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!

#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

“the thank you dialogue” by Nico Whiteford

Submitted to Contest #261

I want to tell you something, I want to tell you that I’m sorry, that I choked, that I couldn’t get it out. I feel like there’s something wrong with me sometimes, sometimes I know it, I want it, I feel it, but I can’t get it out, out of my mouth. Hey are you there? Are you listening?I always am girl, Only if you choose to hear. Go to bed, It’ll rest easier tomorrow. I don’t think it’ll come out so hard if you lie down. I think that there’s a part of me that wants to be like you, have the skills that pull on my...

Read story

“Ode To Dakota” by Elen Sargsyan

Submitted to Contest #261

The table jolted as you set my water on it. I examined its legs for poor craftsmanship but soon noticed your rueful grin betray your clumsiness. I knew then that anything you did, I could forgive. My dear Dakota, I write you this letter, despite its unlikelihood of ever reaching you, to thank you for forever changing the track of my thoughts and connecting them all back to you. I thank you for the words you have whispered against my ear that still linger during sleep. At midnight I race through countless forests and cities in hopes of ...

Read story

“A Bold Move ” by Mari Avalon

Submitted to Contest #261

I received the call on my son’s 16th birthday. My kids had both been accepted to an amazing charter school…in Florida. My husband and I both grew up in South Florida, and he especially, was yearning to return to the Sunshine State. We’d had long-term plans of helping in the expansion of a family business…but those plans weren’t ready to be actualized yet. Meanwhile, our situation in Georgia had become a bit dire. We have raised our kids as homeschoolers, blessed with a local homeschool community, and lots of outdoor learning opportunitie...

Read story

“Comfort in a friend.” by Elsabe De Walt

Submitted to Contest #261

In 2006, I was told I needed to know how to swim. As a four-year-old, I was scared to death. The only interaction I had back then was when I had to bathe. I stood in my swimming gear, shaking like a Chihuahua, and stared into the depths of a fiery void, beating rhythmic chants for the naïve to leap into. I wrapped my towel tightly around myself, seeing it as a protective layer to prevent harm.I wrapped my towel tighter. It was the only layer of protection I had, providing enough warmth to trick my body into thinking it was safe.Suddenl...

Read story

“All I'll Ever Need” by Raquel White

Submitted to Contest #261

The island stools were best located when sliding them to the side of the marble counter. In this position, I could turn to watch the latest pre-recorded episode of Pretty Little Liars on the living room tv, see outside the sliding glass door, and enjoy something to eat. I just had to put them back and wipe away any evidence of me being there before mom returned, which could be any day now. Mom was on another extended trip in Boise, but it was an ingrained habit to leave no trace. Besides, even though it was over a 10 hour drive from Ukiah, ...

Read story

“Passion and Gratitude” by William Siebold

Submitted to Contest #261

“Sixth grade,” I said. “Twelve years old.” Outside it was cold. A gray, relentlessly dismal rain fell. I watched out the window, enjoyed the misery of the day. It matched my on-going depression. “Mr. Moore’s social studies class. In the old annex. Droning voice. Sagging shoulders. Dismay.” Teaching as defeated as the failing building, I thought. The coffee at the Cafe Caliphate was the best. Rich and aromatic. Hot, black coffee in a substantial ceramic mug. I savored the touch and taste. “There was an old analog kind of clock, remember ...

Read story

“Psychology is everywhere!” by Gisela Boderke

Submitted to Contest #261

To embark in a relationship after a whole life of singleness is taking me to write this prompt of introspection of my relationship in the present moment, aided through the lens of psychology and its deeper layers of understanding.The practice of gratitude is a wonderful thing; it is part of the believe systems all over the world. Deep gratitude is manifesting a dynamic energy and will promote more positive energy for us, around us; that's the general understanding of the energies of gratitude as I understand it. It is also embraced by Psycho...

Read story

“Professor Tenpenny's Court-Ordered Gratitude” by Mary Wilkins

Submitted to Contest #261

Dear Mr. Camden: I have written you this letter to express my deep, abiding, and court-ordered gratitude. To accommodate your stipulated unwillingness to notice, obey, or acknowledge the existence of obvious and clearly-written caution signs with well-illustrated pictographs, I have crafted this letter in the form of a list so that your goldfish-like attention span may be able to digest it. I took this measure of consideration in light of your insistence upon receiving a letter of gratitude from me, in the hope you might endeavor to rea...

