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!

#105: Gaining Perspective

Selecting which point of view to tell their story from is one of the most crucial choices an author can make. Whether you opt for the intimacy of first person (“I”), the directness of second person (“you”), or the versatility of third person (“they”), this decision is critically important in creating a story that resonates with readers. Identifying your POV characters is also of the utmost importance: a story might actually be more interesting when told not from the perspective of the action hero, but through the eyes of their overshadowed, long-suffering sidekick.

With this week’s prompts, I’d like you to consider your choice of perspective, and maybe try something new! Put yourself into the shoes of an unexpected character — or ask your character to consider another’s point of view. How meta!

Like I mentioned, we’re currently working on some big changes to Prompts. With that in mind, we’re asking again for you to submit your stories 24 hours earlier than usual, to make those changes possible. The deadline for submitting a story to this week’s contest is 11:59PM EST on Thursday, August 5th. Stay tuned!

This week's prompts

Write a story from the point of view of three different characters.

Character – 191 stories

Write about a person trying to see something from another’s point of view.

Nonfiction – 92 stories

Write your story from the perspective of a side character.

Character – 143 stories

Write a story that switches between first person and third person point of view.

Kids – 100 stories

Write about a character who can suddenly see through another person's eyes — literally.

Adventure – 131 stories

Stories

“The Game” by Vivica Fedrick

Submitted to Contest #105

Aaron Look at these idiots. They had no idea what they were in for. Did they seriously think they could beat me? Me!? I was the king of this game. Everyone knew why I’d been crowned the champion 6 times in a row. I was fucking unstoppable. Who the hell did they think they were challenging me? They should have died in the early rounds like the rest of the trash, but no, they wanted to be special and make it to the final round with me. As if they were worthy enough. These bottom-feeding street rats weren’t even worthy enough to kiss my feet...

Read story

“The Rose Lovers” by Elisa Caporilli

Submitted to Contest #105

Each rain drop falling from the sky to the troubled water, echoing in darkness of the Loire. I wait in the cold. I know he is on his way, that he will be safe, but I can’t help a shiver of anxiety dripple. The Nazis are fast asleep by now and although a patrol will soon make its way here, I wait, counting the minute in my head. The longer I wait, the rain becomes more aggressive and the icy wind bite my cheeks, my hands, and through my clothes. My teeth chatter and my whole body tremble in a fail attempt to warm itself. I hear footsteps ne...

Read story

“The Party” by Asumini C

Submitted to Contest #105

I get showing up fashionably late, but this is almost ridiculous. Work was crazy, out of control. I'm lucky to be getting out of there alive. Shayla's gonna be so pissed. Deep sigh. Oh well, at least I'm here now; I think as I walk into the main ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, or whatever they call that room. Shayla is celebrating that the cancer is in remission. And she's doing it big. The first thing I do is go to the bar. Maybe a drink will help calm my nerves. Don't know why I'm so anxious. Except that Shayla text me earlier that she wa...

Read story

“Snow Melt” by Dee Wes

Submitted to Contest #105

Unusual words and definitions: Anole-a green lizard Setae-small hairs that assist lizards in movement. A green lizard, named Jolie, saw water droplets dripping from the inside of a decaying log located in an unkempt backyard. The spring snow was melting and this caused hunger and excitement to course through the anole, sending her in a fit of circles at the threshold. She slid into the depths of the log, by way of setae on the bottoms of her feet. Speaking to her frog friend, Fritz, through release of a chemical through her scaly skin, she...

Read story

“Islands” by Kurt Karl

Submitted to Contest #105

Islands Erskine Karl Fucking Kiawah Island again, Andrea thought. Couldn’t they come up with somewhere new for once? Her family had been going to the same vacation place each summer since she was eight years old. The beach was pleasant, and you could ride a bicycle from one end of the island to the other, but that grew tiresome after two days. She had agreed to stay for five nights, cutting her time with her family short, but it would still feel like forever. She had arrived two days late, and her parents and brother had already slippe...

Read story

“That's just how teenagers are” by Karma P

Submitted to Contest #105

I pounded my fist on the table.She had looked at him in a way she never has.My little girl let out a sigh and touched my face.…ARTI:“Arti.” My father squeezed his hands together, taking off his glasses. He said my name the way he always did, with more pepper than pep, like it was the name of a sleepy cinnamon. The ‘r’ and ‘t’ didn't collide with each other, making it sound like ‘aarathi’ in his thick accent and rolling Rs. “Papa, I know what you’re going to say and all, but I think I’m old enough to make my own choices.” I pulled on my ...

