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!

#217: Tropes

Last week, we revisited the old “show, don’t tell” rule. This week, let’s throw out the rulebook and have some fun.

In your reading, you’ve probably come across some recurring tropes. In romance, we’ve got star-crossed lovers, fake relationships, enemies-to-lovers, and happily-ever-afters. In fantasy, we’ve got Chosen One protagonists, reluctant heroes, and wise mentors. In mystery, we have unreliable narrators, jaded investigators, locked rooms, and remote settings. It goes on.

Subverting these tropes can be fun, but the tricky thing is that you need to do it for a reason, and in a way that enriches your story. Can you do it?

This week's prompts

Write a story about two characters who like each other but don’t get a happily-ever-after.

Romance – 91 stories

Set your story in a creepy mansion — except nothing horrifying takes place in it.

Horror – 64 stories

Write about a person who's been called to mentor someone in a special skill, but doesn't really want to.

Adventure – 27 stories

Write about a sleuth who’s a little too keen, but not because they have a traumatic past they won’t talk about.

Mystery – 10 stories

Write a story about a warrior who doesn’t want to kill the dragon.

Fantasy – 91 stories

Stories

“Too Late ” by Will Williams

Submitted to Contest #217

Content warning: The story contains mention of substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health For the first time in maybe four decades, I had let myself hope. The walls had come down, I looked the universe in the face and accepted that it was my turn. I’ve been alone for a long time. The vast majority of my sixty-eight years. A large part of myself has always felt undeserving like I'll never be able to make up for my past mistakes. I feel more foolish than ever for thinking that God had forgiven me and would finally ...

Read story

“His Dimension” by Zakiya Lockett

Submitted to Contest #217

His Dimension Elio sat on the bench in the free weight area at the gym near his house. He rubbed his head then rubbed the back of his neck. He looked at his watch checking the time, it was 5:37pm. He remembered he told Tyran he would meet him and the rest of the crew for dinner tonight to watch the football game. None of their teams were playing but wanted to enjoy watching the game. They all set the time to be seven to meet up at the restaurant. I have enough time to make it, he thought. He grabbed his gym bag, looked behi...

Read story

“Mentoring an Artist” by Denise Clarke-Argo

Submitted to Contest #217

Mentoring an Artist Chapter 1: The Call Anya sat in her studio, lost in thought. She was a renowned artist, her paintings and sculptures displayed in galleries around the world. But today, she felt uninspired. Her phone rang, startling her out of her reverie. It was her friend and colleague, Sarah. "Anya, I have some great news," Sarah said. "You've been chosen to mentor a young artist!" Anya's heart sank. She had never been one to teach, and she wasn't sure she had the patience for it. But she couldn't le...

Read story

“Death #599” by Kathryn Harris

Submitted to Contest #217

He could tell Death #216 wanted to break the news lightly. Her sallow cheekbones protruded with extra prominence under the unfriendly, corporate lights. After looking at the panel of eight Deaths, he realized a summon to the Committee's headquarters, if nothing else, tended to provide a physical esteem boost. He would certainly need it today. "Death #599, thank you for gathering to meet with us. We obviously understand how busy your daily schedule is."He nodded in acknowledgement. Silent. Elegant. Composed.Death #216's voice filled the ...

Read story

“Gigi and the Detective” by Len Rely

Submitted to Contest #217

The wealthy bachelor Simon Belvoir had arrived at the country house during the night. This far north it was only fifty-five degrees in August, and the place was so new there wasn’t a single amenity that had ever been used. New and cold. When he came out of his stateroom in the morning he was wearing a wool vest with four gold buttons over his dress shirt. Passing by the room next to his in the uppe...

Read story

“ELIANA, THE SLEUTH” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #217

SCORE! One for the sleuth. In your face Cloverdale police. I solved your mystery. The poor puppy was hiding in plain sight. Next time listen to Eliana when she tells you the puppy is hiding under the big tree at the lake. I knew the puppy was under the big tree but nobody listens to kids. Now I can do my happy dance and say in your face grown-ups. I dance all the way home. I see my mom shaking her head. She's probably saying, "I have a crazy daughter." Mom you are so right. I love solving mysteries. You can't get me to stop. I love readi...

Read story

“The Ballerina's Bunion: A Jack Cliche Mystery” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #217

There was no doubt that she had been beautiful. Now her young corpse lay impossibly contorted among the refuse in the alley. I took a deep drag of my cigarette and pitched it as I blew a thick plume of smoke into the cold night air, whisps curling through the hard edges of the streetlight. My partner, McGuffin, leaned over her body in a crouch, looking her over. He huffed a breath of regret and stood with a grunt. We weren’t exactly in our prime these days. “You hate to see it,” he said, shaking his head. “Sure do,” I agreed, lightin...

Read story

“Claws” by George Hughes

Submitted to Contest #217

Curtains twitched in the quiet and quaint English village of Nimby. A removal lorry had pulled up outside the house recently acquired by a stranger. Curious neighbours stretched sinews to get their first glimpse of the interloper. Janet and Edward Booth were horrified when they saw who was moving in next door. “Oh my god”, Janet shrieked, “she’s a dragon”. Prejudice against such creatu...

Read story

“One unlucky day” by Quinn Harper

Submitted to Contest #217

They were scared. scared of leaving the world too soon, scared of feeling the cold steel and sliver press against their body once more, scared of leaving the village with no defender and open season to any of the cowardly and superstitious but most importantly, they were scared of him, Zeveres. Zeveres the mighty, a powerful hero that had slain many great foes, defended people from the smallest outpost to the biggest empire, rescued whoever or whatever and did it all with a smile and go lucky attitude. The one thing he couldn't do however,...

Read story

“CHASING THE DRAGON” by Glenna Agnew

Submitted to Contest #217

CHASING THE DRAGON Evan slapped at the mosquitoes that thronged around his head, it wasn't so much the bites that bothered him, it was the endless droning of their frantic little wings creating that irritating noise that never ceased. They were his bete noir, his black beast, his nemesis, his curse, his plaque. There were few things that bothered Evan in life as much as the tiny mosquito. He couldn’t help himself, he had always had an intense hatred of the pesky creatures. He could walk through a herd of horned cattle with not a qualm in...

Read story

“Monarch” by Nick Baldino

Submitted to Contest #217

You are ten. School is starting. You wait at the bus stop, next to crops of milkweed that are beginning to blossom. Red beetles and monarchs crawl over the spiky pods. You try to catch them, but your fingers are stubby, and they flutter away before you can take ahold. Behind you, there is a steamy exhale as the yellow bus saddles up to the sidewalk. The diesel mixes in with the vanilla sky. You make one last snap at the orange butterfly, and as it flutters away, you realize you’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Until today. It is on ...

Read story

“Good Luck ” by Michael Hellwig

Submitted to Contest #217

Sitting in his black Ford Explorer in the company parking lot. James was approaching retirement age, and it couldn’t come fast enough for him. He just needed two more years of monthly contributions to his Fidelity portfolio. And financially he would be free of society’s rat race. Furthermore, when that milestone was achieved. His life would consist of long morning walks, afternoon naps, and late evening fishing excursions. Just thinking about these prospects got him feeling all giddy and excited inside. Parked facing outwards from the Priva...

Read story

“You Slay Me” by Barbara Nosek

Submitted to Contest #217

Daddy! Daddy!! Daddy!!!I think I’m breaking the land speed record getting to Teddy’s bedroom, where I find him plastered against the wall, unmoving, seemingly paralyzed with fear. Walking toward him I say, “Son, come here, what’s the matter?”“No!” he screams. “If I move it will attack me!”“What will attack you?”His arm slowly raises and a shaky finger points to the open window. And there on the sill is a small lizard, clearly having squeezed through the narrow space where the screen doesn’t quite fit against the frame. Had been meaning for m...

Read story

$250

Prize money

283

Contest entries

130

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 29, 2023 EST

Won by Paul Crehan 🏆

Title: Who Are We to Judge the Music of an Octopus?

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 ⭢