Write about how a single event affects a seemingly unrelated area of a character’s life (their friendships, career, romantic relationships, etc.)

Posted in Character on Jun 16, 2023

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✍️ 35 stories

“Mr Llewellyn” by Dean Rielly

Submitted to Contest #203

“I’m going to be going away for a while I’m afraid, Billy. Your bitch of a mother has been cheating on me.” These were my father’s words that come to mind any time someone asks me: 'What led you to work with underprivileged families?' Their tone often carries just a hint of disdain toward the whole endeavour, if they realise it or not. 'You're braver than I am. I can't fathom dealing with those filthy dysfunctional people. They must all be druggies, wretched things!' I mean sure, some struggle with addiction, but i...

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“Where's the Mailman” by Michael Renteria

Submitted to Contest #203

The morning smelled of rain and petrichor, and the sun stretched far and wide, peaking its bright orange light through the clump of clouds. It reminded Dave of his childhood: walking, hiking, and biking through his neighborhood in the summer making his way up the Franklin Mountains. In the mountains, there were different trails to venture off through, and Dave hiked through them all. It was on one of his hikes that he knew that this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. His uncle always said, ...

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“Up from the Underbrush” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #203

Tom Potenski had crawled through the underbrush of his high school career like a fugitive trapped in a never-ending forest. He faced an uncertain future with limited prospects and no plan on how to move forward. He had managed to bluff his way to decent grades at St. Jerome’s High School, particularly in English and history. He couldn’t see how this had prepared him for anything except standing in front of a classroom trying to jam som...

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“Schrödinger’s Baby” by Allan Bernal

Submitted to Contest #203

The first time the Memory seeped through was in freshman year of high school, sitting in 4th period lunch across from my girlfriend of two weeks, Ruthie. We had just learned about genes with the Punnett square, and I could see her doodling those boxes in her notebook, fantasizing about her future family. “Do you think our kids would have my curly hair, or your straight hair?” she asked innocently. “I don’t want kids.” – I never realized that’s how I...

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“Granny's Books” by Kristine Bone

Submitted to Contest #203

Granny’s Books “Granny, is this a good book for tonight?” Greta Schneider sat in her usual place in the family living room. Near the fireplace in an immense lounge chair, a blanket covering her tiny body, she reminded me of a turtle with only her head exposed. She was a small woman with steel gray hair, sparce on top, somewhat pasty white skin and piercing blue eyes that eyed my choice of reading material suspiciously. As her eyes were not what they used to be, momma insisted each evening I read to Granny to help her relax and hope...

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“Tiffany Shultz ” by Deva Hinton-Lawson

Submitted to Contest #203

"-And that's why I can't love." "I'm sorry?" "Yeah It's terrible-" "No I mean I don't understand. What does that have to do with your love life?" "You seriously didn’t get it? You want me to tell that whole story over again?" "If it’ll make you feel better…" "Fine! Pay attention this time." Xandria shifted in her stool as she prepared to re-tell her tragic tale. "It all started in fifth grade on the playground, she ruled the playground. Tiffany Shultz was the most popular girl at Wayward Elementary. Everything she did oo...

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“Waiting On a One-Word Song” by L.B Rinker

Submitted to Contest #203

Waves of pain were still radiating down my thigh to my toes. The pills they gave me helped a little, but it’s not like I could just ignore the fact that my leg had practically broken in half just a few hours earlier. I was just driving around the country, aimless, finding work where I could, and one day I decided I was going to be a roofer… that same day I slid off of a two story. I couldn’t even remember what town I was in, but I laid there in that hospital bed, waiting for the nurse to come back like she said she would. I had told her bef...

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“Sometimes we do things to help ourselves but instead those choices change our lives forever ” by Jori Nunes

Submitted to Contest #203

Although it's been nearly a decade since I appeared on the Dr.Phil show titled, "My sister wrote a book of lies" being on the show still haunts me. My life has been completely torn a part and I am not blaming anyone but myself and how I handled coming to terms with my past abuse. I had never blamed my father since he was mentally ill and an alcoholic. I always excused his inappropriate behaviors towards me hoping it was because he was under the influence of alcohol or who knows what else. The women loved him, they would always say he was so ...

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“Dave” by Sarah Addams

Submitted to Contest #203

As a freelance writer, my income was always unpredictable. One month I'd be rolling in cash, and the next I'd be scraping by on ramen noodles and tap water. I was used to the feast-or-famine cycle, but I never expected that a single Craigslist purchase would have such a profound impact on my life. It all started when I decided to buy a used exercise bike. I'd been meaning to get in shape for months, but I couldn't afford a gym membership. So when I saw an ad for a barely-used bike at a fraction of the retail price, I jumped at the chance. ...