Read story

“The Cynic Who Could ” by Marla Shaul

Submitted to Contest #261

Is it possible that gratitude has a taste or smell, Mary wondered. Mary found herself on a path of self-exploration. Some would describe her as perpetually depressed, a cynic at the core. She never quite agreed with this but with several past romantic partners stating the same, there must be some truth. She found herself in an upscale New York facility for those carrying the burden and shame of life and generations before. While her overall demeanor has been one of trudging through life she had a dark sense of humor finely crafted by decades...

Read story

“The Right to Feel” by Caleb Tucker

Submitted to Contest #261

Theo sat in bed, back against the wall, and tried to find his courage. He didn’t know where it’d gone. It’d been there before, he’d used it to act before, but now for some reason it was gone. Absent. His stomach felt queasy, his hands shook under the covers. He didn’t have a lot of time. Any moment now he’d lose his golden opportunity, and yet his hands refused to move. He clenched his teeth, frustrated beyond belief. As if on cue the door opened and he knew he’d lost his chance, for now at least. But the person who walked through the ...

Read story

“Fighting with Gratitude” by Nicole Lee

Submitted to Contest #261

Gratitude, positive thinking, meditation…BLAH. As a born realist (with a healthy dose of pessimism thrown in), I have never believed in the power others placed in these practices.Life is what it is. Bad things happen. You deal with them and move on. That’s how I was raised. If one more person tells me to smile - or worse to count my blessings - I will scream! Loudly and in their face. What the hell is there to be grateful about, anyway? My life started unraveling last year, in the form of a break-up, a fire, and the passing of my dog. T...

Read story

“Gratitude Journal ” by Leah Dewey

Submitted to Contest #261

Louise grumbled and hunched over her sterling wheel when traffic started to slow down. “It’s just a little rain,” she mumbled to herself, willing the cars to go faster. They didn’t. Louise frowned and continued to grumble. When she finally made it to her office, there was a full downpour in the city. She looked in the backseat and realized she had forgotten her umbrella. “Damn it!” she barked before pulling up the hood of her jacket and wobbling as quickly as she could inside the office building. Louise frowned when she saw...

Read story

“Beyond the Waiting Room: A Story of Healing and Discovery” by Deepika Pydatalli

Submitted to Contest #261

The couch near the reception desk was as uncomfortable as she’d expected, a design flaw that seemed to mock her impatience. Mahima shifted restlessly, glancing at her phone and then at the hardcover book she had brought, both of which she had no real hope would make the wait any less tedious. She snorted at the thought of journaling, dismissing it as yet another overhyped self-help gimmick. The idea of jotting down her frustrations seemed as pointless as the clinic’s first-come, first-served policy. The air was an uninviting blend of dry and...

Read story

“Award Ceremony.... So Stupid!!” by David Marshall

Submitted to Contest #261

Awards ceremony…..so Stupid!! I guess it all started when I was a young seamen apprentice in the United States Navy. Here we are, standing in the hot sun with humidity close to 80% in Panama, waiting for the senior leadership from our command to arrive so that we can get on with the award ceremony. Sweating like a pig, about to be put on a rotisserie grill in preparation to be eaten by hundreds of people at the local command picnic, I am thinking, oh my God, when will this be over? I want to get back to the barracks, take off this monkey sui...

Read story

“Gratitude Journal” by Lisa Spargo

Submitted to Contest #261

Gratitude So, the touchy-feely person in Human Resources sends me to a therapist to resolve my anger issues. I’m not angry, I’m just fed up with everyone. They are all such busy bodies and pretend all this interest in everyone else. I don’t think they care one way or the other. (Including my boss who ordered me to go.) He is so worried about saving his own job that he caves in to every ridiculous rule the management team creates. They are all worried someone’s feelings will get hurt. Don’t say this, don’t say that, brother! Anyway,...

Read story

Load more stories

$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!

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 ⭢