Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#100: Breaking Bread

One of the most intimate things you can do with someone is sit down to eat together. The idea of friends and foes, families and strangers breaking bread has been a recurring theme in art and literature for a very long time. It’s something that can bring us together against the steepest of odds; to quote Oscar Wilde, “after a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations”. But things don’t always end quite so harmoniously — food fights, anyone?

This week, we’re reflecting on the joys (or pains) of eating together or making a meal. Whether the dinner table is a place for communion or conflict for your characters, I look forward to sitting down to a hearty portion of food-themed stories with you. Bon appétit!

This week's prompts

Start or end your story with two characters sitting down for a meal.

Middle School – 264 stories

Write a story where a meal or dinner goes horribly wrong.

Thanksgiving – 201 stories

Write about a group of strangers — or people who know each other, but may as well be strangers — eating together.

Fluff – 152 stories

Write about a character preparing a meal for somebody else.

Fluff – 157 stories

Write a story that involves a secret or magic ingredient.

Halloween – 116 stories

Stories

“Special supper .” by Sunil Simon Dmello

Submitted to Contest #100

It was a 7 p.m. in Mr. Thomson's home. This beautiful home “Paradise “ is really a lovely house with a nice garden with lots of trees bushes which gave a marvellous look to their home . Mr Anthony Thomson a disciplined as well as religious father was working in convent school as Accountant . His wife Mary although a graduate but a fulltime housewife as she preferred to take care of children instead of only earning money . Mr Thomson along with his wife Mary ,son Sherock , daughter Anna were staying in a countryside . Everyday when ...

Read story

“Strange fruit” by Vincent Guillemin

Submitted to Contest #100

[Follows " Microcosm", "Hebrews 13: 1-2 ", " The son never shines on closed doors" , "July 4th", "The Getaway", "Orpheus' path" and " Clowns"]« What’s he doing here? »This was when Aaron realised things were about to go south.And yet, on that day, he was woken up by a pale ray of sun finding its way between the partly drawn curtains. The window was ajar and the cool air of the morning already prickled his skin in thousands of bumps. He liked, and still does, the feel of tangled sheets on his bare body, the way the fabric stroked ever so...

Read story

“The House's Special Sauce” by Westley Smith

Submitted to Contest #100

I was surprised when brothers Jerry and Dan Thorn invited me to review their latest restaurant venture, J&D’s. I had not expected the call. My review of their previous restaurant, The Steakhouse, had been scathing. I had no doubt that the review on my blog played a big part in their failure. But Jerry assured me there were no hard feelings and insisted I come and sample some of their new dishes at their new restaurant.I agreed. Besides, I wasn’t known to turn down a free meal, even a bad one.I got to J&D’s at noon the week before the...

Read story

“Dinner Gone Wrong” by Susan Wells

Submitted to Contest #100

Don’t we all want to be beautiful? Unfortunately, my jaw has always been very narrow forcing my adult teeth to grow in quite crooked. At twelve years old, I hated my teeth every time I looked into the bathroom mirror. I avoided smiling or I placed my hand in front of my mouth. I tried to practice smiling closed mouth with just my lips in a goofy grin for school and family photos. In junior high school, my mother started driving me to an orthodontist to get braces. Fortunately for me, I often got to miss my first period of school for these a...

Read story

“Her Last Family Dinner” by Pita Pear

Submitted to Contest #100

“I am not going, Liana. You can’t make me.” The words were barely audible through the shower running in the background. “I’m sure they don’t want to go either, but they said they would. Besides, this isn’t for them and this isn’t for us, Rebecca. This is for your sister.`` A girl came out from the closet holding two dresses in her hands. Holding one dress up as if it was on she posed in the mirror, giving each outfit a try. The shower shut off and the bathroom door opened more than it already was, another girl coming out with a towel...

Read story

“Entangled” by DAVIS SSENOGA

Submitted to Contest #100

Working until late at night was the norm for James since he was the bread winner. He could leave home early morning and return late. He was a business man and could get little time for his family. James had a younger wife called Hellena and were blessed with two children. On many occasions, James traveled alone, but this time he had moved with the whole family to a far destination. They had gone for a family business tour and were on their way back. It was clocking to 6pm and the latest hour for any night movement was 7pm due to the curfew e...

Read story

“Food Sex” by Karen Lethlean

Submitted to Contest #100

Food Sex “Faye is staying with friends tonight, grab some food and come over,” says Philip in a jovial tone so unlike his recent ultimatums about when and why I am permitted to call or see him. House renovations, and a hovering spouse both negated intimate opportunities. “Do you like Mexican food?” “Never tried. Now might be your chance, surprise me.” Chili con Queso, Guacamole, corn chips and Wild Peach Cooler later I gaze upward at edges of Dr. Philip Benner’s mansion under construction. Wondering if I should obey an impulse to climb...

