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 – 92 stories

Stories

“You don't want to find a rude wrinkle.” by Jazmín Lozada Ángel

Submitted to Contest #217

He thinks of me with sad things. That's why he doesn't even look at the homeless people in the neighborhood or the abandoned dogs anymore, and when he goes to the movies he leaves a little before the melancholic moment begins. But what he finds most difficult is to stop listening to Pornography by The Cure. One afternoon, when we started our courtship, I asked him why he liked that record so much and he answered: "It has a wonderful power", he looked at my face without any astonishment, I think he expected me to ask a question. And he count...

Read story

“No Fairy Tale” by Michael Novak

Submitted to Contest #217

I could hear the rain coming down hard outside. It sounded like a giant was drumming his fingers on the roof. My office was dark. I had the Venetian blinds shut, the lights off. I sat at my desk alone, about a third of the way through a bottle of dangerously cheap scotch. I couldn’t afford anything better, and right now I felt like I didn’t deserve it even if I could. My head felt heavy, and not just from the booze. My chest felt tight, as if someone had my heart in a chokehold. I felt myself nodding off for a minute, but forced myself to ...

Read story

“Clouds and sandwiches ” by Aaron Tippit

Submitted to Contest #217

"That one looks like a dragon." Rupert pointed to the lazily drifting cloud. "I don't see a dragon," Steven responded. "I see a rabbit right there." His finger intersected Rupert's. "What are you talking about? That is clearly a dragon." Rupert scooted over closer to his friend and started tracing the shape. "See, there is the body, the open mouth, and it’s even breathing fire." Steven squinted, "OK, I guess I can see that." He started tracing the same shape at a different angle. "See? Here's the body and the ears, and he's eating a littl...

Read story

“Walking into the sunset ” by Skye Calista

Submitted to Contest #217

Once upon a time, in a small coastal town called Coffee Bay, there were two individuals named Shaylin and Verna . They were both brilliant and charming, and they shared a deep connection that seemed destined for a happily ever after. However, fate had other plans in store for them. Shaylin was a talented artist, known for his stunning landscapes that seemed to come to life on the canvas. He had a gentle soul, and his eyes reflected the depth of his emotions. Verna , on the other hand, was a dedicated journalist, always seeking the truth an...

Read story

“The Masquerade” by Shana King

Submitted to Contest #217

The soft hum of the dressing room was a symphony of preparation and transformation. Mirrors lined the walls, each framed with glowing bulbs that cast a flattering light on the faces and forms reflected. Sarah, known to the club's patrons as Brittany, adjusted her outfit in one of these mirrors. Around her, other dancers varied in their states of readiness. Some were basking in the glow of the vanity lights, their skin bare and radiant, while others were half-dressed, their hands gliding over their skin as they applied lotion, filling the air...

Read story

“Flickering Desire” by Michael Hartley

Submitted to Contest #217

Cuthbert knelt by her bed and looped the bandage three times. She winced as it tightened around her swollen ankle. “Sorry,” he mumbled, not meeting her eye. “No, it’s fine. I’m glad one of us knows what we’re doing.” He nodded, still not looking up as he focussed on his task. Outside the tent, the cicadas fizzed their nightly chorus and off in the distance, a lion roared. She wondered what that roar meant. Had they made a kill? Would they still be looking for one? She shivered, and not just because of the cold night air from the savann...

Read story

“moon dust” by Winter Moon

Submitted to Contest #217

As much as it’s horrifying, watching the silver Moon fall apart is a beautiful sight. The way its shine slowly dies, and the surface cracks into pieces, falling from each other. A girl stands on top of the stairs, her armor lays behind her as she sheds it running up to the peak. Chest falls heavily, she tries to catch her breath, too enticed by the scene in front of her. Palm tingles with magic, begging to be let loose. She could-… no. She must try. One last glance at her palm, an intricate purple tattoo looks back at her, the lines pr...

Read story

“When she handed me her towel” by Roser AM

Submitted to Contest #217

When I first saw her, I didn’t fancy her. I don’t think I’ve got a type, but looking at my dating history, blue or green eyes, light hair colour, basically the opposite of me. I don’t think I fancied her either the second time I saw her, but, on the one hand, when I’m playing basketball, my head is on the game, and on the other hand, I do tend to get confused sometimes, and I’m not sure whether I like someone as a friend, or whether it’s something more. Truth is, I probably did start fancying her that second time. I did had to wonder, rig...

Read story

“Taboo Soup” by Frank Mahindaratne

Submitted to Contest #217

The room is dark, and I am in heaven. I am lying on my belly on a cozy leather couch, Terry’s knees folded on either side of me as she sits on my back, massaging hot oil into my flesh. I lied to her today. I told her I was terribly ill so that she would finally see me face-to-face. Terry is such a compassionate woman, and I knew that she couldn’t say no to that. There was, however, one condition: I had to come to her, on her terms—though the terms did include a homemade broccol...

Read story

“Under the Red Clock” by Mark Leasure

Submitted to Contest #217

Andrew was desperately in love with Mateo, and it had only been nineteen days since they had first met in the quaint but bustling little deli that had just opened. Only nineteen days but it somehow felt like years. He rapped his fingertips across the top of the two person table, and stared up at the large red clock perched on the wall above it, the one they had eaten at together for eighteen previous days. Mateo was late and he was getting impatient and a little nervous. It was a little more than that though, it was desperation. Desperation ...

Read story

“White House Haunts” by Anna Maeve

Submitted to Contest #217

Andie had always been captivated by the fantastic supernatural tales surrounding the White House. The countless stories of spectral apparitions, eerie whispers, and poltergeistlian forces had bewitched her imagination for years. As a writer of macabre tales that dwelled in the darkest corners of the human psyche, she found herself irresistibly drawn to the heart of American power and history, hoping to catch but a glimpse of the other side. With invitation clutched in her trembling hand, she ventured into the ghoulish heart of the nation's c...

Read story

“Molly's Last Chance” by Rudy Senecal

Submitted to Contest #217

I arrived at a Victorian style mansion that had certainly seen better days. Multiple winters, storms, and even some vandalizers hadn’t done the place any wonders. The majority of the windows were smashed out. Broken glass riddled the roundabout driveway almost as thick as the fall leaves. As well the lion statues that had once sat parallel on the steps up were pulled over. One was even smashed to bits by what looked like a rock hammer. It was a sad and broken sight to me. Such a beautiful home that was clearly now just an outlet for destruct...

Read story

“The Eerie Haunting” by Jane Sefc

Submitted to Contest #217

Dylan walked down the street, his school bag weighing him down with the inevitable homework. He went over the list in his head, wondering if he’d have time to watch a film tonight. He wanted to go home and flunk the bag in the corner without doing anything, but he was trying to get into a good college in two years, and not doing his homework wasn’t an option. His nine-year-old brother Brett skipped along beside him, whistling tunelessly. Nothing rattled or worried Brett. The world was his playground; his life was one big game, and if homewo...

Read story

“The Lady In Waiting” by Luca King Greek

Submitted to Contest #217

Thaddeus Blue, dressed in his white and teal-striped pajamas, closed the secret panel and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dark. Small pockmarks of light illuminated concealed passageways and hidden stairs owing to tiny peep holes and fissures in the fabric of the old house. From these vantage points a voyeur might observe the affairs of Cricklewood Hall, but Blue’s intent, aligned with that of the fabulous Mrs. Peacock, went beyond observation. Attuned to the gloom, he made his way toward the rear of the great house, to w...

Read story

“The Forgotten Masterpiece” by 3i Writer

Submitted to Contest #217

Very late in the night, the old mansion was making those weird noises again. Roy had already been stationed outside, beginning to investigate such strange occurrence. He climbed up the cold iron gate. Once he reached the top, he leaped and made a soft landing in the mansion's compound. Roy chose such a difficult way as the gates were locked and fastened with numerous rusty chains. Roy did not intend to make unnecessary noise with a saw. He had to tread past numerous tombstones before he could reach the building....

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

284

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 ⭢