Write about someone who realizes they're on the wrong path.

Posted in Character on Jan 13, 2023

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 69 stories

“L’uomo Rotto” by Foster Powell

Submitted to Contest #181

“Hey… pass me that man.” Turk’s voice was as low as his eyes, whispering and scratching to speak. Johnny’s eyes moved slowly across the room to Turk’s. On the way, he couldn’t help but notice how slow it felt like he was moving. He could see the blur of the dark room smearing across his retinas, which curiously made him feel like he needed to slow down even more. He sensed his balance was off, so he thought it best to continue sitting. “Dude…” Turk’s voice came again. It sounded like he was down the hall. That made Johnny even more cur...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Inch by Inch” by Pamela Blair

Submitted to Contest #181

INCH BY INCH Standing at the edge of the snowfield, I stare down its precipitous incline, knowing I don’t have the courage to cross it, even though on the other side lies the path up to the pass. Midway across, I’ll panic. I’ll slide all the way to the bottom. I’ll die. I look up at the only other way to get out of the mess we’re in—a narrow, steep scramble enclosed by the snowfield and a rocky outcrop jutting out all the way up to the pass. Between the two lies a narrow channel of thick mud, scattered with small,...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Close Warm Comfort of the Wild” by James Workman

Submitted to Contest #181

I feed the fire with small dry branches of a dead fever tree. In the darkness a freckled nightjar calls, followed by the distant cackle of spotted hyena. Rising flames cast a glow on my three captors, each nursing his own affliction.Akani mumbles and shivers in his sleep, cheeks beaded in sweat. Malaria. Vukosi squats nearby, gripping his AK-47 as flanks clench and face contorts in another spasm. Dysentery. He glares. As if I’m the cause of our predicament, not the tarp-wrapped bundle beside Nhelo. Barely a teen, Nhelo suffers only a conscie...

0 comments 0

Read story

“How do you say 'Eat S**t' in Corporate slang?” by Laura Ethington

Submitted to Contest #181

The repeated aggressive chiming of her alarm clock was the only thing that got any excitement out of her these days. While her eyes were still closed, she slammed the alarm to snooze for nine more blissful minutes before she had to get up. But rest was done for the day. Instead, she felt the looming daily anxiety that comes whenever she wakes up before work. Going to the same bullshit as yesterday, and the day before, the week before, the month before, and the year before. But it was a time of recession plus inflation, and there was a d...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Mr. Douglas” by Dwayne W

Submitted to Contest #181

Arnold Douglas finds himself thrust from the balcony of his penthouse suite, wearing nothing but his luxurious white mulberry silk robe, erratically flailing at his side as if they were the wings of Icarus. Post sun. And, clutching an ancient solid gold Mayan artifact, which he purchased for a pretty penny, that he managed to swipe back from his assailant, who snatched it from his neck as they shoved him over the edge. He wasn't a few feet down from the balcony when he felt like time had slowed. A bottle of Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“A way out” by Ela Mikh

Submitted to Contest #181

I’m so unbelievably fucked!I looked around in hopes of finding an out but there was none. Under other circumstances, I would have been in awe of the scenery around me. The landscape that stretched in every direction was covered in yellowish wildflowers which emitted a slightly sweet smell. Lazy bees were circling them slowly, clearly not too keen on working hard when there was such an abundance of supplies. A little further down the road, one could spot some short desert-looking trees which are so common in Southern California (or SoCal as w...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Every Path Has Its Muddle” by Vania Mason

Submitted to Contest #181

It’s 9:15 a.m and I already feel debilitated. I just arrived at school, mind adrift, body unsteady, trying so hard to make out what my classmates are saying but I just want to go home. 42 hours without sleep isn’t exactly what I’d signed for. I’ve been questioning my decisions these past few months. “Anxiety is taking over me. Did you see the professor's face? She’s undeniably unimpressed.” One of them uttered.It was the first thing I was able to make out from all the murmurs lingering in the background. My chalky pallor was unavoidable...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Dreams Change” by Avery S

Submitted to Contest #181

Tears fill my eyes, which are forced to a squint due to the elated smile occupying my expression. I made it, I think wholeheartedly. It was in this moment that I was consumed by the utter joy of achieving each and every goal I had once set for myself. I strut through my med school graduation ceremony as I feel each doubt and every fear that once existed in my head disintegrate into thin air. I had worked through never-ending tears, anxiety, missing out on the typical college experience, and the devotion of all of my time to the study of ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Fate I Changed From a Goddess” by Elleden Whittlock

Submitted to Contest #181

I always thought that what I wanted would only happen if the gods and goddesses allowed it. Clotho, the goddess of fate, was who my people relied on the most. If you angered her, what you wanted would not be taken into her account. Your blessings would become curses, and your fate the exact opposite of what you wanted. My mother told me stories of Clotho when I was little, about how she blessed her family and brought good fortune. She also told me about how she bestowed a curse on her best friend when she told my mother “I don’t believe in s...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Price of Success” by Cymon Catalano