Read story

“A Billionaire's Guide to Space Travel” by Sydney Bingham

Submitted to Contest #105

The world spins like a top, my dad had told me. Jeff Zebos was the point, and we were the surface he scratched to keep spinning.But who could blame him? I spent my twenties on a hand-me-down sofa scratching my balls, watching my life fade into a cloud of thick, sticky smoke. The years dripped from the tip of my joint like the clocks in a Dali painting until, at the ripe age of 33, l found myself pulling on a familiar dust-colored jumpsuit under a sky of fluorescent lights, ready to greet the day with as much enthusiasm as an overstretched ru...

Read story

“Relief from Grief” by Bonnie Clarkson

Submitted to Contest #105

***This is a sequel to Making a Connection*** Leigh entered Father’s house and gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek. While holding Tony’s hand, she said, “I’ve brought Tony for you to begin to watch this afternoon like you asked.” Half squatting, the grandfather tried to give Tony a hug, who turned his body away from him. Father stood straight. “I thought he knew me. Mos...

Read story

“Business Never Late.” by Tariq Saeed

Submitted to Contest #105

The park shading it’s beautiful eyed.Red Rose with yellow puppy faced small flowers wanted to convey some message.Some flowers idyllic itself as naughty boy ticked its face with color pencil,they all had some thing to say , I expressing un responded,chewing the grassblade,in hurry than spat it,showed signs of deep imagination.Long Thirty years, retired from my Educational Life.Generated my career with different thoughts,experiments fancied to decorate my pupil with great ideas and self projected contemplation. Sixty than.Ran up with the...

Read story

“A Birthday Context” by Miss Laine Elumba

Submitted to Contest #105

"Lily?!" Ruki, my childhood friend screamed my name as I stood dazed in the pathway. I seem to have drowned my thoughts about the revision of my thesis topic.These past few days have been so hectic for me. All the revisions and preparation of the materials and the changes I've come up with in the nick of time, which is not pleasant news to my advisers. I can't help it, my topic is too tedious and complicated. "I need to graduate, fast, then I can work to have money." I mumbled between my breaths as I didn't recognize Ruki's footste...

Read story

“You Are My Cure” by Laashmita Saravanan

Submitted to Contest #105

Breathing heavily as he threw punches to the red and shabby punching bag hanging from the ceiling, ignoring the pain and exhaustion dwelling in his body that might overpower him at any given moment. A cold breeze of air brushed against his now clammy skin, making him shudder slightly and disrupting his clean punches. He pulled his arms to his chest wanting to continue, but they just couldn't handle anymore exertion, as he threw a weak punch towards the bag. Finally admitting that he was done for the day, his body collapsed on the hard and so...

Read story

“The Siren's Song ” by Nam P

Submitted to Contest #105

When Krathis woke, she floated a moment in pleasurable anticipation of the day. Though she was the dominant siren in these waters, today there were no duties for her to satisfy. She might spend the whole day at home, if she so pleased, and that was exactly what she intended to do. Krathis denned in a modest coastal cave system that was often submerged in its entirety at high tide. When the sea was low, the coral reef that covered the cave entrance was revealed; sometimes our siren lay there, her dorsum soaking up sunshine until her deep bl...

Read story

“My Turn to See” by Mary Osise

Submitted to Contest #105

My mama used to tell me that the mind of a child and that of an adult can never really meet. Not naturally. As a result, I felt that parents—at least one— had to put themselves in the shoes of the child. My mother did it for me. In those days when I’d return from school, terrified to tell my father that I needed to pay my school fees, that I needed a new pen or a new notebook, my mother would be the mediator. She’d be the one who tried to understand me. I never knew how hard it was.I thought everything was and would remain perfect in my own ...

Read story

“The Pond” by Jennifer Geer

Submitted to Contest #105

The wind howled with the unrelenting roar of Mother Nature, she toppled trees and shook the roof of the old woman’s mountain cabin. She was on a mission only Mother Nature could do. Her mission today was Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Let the games begin! Mother Nature began to roar. This was probably one of the worst storms to hit the mountain in decades. The smoke from the old cabin’s chimney was being carried across the tree tops of the West Virginia Mountains. There was no one was within twenty miles to see it...

Read story

“The Coffee Table ” by Sam Khaliq

Submitted to Contest #105

One fine morning, two men brought me along many other from what they call a large place--- factory to this showroom. I was neat and clean, ivory-white in color. Besides, that little chap cleansed me and my fellows with his even dirty cloth patch. Sometimes dirt helps us cleanse. I learned this too in those days.He used to clear all dirt and dust from of us with his rough strikes almost every day to attract customers. I felt overwhelm when others were talking to each other, and I remained still and silent. Even ear-piercing honks of cars fail...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

662

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 05, 2021 EST

Won by Vi Bisky 🏆

Title: The Next Good Day

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 ⭢