#206: Phobias
Have you ever had that nightmare where someone is chasing you, but you can’t scream or run away? It’s a pretty common (and terrifying) bad dream, and it always makes me wonder how I’d respond in a scary moment of crisis.
Fight, flight, or freeze? You never really know what you’re going to get until you’re in that moment, staring down the object of your fear — whether that’s losing someone you love, getting stuck in an enclosed space, being surrounded by a massive crowd, or just finding a cockroach in your bathroom.
Fear is a powerful feeling to capture in writing, so this week, join me to study this lightning-bolt emotion as it illuminates the actions of your characters.
🥇 Winner
“Shameless” by Parul Shah
⭐️ Shortlisted
“Obsolescence ” by Ellen Neuborne
“The Bourne” by RJ Holmquist
This week's prompts
Write about someone facing their greatest fear.
Character
–
112 stories
Write a story that contains a flashback of a nightmare.
Horror
–
65 stories
Start your story with a character seeing something terrifying.
Horror
–
55 stories
Write about a character in a situation where they have to be brave for someone else’s sake.
Character
–
68 stories
Set your story in an eerie, surreal setting.
Dark
–
93 stories
Stories
“Shameless” by Parul Shah
“Straitjacket” by Oskar Reiss
“Show and Tell ” by Marty B
“Trinity” by Chris Miller
$250
Prize money
393
Contest entries
135
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Jul 14, 2023 EST
Won by Parul Shah 🏆
Title: Shameless
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!