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!

#141: Everyone's a Critic

Like it or not, everyone gets criticism sometimes. And while a dose of reality can be healthy once in a while, it’s important to not get stuck in a rut of viewing the world, or yourself, too critically.

This week’s prompts examine criticism from a range of angles, from professional hole-pickers, to well-intentioned advisors, to the ones on the receiving end.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who critiques things for a living, or acts like they do.

Character – 35 stories

Start your story with someone receiving a one-star review.

Dark – 52 stories

Write a story about someone struggling to swallow some harsh (but fair) constructive criticism.

Middle School – 26 stories

Set your story in the lowest rated restaurant in town.

Fluff – 52 stories

Write about a character named after one of our contest’s judges.

Fiction – 12 stories

Stories

“I am Sabastian Rhodes” by Chris Redd

Submitted to Contest #141

At 1 am, you’re your biggest critic, everyone else is normally asleep. The night air is balmy, thick with the scent of fresh rain. Neon lights, along deserted streets, are cathartic as I venture to a little donut shop named Earls, which is the only place open. It’s nostalgia; food for my soul. Earl’s atmosphere is a mixture of a thousand pounds of grease and sugar and lots of it. You only live once. Please don’t tell my cardiologist. Earl is standing over a bubbling pot of oil with a dingy rag thrown over his shoulder, meticulousl...

Read story

“The Boost of a Blemish” by Timothy Boyle

Submitted to Contest #141

Taberdon is a relatively different town when compared to its neighbors. Many of whom are bustling, suburban metropolises, steamrolling asphalt over any traces of green acreage or historical landmarks. If by chance, dazed commuters hurriedly speeding from one town to the next, happen to drive through Taberdon, they would have a brief repast to travel back in time. The colonial roots rise up and the antiquated houses, which now serve as bed and breakfasts and various offices greet these weary travelers (if only for a mom...

Read story

“The Interview” by Lesley Abbass

Submitted to Contest #141

Ok, let’s look sharp here. I’m perched uncomfortably on a blue, plastic chair in a narrow corridor. I chose the middle one of three. Don’t want to be out on a limb. None of the executive chairs for today just an expanse of grey carpet tiles and health and safety warnings pinned across the walls. I distractedly read the notices. Nothing that I don’t know. My self-appraisal is printed and in a new file on my lap. I have a second copy for him, of course. Her appraisal of me was totally biased. She never did like me. How dare she give me one sta...

Read story

“Book Review” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #141

One Star! How did I get a One Star review? I put my heart and soul into this project. My whole life went into this project, and now this idiot critic is telling me my book is out dated. No one wants to read a book about history. A love worth waiting for is the name of my book and it's not just a history book. The book is based on my grandparents love story. The back drop of the book is set during the Depression when my grandparents meet at the age of ten and all the way through WW 2 and the present day. This book is an honest to God ...

Read story

“Not worth the time” by Baxter Renfroe

Submitted to Contest #141

Drunks wandering out of Chilton’s at closing time across the street would notice the flickering blue glow of the television which lit Janine’s living room window on the third floor. They wouldn’t see her sitting in front of the television, though. Instead, she was across the room, hunched over the tiny pressboard desk her computer sat on. She had started with a glass of wine but now just sipped from the bottle. Her screen scrolled before her bloodshot ...

Read story

“The One Star Review Which Changed the Life of Peter Zensky” by Simone J Fry

Submitted to Contest #141

“THE SHADOW OF THE MOORS *Benedict Cumberbatch stars as an elderly man, who likes to roam around wearing a grizzly bear costume -his alter ego- in this shambolic melodrama set in the Yorkshire Moors. Peter Zensky, who both wrote and directed his “years in the making debut play,” deserves an accolade for “this century’s worst theatrical production,” according to chief executive of the English Arts Council. Ideals of what make “proper” theatre are being questioned by the whole industry, as that of the decision of The Royal Court -the playwrig...

Read story

“The Critic Catastrophe” by Gloria Parker

Submitted to Contest #141

“One star? One star! One star?!” I shout, probably too loud, but right now, I don’t care. Anger is welling up inside me as I look at the newspaper in front of me. “Hey Grace! What’s up?” Willow asks me as she walks up the pathway to our front porch. “One star. One. Star. Who do they think they are?” “Okay...” She shoots me a questioning look. “Are you okay?” “Do I look okay to you? How could I be okay when we got ONE STAR and the restaurant could be failing and then we’ll have to move away and start new li...