Submitted to Contest #181

The Price of Success Act 1: John was a young man with a dream of making a difference in the world. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, he had seen firsthand the struggles that people faced when it came to finding affordable, safe housing. He was determined to change that. He was convinced that his ideas for sustainable housing would change the lives of people in need. His passion for architecture and design was palpable as he poured all of his energy into his plans and designs. He spent countless hours researching and developing inn...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Outlaw” by Freedom Leigh

Submitted to Contest #181

The bay's hooves plowed through drifts of knee-deep snow as Smoky McRaven kept him mercilessly at a gallop down the winding mountain trail south of Quantrell, Montana. Smoky ’s breath came as sharp as his mount’s as they leapt down several snow-covered drops detected by the sure footed mountain pony. Born, raised, and broke in the mountains, the sturdy bay never missed a beat with his hooves, but all Smoky was thinking about was the cold, the pain in his side, and the four lawmen that were hot on his trail. To him the black mane of the drive...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Moon Pilgrim” by James Benis

Submitted to Contest #181

The sea is calm today. Barely a breeze to keep the sails open and the ship on course. Only the vast blue motionless ocean to entertain the eyes. On days like these I tend to think back to my home. I was a priest for a quaint church. I would attend my priestly duties, offer a prayer for those who need it, then return home. I close my eyes and pretend I'm back there sometimes. The chatter of crewmen, waves beating against the ship’s hull, and the smell of salt water becomes the crackling of a warm fire, the gentle prayers of good Christia...

1 comment 1

Read story

“best keep walking” by Philip Dmitriev

Submitted to Contest #181

Another Monday.Probably another failure.Does it matter?Do I bother?The clock alarm is set up at 7:00 a.m. You as usual wake up a little bit earlier than your clock alarm wants. Looking at this brand new watch. 6:45 a.m. Another fight with yourself: do you sleep enough or still feel sleepy? Probably deserve to sleep this 15 minutes and give the rest of the work to the alarm.The terrible noise starts to scream on the whole room. There is no salvation even if you choose your favorite song. Doesn’t matter. The clock alarm always damages you. Dur...

1 comment 1

Read story

“New Paths” by Ralynne Allen

Submitted to Contest #181

I was walking along a quiet country road on a mellow day in June. Life was all out of focus and my nerves were jangling every time anything near me moved. The sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds and quite suddenly the clouds seemed to be winning. It got dark very quickly and I diverted my trek through a seldom used pasture instead of the long way home on the road. I hadn't gone very far in the pasture when the sun made reappearance and I slowed my headlong dash for shelter to a more leisurely walk. As I came up over a knoll in th...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Trail” by Corrie McCue

Submitted to Contest #181

My feet, it seemed, snapped every twig beneath them. The sleeves of my jacket caught on every branch to my sides. Behind me, I barely heard a sound. It had been like this for several minutes. As if he could feel my annoyance rising, finally, he snorted. At least he was still back there. Sometimes, I couldn’t be certain he hadn’t tired of my ineptness and left me alone with the trees. “Are you sure you know where you’re going?” he wondered; although, the question came out more like a statement. Of course, he knew I didn’t. But, just that fact...

2 comments 2

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone who has to “move mountains” to get what they want.

Angst – 15 stories

Write about a character who’s climbing a mountain, whether internal, external, or both.

Adventure – 59 stories

Write about a character who, for whatever reason, retreats to a remote cabin.

Mystery – 62 stories

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Let’s go for a walk.”

Dialogue – 73 stories

Contest #181

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Standing Tall

$250

Prize money

278

Contest entries

125

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 20, 2023 EST

Won by Aeris Walker 🏆

Title: Out of Place on the Appalachian Trail

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write about someone who realizes they're on the wrong path.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 69 stories

“L’uomo Rotto” by Foster Powell

“Inch by Inch” by Pamela Blair

“The Close Warm Comfort of the Wild” by James Workman

“How do you say 'Eat S**t' in Corporate slang?” by Laura Ethington

“Mr. Douglas” by Dwayne W

“A way out” by Ela Mikh

“Every Path Has Its Muddle” by Vania Mason

“Dreams Change” by Avery S

“The Fate I Changed From a Goddess” by Elleden Whittlock

“The Price of Success” by Cymon Catalano

“The Outlaw” by Freedom Leigh

“Moon Pilgrim” by James Benis

“best keep walking” by Philip Dmitriev

“New Paths” by Ralynne Allen

“The Trail” by Corrie McCue

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone who has to “move mountains” to get what they want.

Write about a character who’s climbing a mountain, whether internal, external, or both.

Write about a character who, for whatever reason, retreats to a remote cabin.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Let’s go for a walk.”

Contest #181

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

278

Contest entries

125

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: