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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#261: Gratitude

Unfortunately, it's true what they say — all good things must come to an end! Today marks my last Friday at Reedsy, and my last week as the host of Prompts.

Before I get into this week's contest, I'd like to take a moment to thank this wonderful community, for sharing your creativity and enthusiasm with me over the past few years. I have been truly moved and inspired by your entries, and am consistently amazed by the talented, prolific writers who make up Prompts. It doesn't escape me how lucky I am to have read and enjoyed thousands of your stories, and to have been given a glimpse into the worlds of so many authors. It's been a great privilege.

With that in mind, this week's contest is all about gratitude. Whether your characters are thankful for a gift, a person, or a change in circumstance, I hope they find a way to express it.

You'll meet your wonderful new Prompts host Isabella next Friday; but for now, all that's left to say is — thank you!

This week's prompts

Write a story about a character trying to find a way to express their gratitude to someone.

Character – 62 stories

Write a creative nonfiction piece about something you're grateful for.

Nonfiction – 69 stories

Write a story about a cynic who has been told to start a "gratitude journal," and does so — begrudgingly.

Funny – 55 stories

Write a story about an unsung hero.

Character – 53 stories

Write a story in the form of a series of thank you cards.

Narrative – 64 stories

Stories

“Lone Drops Fill up a Glass” by Venessa Nicole

Submitted to Contest #261

The metal grid of a spring frame is the first thing I see when I wake up; it rests along the wall that my mattress is laid on the floor in front of. My new mattress is a dream but it’s too big for my trundle -I don’t have a storage unit and so that’s just what my room has become. Funny, I’ve been here before; I actually have taken naps in a storage unit I rented when I didn’t yet have a place to room in. By the grace of some God, I had a friend that loaned his van to me while he was out of town. I would drive around aimlessly, piecing togeth...

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“KED Said” by Mike Irving

Submitted to Contest #261

Floating helplessly in space, waiting for death to come along and claim me, was a tough thing to process. After training for deep space missions, I blasted off from Earth convinced I could handle anything. Truth be told, that was just a necessary lie I convinced myself of so I could climb atop a tower of fuel and light it up. I stopped keeping the ship’s logs when I realized no human would ever see them. By then, the lie of being able to handle anything had crumbled away. If aliens came across me, and managed to make sense of my logs, I woul...

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“Gratitude” by Wendy Rappeport

Submitted to Contest #261

Gratitude. Joan was a happy lady with shoulder-length blond hair and a marvellous smile. Many studies have shown that people who consciously count their blessings tend to be happier and have less depression. They have friends and express more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions.Since childhood many of us learn to make negative responses to some situations, but that can be ‘unlearnt’ through simple therapy. The negativity can be reversed.If our...

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“The Grateful Dave” by Hannah Johnson

Submitted to Contest #261

Day 1 To be perfectly clear, this is not my idea. A gratitude journal, really? Of all the stupid work raffles, the prize I genuinely need is linked to writing about how grateful I am. About what? My mildewy apartment I can barely afford? The vet bills piling up to try and save my cat? My car that seems to live more at the mechanics rather than my covered parking spot that resembles an easy-up after a particularly windy day? How about the unrequited love I have for my coworker? Oh I know, my crappy job? The one that knows it doesn’t pay enoug...

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“The Reluctant Guru” by Derek Macleod

Submitted to Contest #261

Chapter 1: The Reluctant StartJack slouched into Grease and Gears, the acrid scent of oil and rubber assaulting his nostrils. The fluorescent lights flickered on, casting harsh shadows across the dirty floor. He grunted, fumbling with his toolbox."Another day in paradise," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Can't wait to see what overpriced, underperforming piece of junk rolls in today."The bell rang, signaling the day's first customer. Jack's shoulders tensed as he turned to face a middle-aged woman clutching her keys."My car's ...

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“Today is another day” by Kar En

Submitted to Contest #261

I’m grateful I’m not dead, he started writing. The journal had stars and butterflies and glitter on the cover. Today is another day, it said in big rainbow letters. It cost $1.50 from the local op-shop. Some recalcitrant thing had chewed on a sparkly corner, and Gavin’s thoughts turned to Manny. As a bubba, he would put everything in his mouth. Once even the dog’s shit, and smeared it all over his face laughing before his mother screamed the roof down. That was a while ago. A long time between drinks. He had to watch the liver these days. Ke...

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“The Gratitude Journal” by Meghan Lewis

Submitted to Contest #261

“This is stupid. I don’t want to write about what I’m thankful for. Why do you always make me do things you like? I’m not you!” Maddison argued with her mom immediately after she had handed her a journal with ‘Gratitude’ written across the cover. Her mom was worried about her lately. Her attitude had slowly started changing along with her outlook on school and friends. She had come home from school a few days ago and called herself stupid, insisting that she had no friends and that no one liked her. For obvious reasons, she was concerned. Sh...

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“Born Under a Bad Sign” by Malcolm Twigg

Submitted to Contest #261

Day 1‘Start a gratitude journal’ they said, Well, here it is, started. It’s purposely not credited with any dates, because I don’t expect to be making consecutive entries. But the fact that it is started should qualify as gratitude on some count. Gratitude on their part that I’ve agreed to do it, for a start. I mean, what good is it supposed to do? I’ve certainly not got anything to be grateful for with this burden lobbed on meDay 2Today started off well. I knocked a saucepan of boiling milk over. It was the last of the milk in the fridge so...

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“Unwritten Pages” by Allison Cellura

Submitted to Contest #261

Day 1: So, a gratitude journal is supposed to make me feel better? Fine. Here's my first entry: GO FUCK YOURSELF!!Day 2: Seriously? Writing instead of talking during therapy? Feels like a punishment. Great, another reminder of how much my life sucks right now.Day 3: So now, daily prompts? Whatever, it's easier than pulling this shit out of thin air. Today's prompt: Describe a random act of kindness you saw. Val, the therapy dog, knew who needed her today. She sat with the quiet girl, who smiled for the first time sin...

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“Life Raft” by Kelly P.

Submitted to Contest #261

Aug 1, 2024:As per the advice of a friend, (and by friend I mean my therapist) because who has those at thirty-five, I’m going to keep a log of things I’m grateful for. I saw a puppy that looked a lot like Riley on the drive home. I must be a cocker spaniel whisperer because I’ve been seeing them everywhere. Aug 2, 2024:Don’t know if I can do this crap every day. When you think about it a typical week in anyone’s life is damn boring and uneventful. Mine’s no exception. I didn’t get screamed at by anyone as soon as I answered the phone, so I ...

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“Yesterday’s Tomorrow” by Austin Lucero

Submitted to Contest #261

The weather was not as bad this evening compared to the midday sun, and the humidity during the day that made someone wonder if their shower in the morning was worth it. The glass doors of the older downtown building opened onto the lively night life of the small town. “Hey,” an African-American man in his late seventies leaving the white-painted brick building, felt a warm hand on his shoulder as he walked down the stairs, “I’m glad you’re here. It was great of you to stop by and hang out with us. I really hope-“”Look,” the man cut him...

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“Lassitude Journal” by Miller George

Submitted to Contest #261

George shifted nervously in the chair as he told the therapist about the new development with the woman he loved. Another relationship seemed to be failing. He couldn't believe it. Was he that horrible to be with? “George? Did you hear my question?” the therapist asked.“I'm so sorry. I must have zoned out for a second.”“That’s alright; I was asking if you could start working on that gratitude journal I mentioned. I think it will help you tremendously right now. ““Oh, I don't know if that will help me. It’s not the best of time right now...

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“Too Grateful For My Shirt” by Warren Keen

Submitted to Contest #261

July 7Let’s see… Gratitude, from Latin gratus, meaning “pleasing” or “thankful”, close to Latin gratia, grace.Gratuitous, from the same gratus, originally meaning “given without return benefit or compensation,” but later perverted by our mistrust to mean “unwarranted,” because there is no such thing as a free lunch. Are we so ungrateful?Gratuity, once given gratuitously, now demanded and expected. Gratuity, having spread beyond all reasonable prevalence, has become gratuitous anew.I am persona non grata, the ingrate.July 8What am I supposed ...

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“Ten Days to a Better You” by Helia Rethmann

Submitted to Contest #261

H.Rethmann &nb...

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“I Guess Journaling Does Help” by Andrew Marble

Submitted to Contest #261

October 6, 2022 Hi. My couple’s therapist said I should start journaling to “process my feelings.” What a riot that is. What am I, five? No, I’m a 40 year old man that has been “processing my feelings” my whole life. But that’s besides the point. Really, the only reason I’m even writing in this damn thing is because my wife threatened to divorce me if I don’t. What an ultimatum! “Write nonsense into a journal and then I won’t take the kids and leave.” So fucking dumb. But here I am. Not that she’s been a joy to be around lately, but I also ...

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$250

Prize money

303

Contest entries

97

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 02, 2024 EST

Won by Sandrine Hu 🏆

Title: Dear Aunt Beth

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!

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