Write about someone trying something completely new.

Posted in Character on Dec 29, 2023

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✍️ 34 stories

“A Resolution to be More Honest” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #231

A hush fell over the Ecoburger Diner when old Smiley Rawlinson came out of the kitchen, glanced at the menu board, and then with one determined swipe of the blackboard eraser, removed the infamous “Mushroom Burger Surprise.” They would have started whispering about it if he didn’t also immediately start writing something new, and so instead the silence stretched as everyone craned their necks to see. Smiley stepped back and dusted his hands of chalk, and the patrons read what he set down. Melinda gasped. Artie raised his burly white brows. R...

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“Instructive Behaviour” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #231

“What do I do now, Tommo?” “Breathe in, Granddad. Then, slowly breathe out – as you release your grip.” “Why’s it shaking?” “Coz, you’re pulling too hard. Just relax a bit. There! Now, breathe in… Good. Now, slowly breathe out; then, let it go.” “Nothing’s ‘appened.” “You’re still gripping it tightly, Granddad.” “It’s me fuckin’ arthritis in me index finger, innit? I can’t straighten it quick enough.” “Look down, Granddad. Can you see what you’re doing wrong?” “I’m extending it too much?” “Correct. And you’re holding on to it with your middl...

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“Fate?” by Amanda Lieser

Submitted to Contest #231

The film began with a sunset that blazed across the Colorado sky, pulling deep reds and oranges into the world. Violet sat holding hands with Leo. His hands were clammy, hers were, too. And he turned to her, pulling at the edges of a frayed blanket to dust away the blades of grass. She knew what was coming when he stood. The film slowed down as he reached into his back pocket and knelt. The proposal was perfect. Violet beamed. Leo beamed back at her and they sealed their love with a kiss. The screen faded to black.The next scene was of the t...

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“Her First Submission” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #231

They were short little tales of approximately 700 words, each having a twist ending similar to the old black and white Twilight Zone series. She remembered watching the marathon every New Year’s Day saying “Just one more” as each episode came to an end and the next about to start. She hoped her stories would have that same effect. “Just one more,” she imagined her readers saying as they flipped to the next story in her collection. That is, if she ever completed her short story collection. She thought of the five c...

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“Lion Eyes” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #231

In the heart of Texas stands an exclusive hunting club called The Gable, a two-story lodge of gigantic proportions. Made of cedar, it sprawls out over ten thousand square feet. Its front doors open onto a cobblestone deck the length of an average tree and an open-roofed cedar deck above it. This astonishing entrance is supported by six cedar logs going from ground to roof, each cut from a single tree. Everything about this lodge screams extravagant wealth: huge windows, log pillars, fountains with statues of elk, deer, and bears standing tal...

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“Coffee, Tea or Me” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #231

“This Christmas I bought everything already! There’s nothing left to buy!” complained Avery Dulles, the II.“Truth be told! Yes! I think you hit the nail right on the head! That is your problem,” the wizard on vacation affirmed as he sipped from a hot mint tea served with a too small saucer. His eyes were downcast, staring at it. If I laugh or cry, this tea will not burn just my nether regions! He thought.“Problem? I never said I had a problem,” sniffed Avery. “What are you hitting on here?”“Oh, nothing! Nothing at all! I’m on vacation, mind!...

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“A Glimmer” by Rose Winters

Submitted to Contest #231

A GlimmerDr. Vee set down a pair of ruby pumps and lay women's undergarments on a bench. "Good morning, G-11. You have a new outfit today. You're going out of our compound."G-11 stepped out of her charging unit, pulling off her smock, her shapely pale latex legs stepping into the red heels. “How do I look?”Dr. Vee held back his amusement, averting his eyes. “Underdressed.” He handed her the bra and panties.She cocked her head. “I believe I will still be underdressed. Minimum modesty protocol states that I cover myself from armpit to six inch...

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“Dust Covers and Other Lovers” by Nicki Nance

Submitted to Contest #231

“Welcome to Between the Lines. I’ll be right with you.” Rina Roche slipped a book in place on the shelf, backed off the step stool and wiped her hands on her jeans. At the front of the used bookstore, a dark haired thirty-something man in a black hoodie stood at the counter. “I need a mountain of magic, Cher. Can you help me out?” She put her hands on her hips. “I know you, you Cajun devil man. You were a phantom antagonist in Nooni’s first flash story.” He scowled. “I was, but no one, including me, knows me. I don’t even have a name.”...

