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!

#128: Tea Time

Did you know that January is National Hot Tea Month? Tea is a wonderfully diverse beverage that’s enjoyed in many different ways all over the world. It can be a soothing drink, a social drink, and has even sparked conflicts (think the Boston Tea Party, or the First Opium War).

Inspired by the history and cultural significance of this beverage, here are the prompts for this week’s contest:

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone making a cup of tea — either for themself or for someone else.

Fluff – 171 stories

Set your story in a tea house.

Spring – 36 stories

Write a story about a tea party that your character is reluctant to go to.

Summer – 44 stories

Write about a character who’s dying to “spill the tea” (gossip) about something.

Fluff – 21 stories

Write a story about a conflict that breaks out over something ordinary (like tea, perhaps).

High School – 26 stories

Stories

“The Tea Of Love With Extra Ginger” by Harsh Sharma

Submitted to Contest #128

When the aroma of tea escapes her five by eight kitchen to probably reach her neighbours, Savi knows that the tea leaves are dissolving in the air as much as in the milk. She digs out a large piece of ginger from the fruit basket, and cardamom seeds and cloves from the shelf, to beat them to death in her Imam dasta. The whipped layer of cream engulfs the crushed spices like the evil sea takes humans in. Setting the gas stove to sim flame, Savi lets the tea take its time. After a rough span of ten minutes, when the tea has boiled to half...

Read story

“They Say...” by Olivia Jackson

Submitted to Contest #128

"Grandma, who is this lady in this picture?" Shan asked, looking up at her grandmother. Her grandmother, Sadie, stopped brushing her hair and looked down at the photo album her granddaughter held on her lap. "Oh, that's my grandmother, Mama Shugga". "Mama Shugga? Was that her real name?" Shan asked, confused. "No, baby. Her real name was Bertice Anne Taylor. They say she was the sweetest one of her ten siblings, so they called her 'Shugga Anne'." "Wow! 10? She was the sweetest one, huh?" Shan asked, curious about this lady who s...

Read story

“Mango Tango Tea” by J.C. Lovero

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #128

Thursday, December 24th I paid the cashier for the hot water and tea bag. I’ve always preferred coffee for myself, but this seemed like a safer bet in the hospital cafeteria. Besides, tea was Nathan’s favorite, and he could drink it when he woke up. I dipped the tea bag up and down, watching the hot steam escape from the styrofoam cup. Its sweet, floral fragrance lingered in the air, tickling my nostrils as I sipped.I thought about the last time I spoke to Nathan. I could tell he was… off. I probed him about his medications, and he blew...

Read story

“The Had Matter” by Angel Elle

Submitted to Contest #128

“I just don’t understand where this aggression is coming from, Alice. The man has extended an invitation to you, and it’d be rude not to accept. Now, you just march yourself straight up to your room and stay there until dinner’s ready. You’re going, and that’s final.”Alice turned on her heel and reluctantly soldiered to her room, making sure as she went to express her disdain in every way possible; stamping her feet, crossing her arms, heavily sighing and pouting, and muttering such things as, “it’s not fair,” and, “you just don’t under...

Read story

“Sick Day” by Lisa Massimilla

Submitted to Contest #128

“I hate tea” Jason called out from the couch. “You’re wasting your time making it, Kevin because I’m not drinking it.”I sighed while pouring hot water into a Garfield mug. “For a sick person, you sure are loud babe. Keep it up and I’ll spike it with NyQuil.”“Spike it with gin then I’ll drink it.”Going to the pantry I retrieved a tin of butter cookies and a bottle of honey. “I promise, this is the only time you have to drink it. I just want to see if it works.”A coughing fit delayed any response my boyfriend may have had which was good for hi...

Read story

“Tunnel Vision” by Shuvayon Mukherjee

Submitted to Contest #128

Lady Astor: “Winston, if I were your wife I’d put poison in your coffee.”Winston Churchill: “Nancy, if I were your husband I’d drink it.”Alison watched the powder dissolve into David’s tea with grim satisfaction. David liked his tea milky. He would never tell the difference.“How’s the tea?” he called from the other room.“On the way,” she shouted back. It was taking too long. She thrust a teaspoon into the mound of toxic grains and swirled it out of existence. Stirling silver clinked against bone china. She carefully put the spoon aside ...

Read story

“High Tea for Tony” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #128

Becky slipped ‘Little Girl Etiquette,’ under her seat cushion. Last minute cribbing wouldn’t do. The chapter on tea parties taught her so much. This would be her first tea party. She planned for perfection. The white garden table, set with dainty cups and saucers, looked exactly like the picture in her book. Her mother provided fresh cookies and juice (pretend tea), for her guests to sip. She adjusted a napkin and placed the plastic spoon, just so. She only needed Antonia, Cindy and their companions to arrive. Becky’s favorite Barbie doll a...

Read story

“Darragh Dunne's Irish Farewell” by Hannah Barrett

Submitted to Contest #128

Darragh Dunne had an impish Irish smile and mirthful Irish eyes. He had a fine Irish temper, too, but you couldn't see that on the wallet-sized memorial cards they handed out at the funeral. Alive or dead, the fact remained that nearly every memorable characteristic Darragh possessed – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual – was attributed to his Irishness, and this despite the fact he was three generations removed from the Emerald Isle. In truth of fact, he was from Long Island and decidedly more molded by that heritage than his great-gran...

Read story

“Tea Talk” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #128

Tea Talk ~ by Greg Gillis Patty’s hand trembled as she poured the steaming Orange Pekoe tea into the two cups that laid upon the counter in front of her. She lifted the two cups by the saucers that they sat on and carried them toward the table in the dining room that sat adjacent to the kitchen. Drops of tea splashed over the edges and onto her fingers, but she dared not expose her pain. She just kept on walking. &n...

Read story

“John's Tea Debacle” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #128

“I wonders why he goes for something like this” John the priests servant murmured as he sets the table for morning meal. He had been living with the priest for three years now and since then, he had never seen him take any other type of tea but Lipton. He has tasted it on Many occasions the priest could not finish the one made for him and the taste had been awful. Tea spoon on the teacup facing downwards, sugar on the left side, bread at the center, butter by the left, hot water in the flasks and another green one ...

Read story

“Lily's Tea Party” by Melony Beard

Submitted to Contest #128

Blonde ringlet curls bounced against rosy cheeks as Lily skipped down the hall wearing white patent shoes and a pink dress trimmed in lace on the hem.“Mr. Teddy,” Lily said as she entered the bedroom, “Today we’re having a special party.”Grabbing Mr. Teddy from the floor, she propped him in a chair at the four-seat table. “Wait right here while I prepare the tea.”Without blinking, Mr. Teddy. dressed in a single red bowtie, waited patiently as Lily retrieved four tiny cups. “You’re probably wondering why we need four cups instead of two, but ...

Read story

“A Cup Of Cheer” by Kev Neylon

Submitted to Contest #128

“Make us a cup of tea love.” It’s always the same, my lazy tosser of a husband shouting through to me in the kitchen to make him a cup of tea. As if I’m not busy enough doing everything else in this house whilst he sits in front of the television watching sports or some other inane rubbish that anyone with half a brain wouldn’t touch with a barge pole. I switch the kettle on. At least when it boils it will mean I won’t be the only object in the kitchen with steam coming out of every orifice. I open the tea caddy and gingerly pick up one ...

Read story

“Tia's Tea” by Habiba Seoud

Submitted to Contest #128

The mugs clinked on the tray as she walked over to us, "Tea's ready" Layla announced. We smiled and thanked her. The aroma of mint and cloves refreshed us and warmed our souls. The spread of decadent brownies, assorted cookies and fancy scones welcomed us with open arms, inviting us to munch mindlessly as we drank from our warm cups of tea and chatted. It felt wonderful to finally be reunited with my best friends after all this time. It had been a rough period for all of us and we longed for the warmth of good company and a sense of nor...

Read story

“Love At First Sip ” by FabWritesStuff -

Submitted to Contest #128

The first time that Allie fell in love happened when she walked into the new boba milk tea shop that opened up across the street from her college. Up until that moment, she had never really believed in the concept of love at first sight. Sure it sounded nice, and it was all over the fairytale books and movies that she had been exposed to when she was growing, but she knew that it was nothing more than a farce. The new shop that had opened up had an Alice in Wonderland theme to it. The interior of the shop was decorated with flowers...

Read story

“The Priory” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #128

Wendy flicked the switch on the kettle for her second cup of tea of the day as she drew on her third cigarette. Exhaling the smoke in a long stream, she wrapped her arm around her waist and shivered as she surveyed the whiteout through the small kitchen window. From the fields adjoining the garden to the hills beyond, there was nothing but snow. Half closing her eyes against the glare, she searched the distant slopes for signs the farmer had brought his sheep in for shelter. There had been little warning of a bad weather system enveloping ...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

298

Contest entries

160

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 14, 2022 EST

Won by Jay Wayne 🏆

Title: my fellow passerine

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 ⭢