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

“Lefty Mendel” by Eric Ang

Submitted to Contest #136

The smell of freshly cut lawn filled the morning spring air at the Little League field. The whir of the lawnmower could be heard in the distance as the man cutting the grass was finishing the last field. The umpire dressed in a blue shirt and navy pants was laying down the white chalk up the first base line. Behind the dugout the coach of the Little Giants was having a chat with one of the parents. “What do you mean my son, Mendel, can’t play third base?” Mrs. Cruz said to Coach Richie. “That doesn’t make any sense.” ...

Read story

“To Be Loved by Bo” by Tsvi Jolles

Submitted to Contest #136

If you had to sit in front of a machine that cuts perfect pieces of iron, how long could you do it? Consider how many times you could raise and lower the arm attached to the machine, to see how it pulls out circles and more circles and more circles ... more than a hundred per hour. Each hour. Take a look at the machine over there. If you cannot see, try again. Eventually, you will see Bo. Take a look at Bo from behind. He's facing the other way. This isn't difficult. Think of someone you know well, and now add a big iron-cutt...

Read story

“Continuation” by Dean Atlas

Submitted to Contest #136

This story has material that deals with domestic abuse and declining mental health.He pricked his finger as he pushed the needle through two pieces of denim. This is how he could tell he was going too fast. Such a delicate procedure required acute attention and speeding through it proved that he was distracted by other thoughts. It had to be perfect.He sewed on the second button eye and sat the doll sat on his mattress. It wore denim pants, a red t-shirt, and yarn made into curly brown hair. The hands and feet came out to round nubs made of ...

Read story

“My Body’s Betrayal” by Nia Taylor

Submitted to Contest #136

Hands in the stadium clap in tempo. Here I’m the famous musician on stage and scores of fans are screaming my name. As I zoned in and try to focus second after second the rhythmic vibrations echo within me sending thrills through my body and riveting through my feet. I pounced on the track, picking up my pace, my two-legged motor kicked into power as I’m propelled through the air like a rock from a sling-shot with my body contorted into Cs and Vs until my feet hit and were planted to the ground. I felt now is my blossoming season and...

Read story

“That Ghostly Strength” by G Suzanne

Submitted to Contest #136

"One and two and melt towards the floor — not quite so melty there, think wax, not butter." A tall, silver-haired wisp of a woman walked slowly down the rows of barres, fixing each dancer in turn with her expert gaze. I focused on straightening my back as I bent into a forward fold, even though the comment hadn't been directed towards me. "Ballet is the marriage of softness and strength," Miss M went on, "and I don't want to see you forgetting about either. A bit too rigid there, Lucas." She molded his arm into a rounder shape. I adored Miss...

Read story

“Fall into Ashes” by Mason Smith

Submitted to Contest #136

It had been nearly a year. 10 months ago, a life full of promise and hope, had ended abruptly. Not a physical life…but a shared one. A life with another person. People say that when a relationship ends, it can feel similar to the grief someone feels when mourning a loved one who has passed. A void. One that persists…unsure of when that cavity will be filled, if ever. That’s how it was for Phoenix. Phoenix met Lily his junior year of high school, during an archetypal period of insecurity and uncertainty. The world felt intimidating to some...

Read story

“Pierre from Paris” by Pooh Chudalla

Submitted to Contest #136

“You’ll never know unless you try,” Pierre said to me as I stood up stretching to moan about how we were never going to finish folding and taping together the paper elephant head. A few weeks ago, we had gone to BHV Marais on a lazy Sunday morning for some window shopping, and being a long-time victim of impulse, I’d insisted we buy a pink foldable paper elephant head (I’d waved away the store clerk who tried to warn me with a “Madamoiselle, would you consider an easier level as this is for experts?”) and work on it for the next few ...

