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!

#207: Behind the Scenes

People usually bring their A-game when they know they’re being observed — but they’re often at their most interesting when they think no one’s watching. There’s a reason we’re all so intrigued by “behind the scenes” content, whether it’s about a celebrity we love, or an industry we find fascinating; getting to see all the work that goes into making something happen, especially when it looks effortless to the untrained eye.

With this week’s prompts, we’re lifting the curtain and going backstage. Whether we’re following a character who’s getting a break from the effort of performance, or exploring an industry where most of the action happens behind the scenes, let’s see what happens when we finally call “cut”.

PS — If you’re curious about the “behind the scenes” of Prompts, we’d love to have you! Get your own backstage pass by applying to be one of our volunteer judges.

This week's prompts

Set your story on a film or TV set, starting with someone calling “Cut!”

Dialogue – 46 stories

Write about a person who constantly has to put on a persona (e.g. at work, in their relationships, etc.) who can finally drop the facade.

Character – 80 stories

A journalist has been granted permission to visit the premises of a lab carrying out top-secret work. They could never have anticipated what they’d find…

Science Fiction – 38 stories

Write a story about a magician who never reveals their secrets — until now.

Character – 31 stories

Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Fiction – 39 stories

Stories

“A Little Side Action” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #207

“CUT!” “Who said that? Who yelled cut? I’m the director on this set and I am the only one who gets to shout, CUT!” “Boss, that would be the Intimacy Coordinator.” “Where is she? Where is this Intimacy Coordinator? Show yourself, you scene invader! Someone bring this person to me, that thinks they can direct my movie.” “She’s not here, boss.” “What do you mean, she’s not here? How can she not be here? How did she call, CUT!” “She’s working from home.” “Working from home? Why isn’t she on the set?” “It’s a closed set, only essential personnel ...

Read story

“The Unseen Hand” by Kevin Logue

Submitted to Contest #207

“Cut!” The lights above the entrances stay lit, bleeding their artificial red warning into the synthetic gloom beyond the stage. Still live, just as planned. Looking up from the presenter's desk, I shuffle papers filled with our masters' practiced lies into a neat pile, just as I have done for thirty two years. Tonight will be my last. My trembling hands drift over the laminated circular tabletop as I gather my nerves. So much of my life spent here reading the nightly “news”, so many "truths" told, so many lives ruined.“I said...

Read story

“Hollywood Hack” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #207

Hollywood HackThe cameras were rolling, the actors were ready, the director was sweating, and the producer was a nervous wreck. The studio’s planned summer blockbuster, “Brash Bags the Bad Boys…Again”, was behind schedule, over budget, and the company was fending off a looming writers’ strike.EXT. L.A. CITY STREET - NIGHTEmergency vehicle lights are flashing. The beautiful Honey Muffin, in full police garb, leans over a man lying on the sidewalk. Brash Bradford approaches.HONEY MUFFINBrash! I’m sorry. He’s gone. The drug dealers killed ...

Read story

“Asmo” by Michael Martin

Submitted to Contest #207

“Yeah, get her a blanket or something; she’s probably just fiending. Thanks, Kerry.” John pulled the door shut behind him and stepped into the windowless interrogation room. He strode to the only three pieces of furniture in the otherwise barren room, a metal table and two chairs, and sat across from Asmo.“Well, Mr. David Asmodeus, I just had a very interesting conversation with a former assistant of yours.” “Oh, really?” Asmo’s cherubic face, which had grown a five o’clock shadow since arriving the day before, remained u...

Read story

“Dressed in Pink Seeing Red” by Kelita Sim

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #207

The house at the end of Beverley is enthroned with pink blossom trees. From the outside alone, a pale bricked driveway swept clean, I can tell this household likes to keep everything in order. Spring shivers through the branches as I bring my own ride, an ergonomic budget-friendly hatchback, to a stop. I wonder, gazing through the window if the party’ll be hosted outside.Spring is my favourite season, but sadly, it’s incredibly temperamental. I have vivid memories of enduring outdoor functions whereby all four seasons fought for centre stage...

Read story

“The Limelight” by Katharine Widdows

Submitted to Contest #207

Trigger warning - deathYork, England, 1928The drumroll started at exactly 9.50pm, the background lights dimmed, and a spotlight pinpointed Alice’s sparkling red tunic. She balanced on a shining platform at one end of a tightrope, fifteen feet above stage left. The audience fell into silence for the final act. Theo McAlister stepped forward out of the wings stage right. The trademark sequins on the lapels of his black tailcoat caught the low lights in a shimmer. A second spotlight focused on him. He removed his top hat and took a deep bow.The...

