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!

#159: Money, Money, Money

Like it or not, money makes the world go round. And while it (supposedly) can’t buy happiness, it can certainly change your life — for better or worse. This week’s prompts have money on the mind; whether your characters are winning big, or down to their last dollar, it’s time to start counting your cash.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character accepting a bribe.

Adults – 48 stories

Set your story in a world where the currency isn’t money — or at least not money as we understand it.

Fantasy – 62 stories

Write about somebody down on their luck who unexpectedly comes into a large amount of money.

Teens – 49 stories

Your character checks their balance at an ATM and is surprised by the number they see.

Adults – 32 stories

Write about a character who’s never encountered a problem they couldn’t buy their way out of — until they do.

Angst – 25 stories

Stories

“The Offer” by Stacey G.

Submitted to Contest #159

“You’re incredibly attractive. I’ll give you $10,000 to sleep with me.”Did I hear that right?It is Vegas after all. And 1am.I usually ignored random pick-up lines….but I’ve never heard that line before.And as a broke student on holiday in Vegas, my interest was piqued with the mention of money.Unsure if I should rage at the person asking the question or flirt back, I decide that my response will be dependent on what he looks like…but then again, I’m drunk. I’ll flirt regardless.I turn around.A chiseled, tanned face. Mysterious deep brown eye...

Read story

“Singing Sands” by Jen La Plante

Submitted to Contest #159

Homicides and accidental deaths always increase in our city this time of year, as you would expect. We’re ten days away from voting on who has earned the most Fame over the last year, a universal vote that results in a highly exciting reshuffling of goods, housing, and families. It’s at this time those lowest in last year’s votes and those eager to flare in the memories of their neighbors are desperate for votes to improve their Status and earn them Fame. Recklessness begets murder, and accidents are the consequence of the desire to impress ...

Read story

“Patient X” by MB Campbell

Submitted to Contest #159

Patient X The siren floated just above the whispers and groans of patients waiting to be treated. It was just a flutter and based upon the cycles Milton knew he had time to message his latest crush before it arrived. Maybe move from virtual sex to something that might leave a mark. Busy day,” he wrote. “But it’s how I save lives. Meet tonight?” He pushed aside the files of unprocessed claims and admissions and wiped a bare forearm across the surface of his desk. He opened a new file on his computer screen, set the cursor to Line ...

Read story

“The Shady Hand” by Mary Louise Sammut

Submitted to Contest #159

The Shady Hand “I’ll bet all my winnings on the next hand,” announced Francis Calleja, a big time wheeler and dealer that had stolen many a poor man’s pocket of wealth. “If I lose whoever accepts the deal will win all my land but if I win then I take over their property.” Calleja was on a role this afternoon and it was too early to quit playing and go home. Sitting around the card table with Francis were another four men from prominent families around the little village. These men knew trouble was brewing but th...

Read story

“Out of My Mind” by Julianne Webster

Submitted to Contest #159

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2:00 AM I find my boyfriend standing over my best friend’s lifeless body with a gun in his hand. I don’t even have time to panic, because he has our bags packed in the car and tells me to immediately get out of the house. He has matches in his hand, it smells like gasoline in here now that I think about it. Thirty seconds later, the lake house is in flames behind me and he and I are in the car going anywhere but here. If you had told me two years ago that taking two hundred buck...

Read story

“BLOOD PAYMENTS” by Peter Merz

Submitted to Contest #159

Flaxius rubbed the thin wisps of graying red hair that barely passed for a beard in long and thoughtful strokes. It was Tax Day, and it was his sworn duty to collect from the townsfolk of New Delirya–no exceptions and no extensions. Rules are rules, after all, and it’s the rules that keep everything running smoothly. Sure, tax collectors were a hated lot amongst the townsfolk, but that didn’t bother Flaxius even one smidge—why should it? They can hate him all they like, but it’s what kept his belly from starving and being able to live somewh...

Read story

“Society Full Of Obtainers” by Philip Ebuluofor

Submitted to Contest #159

Arithmetic? – Ah, I am not good in that at all. When it comes to measuring distance, I found it too difficult to do. Most of the times, when am stuck in the issue while talking to someone, I try to measure in my head the distance between two electric poles and what I wanted to say. “Emm, about two or three electric poles” That is always my answer to distance questions. That’s if am talking to close acquaintances. But if the person doesn’t fall into the category of a friend or acquaintance, I will supply gues...

