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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

“April Is the Cruelist Month” by Michael Pelepko

Submitted to Contest #141

Introduction…The husband in this tale will eventually tell all, admit how he is to blame for the predicament he now faces: “Henry Jackson” is indeed responsible for what’s now coming down in his life. The man knows for certain that “Elizabeth Meyers Jackson” has retained a lawyer: Stanley S. Shirk, Esquire.Hank’s wife deliberately discarded “the letter” on their bathroom counter, where it could not possibly be overlooked, the letter advising: “prior to any drawing up of your requisite paperwork, I’ll need to meet with you and your husband as...

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“Can I speak to the manager?” by Layla Robinson

Submitted to Contest #141

It generally takes me about 20 minutes to find a cafe or restaurant to dine in. I start with Google recommendations, searching for the general term ‘restaurants near me’ before my sparking tastebuds narrow it down to the flavour I desire at the time. The images of Indian dishes make my mouth water, especially when I think about warm garlic naan covered in melted butter, then a photo of pulled pork tacos with super fresh slaw from a popular Mexican restaurant draws my attention. But most of the time, it’s Asian cuisine that makes my s...

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“24 hour diner: where time stops” by Hannah Bee

Submitted to Contest #141

It’s 3:33 am, give or take. The clock on the wall above the kitchen pass has never quite run-on time. Sometimes ahead, sometimes behind. I’d given up on making sense of it. This place was the worst rated in town, but it was open 24 hours so it could be forgiven. Hazy orange light filtered about the diner, with the occasional flash of headlights winking at the windows. The air was thick, the ticking of the clock the only noise to cut through it. 27 more minutes. I nursed a cup of coffee in my hands. I’d poured it some time ago but hadn’t ...

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“Papa Luigi's Revenge” by Amy Martin

Submitted to Contest #141

“Really? This is the place?” I said out loud to myself, as I pulled the keys from the ignition of my old rusty yet faithful Toyota Camry. Looking at the yellow post-it note I had stuck to the dash, I checked the name I had scribbled down—Papa Luigi’s. Looking back up at the establishment across the street confirmed it. Getting out of the car I triple clicked the button on my key fob—not knowing the neighborhood but knowing what Papa Luigi’s looked like, I definitely had little trust for the area. Papa Luigi’s was what might be considered a...

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“Safe” by Alexandra C. Eldrick

Submitted to Contest #141

All at once the thunder crashed with such intensity it could have been right beside her, and the brief flash of lightning illuminated a sheet of pouring rain that obscured the entire street. Melia hugged her coat closer around her neck, trying in vain to close any openings that were allowing water to fall in and soak her clothes. The storm had come out of nowhere. One minute she had been walking home, enjoying the fact that the weather had finally warmed enough for her to forego the crowded afternoon bus. The next the sky was a ghastly grey,...

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“Spoiled Rotten” by Hayden Morrison

Submitted to Contest #141

I, Georgia Olivia Mendoza, have made a mistake. A mistake that may follow me for the rest of my life- changing everything as I know it. But to talk about this mistake, I must first talk about somebody near and dear to my heart. Harold Chen is the love of my life. Um…or ‘was’, maybe. I mean, I still love him, but it’s totally possible he no longer loves me back…anyway, Harold and I have been dating for the last five years or so, ever since we graduated from college. That’s actually where we met- each realizing we liked the other, but not mak...

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“One What?” by Lucia Whitely

Submitted to Contest #141

Marshall thought that this week's extravaganza was an excellently exotic exacerbation of the portrayal of the human mind. He believed that every stop of the show-stopping stoppers had been pulled which had achieved a show-stoppingly beautiful show. It was to be graceful and ginormous, gargantuan and gorgeous. His mouth salivated at the thought of the applause. Nobody could ever exceed this festivity that was festooned with money and a ghastly sense of taste and could bring about as much joy as a moist, muggy, damp sock in a child's Christmas...

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“The Violin Sonata” by Hope Linter

Submitted to Contest #141

Max Kwong let his mother straighten his black bow tie, and then he watched her hands flick like a conductor’s at his collar, and finally smooth the black suit over his shoulders. “Don’t you think you should do more of your finger exercises,” she said, her worry lines creasing above her two fine eyes that reminded him of tiny swallows, always darting and busy. “Relax, Mom, I’ve got this. I’m technically perfect on my violin. Remember, my teacher Mrs. Lim has been telling you that for the last year. “Yes, but she...

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“The Glass Palace” by Bella Fox

Submitted to Contest #141

I met Jensen at The Glass Palace, the worst rated restaurant in town, I had thought it would be funny to go to what had been unaffectionately nicknamed The Ass Palace by my classmates. I was a senior in high school at the time, and as soon as I walked in, I was hit by an overwhelming stench. It smelled far too similar to rotten meat for my liking, which did nothing to increase my want to stay and eat there, but that was when I spotted Jensen from across the room. She was drinking a milkshake at the booth in the far corner. She had thick, wav...

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“The Joint” by Thiraja B

Submitted to Contest #141

Jack sighed as he opened the doors to The Joint. The humid air hit him almost immediately but Jack was unfazed. Over the months, he had grown accustomed to the lack of ventilation, among other missing facilities one would expect at a restaurant. Though to call The Joint a restaurant, was…questionable. The Joint had ratings so abysmal that Jack and his friends had no choice but to see for themselves. And indeed, The Joint had lived up to its promise, or lack thereof. From ridiculous wait times, to disgusting food, to dirty utensils, The Joi...

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“Shine Brightly You 1-Star; Shine Brightly!” by Bill Kurtze

Submitted to Contest #141

Shine Brightly You 1- Star - Shine Brightly! “As Chairman of this esteemed Senior’s Association it is with pleasure that I ask the membership to please come to order. Would the Corporate Secretary please have the minutes show that this is the 553 annual general meeting of the Pointed Nose Seniors’ Association. I have purposely limited this meeting’s agenda to one item because I am certain all members will want ample time to think about and discuss the ramifications and nuances of what we are about to decide. I know the news is excit...

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“Half-a-Star Nightmare” by David Lontok

Submitted to Contest #141

I looked up at its façade, looked back down to my phone, then looked up again. The photo matched. Expectation equaled reality. “Today’s Diner,” I whispered, reading the sickly sign. “Why? Is it gone tomorrow?” I got the place right, yes, but I had no idea why Mom—who loved the company of heavenly cuisine, sparkling ambiance, and five stars all around—would dare to set foot in it. Maybe it gets better beyond the cracked windows, stuttering neon lights, and stained walls, I thought. Mom’s arctic-white SUV was parked right outside, and I kne...

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$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!

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