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!

#195: Sidekicks and Second Strings

Growing up, I was never a huge fan of superheroes. Maybe because I didn’t really identify with the grand, brave acts and main-character energy of the likes of Spider-Man, Batman, or even Sherlock Holmes. Instead, I was partial to the less flashy, secondary characters: the Watsons working quietly behind the scenes, the bassist in the band, or the defenders who quietly keep the team from conceding points, while the quarterback gets most of the credit.

This week, I want your stories to be an ode to the unsung heroes, the underdogs of storytelling, and the small acts that, collectively, can be just as heroic as catching the bad guy or defeating evil in one grand swoop.

This week's prompts

Set your story in a staff room of an essential profession that is often undervalued — nurses, cafeteria staff, sanitation workers, etc.

Character – 51 stories

Write a story from the point of view of a sidekick, or someone who is happy to stay away from the limelight.

Character – 87 stories

Write a story about someone who receives — or makes — a life-changing, anonymous donation.

Dramatic – 23 stories

Write a story that includes the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Dialogue – 27 stories

Write about someone who is learning to recognize and take credit for their own achievements.

Character – 18 stories

Stories

“All is Well” by V Lauria

Submitted to Contest #195

All is well is the message from the lilac bush on the hill. Gia bought it for me three years ago for Mother’s Day. My butterfly bush had bit the soil after a glorious summer of simultaneous blooms and butterflies, as well as the occasional frenzied hummingbird. I have lucious photographs to prove it. The whole bulk of stem just cracked apart and died. Gia couldn’t find a butterfly bush so the lilac seemed to her to be a suitable replacement. The lilac bush on the hill has yet to bloom. The small green leaves are vibra...

Read story

“Isaac’s Sheep” by Eilon Solan

Submitted to Contest #195

I love Isaac. Baaa. Every morning, as the day baaagins, I watch him leave his tent with sleepy eyes. He yawns and stretches his arms, and as he sees me standing by the trough his eyes glitter. Baaa. He runs to me, hugs me, and peels a stray bug that got caught in my wool during the night. He then brings the bucket, sets it under me, and milks me with his small fingers. I do my best to stand still even when he pinches me. Every day I hope that I will give more milk than the previous day, so that his parents will complement him for his success...

Read story

“A Spy's Guardian Angel” by Katharine Johns

Submitted to Contest #195

Warning: PG/PG-13 content; brief, vague allusions to drinking, sex, and gun violence/activity; also a few religious references I watch over Wesley Portier, a secret agent for the CIA. The Creator certainly gifted him with many skills and strengths for the job, while his continued preservation is typically my handiwork. Where Jesus Christ could’ve called ten thousand angels while He hung on the cross, Wesley’s daily life feels like it could employ just as many sometimes but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else while he combats terror and cri...

Read story

“A SIDEKICK STORY” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #195

It all began on my first day at hero school. I was nervous, scared and down right petrified. The school was bigger than any other building I ever saw. I was a gawky teenager, nothing to be impressed about. I didn't know what I was doing here. This place was all about the heroes, the sidekicks were an after-thought. No one paid any attention to us. Then one day everything changed. My name is Winifred. This is my story. Everyone talks about heroes. Heroes are brave and strong, unyielding in power and strength. They are the ones children and ...

Read story

“You're Still Here” by Lynn-Marie Reed

Submitted to Contest #195

“Iced caramel latte,” the barista calls. Kacie picks up her drink from the counter, heading out into the sunny day. She’s planning to take it to the park and breathe some fresh air for a while. The weather feels perfect today, and in Illinois, that’s rare. She joins the wave of people on the sidewalk. The man ahead of her is donning a blue hoodie, which is pulled up, covering his head. When they reach the cross walk and start moving to the other side, she gets a glimpse of his face. It almost looks like it could be Branden Griffin, but it’...

Read story

“Bass Notes” by Daniel Yokum

Submitted to Contest #195

warning: references to earlier substance abuse Bass Notes Dan Yokum Three of us, the backups, are already on stage, our instruments ready, when the promotor announces the stars, the two sisters, Janie and Marie. They glide out from the wing, Janie with her violin, wave and smile at the roaring audience, and position themselves behind their microphones. Marie picks up her guitar and Janie flips her hand toward me, signaling me to start my slow, steady bass thump. The drums kick in, gentle at first, then the organ swell, and off we go. Ma...

Read story

“The Life Of A Setting Sun” by Madison Marvin

Submitted to Contest #195

Growing up, I always thought that my best friend, Lucas, was like the sun. Bright, loud, invincible. He could fall off his bike with barely a scratch, and get away with stealing gum from the convenience store, and survive several punches to the face after standing up to the school bully, Chase Miller. Lucas was my hero. Then he got hit by a semi-truck on the freeway. And survived. That’s when I realised maybe he really was indestructible. “Watch this,” Lucas said with a grin, two days after he got out of the hospital, fully recovered af...

