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

“Avenger” by Jane Bradshaw

Submitted to Contest #157

This bar is seedy and disgusting. Not the kind of place I like to frequent. But I needed somewhere off the radar. A place where no one pays attention to you or remembers a face or name. Even the bar's name, ‘Hot Bird’, bespoke the kind of venue it was. I had sussed out the joint earlier and knew it was perfect for what I needed tonight. I am a closet artisan so one of the things I love the most about my job is the opportunity to transform my appearance. My current persona calls for a chic peroxide blonde bob, green contacts, long false eye...

Read story

“Revenge Is Best Served Mechanically” by Vincent Paiement Désilets

Submitted to Contest #157

One, two, three, four, five—there you go. One, two, three, four, five—there you go. Breaking the task into smaller portions made it bearable, survivable. It made it so I wouldn’t use the box cutter to open my veins instead of the cardboard boxes. So many cardboard boxes, hundreds of them, because who had to sort out all the tiny pieces needed for the next day? Thirty-five of those here, fifty of those there. Who had to do that until ten in the evening, until his fingertips went numb, until his eyes couldn’t focus anymore? Me. &nb...

Read story

“Just Dance” by Sabrina Hauer

Submitted to Contest #157

Content warning: mild foul language Swing music blared from the second-floor windows of the building as Lara stood outside. Her heart skipped a beat. Maybe I should just go back home, she thought to herself. With a trembling hand, she pulled out a compact mirror from the purse slung over her shoulder. The mirror glinted in her eye from the streetlight above her. Her hand still shaking, she checked her lipstick and eye makeup. She had spent over an hour on her makeup and picked out her outfit days beforehand. Normally she would just...

Read story

“THE SECRET ADVISOR” by R. J. Garron

Submitted to Contest #157

The billows of clouds overlooked the presidium with its sprawling mat of minarets, domes and rectangular residences. The glaring white light from the F-4 star blanketed the city in a silver shroud, reflecting its power and opulence. Wealth was untold in the Dorf Imperium, an easy ticket for continuity of royalty under the Premiership of Lord Imblorr. He was virtually elevated to godhood, much of it passed on to his seated position, and relished the impunity he had with even the boldest of actions. P...

Read story

“I Want You” by Dave Pasquantonio

Submitted to Contest #157

“Aren’t you coming up to bed?” Cassie asked her husband Kevin. “I’m going to watch the end of the game,” Kevin replied, slumping on the couch. “Be up later.” “Fine.” Cassie tromped away and up the stairs to their bedroom. Kevin sighed. Sixteen years of marriage, and now he and Cassie were just going through the motions, being fake-happy in front of the kids and indifferent in front of each other. The only action that their bedroom had seen in months was arguing and the occasional vacuum. This, he thought, was a stupid way to live. He ne...

Read story

“Bounce” by James Freeh

Submitted to Contest #157

This story has words/concepts involving genitalia and sex. Part 1 - ATTRACTION The tube -- of grey articulated plastic -- bounced back and forth, up and down, as Simon moved through the secretarial area. The tube’s hard plastic tip swung in arcs around and around, the articulations on the tube adding a bit of bounce, a bit of chaos, to the circulations. Jutting out of the small vacuum canister, this energetic tube reminded Simon of a swinging elephant trunk at first. The more he used it, however, the more it reminded him of a big dick. Sim...

Read story

“Eutopia” by John Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #157

“In the desert, there is no time,” said Cily’s father. “There’s no time for life. No time for enjoyment.” The year is 2096 and the earth is dying. Most of the planet is uninhabitable, completely, except for a small portion of land located at the interior of the former United States. Called Moraldia, this is the land that is overflowing with milk and honey. The last bastion of civilization and the last place for humanity to thrive. The old folks tell stories about Moraldia as they skin their desert cactus and collect their fees in the hot su...

