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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#109: Working Hard, Hardly Working

For better or worse, a lot of our identity (or at least, how people perceive us) is tied to what we do for a living. As well as making up the daily rhythm of our lives, a lot of our goals and aspirations are career-based. Whether you’re a workaholic or living for the weekend, this week we’re diving into the world of work, writing about dream jobs — and the not-so-dreamy jobs.

This week's prompts

Write about a character who has landed their dream job, only to discover it isn’t quite what they imagined it to be.

Dark – 34 stories

Start your story with a character quitting their job, or getting fired.

Angst – 35 stories

Write about a character who leads a secret double life outside of their day job.

Thriller and Suspense – 16 stories

Set your story during the night shift.

Dark – 53 stories

Your character sits down at their desk on a Monday morning and finds a completely unexpected email in their inbox. Write about what happens next.

Thriller and Suspense – 24 stories

Stories

“The Corporate Ladder” by Patrick Otvos

Submitted to Contest #109

I look over my desk. My empty desk. No need for paper now. Everything is on laptops and Chromebooks, and iPads. I reread the quarterly report and sighed. The company is doing well. Why don’t I feel good then? I sent an email of the report to Margaret, our 65 year old finance officer, with a little smiley face. She peered over her cubicle and smiled at me, giving me a thumbs up. Ah. the little things in life that keep us going. I zone out thinking about tonight. At least I hav...

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“The Johns, The Car and The Coke” by Coltrane Rogers

Submitted to Contest #109

Casey had learnt to take Benzodiazepines before the night’s work and painkillers when she was done, finish a cigarette between rounds and leave her necklaces at home. The johns – the clients – could get dangerous; they never stole, but when they were red hot, they’d grab hold of anything to choke you and watch you turn a shade darker. Most of the clients were lonely. Some were into different things that they couldn’t get away with doing to their wives or girlfriends. A client once asked Case...

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“Dave and the Monster” by Clyde Laffan

Submitted to Contest #109

For optimum health and well-being, scientists agreed, after much discussion and a little trial and error, that the Monster should be fed nine pounds of meat every two hours. Many years ago, studies revealed the Monster to be a strict carnivore with a high metabolic rate and small stomach. Many terrestrial animals share similar traits. Take vultures, for example. They, too, are carnivores with fast metabolisms and tiny stomachs. However, birds of prey consume meat in various guises of decay, from roadkill to a maggot-infested carca...

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“An Email About Love” by Sheila Sarrett

Submitted to Contest #109

The forecast was perfect for a weekend on a boat. John was so relieved. "This weekend I will not think of my job, nor would I take a phone call or e-mail letters to my clients. This weekend I will take my girlfriend Mary for a two-day trip on my very comfortable sailboat". I told Mary I would pick her up at 7AM on Saturday for food and drinks for the next two days. Mary was as excited as I was. We would enjoy two days in the sun sitting on lounge chairs reading, talking together, and sleeping. We took time for lunch and then jumped into the ...

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“Stories We Tell Ourselves” by Valerie Capone

Submitted to Contest #109

There’s something about a rainy September Monday morning that’s comforting. The solace of not feeling like you need to be outdoors doing something fun. The fading memories of a well-played weekend, a gray haze blanketing the sky, the first hint of autumn gently painting the oak trees…all topped by a sip of a perfectly made latte. This makes me smile. No one is in the office yet, at least no one can be heard. Probably all hunkered down in their cubes safely social distancing or maybe they’re working remotely today. I don’t care. It’s...

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“It's work. It always has been.” by Stefania Liv

Submitted to Contest #109

I read the email once. Or… maybe twice? Or maybe I am just staring at the words for a while. I close the tab and take a deep breath, reaching for my coffee.It’s cold, I think. Nelly must have picked it earlier today.My gaze falls on the papers stacked carefully on the right side of my office; the cases for today. Five folders. One is bigger than the others. That’s because I’ve been working longer with this client. He is scheduled for 9:00 am, I remember scheduling the appointment with him last week. He came right after Oliver left.“Ms. Hudso...

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“Misdirected Loyalty” by Anthony Cilia

Submitted to Contest #109

MISDIRECTED LOYALTY John was a Financial controller and Financial Manager for an interstate Branch of a large Food Wholesaler Corporation. Head Office was located in another state so John reported to a Supervisor in the Finance Department. He ran this office made up of 2 females and 1 male assistant that reported to him. Both females looked after Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable respectively. It was a rather odd situation because this young assistant was in charge hired by Malcolm (John’s Supervisor). But although this person ha...