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“The Ghost Of Nosferatu: A Love Story” by Zack Herman

Submitted to Contest #203

I met Jessica, my wife, on a crisp Saturday night in October, back when I was fifteen. This will seem like a roundabout way of telling that story, but it’s my story and I’ll tell it my way. I would have probably never met her if not for something that happened when I was 13.On a cold Saturday afternoon in February, I decided that I was a classic movie fan and I was not a sports fan.Let me explain:As far back as anybody can remember, the men in the Skinner family have dedicated their Saturday afternoons to sports. My pop, Shaun and Eddi...

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“I Never Knew You But You Will Change My Life” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #203

“Right, gather around everyone. One, two, three, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Richard, (‘old man’ someone yelled out), Happy Birthday to you”. “Hey, what about the ‘Hip Hip’s” … “Forget about those, and ‘why was he born so flaming ugly! Let’s eat the cake!” The noise of the party had lifted. It was of course the alcohol that did that. No matter who it was, even the demure Kitty, when someone had a few drinks inside them, they got less inhibited and more vocal. The music even seemed louder, Elvis was yelli...

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“Tijuana at Five” by H.e. Ross

Submitted to Contest #203

Words woke me and I looked up through the smell of must and gas to a smiling moustache on a strange face. I was still curled in the car’s darkness. I didn’t know if it had been on a long drive or if we had arrived in Mexico. I didn’t even know if I was awake but I did know that we were sitting still now with the engine still vibrating. The moustache man wore dark glasses under a slouchy light brown military kind of hat with a shiny bill. I saw brown skin and a smile but he was just a blur with a background of glaring lights against a pale wa...

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“What Goes Around” by Nick Baldino

Submitted to Contest #203

“Come in, Mr. Leroy.” Jeff Karpinski, lead attorney at Cormac Litigation, stood from his desk and offered his hand. Harold Leroy took it with a close-lipped smile. “It’s great to meet you, Mr. Karpinski.” “Certainly, Harold. And may I add that is a lovely tie. Are those rubber ducks?” “Of course, Mr. Karpinski. I’m quite fond of them.” That wasn’t exactly true- he never really cared for the yellow creatures, but he knew Karpinski did, and so had made the purchase yesterday morning. He predicted he would never wear it again. “Me as ...

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“Toenails ” by Naomi Quick

Submitted to Contest #203

Staring down at my tanned knees, I release a breath of relief. Physically and mentally. Mentally, I think that was my last breath. I need relief. It’s 93 today. Heat index of 103. The house feels nice at 72. Trimmed toenails decorate the space between my feet. *sigh. I vacuumed today. I can’t keep up. I’m not enough. Or am I too much. This might be the straw. I think I’m broken.I cooked lunch. I’m trying to be a good mom. He’s a great dad. They love him. They respect him. I demand that they do. He has earned it. I think I have too. I’m tempo...

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“Thank you” by Patrick Druid

Submitted to Contest #203

Thank you. My alarm went off around 7 pm while is was in my room, working another sketch on my drafting table. I got up from the little office chair and hit the off button. My little chair squeaked louder than the alarm but that was to be expected asi had bought it at a local thrift store. It served it's purpose though. I met my Mom in the little hallway next to my room as she gathered all of the clothes into a large, off white cotton bag and set it down, while I reached for the detergent and fabric softener from the to...

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Write about how a single event affects a seemingly unrelated area of a character’s life (their friendships, career, romantic relationships, etc.)

Submissions are closed

✍️ 35 stories

“Mr Llewellyn” by Dean Rielly

“Where's the Mailman” by Michael Renteria

“Up from the Underbrush” by Bob Faszczewski

“Schrödinger’s Baby” by Allan Bernal

“Granny's Books” by Kristine Bone

“Tiffany Shultz ” by Deva Hinton-Lawson

“Waiting On a One-Word Song” by L.B Rinker

“Sometimes we do things to help ourselves but instead those choices change our lives forever ” by Jori Nunes

“Dave” by Sarah Addams

“The Ghost Of Nosferatu: A Love Story” by Zack Herman

“I Never Knew You But You Will Change My Life” by Valerie Preston

“Tijuana at Five” by H.e. Ross

“What Goes Around” by Nick Baldino

“Toenails ” by Naomi Quick

“Thank you” by Patrick Druid

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story during which two conversations happen simultaneously.

Write about two friends getting into a fist fight.

Write a story that experiments with tone — perhaps a difficult subject dealt with in a playful way, or an ostensibly happy scene that hints at darkness lurking beneath.

Start your story in the middle of the action.

Contest #203

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

226

Contest entries

121

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: