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!

#157: The Green-Eyed Monster

Reality TV is a big guilty pleasure of mine, and the guiltiest of all those pleasures is probably Love Island. I've spent the last few weeks glued to my screen each night, chatting about it to anybody who's willing to listen — and a good few people who aren't.

One recurring theme of the show is jealousy; contestants break up and make up endlessly, and jealousy often has a hand in the drama that plays out between them. Of course, jealousy isn't always of the romantic variety, and envy over what we don't have can infiltrate our lives in strange and unexpected ways.

This week's prompts tackle the green-eyed monster, and how it can lead us astray — plus a tiny nod to Love Island. I couldn't resist.

This week's prompts

Write about a relationship, either romantic or platonic, that is being affected by jealousy.

Romance – 71 stories

Write about someone deliberately trying to make somebody else envious.

Dark – 25 stories

Write about a character who discovers the grass isn't actually greener on the other side.

Middle School – 44 stories

Write about two characters who both want what the other has, without knowing the feeling is mutual.

Adults – 27 stories

Write about somebody looking for love on a reality TV show.

Romance – 18 stories

Stories

“Second Thoughts” by Kevin Quin

Submitted to Contest #157

Second Thoughts I never had second thoughts. He had just bought a new, up to date, 70” smart television set, so I had to get a bigger one. It was inevitable that I would outdo him. I always did. Like the wristwatch he bought. It was fantastic and did everything but make a cup of tea! It forecast the weather, had the internet, and even told the time and date! I had to get a better one. It was difficult but the research paid off and I bought a state-of-the-art smart watch. It answered questions, searched the internet, and connected to my TV an...

Read story

“Goodie Basket” by Kevin Herrmann

Submitted to Contest #157

I wanted to drop the basket of goodies into a trash bin. But that might be noticeable. Especially at a hospital, which would seem to make the gesture all the more heinous, when such a kind gift could bring a much-needed smile to any number of people here. I decided to hold onto it, even though it felt heavier as the moments passed. I did, however, make a thin slice of an opening which allowed me to extract and indulge in some sweet treats. And why not? I was hungry and needed something to do. After being involuntarily volunteered to deliver ...

Read story

“The green eyed monsters of Hollywood ” by Emily Westcott

Submitted to Contest #157

Chapter 1 A new dawn had welcomed itself into the lonely American state, as it swept through the hazed morning sun, which slowly began to rise from the depths of the pacific. The beauty of the American dream trundled its way into the heart of the Californian state, as the sun’s light kissed the sacred words which read the word of fame; Hollywood. *** Something had woken. Deep within its soul, a sweet bitterness began to grow. It was hungry; it hadn’t been fed in years. *** The two had known each other for some time now, ev...

Read story

“Cuckoo” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #157

“Hi, Mrs Jackson!” Such enthusiasm contained in a short and simple greeting. Pure unalloyed joy in the moment. Something that only a child can bring to the party, and at this age life really is a party. The hundred watt smile and the sheer presence of the child helped land the greeting and Jackie couldn’t help but be charmed and return the smile. “Hi, Cheryl!” she said, barely noticing that she was attempting to match that same sing-song enthusiasm, “how you doin?” “I’m good! Really good!” said Cheryl, then she picked up a piece of lau...

Read story

“If Only You Could Be Me ” by Camille M

Submitted to Contest #157

Jealousy is a very ugly feeling. I know I shouldn’t feel that way about my friend, but I do. The worst part about it is that my friend is despicably unreproachable. She is loved by all and is perfect in all aspects. She was the kind of kid in school who had good grades but wasn’t an outcast. Teachers adored her, boys loved her. She was pretty inside and out. She was the cool girl who didn’t even tried to be cool. She was just being herself and that was enough. Even now she lives the life I always wanted for myself. She created a family of he...

Read story

“Ashley” by Emily Hardcastle

Submitted to Contest #157

Seriously?Fuck my life and fuck the suburbs.I mean, come on – what the are odds that we’d have just bought a house right to her? Her who, as Matt told me from the second I met him, broke his heart. After four years of high school, four years of college, and three years of grad school, dumped him when she got her dream job in Nashville. I know the story like the back of my hand, but I told myself it didn’t matter. He couldn’t have her, she didn’t even live in the same state, so he’d have to be happy with me. Besides, who wouldn’t be happ...

Read story

“The Waterfall” by Nibras Mirza

Submitted to Contest #157

Guide to the pronounciation of the names: -Mohsin is Moh-sin ( Moh rhymes with Though and Sin is just pronounced in the usual way) -Jibran is Jib-ran ( The J is as in Jug and Jib rhymes with nib. Ran rhymes with barn) -Mehreen is Meh-reen (Meh is the same as the exclamatory 'Meh!' and reen rhymes with sheen/green) I hope this helps! The paddy fields now sauntered along, now whizzed past them as the car shifted gears. The breeze tousled their hair. A woman squatted on her haunches in an apple orchard, a scarf tied over her head. She...

