#188: But There's a Catch
In life, there’s almost always a catch. The beautiful new shoes cause blisters. The exciting promotion at work leaves you feeling out of your depth. The free upgrade to first class comes with a screaming kid for a neighbor. If something seems too good to be true, maybe it is!
We might call these drawbacks ‘the fly in the ointment’; the little things that spoil what would otherwise be wonderful. With this week’s prompts, we’re encouraging you to lean into those frustrations, big and small. Will your characters be able to find a workaround, or is this as good as it gets?
This week's prompts
Write a story that starts with the line “So, what’s the catch?”
Dialogue – 97 stories
Write about a character who would have complete happiness, if it weren’t for that one thing.
Character – 64 stories
Stories
“The Rhapsody of Reality and Desire - Part Two” by Mahogany Ree
Submitted to Contest #188
“Catch of the Day” by Aidan Spence
Submitted to Contest #188
“NFL Pass for Albie” by Louis Dorman
Submitted to Contest #188
“Captain Billy: Ad Astra Per Aspera or Bust!” by Bob Banel
Submitted to Contest #188
“Only I Could Ruin My Wedding” by David B Fraser
Submitted to Contest #188
“Presbyter” by Bryan Westby
Submitted to Contest #188
“Patience is a virtue” by Jerry Chua
Submitted to Contest #188
“Heaven INC.” by Dreion Allen
Submitted to Contest #188
“The Most Disastrous, Terrible, Horrifically Awful Birthday Ever” by Haleema Al-Qudah
Submitted to Contest #188
“The Unfortunate Existence of Dulcie Dunbar” by Isabella Reid
Submitted to Contest #188
“The Catch” by Mad Bluebird Productions
Submitted to Contest #188
“I Can Help” by Hannah Carmichael
Submitted to Contest #188
“The Ugly Sister” by Phineas Andrews
Submitted to Contest #188
““Teamwork.”” by Kate Wellman
Submitted to Contest #188
$250
Prize money
260
Contest entries
134
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Mar 10, 2023 EST
Won by Tom Bombadil 🏆
Title: The First Idol
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!