

Write about a character who develops a special ritual to cope with something.

Make a character perform a ceremony to set something or someone free.

Contest #205

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

307

Contest entries

130

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: