Write about two rival academics pursuing the same grant.

Posted in Character on Nov 3, 2023

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✍️ 14 stories

“Barry's Perpetual Power Pack” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #223

“Can you see what it is yet, mate?” “Enlighten me, please.” “It’s renewable energy, mate.” “It’s a photograph of a windmill and a solar panel.” “Nah yeh. But hooked up to a power cell.” “That looks like a car battery.” “Yeh. Well, it’s just a prototype.” “And you propose that this contraption be awarded a development grant over my more sophisticated research?” “Too right, mate.” “But this gadget looks like it was bought on AliExpress.” “I got it on eBay with free shipping and three-day delivery. I’m developing it into what I call Barry’s Per...

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“The Comtemptuos Competition of Burger vs Pringle” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #223

Two professors who despised one another taught at the quaint but prestigious ivy-covered Brighton University in Cheddar, Scotland- Professors Hamilton Burger and Pennelopy Pringle. Their hatred for one another started the day they were first introduced. When Professor Pringle asked Professor Burger about his studies, she smirked when he replied, “The study of Historical Artifacts and their Effect on History.” Loathing filled his eyes and heart. He vowed never to speak to her again. Professor Burger is a lanky fellow with an ...

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“Parachutes” by Carina Caccia

Submitted to Contest #223

His sister’s hand-me-downs hung from his small frame like… a curtain? The halls were quiet, save for a distant cough, the turn of a page, and the click clack of a keyboard. Nora dried her hands on her trousers, and re-entered the warm embrace of the library, its warm lights, and green carpeting. She sat down at her laptop and scanned the room, the hunched shoulders, the black, brown and blonde heads lowered over books. And there on the red couch lay Chloe, eyes closed and legs outstretched, balancing her laptop like breakfast in bed. She wa...

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“The Victor's Fall” by Marian Lemont

Submitted to Contest #223

Carl White, a particular man, noticed his fresh cup of coffee had grown cold in the hour that had passed since he began drafting his proposal. He perused his progress with a dissatisfied sniff–dissatisfied because he found most things these days dissatisfying, from conversations with his wife to student essays to his own, precious research. Perfectionism, the quality that had once propelled him so far in life, had since devolved into a general disdain for all that did not meet his standards. And since his standards had grown increasingly hig...

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“May the Best Player Win” by Evelyn Holiday

Submitted to Contest #223

May the Best Player Win By: Evey Ghorley Would you kill for a grant? I know most probably say no. Well, let me put it this way: would you kill for a million dollars? When phrased like that it sounds a little more compelling, doesn’t it? Suddenly, murder doesn’t sound so dreadfully terrible. However you do the murder, you begin to create excuses in order to make yourself feel a bit better. Nobody is really getting hurt, and you get to live your dream! That’s not so bad! Well, stop right there. Just stop. I used to th...

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“The Interrogation” by Arthur An

Submitted to Contest #223

Some unidentifiable insects have died on the LED bulb, the thoraxes and abdomens had disintegrated but the antennaed heads and wings remained security plastered on the single light fixture in the windowless room. Must be the only room in the entirety of Louisiana State University College of Medicine that’s not covered in degrees, diplomas, certificates, awards, and other proofs of life well lived, matted in tasteful pastel and framed in richly stained wood, gesticulating the subdue austerity suitable for learned scholarship, the youn...

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“Born of Fire. ” by Janice Jeffreys

Submitted to Contest #223

The air was thick with the stench of smoke and ash. Hagen coughed to relieve the ache in his lungs. With the back of his hand, he wiped the sweat coating his forehead and gazed at the smoldering blackness, feeling the weight of the forest's destruction bearing down on him. The kingdom he'd sworn to protect had suffered a brutal attack, jeopardizing the fragile peace between humans and his kind. The fire had wrapped every tree in blazing orange flames, and after hours of effort to extinguish it, the trees that had once risen tall and proud ...

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“Clashing Philosophies of the Dark Kind” by Bill Yeagle

Submitted to Contest #223

Ominous shadows permeated every crevice of Whitmore University's ancient assembly hall, swallowing the dark aged wood panels and worn leather chairs in waves of inky darkness. A few ornate lamps valiantly tried to pierce the oppressive gloom that clung to the cavernous room like a choking fog.Dr. Wolfgang Miles settled into his assigned seat, arranging his folders, note cards, and pens into an orderly configuration. He'd prepared for this until late into the previous evening, even avoiding the latest news headlines.Across the long table, Dr....