Read story

“"Why won't you listen to me"” by Muthukumarasamy Vinodh

Submitted to Contest #207

"Cut", the director bellowed, yanking off his cap and swiping a hand over his sweat-drenched hair. He gently rubbed his eyes to numb the effects of insomnia and stress he had faced for the past few years. The director had devotedly spent his time crafting each scene with passion and love. But all his efforts had been compromised due to the movie's protagonist, Wilson.Wilson was incredibly difficult to work with. His poor acting and decision-making skills had reduced the director's long movie to a mere short film. Furious beyond measure, the ...

Read story

“I know what you're thinking.” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #207

I Know What You’re Thinking “George, while you were in the bathroom, we received a call from the university for you.” “I hope that they don’t want to take my degree away after having a second look at the papers I wrote way back when.” “Very funny George. This is serious. Apparently there is a group of scientists at the university who have made what they called a great discovery. So far no outsiders know about this discovery, and they want you to interview them and observe the effectiveness of what they have invented.” “Wow.&nb...

Read story

“The Land of Opportunity” by Joan Wright

Submitted to Contest #207

Salvador leaned over the sink to rest his aching back. "We need more glasses," shouted Steve as he pushed his way through the swinging door. Salvador filled another metal tray with glasses and lifted it into the dishwasher. He adjusted the bandana he had tied on his sweating forehead. The spray of hot water and the heat from the giant grills was almost unbearable. He only made ten dollars a hour. He was paid in cash no questions asked. Salvador was one of the lucky ones, and he knew it. He had a job and made enough money to rent a tiny apar...

Read story

“My Life as a Currency Trader” by Bruce Friedman

Submitted to Contest #207

I was sitting on a bench in my favorite pocket park on East 59th street near my condo early one Sunday morning. Not doing much— just sitting there and lightly dozing. I had been up all-night fixing a glitch in the computer system that I use for currency trading. I needed some down time. I was actually the sole benefactor for this park but I had asked that my gift be anonymous. I use the same process for all of my other charitable donations, most of which have involved substantial sums of money. I like to stay out of thelimel...

Read story

“You Are So Very Welcome” by David Ader

Submitted to Contest #207

Ellen Berliner offered the caller a ready excuse that her system was incredibly slow that morning. What with the holiday coming up and Covid going around there were simply an awful lot of calls coming in. It rolled off her tongue like the lines from a well-rehearsed play. Ellen also rolled her bored eyes. “We’re experiencing unusually high call volume,” a quote taken directly from the Post-it permanently taped to her monitor. She apologized, per another Post-it, and moved to the topic at hand. “Now what date was the claim again?” An...

Read story

“The Champion: Season Five. The First Elimination. ” by Alex Solomon

Submitted to Contest #207

The Champion: Season Five. The First Elimination. "Cut!" We have just finished filming our four contestants arriving at the beach, for The Champion: Season Five. It's a picturesque day in the Marshall Islands. The sky is baby-blue, and the Pacific Ocean is so clear that we can film fish that are 100 feet deep. The camera crew has already snagged some amazing B-roll footage, including, a family of hammer-head sharks, a school of cotton candy colored fish, and an emerald sea snake. As one of the four writers, I'm not perm...

Read story

“The Chef's Hat” by Mary Richards

Submitted to Contest #207

The Chef’s Hat Macy pushed the swinging doors open to enter the kitchen. Her kitchen. The space that brought her more joy than anything else. The restaurant had been built from the ground floor by John, her husband. Memories flooded her brain as she watched the dance of the head chef and her helpers. The smell of sauteing garlic and onion mixed with the heavenly scent of prime rib and roasting chicken assaulted her senses today. It should be John wearing the white chef’s coat, calling out the orders, working his magic. She stood, unnotice...

Read story

“Just Wrong and Sorry” by Anne Shillingsburg

Submitted to Contest #207

When Cristine walked into their mother’s kitchen, Camille’s stomach lurched like a lilypad abruptly abandoned by a colony of frightened frogs. The sounds of the Bastille Day party came in with her from the garden, where Maman’s friends talked ever louder as their wine glasses drained either down their throats or onto the flagstones as their barefoot grandsons raced by, bumping their elbows. Camille knew Cristine was coming to mend fences. Still, without knowing if she should now expect a tepid truce, a bitter reckoning of past sins, or ...

Read story

“Like Home” by Martin Ross

Submitted to Contest #207

2006I barely recognized him. I mean, there was no mistaking Craig’s long square jaw, the shock-blue eyes behind now-superfluous designer frames. His name was on a whiteboard under a bolted flatscreen, and the others loosely arranged about the tight, spare space would testify to the fact of it all.It was Craig, in rough sketch in a nightmare journal, deep lines and gaunt hints and his essence charcoaled in by a tortured artist wholly unfamiliar with the model. He managed a smile as I approached bedside. It was a flickering glint at the b...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

234

Contest entries

96

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 21, 2023 EST

Won by Derrick M Domican 🏆

Title: Speed Fate

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 ⭢