Read story

““You’ll Never Know Until You Try”” by RRadical66 6

Submitted to Contest #136

Start or end your story with someone saying “You’ll never know unless you try.” — —-Part One— —— Inspiration—--- “You’ll never know unless you try.” The absolute most cléche sentence that ever left my dads’ mouths. Of course they would say that. They were both incredibly successful, each owning a tech company with a net worth of at least 3 million. Living in the shadow of them hasn’t been the easiest thing in my life. Maybe it would be different if I was their actual kid. But since I’m adopted, people expect me to be some sort...

Read story

“Saving a Road Trip” by Donna Smith

Submitted to Contest #136

Danni stood in the driveway of her rented house, surveying her handywork. Packing for a road trip was one of her specialties. She learned from her mother that squaring away the basics needed for such a trip was the key to being able to enjoy the trip itself. All of the back seats in her SUV were folded down and on one side there were stacked tubbies holding essentials such as food, cooking and eating utensils, clothes, including gear for hiking, insect spray, bear spray, (yes, who knew what they might encounter!), and various tools, cleaning...

Read story

“Blame the Composer” by Bevanny M

Submitted to Contest #136

I recognize the song within seconds. The few measly notes that reach my ears are all it takes for me to relive every moment of the last two months. I try to blink away the memories, but his eyes burn into me with each flash of darkness. I could so easily skip this song and move onto the next one in my queue, but it doesn’t feel right. Despite everything carried in the haunting lyrics that once felt so sweet and comforting, I can’t pretend this song has never been sung. This time, I will not cry. I lie to myself, my hesitant fin...

Read story

“Baseball Parenting” by Teresa McCoy

Submitted to Contest #136

Baseball Parenting The idiom “giving it the old college try” was adopted into the American language in the early 1920’s. The phrase expresses the notion of persistence and determination to achieve a goal even when the odds of success are not in one’s favor or are out of one’s control. What better application fits the institution of parenthood? It is the spot-on idiom regarding the effort of rearing children. &n...

Read story

“Who is on the Stage” by Ayten Nihal Cengiz

Submitted to Contest #136

-You’ll never know unless you try it. And don’t worry, everything will be fine. It was around 5 pm when they stopped in front of the building with a huge banner hanging on the door which says "Tenth Literacy Competition". The woman in the driver's seat checked her hair and make-up after she finished talking to her daughter and got out of the car. She was wearing an orange suit that she had made with her monthly salary. She tidied up her slightly wrinkled skirt and straightened her back. Her husband also got off and was chatting with the ow...

Read story

“An Ordinary existense” by Sana Jaron

Submitted to Contest #136

"Start" , that's the most difficult word i have ever heard in my life. When you look from outside, its perfect. but, every person has their on difficulties and here is mine or even hard to get through it. I was born in a middle class family, only one sibling, everything was easy since my childhood like....well... my father is well off and mother is a housewife. Me and my brother were still studying, it was not the happiest family in the world but we were still happy. I enjoyed my every single bit of life like there is no tommorro...

Read story

“Confession Blues” by Trevor Lorance

Submitted to Contest #136

This story contains adult themes of sexual acts. She threw her head back dramatically, a visual indicator to no one in the government filing cabinet attempting to pass as an office, of the game of fourth dimensional chess being played in her mind. Every question and every possible answer had been considered. They call it game theory; she read a few articles about it. Moves and countermoves. The degeneracy is way more prevalent than you'd think. Only the most skilled interrogators are able to bring it to light. Johnson got seven. Knoll's...

Read story

“slow swim” by Nadia Rumbolt

Submitted to Contest #136

"You'll never know unless you try," my big sister Tasha said sarcastically. I looked over the edge at the blue ocean waters with a gut sharp desire to jump. The ability to swim was no longer known to us, so Tasha knew I wouldn't be able to do it. She liked calling me out on my seemingly illogical ideas. She'd thrown in all the rational reasons why I shouldn't, and I'd just lean deeper into my instincts. Both of our parents died in a boating accident a decade and a half ago. I took on a fascination with water and an op...

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 ⭢