Read story

“A New Job For Sammy” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #141

“I don’t believe it. Some idiot’s given me a one-star review.” “It doesn’t matter, does it?” “Yes, it does. It matters to me. They’ve said my article’s too short. Of course, it’s too bloody short. It‘s meant to be short. It tells you how many words there are above it. Can’t they read? And they’ve mentioned spelling and grammar mistakes. There are supposed to be spelling and grammar mistakes. That’s the whole point of the article—idiots. Grammar and spelling mistakes and writing short articles when they should be long ones—that’s what it’...

Read story

“One Star One Shot” by Nicole Hawkins

Submitted to Contest #141

Quincy Perdomo stepped outside and stooped low holding his cell phone. He had never been fired before and he wasn’t about to let it happen now. Not without speaking his peace. Sergei Romonov, owner and head chef of the Bistroline Inn, storms out back to come at Quincy, but his sous chef, Petra Perchinko steps in front of him to keep from trying to fight. Quincy gets up slowly; he had seen his former boss, Sergei, get upset before but not like this. “THIS…is all your fault,” Sergei screamed above Petra, trying to whisp...

Read story

“Old Days, Cheesesteaks, & The New ” by Dani Sheehan

Submitted to Contest #141

“A-ha!” Pa said, pushing up his reading glasses that were hanging onto the bridge of his nose. He pulled the newspaper closer to his face, brushed through the intro and soon began reading out loud. “....to say this restaurant can use some work would be putting it lightly–speaking of lights does this place have any? I understand a dimly lit ambiance but whatever happened to a well-lighted place?” Pa was breezing through the review.“Blah blah blah” he said, skimming through the page. “...the cheese was decadent….the décor? dated….” My fat...

Read story

“The Promise” by Kara Beth Baker

Submitted to Contest #141

The Promise 1313 words As I awoke to the brightness, of the sun coming up through the bus window, I rubbed my eyes and looked out the window. ‘More cows than people’ I chuckled to myself..just like Eddie said there’d be. I wondered how much further we had to go to get to my destination. I was headed towards a small town in Pennsylvania. In fact, Eddie said it was a tiny town. So I figured what I had to do wouldn’t take long. I tilted my head back and drifted back off to sleep.. ...

Read story

“I'm crying inside.” by Ali Hamzah

Submitted to Contest #141

I’m crying inside. That’s the title of the story and that’s how I’ve felt for a long time. I’m a waiter at this dead beat restaurant in this bustling city. Ironic that we have barely anyone who enter our restaurant; but I don’t blame them because I wouldn’t too. My uncle is in charge of this restaurant and there was a day when he told me to stand at the opening doors with some flyers. I told him “Do I really have to? Barely anyone wants to enter our restaurant. It’s so old and kinda musty here. Besides, everybody’s going to the mall up the...

Read story

“Bobby's Place” by Lala Ahmad

Submitted to Contest #141

South of Boston, in the very much American state of Massachusetts, nestled between the sea and four old irrelevant towns, rested Plymouth. If Plymouth could be described to a fortunate individual who had never heard of the place, one could use the following analogy: Think of a merchant on the silk road, who has travelled the known world for years hearing stories of what was to be the most beautiful of princesses of the richest of kingdoms. He crosses the desert, he crosses the worst and most dangerous terrain one could think of, and h...

Read story

“Isla Luna” by Annette C

Submitted to Contest #141

The restaurant was located near the river. Out-front Tim, the owner and chef, planted a flower garden with several evergreens to give the restaurant a look of hominess. In the middle of the parking area was a willow tree big enough to cover all parked cars from the direct rays of the sun—all two cars, one belonging to Tim, the other to his cousin Marge. The dated outdoor seating reeked of river water. It was said that the river drew its malodour from the many bodies that were dumped into it by the local mobster who owned half the restaurants...

Read story

“Key Lime over the Coconut Cream” by Max MacRae

Submitted to Contest #141

"You know this place has been a no fly zone since the health department came in earlier this year eh? Not to mention the reviews on google.""Yeah, and what of it?""Nothing." Will knew Kim loved this place and he knew Kim would overreact if he said anything bad about this restaurant called "restaurant."Kim was a bit hesitant about bringing his buddy Will to the restaurant called restaurant on the corner of Younge and Hillsdale because Will was sometimes too happy when Kim wanted to be glum, but Will had been a good friend to Kim since he move...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

177

Contest entries

111

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 15, 2022 EST

Won by Hannah P. Simmons 🏆

Title: The Lonely Color

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 ⭢