Begin or end your story with “Well, that was dramatic.”

Posted in Christmas on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 40 stories

“Sugar Plums and Ruptured Eardrums” by Caroline Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #123

Riley's heart was pounding, and she could feel the blood rushing to her ears. This was her moment. She knew the second she stepped onto that stage, the trajectory of her life would change forever. It was her who was the Snow Queen, not Michelle, not Veronica, no one else but her. Tonight, the twenty-eight-year-old would show the whole world her worth at the Ballet Center for Wayward Teens. In the audience, a man sat, waiting for the show to begin. His name isn’t important, but for the sake of storytelling, it was Manuel. Manuel, despi...

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“Okay, okay, okay. ” by Agnes Goldfinch

Submitted to Contest #123

“Okay, okay, okay. How do I put this, how do I – this world, am I right? I am right, I am. Though you must think me far from sane, pacing like this right in front of you, of that I’m certain as well, but I can’t very well help it, because there’s so much I need to – okay, okay, okay, so. I should probably start again, shouldn’t I? I should. I will. You know how sometimes the light hits a tiniest bit different than usual, maybe it’s just rained, and the grass has sud...

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“Earnest” by Ron French

Submitted to Contest #123

Earnest There was a loud knock on the door. It was not the postman, as it was night, and he always used the bell. The footman was out, so I opened the door myself and saw no one. I looked right and left to check whether some urchins were playing 'knock down Ginger' and almost tripped down the five stairs to the pavement, over a black leather handbag. I recognised it immediately and didn't need to go to Victoria Station to find it. It had been delivered. I daren't open it for fear what might be inside. But I already had an awful inkling and...

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“Breakup Duo” by L.J Sunwing

Submitted to Contest #123

“Well, that was dramatic.” Ripley grimaced upon her two friends, Alison and Lia, who stood slack-jawed at the event that had just occurred in the trio's cramped college apartment. They sat amongst a hole in the wall, scattered medical books belonging to Alison, and an array of broken dishes that lay around. Lia’s artwork had avoided the disaster by being in a separate room and Ripley’s laptop seemed to have a brush with death but was okay. The center of this situation, Alison, nonchalantly brushes some of the rubble out of the way. She huf...

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“The Overthinker” by Alexandra Costigan

Submitted to Contest #123

It’s 7:30. I tap my foot on the linoleum floor of my kitchen incessantly, unknowingly. I keep telling myself to go find a task; go finish up the dishes or grab that load of laundry out of the dryer and oh, there’s also that blog post I’ve been wanting to put the finishing touches on. But my eyes are magnetically drawn to the black cat above the kitchen table, her head poking out of the top with an old fashioned clock for a belly. Her tail is swishing beneath too and fro in line with the seconds that continue to tick, tick, tick by. The ...

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“Jasmine's First Theater Show” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #123

Everybody loves the theater, the music, the singing, the costumes, the dancing, and the beautiful scenes. The first theater show for anyone is the most memorable one. You don't forget your first show weather you live in New York or are visiting for the first time, going to the theater is a time honor tradition. The long lines, the long wait in the cold or the blazing sun is what's it's all about when you come to the theater, even spending lots of money for the tickets. The experience is worth it, spending time with family and friends i...

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“Visiting Charlie” by S.P. Bhatia

Submitted to Contest #123

On the intercom, the Bus Driver announced “Lewisham Way.” Zane got off the bus in New Cross and went in the opposite direction. Rain sprinkled. He passed a mural depicting birds soaring with buildings tumbling down. A crowd played street chess. Dressed like a douchebag, he kept his eyes down. Four blocks later, he turned a corner up a street of small houses. He glanced over his shoulder at a black BMW passing, and the man driving didn’t look his way. Zane kept walking, his eyes on the cream house with the uncut lawn. He dashed...

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“Meltdown” by Harlow Jones

Submitted to Contest #123

He plopped onto the couch with a bowl of mac and cheese, resumed Stars War: Episode IV - A New Hope, and kicked his feet up onto the ottoman. While chewing his first spoonful of noodles, he squinted at her headlights filtering through the blinds. When she swung open the door and slammed it shut, he jumped in his seat and almost choked. Her steps thundered through their one-bedroom apartment. She zoomed by so quickly that he couldn’t even complain about her blocking the TV. Once he finished coughing, he said, “Hey, babe. You’re home late.” ...

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“Catching The Phantom” by Libby Trapp

Submitted to Contest #123

The lights dim and the audience's conversations curtail as they eagerly wait for the play to begin. A loud BANG rings through the expansive theater, and the audience gasps, however, the stage remains dark and unlit. The curtains lie motionless, dripping down to the floor like melting velvet ice cream. The show has not yet begun. That being as it is, then how come a shot rang through the theater? Because it was not part of the act. The day following, the Sunday Weekly was published, listing details about what occurred that...

