Write about someone who has always done something as part of a group, and is now starting to set out solo, or vice versa.

Posted in Character on Jun 2, 2023

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✍️ 20 stories

“Where Do We Go Now?” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #201

Trisha watched the tail lights pull away, her smile pasted on her face, arm waving with encouragement as her daughter, Izzy, drove away with a fully laden car and trailer. Izzy and her partner Kate had finally, after saving for most of the year, put a deposit down on a unit, and today was handover. They couldn’t wait to move into their new home. In the darkest corner of her heart, Trisha was a bit old-fashioned. She would have loved to have seen Izzy settle down with a nice boy, have the big wedding and maybe, at som...

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“Graduation, Dreams, and Ospreys” by Lee Disco

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #201

TW: LanguageThe living room smells of smoke, cloying ash lodging into my sinuses. The misty heat from outside wafts down the chimney and creates a palpable shift in the temperature around the fireplace—I sit in front of it and press my hands against the wooden floors, noting how the humidity seems to make them dip under my fingertips, makes them soft and waxy.The heat eases the shiver under my skin, cold from the drenched suit, the source of the dripping that rings into the quiet, empty home. I tap a pattern out on the floor, but with my wan...

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“The Taking Tree” by Nicholas Thomas

Submitted to Contest #201

The sun had just set, and the sky was a deep, twilight purple as Sally stepped away from her friends. She was used to going on adventures with her group of friends, but today she was determined to go out alone. She couldn’t explain it exactly, but she had been feeling restless and wanted to break free from the same old routine, so she decided to explore a place she had never been to before. The path ahead of her was dark, and the trees seemed to whisper secrets of bliss and sweet release and accomplishment as Sally walked. She could feel he...

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“My Dumb Phone” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #201

“You know, I was at church the other day and something weird happened.”“What?”“No one’s phone went off.”“Who is No-one?” my friend asked.“Nobody’s phone went off! There was no disturbance!”And that was the start of it. The new me. The next day my smartphone fell down my apartment garbage chute. Ker-plunk! Accidentally or was it on purpose? Only my subconscious knows! It didn’t cost much anyway. Super small squinty-eyed-cracked-dim-screen, and five years old. Android had already given up on it. No more updates. So, no big loss. I sauntered in...

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“And You Have to Pay for the Elephant Too” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #201

London Langtree continues to twist the tuning pegs on his guitar, a task he began over an hour ago. As if to excuse his obsession, the frail, blonde-haired musical genius smiles boyishly at his bandmates. Axel Welch, Rails Rainsford, and Steady Eddie Evans glance nervously at each other as the rumble from the impatient crowd thunders in the background. “Gimme that!” Axel, Mystic Touch’s husky, short-tempered rhythm guitarist yells, yanking the instrument from London’s hands. Frustrated, Axel twists the tuning pegs until two of the strings...

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“Shallows” by Abigail Selinger

Submitted to Contest #201

TW: Substance abuse / use “What is it?” Marissa asked, peering down at the small pill. “Just something to help the fun be more…fun, you know?” Ashley replied, reaching for Marissas’ wrist and gently placing the small pink pill in the palm of her hand. Marissa stared at the pill resting in her hand, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension swirling within her. As she studied it, her friends chattered excitedly around her, buzzing with an eagerness for the night of festivities that awaited them. They had been planning this outing for we...

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“Only Through His Grace” by Sirjoe Mays

Submitted to Contest #201

Kirk grew up in a church, loved the church and served at the church but over time as he grew up he became detached. He and his friends created a secular rap group by the name of The Misfits that became so big they started touring all over the world. Kirk loved all the fame, money, girls and jewelry he gained from his career but for some reason he still felt empty inside. The group it’s self was pretty big but Kirk was the man of the group everyone and I do mean everyone loved him. Until one day he decided to just get up and pray mid studio s...

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“Deductions of a Bartender” by Michael Martin

Submitted to Contest #201

“I think that’s a good idea, Tommy, hurry on home to Betty and the kids. It’d be better to face up to her now.” Tommy sighed. “Yeah, you right man. It’s gon’ be a couple nights on the couch, but I’ll get past it.” He took the credit card from Shawn’s outstretched hand, returning it to the empty slot in his wallet and turned to leave. “Thanks again for all your help, man. You real easy to talk to, man. S’good to meet you.” Shawn smiled. Success. “It was good to meet you too. Hopefully next time we see you in...

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“Second Plan” by Brandon Alexander

Submitted to Contest #201

November 2021That night... I casually went out to a bar for a drink, I ordered a beer, not my favorite bar but I switch bars every once in a while to increase my chances with girls.I'm looking around and I don't see too much of a chance and I also need to mention that I suck at this.I took a few sips, enjoying my beer and it wasn't long before a lady wearing a cowgirl hat approached me from my right and asked if the seat was available.I said "Yes, it's all yours".Usually this is the part where I begin to overthink, I think I'm pretty good at...