Read story

“My Sister's Side ” by Bernadette Beauchamp

Submitted to Contest #157

Steam filled my area of the kitchen, and my red hands should have indicated to me that the water was probably too hot, but I was so happy to have at least one part of my body not be ice cold that I didn't care. Julissa, my younger sister was dancing around pretending her nightgown was a ball gown, obviously not bothered by how cold the apartment was again. Mama would sometimes bang on the pipes, morse code in Brooklyn to raise the heat. I never really noticed an improvement when she did it, so I wasn't going to bother to try. I was just cont...

Read story

“Keep the Scam Alive” by Bad CatZ

Submitted to Contest #157

Keep the Scam Alive By Jesse D Lopez It was an outrage! A mother of three children killed in grocery store parking lot by a criminal who should have been in jail, except the mayor appointed a district attorney that is soft on crime and helped the man get out of jail for attempted rape after one day, this is where the real story begins. It’s a small town, less than twenty thousand people, raw untouched nature at the boarders on all sides, it’s usually so quiet and peaceful, o...

Read story

“The Voice” by Jun Mura

Submitted to Contest #157

He could hear voices. It was the first thing that he could sense as he slowly started to regain consciousness. One of them sounded familiar, but he could not quite make out what was being said. It felt as if there was water stuck in his ears and all the vibrations were being filtered before hitting his eardrums. The murmurs became louder and gradually, he could feel his other senses returning. He started to register the light entering his pupils through his eyelids, but everything felt too bright and he could not open them just yet. The s...

Read story

“Crowded ” by Meli Ann

Submitted to Contest #157

‘So, crowded.” Hanna thought pushing pass others close to her, making it hard for her to move. The gargling and pressure of claustrophobia was overwhelming. She only wanted to get a few feet to the reefs. Now, with these diverse types of schools around, it made the warmth turned to a disgusting muck of vile increments floating everywhere. She once loved living here as a child but with age comes knowledge of her environment and she wanted peace. However, with the recent migration of the deepers, now cause a new fear for the citizens as ...

Read story

“Limbo” by Levi Velazquez

Submitted to Contest #157

TW: Mentions of Suicide "MY L'MANBERG, PHIL!" Wilbur shouted. He gestured towards the new crater in the Earth. A crater that he created. A crater filled with the ashes of buildings and dreams for the once bustling nation. "MY UNFINISHED SYMPHONY, FOREVER UNFINISHED!" Below the mountain where Wilbur and Phil stood, were the citizens of L'manberg. They watched in horror as the man they once trusted with their lives destroyed everything they'd ever come to love. "Oh my god," Phil muttered. This was his first time visiting the place. Wilbur ...

Read story

“1-3-5-17-23-8” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #157

1-3-5-17-23-8 "For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more. And this is said in disparagement, whereas it is one of the greatest talents the species has and one that has made it superior to animals that are satisfied with what they have.”-John Steinbeck, The PearlWally was a simple man, not stupid but not too bright, not ugly but not handsome, not sickly but far f...

Read story

“Confused cravings” by Christopher Albert

Submitted to Contest #157

“And he scores again!! Folks, Deshawn Teele just might be the best player who’ll ever touch this field!”. “Shawny, why don’t ya take a seat and grab some water.” Coach Warner said as he clapped me on the back. I sat down and closed my eyes for a second; the crowd’s cheering suddenly evaporated. I opened them again; no longer was I sitting on the steel slab of victory that was the Gramble high varsity soccer team’s bench. I was lying on my bed, the sun’s rays awakening me to yet another day of alienation and loneliness, the only excitement an...

Read story

“Eye of the Beholder” by Greg Short

Submitted to Contest #157

Lucy moved her hand slowly, her eyes fixed on her pout lips, trying hard to control her breathing. She wanted her lipstick to be perfect, but the wine had already gone to her head. She knew she would have to slow down, but the wine was giving her the courage to go through with it. Satisfied, she dropped the lipstick back in her bag and kissed the air, smiling at her reflection in the mirror. She gave her little black top a tug and readjusted herself, to show a little more cleavage. She had been much less provocative when Dean made a move bef...

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 ⭢