Read story

“Fish in white wine sauce” by Miriam Ngatia

Submitted to Contest #100

“It’s her birthday tomorrow,” Jerry said. “What should we do for her?” asked Suzie. “We could go to her favorite restaurant,” Jerry replied. “We can’t afford it. Could we invite her over to our house for dinner?” Suzie suggested. “That’s a great idea!” Jerry exclaimed. “We’ll have to invite everyone else too.” “That’s ok,” Suzie said. “I can handle it.” Suzie grabbed her notepad and started to make a list. She didn’t have much time. What would she prepare for dinner? Something easy but impressive. Suzie thought hard. Chicken? Lamb? No, tha...

Read story

“Nothing Ever Happens in Breda” by Carla McKirdy

Submitted to Contest #100

Nothing ever happened in Breda. Josephine had that realization much earlier, not long after arriving in the provincial Dutch town. A gentle bolt of excitement had jolted through her body back then, as she packed up her bags following her marriage to Joost to follow him back to his hometown. It had been what people call a whirlwind romance, yet falling into every category of predictability. They met through friends in common in college. The courtship was brief and he showered her with spring tulips throughout. By the next fall, they w...

Read story

“Special Dinner Guest” by Brenda Radchik

Submitted to Contest #100

A desperate banging on the door caused the fork to slip, the clattering mixed with the banging was enough to declare her day ruined. She approached the door and let her hand rest a moment on the door. Wondering if on the other side she’d find another pair of delusional children. So starved they’d thought her house was edible candy. Ha! It was almost funny. “Please, please open the door!” No, the voice was much older. Agatha sighed and swung the door open. A woman with disheveled black hair stood in the doorway. Her red-rimmed eyes we...

Read story

“At dinner with the Life” by Rodica Niculescu

Submitted to Contest #100

Medea breaks her hands, her trembling hands, which she feels cold, although sweaty. She was pacing in front of the restaurant where she’s invited Sonia’s father. She is not sure that she will come and thinks with horror what she will tell the girl if he does not appear at the dinner. Sonia is a teen who passed all her life under state authority. Her mother passed away at her birth and her father never shown a minimum curiosity to meet his daughter. Sonia lived all the years of her existence with a dream: to meet her father. One day she came ...

Read story

“Another Sunday Dinner” by Rebecca Hackney

Submitted to Contest #100

Sasha hated this time of the month, she dreaded it. The third Sunday of the month was the mandatory family dinner. Those who did not attend the dinner did not get their monthly allowance from the inheritance. For Sasha though it was no big deal because she had a good paying job and wasn’t just a freeloader like the others. She mostly went to these things to keep face and catch up on the drama. She did truly dread it though because she was still the single one and everyone gave her a hard time about it. It did not matter to the family that sh...

Read story

“The Gumbo incident” by John Dansk

Submitted to Contest #100

John William-Gracie opted for pork ribs to start. It had to be that Carolina sauce, not the texas stuff. The Texan BBQ was too dry. The rubs tended to be salt and double pepper, classic in a sense, but rudimentary for Gracie’s taste. The sauce almost always on the side with Texans, like it was to sacrilege to pour some sauce over the meat. If they smoked it for hours, baked, and then cremated it on a flame, sure he’d take it. He’d never pass up good BBQ, but he doubted they would spend the time on it to make it just the way he liked it. The ...

Read story

“The cycle of feasts” by Kartik Pawar

Submitted to Contest #100

The darkness enshrouded the streets as Thomas hurried his way home. He swung his office bag with every step he walked. His heavy footfalls demanded authority, as if he intended a fight with the darkness. The street lights flickered, they feared of him. The sun had settled and the night had taken over. The darkness did not bother him, instead he felt immune around it. It was one of the perk of being a raven. The only companions he had for his walk were small glimmers of moonlight and his thoughts. “It has been a week since I haven’t seen ...

Read story

“Just Another Anniversary Dinner” by Shreya Thennanchar Rajaram

Submitted to Contest #100

Just Another Anniversary Dinner After finishing up the day’s work, I logged off and put my computer away. I was giddy with excitement. It was our five-year anniversary. I’d left work earlier than normal to get things set up. Walking over to my room, I smiled at the framed picture over the fireplace. It was taken exactly a year ago, right after Kieran had proposed to me on top of the Ferris Wheel. Just as I opened the door to my room, I heard some noise. I wasn’t sure if Kieran was home. He should be home earlier than normal, considering wh...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

891

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 02, 2021 EST

Won by Rayhan Hidayat 🏆

Title: mie goreng

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