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“Limelight” by Zamauri King

Submitted to Contest #201

BAAM The door behind me slammed with a loud bang and I felt this rush of wind pass through me. I tried to keep my composure, to seem stronger than I really was, my bottom lip quivered a little as I slowly sunk down. I clenched the hem of my dress and tried to push back the pain, but my heart wavered too painfully. I couldn’t stop the tremor in my voice, or the swelling in my throat or the tears that welled up in my lashes. I leaned against the cold metal and slid down to the floor, feeling as if all my being had been shattered in that mome...

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“A Reckoning of Souls” by Topher Winters

Submitted to Contest #201

Marcus Sherwood had a routine. He'd wake up, stumble into the bathroom, and catch a reflection of his sleep-deprived face in the mirror. His beard was a stubbly mess, his hair was unruly, and his once-shimmering blue eyes looked like unpolished marbles under the burden of his memories. This was the glamorous world of a has-been solo artist, the world he thought he wanted for himself a painful lifetime ago. How he arrived here, and in this shambled state, however, was not the journey he expected to take. But there was time enough to dwell...

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“Unfounded Doubt” by Christina Schrage

Submitted to Contest #201

Lucy couldn’t shake the butterflies that had formed in her stomach. But, it spread further than just that. Her legs felt like jelly in her high heels, and she had a hard time holding her microphone steady. Although it wasn’t time for her set yet, she thought it would calm her to see something familiar. She wanted to throw up, but that would ruin her make-up. Which, in turn, would piss off her stylist. Not to mention all her fans that were waiting. The day had loomed over her since her agency announced it. Or, maybe it stemmed further back...

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“Silent Goodbye” by Angelina Nahorny

Submitted to Contest #201

The blood pulsating in my ears drowned out any thoughts that attempted to struggle their way to the forefront of my adrenaline-soaked brain. I vaguely remember having the sense to wrap the handle of my apartment door in a tissue as I staggered absentmindedly up the three goddamned flights of stairs I live at the top of. Due to my given state at the moment, it was the wiser option compared to the elevator. Once I had heaved my leaden body through the door, I let out the pained, choked, half-gasp, half-sob that I hadn’t realized my body had be...

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“Memories From The Trainee Days” by Skott's Ghost

Submitted to Contest #201

TW: MENTIONS OF BULLYING Seungkwan anxiously paced back and forth in her dressing room, heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She reached for her phone, a trembling hand opening the video call app. With a deep breath, she tapped her father's contact and watched as his face appeared on the screen. "Dad!" Seungkwan exclaimed, a smile breaking through her apprehension. "I just finished my first live performance! Can you believe it?" Her father's eyes twinkled with pride as he leaned closer to the screen. "Seungkwan, my litt...

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“The case of the Golden Boots” by Ryan Valentine

Submitted to Contest #201

Thomas had wanted to be a detective for as long as he could remember. He’d gone to ‘the festival of clues’ nearly every year it ran (which in 1993 it didn’t because of a missing magnifying glass). Yet despite now being a full-time detective in the bureau of mishaps and odd happenings, he’d begun to find his detective work rather boring.There was that one time he’d been on the case of the missing cat, which wasn’t that bad. Then there was also the case of the 3 knives he’d help solve with his supervisor Jenny, and who could forget the mystery...

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Write about someone who has always done something as part of a group, and is now starting to set out solo, or vice versa.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 20 stories

“Where Do We Go Now?” by Michelle Oliver

“Graduation, Dreams, and Ospreys” by Lee Disco

“The Taking Tree” by Nicholas Thomas

“My Dumb Phone” by Joe Smallwood

“And You Have to Pay for the Elephant Too” by Michael Jefferson

“Shallows” by Abigail Selinger

“Only Through His Grace” by Sirjoe Mays

“Deductions of a Bartender” by Michael Martin

“Second Plan” by Brandon Alexander

“Limelight” by Zamauri King

“A Reckoning of Souls” by Topher Winters

“Unfounded Doubt” by Christina Schrage

“Silent Goodbye” by Angelina Nahorny

“Memories From The Trainee Days” by Skott's Ghost

“The case of the Golden Boots” by Ryan Valentine

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story at a large entertainment venue, after the show has ended, amongst the discarded plastic cups and confetti.

Write a story from the point of view of a “sasaeng” (an obsessive fan).

Write a story about someone who has put “Blood Sweat & Tears” into getting where they are — only to question whether it was worth it.

Write a story inspired by SHINee’s “Ring Ding Dong”, where someone can’t get a song out of their head no matter how hard they try.

Contest #201

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

170

Contest entries

94

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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