Read story

“Big Sisters” by Janie Sullivan

Submitted to Contest #159

“Oh, stop being such a drama queen! Just take the money and let’s go!” Kayleighe spread her wings as far as she could in the cramped tunnel, bruising the joints a bit as they hit the rough concrete sides. Her big sister had witnessed something that would change the Saiges Dragons’ plans for the Royal Bureau of Border Control job fair they were holding this weekend, but the Ogre standing in front of her waving a fistful of Earthian Cash really wanted her to just move on and say nothing. “But Earthian Cash is not as valuable as Fairy Sil...

Read story

“Welcome to Hell” by Barbara Moser

Submitted to Contest #159

“Welcome to Hell, Myra Goldstein. Your call is very important to us and will be answered in the order it was received. Did you know that you can now conveniently check the status of your complaint online at www.your.call.doesn’t.matter.com?" “But that website is down!” My voice echoed off the surround sound system in the cavern walls as the recording played yet again. I pushed several buttons on the ancient rotary phone on the desk in front of me and swiveled in my chair. “How do I turn the volume down?” &...

Read story

“Barter In The Forests” by Judy Robinson

Submitted to Contest #159

While walking in the Amazon Rainforest, a biodiverse landscape with intact forests, clean water, and air, whose ebbing qualities of a healthy world are vital for our economies. I was intrigued that plants and animals barter in symbiotic relationships. Symbiotic relationships are helpful measures of an ecosystem's health. For example, large tracts of coral reefs are severely damaged or dead because of recent increases in ocean temperature due to climate change. The temperature increase induces coral to expel the algae that live within them. W...

Read story

“Happenstance” by Gina Burke

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #159

The water raced along, ignorant of the brilliant sunshine gleaming off its surface. As I watch its seemingly endless progression, I feel it mocking my own life, forging ahead with no end goal in sight. Unlike me, the water doesn’t seem to have a problem with its race to nowhere. Also, unlike me, nature’s ‘race to nowhere’ usually has a purpose. That’s the flow of life. The creek, filled with rainfall, nourishes all life it touches. That is where the water and I metaphorically part ways. The ‘flow of life’ clearly forgot to carry me along in ...

Read story

“Down on the Bayou” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #159

Ty Flynn is the latest Hollywood action movie star. He is making money hand over fist by starring in a plethora of action films. He grew up on the streets of LA and has never had this much money in his entire life. Ty has been enjoying his fame by spending vast amounts on homes, cars, and motorcycles. There are also many rumors of the wild parties taking place on his private yacht.Ty is no stranger to the courts, where he is accused of misconduct and sexual harassment by young women, mainly set extras. Ty...

Read story

“What's Yours Is Mine” by Sarah Atique

Submitted to Contest #159

She eyed the envelope resting on the passenger seat, pristine but insipid even as it nestled all her preserved fruits of several years of labor; summer jobs, part-time waitressing through university, internships, and finally shavings off of a paycheck that was just enough to keep her expediently sheltered and rudimentarily fed. Smoothing out her thrifted scrubs, she forced herself to exhale; her breath instantly pluming into oblivion. If only she could have compelled the overwhelming sense of foreboding to follow in its flight, she might hav...

Read story

“What Price Judas Pays for His Silver” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #159

Xavier tried not to stare as he followed his cousin through the building; Jona was obviously used to this, and unaffected. On the outside, this looked like a typical warehouse, with a few security guards patrolling. On the inside, it was an illegal dinosaur fighting haven. Xavier wondered how his cousin had gotten admittance, and almost regretted having come himself. Then he pushed the feeling down. Just this once, it was necessary, and he didn’t ever have to come back. Jona headed for a chain link fence enclosure anchored to the c...

Read story

“Cheese and Honey” by Madeline Honig

Submitted to Contest #159

“Bruce Bear! Bruce Bear!” The tiny voice echoed through the black bear’s den. Bruce Bear rolled over and checked his calendar alarm. He had been pushing the snooze button on his alarm for the past few days. His hibernation was technically over but he was not ready to face the new season. He sat up and stretched, raising his arms above his head and then scratching the back of his neck. “Molly mouse? What are you doing here?” Bruce yawned looking at the tiny mouse standing in front of him. “Fantastic! You ar...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

216

Contest entries

88

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 19, 2022 EST

Won by Daniel Allen 🏆

Title: Blood and Cookies

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 ⭢