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“Night Shift” by L Mack

Submitted to Contest #109

‘Ricardo! Double scotch.’Richard waited for his face to neutralize before turning round.‘No problem, Mr Collins.’‘Good guy.’He poured the drink carefully and passed it over. Collins took a long, theatrical sip and slammed the glass down. He loosened his tie and settled into the bar stool with a sigh.‘It’ll go on my tab, right?’‘As usual, Mr Collins.’ As least it was somebody else’s problem to make sure he paid the tab.Did nobody else need a drink at 3am? The lobby was lifeless except for the security guard and the night receptionist, who wer...

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“Nightshift in the garden of Eden” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #109

Most days I´m an early riser. I wake up earlier than everybody else. If the sun is out, I will just lay in bed a little longer, gazing at those rays of light. It was different over there. The night shift starts after the sun has set. Still, I woke up early, staring at the changing colors of the ceiling, from terra cotta to absolute dark. I wake earlier than everybody else, but I´m not a good riser. I always have a hard time making myself leave the bed, and yet, I´m too restless to just keep laying there. The tip of my nose is always cold whe...

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“The baker” by Vanessa Marczan

Submitted to Contest #109

The last trains emptied the city of daytrippers and office dwellers as Chris unlocked the door. The cafe was tucked in an alleyway between towers of glass and steel. He walked into the gloom, past stacked chairs, tables, the counter, the coffee machine - an engine all shiny and fawned over. He squeezed into the kitchen, the heart, deeper to the womb. Clad in his apron, hands washed, Chris gathered bowls, flour, butter, eggs, water, rolling pin. The oven growled to life greeting the long night. Like a warlock, he performed the ritua...

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“Where did you come from, where did you go?” by Katrina Hagel

Submitted to Contest #109

The first Monday that Howl opened his email, he skimmed. His vision blurred as his index finger automatically scrolled. Howl rarely digested anything from his email. Until... Howl believed the woman must have mistaken him for someone else. The email professed ardent love, compassions, and wishes. Howl was embarrassed and refused to believe the words were intended for him. The sender left no clue to who they could be. Howl spent the next several afternoons making up stories about who the couple could be. The woman had sounded heartbro...

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“Breathe” by Rebecca Moatz

Submitted to Contest #109

“Hello Annalise, my name is Kaitlyn Larson and I have a little mystery on my hands that I am hoping you can help me solve. I realize that this may be a long shot, but I just had to take a chance and try to email you. Did you send a package to Bryn Mawr, PA over the holidays? I received a large box at my home from an Annalise Edwards addressed to a Zachary Vines. It has my address on it but I have only lived here for a few months, so I have been asking around and no one seems to know who he is. If this was you, please let me know and maybe I ...

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“Dream Job From Hell” by Joyce George-Knight

Submitted to Contest #109

Having worked in several law firms, I was so looking forward to the new position that I was offered. The top law firm in state, offering superb salary and benefits. Was it all a dream? I was eager to find out. The interview progressed smoothly with a good-looking senior partner, whose description of my duties were exactly what I was seeking. More responsibilities as a real estate paralegal would enable me to handle real estate closings from day one right through to attending closings and making the transfer of property. Day One - Dre...

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“Workday Nightmare--Lifetime Dream” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #109

During John Wilkenski’s youth in Elizabeth, New Jersey he had played out his Fountain of Youth act well--so well, in fact, that none of his neighbors ever guessed that the age he portrayed in his daily life quite skillfully disguised his actual, and much older, chronological self. What they also didn’t realize was his “staged act” would come in handy in the future in a way neither he nor they had ever imagined. ...

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“Green” by R Hall

Submitted to Contest #109

Green During the drive up the mountain for my first day on a cush job, gnarly cliffs were underscored by lush shades of olive, emerald, lime, avocado, and jade. In the foreground were sloping hills, like tops of a bunch of leprechaun-green balloons. Behind them, rugose rugged mountains looked as if they’d been sprinkled with powdered sugar. I slammed on the brakes. A small herd of mule deer crossed the road a few feet in front of my car—my kind of traffic jam. I rolled down my car windows. Whiffs of pine floating on cool air passed throu...

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$250

Prize money

162

Contest entries

149

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 03, 2021 EST

Won by CJ Rodgers 🏆

Title: Diner At The End

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!

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