Read story

“You're Joking, Right?” by Latoya Edwards

Submitted to Contest #195

“Kash hurry up and get your bags so you can go. Your dad is waiting for you.” Kara Gaines, said. She was standing at the bottom of the stairs with her hands on her hips. It was the first weekend Kash got to spend with his dad since his parents divorced. It was long overdue as their relationship declined over the course of their 17-years of marriage. Kash was just relieved that the constant arguing, belittling, and complaining about money and finances was finally over. He adored both his parents but living through their tumultu...

Read story

“Downtown Orphanage” by Dallas Montierth

Submitted to Contest #195

I wake from a restless sleep, to the noise of traffic bustling below my apartment that I only recently had acquired. This was after deciding to move away from my parents, determined to make them proud by making it into the new technologically advanced prestigious university that opened up further downtown. My alarm goes off moments later, nearly sending me flying out of my new, overly cramped bed. The getting of which I know that I will regret for as long as I live here. Although, on the meager salary that I’ve been receiving fr...

Read story

“Six Months” by Kristin Chambers

Submitted to Contest #195

Six Months Dan Swanson sat on his deck looking out over the water and contemplated his own demise. Six, maybe eight months, eh? Not a lot of time. After he’d heard the prognosis, he listened to the options: maaaaybe they could slow the growth, maaaybe treatment could buy him a little more time. Dan was a numbers man. He listened to the percentages. He didn’t like the odds. “I know how difficult this is to hear,” said the oncologist. “You really shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. Is there anyone we can call for you?” ...

Read story

“Rat Inheritance” by Amy B

Submitted to Contest #195

Rat Inheritance Death was too nice an ending for such a horrible man. I didn’t even want to go to the reading of his will. The man was a bastard. Worse than a bastard really. Mom had gotten cancer twelve years ago and he just vanished. Didn’t want to handle the sticky parts of life, mom would say. Always smiling, even though she was dying and her asshole husband took her car and her money and bailed out. She lived a shit life at the end, and he just walked away with no commitments. Never looked back. So when Winnie called me to tell me t...

Read story

“Dreams Can Come True” by Linda Mello

Submitted to Contest #195

“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” By Linda Mello Today was one of those days where nothing I did turned out right. I started my morning with my usual cup of coffee with its heaping serving of French Vanilla coffee creamer. Of course, when I poured the French Vanilla into my hot coffee, the cap came off the bottle and I had creamer all over my counter. It took me at least 10 minutes to clean up the sticky, milky mess. I tried to remain calm and poured myself another cup of coffee. Anyone who knows me knows I must start my day with that jolt of ...

Read story

“Denny” by Tallowood Ridge

Submitted to Contest #195

Fuck it! Bloody Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I could do with some freakin help around here, Dad yelled as he climbed off the tractor. For two days he’d been ploughing the western paddock. Three hundred hectares that we needed to tilth and get under seed before the rains, if they came. It’s not a tough job – air-conditioned cab, music, GPS steering the tractor. All of which makes it very boring after a few hours. Grey-black flood plain soil, flat to the narrow horizon, sauntering past endlessly as behind you the double eight discs gri...

Read story

“Top of the class” by Amy Arora

Submitted to Contest #195

The box bedroom at the back of the house was a hallowed place. Heavy curtains and shaded lightbulbs gave the impression that it was trapped in time. Leila bent to remove her shoes then decided against it, and placed one trainer over the threshold, then the other.The wall ahead was loaded with cups, ribbons, and medals. Her mother always left a candle burning; the scent of lavender clung to the nostrils. Leila perused the shelf: award for academic achievement, first in class, top student… best in show. A framed photograph showed her standing ...

Read story

“The Interview” by Michaela Gallien

Submitted to Contest #195

“How do I look?” She did a turn. “That’s the outfit?” Her furrowed brow and pursed lips were a clear sign of disapproval. She frowned. “What’s wrong with it?” “Claire, this is the job of your dreams. This outfit is so plain, how do you expect to stand out?” Claire looked down at her white button up blouse and gray slacks. She sighed and flopped down into the chair closest to her. “Since you’re such a fashion expert, Abby, what do you suggest I wear?” Abby skyrocketed out of her chair and toward the bedroom. “I thought you’d never ask,” she c...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

206

Contest entries

92

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 28, 2023 EST

Won by Geir Westrul 🏆

Title: Untold

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 ⭢