Read story

“A High Price” by Ashleigh Knowles

Submitted to Contest #157

TW: Suicide/self harm and physical violence “Mommy’s always sad,” Nolan had said, nestled against Julian as they stared out the window into the backyard. Though he hadn’t been to Julian’s house in almost nine weeks, perhaps the two-year relationship they’d had before hadn’t been totally uprooted. He had told Julian many other things, too, and though Julian didn’t push him to say more than he was comfortable, he read between the lines. Now he double-checked to make sure his gun was loaded as he strode out to his car. It had ...

Read story

“Dancing on the Bones” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #157

Lillian and Herb leaned over their third-floor balcony and admired the iconic sight of Diamond Head on the coast two miles west of their hotel. Herb said, “Well, there it is.” Lillian said,” Looks just that scene in the intro of Hawaii Five-O.” Their hotel was an Outrigger- classy, with modern tiki décor. The front desk greeters and staff were as nice as Canadians. The ocean beyond the beach below was swimming pool blue, sparkling with sun-pricks and sooo inviting. “I’m dying to go for a swim,” said Lilian, turning away ...

Read story

“someone deliberately trying to make somebody else envious.” by Abdullah Alhussan

Submitted to Contest #157

John had always been a competitive person. He liked to be the best at everything he did, and he loved to make other people jealous. It was a way of getting attention, and he loved the feeling of power it gave him. One day, John decided to take his jealousy to the next level. He started making plans to deliberately make someone else envious. He chose his target carefully: a friend who always seemed to have everything going for them. John began to subtly undermine his friend's life. He would make comments about their clothes or their hair,...

Read story

“Clean Envy” by Candida Morgan Taylor

Submitted to Contest #157

As I slammed my trunk closed, and started walking towards the sidewalk that leads to Marci’s beautiful mansion in Houston’s River Oaks subdivision, I was hurled backwards dropping my Maid kit in tow. One bottle of cleaning liquid went spewing in the direction of the freshly planted flowers along the sidewalk. Attempting to save the flowers, and my spray bottle from releasing the last bit of supply I had on hand, I dropped the rest of the supplies I had cuddled underneath my rig...

Read story

“Car Power” by Marie White

Submitted to Contest #157

She’d never felt prouder than when the salesman handed her the keys to the most wasteful purchase of her life. She thanked him. Smile revealing teeth like sugar cubes, he told her to enjoy the ride. She would. She’d never had much interest in cars. They got one from Point A to Point B. What more did one need? She still felt this way…except in this particular case. In this case, glitz and glamour meant everything. Her heart fluttered as she stepped into the sauna August had become and across steaming blacktop to her new vehicle. An Aventuri...

Read story

“My Own Tragedy ” by Aiyana Henderson

Submitted to Contest #157

This story contains mention of stalking. Viewer discretion advised. I never wanted anyone more in my life before. But there he was: Carlos Pedro Mercado. He was the man I was meant to be with. No one else. Unfortunately, he remembered things differently. “You were a stalker. I feared that my life s was going to end.” He stood there with his arms folded , his stern expression not changing one bit. I took another attempt to defend myself. “I wasn’t trying to stalk you. I wanted you to be my boyfriend.” “Marla, st...

Read story

“Perfect strangers ” by Violetta Salabay

Submitted to Contest #157

Miss perfect Insta blogger always orders her coffee at the same place that I order mine . You know what that means ? it means that we are basically besties ,nah she wouldn't talk to people of lower class . We are like social media friends , eh well she doesn't follow me back . How about neighbours ? Emm except she lives in Queens neighbourhood and I live in what she would consider the slums . So we are companions , not quite since she doesn't know my name but I know hers ,her name has money attached to it , mine has...

Read story

“The Man Who Lived Twice” by Manuel Borderat

Submitted to Contest #157

THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE I’ll be 84 next month. I look back and I feel I’ve wasted a life. Not one but two lives. My first life was not a complete waste though: I had added a few million dollars to my portfolio; real estate, stocks, and savings; product of my years as a real estate broker. Besides, I never got married. Before my 70th birthday, I was an avid reader; yet, I didn’t realise that I had a talent for writing until my 74th. After a few years of trial and error, of writing, rewriting and editing, I wrote a novel, two novelettes a...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

185

Contest entries

88

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 05, 2022 EST

Won by Zack Powell 🏆

Title: Wish You Were Here

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 ⭢