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“Just Visiting” by Joe Sweeney

Submitted to Contest #231

Tauhm stopped on the sidewalk. He looked one way, and then back again. He scratched his chin. A young woman passing by saw his confusion and stopped. "Hi!" she said. "Are you lost?" "Yes," Tauhm said. "Maybe I can help. What are you looking for?" "I’m trying to find the Unity Church." "Oh, well, I’m heading there myself." She held out her hand. "I’m Kate, by the way." He stared at her hand for a moment. "Oh! Right. You shake hands here." He stuck out his hand. She shook it and asked, "What’s your name?" "It’s Tauhm." "Nic...

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“Simmer (E)” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #231

⚠️ Mentions of murder, kidnapping ⚠️Mishka stared out of the blank window, too exhausted to attempt to use her experimental magic. Something was nagging her - an answer to a question she hadn't yet asked herself, just out of reach. She was too exhausted to try to understand it now, so she gave up.After sitting and staring for a few minutes, Mishka felt her strength slowly growing. When she felt stable enough, she stood up and sat on her bed. She needed to do something, she felt. The 7 more beds in the dormitory-prison told her there were mor...

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“Island Vacation” by Luca King Greek

Submitted to Contest #231

TW: Sexual and physical violence, self-harm, and generally unpleasant things. Dressed in a faux leopard skin pant suit, Karen Teale watched despondently as glittering singles became intimate pairings, their insistent hands touching, eyes flashing, faces flushed with new love. She stared sadly at her empty wine glass while trying to ignore the sloppy drunk with whom she’d been seated at the gala. A steward poured another glass of Chardonnay, and two sequined dancers razzle-dazzled across the ballroom floor. Karen sl...

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“First Taste” by Elizabeth Sutherland

Submitted to Contest #231

It started when she’d overheard Gregory telling his sister on the phone that she wouldn’t hear them because she was taking a nap. He hadn’t even bothered to close their bedroom door in case she might be listening, able to overhear his affectionate mocking of her reluctance. He judged affection in a spouse sufficient to justify all kinds of belittling. He wouldn’t even have considered it belittling. But his words and tone had stung. He’d said she never had and never would. As if she isn’t brave enough. Or co...

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“1898 - Wild Blackberries and Mischief at the Lighthouse ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #231

The dark Mason jar of wild blackberries caught Elsie’s eye when she looked around the root cellar under the Lighthouse Keepers House. She thought, “If only I could have just a spoonful of those berries, so delicious. I can almost taste them now. That would be enough. Just one spoonful.” Elsie knew it would be a first time she did something like secretly using the family food supplies if she ate some of the blackberries. It would be dishonest.The root cellar’s shelves of Mason Jars full of vegetables and fruits sat in the darkness.&...

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“Amateur Book Society” by Emma P

Submitted to Contest #231

I was new to this whole book club thing. But I was fairly sure closed curtains and four Victorian-style chairs surrounding a wooden table with only potpourri-scented candles for light read more as “VSCO girl seance” than “Amateur Book Society” like their poster had advertised. It was just me, and three other girls who had obviously been doing this a lot longer than me: Lilith, Opal, and Leanne. They greeted me into the room like three separate heads on the same mom-jeans-ed, cardigan-ed mythical creature. “Welcome in, have ...

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“The Viper” by Jeremy Stevens

Submitted to Contest #231

It was finally here, the day they’d all been waiting for: our eighth grade end-of-year field trip. The sun was shining and the birds were singing, and the school bus was agog with excited chatter. They were so excited. I tried to be. I was dimly eager about our trip to Darien Lakes amusement park, simply because I’d never been to one, an amusement park, that is, but I was more focused on the water slides and bouncy houses and the ferris wheel, and the ring tosses and balloon popping ---I could win Sharon an enormous Panda...

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Write about someone trying something completely new.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 34 stories

“A Resolution to be More Honest” by Michał Przywara

“Instructive Behaviour” by Chris Campbell

“Fate?” by Amanda Lieser

“Her First Submission” by Hannah Lynn

“Lion Eyes” by Daniel Rogers

“Coffee, Tea or Me” by Joe Smallwood

“A Glimmer” by Rose Winters

“Dust Covers and Other Lovers” by Nicki Nance

“Just Visiting” by Joe Sweeney

“Simmer (E)” by Khadija S. Mohammad

“Island Vacation” by Luca King Greek

“First Taste” by Elizabeth Sutherland

“1898 - Wild Blackberries and Mischief at the Lighthouse ” by Kristi Gott

“Amateur Book Society” by Emma P

“The Viper” by Jeremy Stevens

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in the form of a list of New Year's resolutions.

Write about a character who has reinvented themselves, but realizes it's not always easy to outrun your past.

Write a story about hope.

Set your story on New Year's Day.

Contest #231

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

278

Contest entries

110

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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