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“The Deity Of The Opera” by Ajaykrishna Rajesh

Submitted to Contest #123

It was evening already, and Zeus, Apollo and Hades could not reach their seats in the balcony. They were on an official business trip to Earth to check upon the affairs of the mortals, which is not so official anymore. For them, it was a way to escape from Olympus for some time, away from the usual and the monotonous business of sitting on their thrones and yelling at each other. When Hades and Zeus came to a town, they decided to see if the new show on the road is really as good as all the mortals say. “They used to do it so much better in ...

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“Looking for Seal Pups” by Maria Dios

Submitted to Contest #123

“Well, that was dramatic!” said Jake, as he opened his sleepy eyes and saw his friend sitting at his bedside. Jake did not realize that he was in a bed in a small rural hospital in a small town in Scotland. He felt a pang over his right eye and fell back into sleep again. “He’s awake!” cried Matt. “Doctor he said something!” The doctor appeared at the door. “Yes, it’s common in these cases for patients to wake for a few moments and then drop back into sleep.” Matt watched his friend. Jake had been given pain killers. The ...

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“Peril in Produce” by Don Tucker

Submitted to Contest #123

During my trip to town this morning I stopped at the market to pick up flour and potatoes to create my homemade pierogis. A young boy in tattered clothing passed me and saw the ingredients in my cart and he said, "Good sir, you wouldn't be happening to be making pierogis, would you?" It took me aback for a moment, but I looked down at this sad looking boy and I replied, "Where are your parents, boy? Mind your Pa and now git!" He looked up at me with forlorn eyes and said, "Sorry sir, it is just that I have a pierogi secret that will chang...

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“The case of the Botch” by Rayna Quinn

Submitted to Contest #123

It's April 7th, 2021. I came home from London on a flight that included a layover and a priest trying to sell me the idea of Jesus. I gather essential information for someone significant to me. I woke up to hear someone shouting from the other room... "Larry! Clean my fucking boots with your tongue!" My best friend and feared hitwoman Vixxen Fransico instructed her manservant on what to do. I laugh. My name is Aliricial Genesis; I'm a Detective and belong to a society of women called the Little Reds. We support women who need it and ...

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“How Not to Find Love at the Marina” by Ray S

Submitted to Contest #123

Clayton, hopeless romantic, mindlessly switched between apps on his iPhone as he waited for his date to arrive at the cafe. Instagram, News, Stocks, Reddit—none of them had anything new. Occasionally, he would take sips from the mug of over-steeped Earl Grey he ordered forty-five minutes before. It was lukewarm but he didn’t hate it. However, he couldn’t find it in himself to take a bite of his sesame bagel. It had become hard to chew, and the cream cheese tasted more sour than expected. A Jason Mraz song from the early 2000’s played from a...

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“Theater blues” by Stephany Rabb

Submitted to Contest #123

“Well that was dramatic!” But then Maureen always was a drama queen. I don’t know why she’s acting this way. She didn’t even want the part. Or did she? It was that time of year again. The time of year when the school put on their annual play. This year they were doing Romeo and Juliet. Mrs. Rollins , who is the head of the drama department had just posted the date and times for auditions on the hallway wall next to her office. “Are you going to audition this year?” I asked Maureen. “I don’t know. I was thinking of trying ou...

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Begin or end your story with “Well, that was dramatic.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 40 stories

“Sugar Plums and Ruptured Eardrums” by Caroline Slaughter

“Okay, okay, okay. ” by Agnes Goldfinch

“Earnest” by Ron French

“Breakup Duo” by L.J Sunwing

“The Overthinker” by Alexandra Costigan

“Jasmine's First Theater Show” by Melinda Madrigal

“Visiting Charlie” by S.P. Bhatia

“Meltdown” by Harlow Jones

“Catching The Phantom” by Libby Trapp

“The Deity Of The Opera” by Ajaykrishna Rajesh

“Looking for Seal Pups” by Maria Dios

“Peril in Produce” by Don Tucker

“The case of the Botch” by Rayna Quinn

“How Not to Find Love at the Marina” by Ray S

“Theater blues” by Stephany Rabb

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story looking down from a stage.

Write about a character who always wears a mask (physical or metaphorical).

Write a story about a character practising a speech in front of the mirror. What are they preparing for?

Set your story backstage at the theater.

Contest #123

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

212

Contest entries

134

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: