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!

#136: The Old College Try

Though its origins are debated, it looks likely that the phrase “the old college try” was first used in baseball. According to Babe Ruth, to “give something the old college try” is to keep going, even when the odds are stacked against you — like chasing a flyball out into foul territory, just in case you somehow make the impossible catch.

There’s a lot to be said for those who keep trying despite knowing that their chances are slim. This week’s prompts take a closer look at those determined (or perhaps foolhardy) folk among us. After all, as the saying goes, God loves a trier.

This week's prompts

Start or end your story with someone saying “You’ll never know unless you try.”

Dialogue – 57 stories

Write about somebody who knows they’re probably going to fail at something, but does it anyway.

Narrative – 32 stories

Write about a character giving something one last shot.

Narrative – 51 stories

Set your story on a baseball field.

Middle School – 39 stories

Write a story where hard work doesn’t pay off.

Angst – 28 stories

Stories

“One Step Closer” by Suma Jayachandar

Submitted to Contest #136

Note: - This is a sequel to Chalk and Cheese. It can be read as a stand-alone story as well.“You’ll never know unless you try!” declares Anj sputtering bits of lettuce and onion with the mayonnaise dripping down her full mouth. I look sceptically at her burger and then at my bowl of spinach gravy. My sleepless face is reflected in the green oil. I tend to agree with her. Maybe I should have taken up on Anj’s recommendation of a Maharaja Burger. At ‘Naveen Fusion Food’, the only cafeteria on the hospital premises, oil is the lifeline that cou...

Read story

“THE TRYOUT” by Marvin Furman

Submitted to Contest #136

THE TRYOUT Marty Desmond had a stubborn streak. He loved playing baseball but he lacked the talent to even make his high school baseball team. But, that disappointment didn't keep him from practicing any chance he got. His friend, Arnie, told him that The Major League team in their city was holding an open tryout on a day when The Major League team was on the road. Players who performed well at the tryout might be extended a minor league contract. Al...

Read story

“Can't you work hard, Catherine!” by Naduni De Silva

Submitted to Contest #136

Lying on the bed looking at the night sky I wondered where it all went wrong. ………… “Catherine, where’s my coffee?” “Catherine, why haven’t you still printed copies of this section?” “Catherine, walk faster would you?” “Catherine, why did you swap the pieces from the winter collection with the spring collection?” “Don’t you have eyes, Catherine?” “Why do you keep messing things up, Catherine?” "Can't you work hard, Catherine?" Hiding my tears, I ran around the office all day acting like what they were telling wasn’t getting into my head. It w...

Read story

“Relative Dimensions In Space” by Michael Regan

Submitted to Contest #136

“Stand still, I can’t believe after all these years you haven’t learned how to tie a bow tie.” “I told you I should have bought a clip on tie.” ### Tim Westland was one of the growing bevy of young Canadian high tech multibillionaires. His small software company in Sidney BC developed one of those boring programs that nobody has ever heard of but one that secures international bank transfers. It was one of those ideas that are so blindingly obvious you can’t help thinking “Why didn’t I think of that.” In 2025 he sold his company to a...

Read story

“Stick to the Plan” by Clyde Laffan

Submitted to Contest #136

I dunno if I should be telling you all this. Ma warned me if I go blabbing to folks like you, then others in these parts may say I've lost my marbles or some-such-thing. “Remember what happened to Billy Sanders,” she had said, then whispered, “God hates a sinner.” I promised to keep my mouth shut, and I did, but when I was awoken this morning from a fitful sleep by a flock of loud, squawking cockatoos perched outside my window, I knew I needed to reveal all. I’ll be quick. The doctor, the one with the crew cut and clipboard, will make his ro...

Read story

“One Last Shot” by Joe Rafferty Bailey

Submitted to Contest #136

ONE LAST SHOTAs she walked through the cemetery, jeans artfully ripped at the knee, Elise realized the winds that struck the tombstones were also running through her. This helped her feel at peace and not so alone, as she stood among her dead friends – the only ones who might understand her current state. But then the image of her wall calendar flashed through her mind, and her stomach dropped with the realization that she had to chaperone her son’s Valentine’s Day dance. This wouldn’t normally be such a big deal; however, she’d recentl...

Read story

“Fact or Fiction?” by Rachel Ward

Submitted to Contest #136

There's this woman that works at your local flower shop. You simply cannot stand a household devoid of daisies, so you visit this flower shop once a week. Every Thursday, 1:15 PM, you walk into "What in Carnation? Flower Shop" and speak to a rather monotonous employee named Susan. You've tried and tried, but Susan simply refuses to reveal any personal information about herself. No smile as you enter the store, no "Happy Tuesday to you too!", not even a "You have a pasta stain on your shirt" when you very, very clearly do not know that you ha...

Read story

“The Roar of the Crowd” by Joan Brancaccio

Submitted to Contest #136

When the crowd roared it washed over them like a wave, starting slowly and building to a crescendo. It wasn't just the sound of cheering, it was also the sound of the wooden seats snapping as people jumped up to get a better look at just how far the ball was going. The crowd could tell from the crack of the bat it was going to be a long one, and they needed to stand to see just how far the ball would go. Eddie wasn't inside the stadium to witness any of this. It was still the Depression and there wasn't enough money to go to every home gam...

Read story

“Desires Beyond reason” by Marion Crackower

Submitted to Contest #136

DESIRES BEYOND REASON Elinor Stevencox was average. Average height, average hair, average age. In a crowd of average people, she would pass unnoticed for Elinor Stevencox was as average as can be. Although, Elinor Stevencox wanted to be someone else. She wanted to be something else. Someone worthy of a book! Working at a dead-end job, in a dead-end office, squeezed in a cubicle of average size did ...

Read story

“Destination Vega Grandis” by Sasan Sedighi

Submitted to Contest #136

“Wake up, Karo. You have an important incoming call,” Sida, the voice in his head, said. “Who is it?” Karo asked with a sleeping voice. “It’s from the Planetary Union.” The name of Planetary Union made him fully awake. It was early in the morning, and his bedroom was still dark. He quickly checked the time via his Neuralink. He could have two extra hours of sleep before getting up for work. While annoyed by the untimely call, he accepted it. He was grumpy, but eager to find what the call was about. Instantly, a 3D motion picture formed in fr...

Read story

“Dating After Fifty” by McCampbell Molly

Submitted to Contest #136

Sophie lay in bed with her 16-year-old daughter Kalei. “Hmmm, Mom. I want to show you something.” Her daughter looked at her tentatively. “Sure Baby, what’s up?” Sophie flipped the television channels, hoping to find the perfect mother-daughter movie. She had been working a lot of hours lately and hadn’t been able to spend as much time with the kids as she might have liked. She was looking forward to some bonding time. “Well, I think that you shoul...

Read story

“The Call ” by FabWritesStuff -

Submitted to Contest #136

“You’ll never know until you try.” Reggie sighed as he watched his friend, Danny, pace back and forth like a maniac. “Dude, just make a decision already. Are you gonna do it or not?” His voice snapped Danny out of his trance. “It’s not that simple! I can’t just decide: yes or no and be done with it. That’s just impulsive, and I’m not an impulsive person.” “Cleary.” Reggie muttered under his breath. Danny chose to ignore it and continued to ramble on. “You just don’t get how important this decision is to me. Its lit...

Read story

“Asher Brightendale's Dilemma” by Robert Ford

Submitted to Contest #136

Asher Brightendale’s Dilemmas Like most things in Asher Brightendale’s life, his attempted suicide was an example of his penchant for dismissing any plan laced with the possibility of failure by summarily replacing it with an obstinate determination to perfectly execute his objective. I.E., he knew, or at least suspected, his suicide by drowning would probably fail, but the portent of humiliation and a damaged ego added to his implacable nature dictated he push ahead anyway. At just after nine p.m. Asher waded into Long Island Sou...

Read story

“Hit a home run, boy!” by Liv Valen

Submitted to Contest #136

The stadium was fully packed. Having one of the most important games in the year, Billy was constantly moving about the venue, delivering beverages and retail merchandise for elated baseball fans and weekend dads with their boys. “What can I get you, pal?” he asked a man whose side profile seemed familiar. He gestured without even looking at Billy and when a hot dog’s been handed over, Billy immediately recognized the man who just spat his chewing gum into a napkin. It’s Theo, his former life management therapist from two years ago...

Read story

“Josephine's Smile” by Kathryn Gabrielle

Submitted to Contest #136

"Roses are red.Violets are blue.Sugar is sweet and so are you."Napoleon’s first wife Josephine was born Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie in Martinique on June 23, 1763. Like Napoleon himself, Josephine was a study of contrasts. As a child, Josephine grew up on a sugar cane plantation and developed a sweet tooth. As a result, her teeth had turned black at an early age so she learned to talk and smile without showing them. Despite this drawback, she was renowned for her grace and style. Many people in the 1700's had bad teeth. It was n...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

207

Contest entries

100

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 11, 2022 EST

Won by Howard Halsall 🏆

Title: Cigarettes: A Romance

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 ⭢