#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 – 98 stories
Write about a character who would have complete happiness, if it weren’t for that one thing.
Character – 64 stories
Stories
“Prompt Problems” by Kevin V
Submitted to Contest #188
“Just a Piece of Paper” by Ali Anthony Bell
Submitted to Contest #188
“Stay hungry” by Ash Egan
Submitted to Contest #188
“Motherhood is the Neck of the Chicken” by Rachel Kenley Fry
Submitted to Contest #188
“Mission Partner, Recognition, and Disappointment” by Emilie Ocean
Submitted to Contest #188
“So What's the Catch?” by Sharon Farnsworth
Submitted to Contest #188
“What's your deal?!” by David Drake
Submitted to Contest #188
“Perfetc.” by Martin Ross
Submitted to Contest #188
“The Miller Reaction” by Benja Catton
Submitted to Contest #188
“THE FLIP SIDE” by Ruby Zaidi
Submitted to Contest #188
“THE POOL ROOM AT PELICAN POINT” by BRUCE MARTIN
Submitted to Contest #188
“Job Search ” by Andrew Fruchtman
Submitted to Contest #188
“The Sherlock Award ” by Kelly Sibley
Submitted to Contest #188
“Life Will Go On” by Alessia Machado
Submitted to Contest #188
“Best Day Ever” by Lindsay Flo
Submitted to Contest #188
$250
Prize money
262
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!