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“Indefinitely Homogeneous...” by Walter Harris

Submitted to Contest #223

“You’re heavier than you look…” I strained to say as I dragged the limp body across the polished wood floors of the gymnasium. A pattern of blood trailed behind us from the blow to the head she’d taken. We were in debate in regards to the “debate” we were having against one another tomorrow before circumstances led to this. I’d won this round. I needed to get the body somewhere no one would notice. The shower room doors sprung open before me as I tugged at both of her ankles. I pulled the body about halfwa...

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“Duel Credit” by Shannakee Weaver

Submitted to Contest #223

Queen Charlotte’s Academy had once trained warriors. Now it trained statesmen, but they still sparred every day, only with different weapons: One point higher on an exam equaled a punch to the jaw; a smug smile across a courtyard twisted the knife. Students wielded pens like swords and waged their wars on battlefields of study; the hierarchy shifted with each assignment graded – with one exception. Eve Montesino always remained on top.Always.Eve’s phone burned a hole in her pocket as she strode forward, a dozen and a half formulas jockeying ...

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“The Grant of Fernandez” by Nidhi Santhosh

Submitted to Contest #223

“And the award for Best Research this year goes to Professor Fernandez & Professor Smith!” My smile fades as quickly as it came, and I fight to keep my expression composed as I ascend the stage, accepting my plaque with pursed lips. In fact, it takes everything I have to bite my tongue when he stands beside me with a plaque just like mine, without doing even half the work. He can fool them all, but he can’t fool me. He hasn’t lifted a finger with his lab assistants, just let them run everything, while I’ve been sweating till my socks to ...

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“Rattle the Bones” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #223

The bones have been lying hidden for much time—decades, a millenia, or more, depending on who is questioned. It matters not how long. Time is meaningless to these bones that once made up living creatures. Now these bones which have been lying hidden for so long are being sought and squabbled over. Edward Drinker Cope, son of a well-to-do quaker farmer, strides across a fossil quarry in Haddonfield, New Jersey, near his home. Following him is his friend Othniel Charles Marsh. Othniel is nine years Edward’s senior. They met in G...

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“The Spider and the Gerbil” by Steve Rogers

Submitted to Contest #223

“You can say what you like about those Australians but they certainly know how to make a big red and no mistake:”Professor Jim Lucas and Professor Belinda Conti had been firm friends for the full twenty-five years of their tenure at the University. And on this early summer’s evening they were to be found, as is often the case, sharing a reasonably priced but very acceptable bottle of Australian Shiraz in the University bar at the end of a, not too exhausting, day. They would delight in railing against the students, railing against the Vice C...

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“Two rival academics pursuing the same grant” by Nita Manna

Submitted to Contest #223

This is the last class of the day and math teacher Ruby mam is still writing formulas in the black board. I am too tired to focus but I’m still taking notes so that I can review them after I get home in the evening. I am starving! I look at my best friend Jane, she doesn’t look tired at all! I wish I had Jane’s level of energy. When it comes to study, Jane is always focused. Jane relocated to our town two years ago, and we’ve been best friends ever since. It didn’t take much effort to be friends with Jane, as if we were born to be best frien...

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Write about two rival academics pursuing the same grant.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 14 stories

“Barry's Perpetual Power Pack” by Chris Campbell

“The Comtemptuos Competition of Burger vs Pringle” by Ralph Aldrich

“Parachutes” by Carina Caccia

“The Victor's Fall” by Marian Lemont

“May the Best Player Win” by Evelyn Holiday

“The Interrogation” by Arthur An

“Born of Fire. ” by Janice Jeffreys

“Clashing Philosophies of the Dark Kind” by Bill Yeagle

“Indefinitely Homogeneous...” by Walter Harris

“Duel Credit” by Shannakee Weaver

“The Grant of Fernandez” by Nidhi Santhosh

“Rattle the Bones” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

“The Spider and the Gerbil” by Steve Rogers

“Two rival academics pursuing the same grant” by Nita Manna

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a student discovering a hidden room in a university library.

Write a story in which a jaded academic makes an unexpected, rash decision.

Write about a student reporter uncovering a university scandal.

Set your story during exam season, when tensions run high and a minor incident sends your protagonist into a panic spiral.

Contest #223

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

184

Contest entries

84

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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