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 Gift of a Quiet Morning” by Samantha Red

Submitted to Contest #261

In the frenetic pace of daily life, it's easy to overlook the moments of tranquility that offer respite from the chaos. One such moment I have grown to cherish deeply is the quiet morning. I'm grateful for the stillness of early hours, the peaceful interlude between the chaos of yesterday and the demands of today.My appreciation for quiet mornings began during a particularly stressful period of my life. I was juggling a demanding job, personal obligations, and a relentless stream of physical issues that were on the rise. It seemed like there...

Read story

“Four Roses With Father” by Thomas Wetzel

Submitted to Contest #261

It was almost 12:30 a.m. as I pulled up to the end of the long driveway beside the staid and prestigious old house where I had grown up in the toney and uber-wealthy outskirts of Greenwich, Connecticut. Despite the late hour I wasn't surprised to see that the lights were still on inside the study. Whether he had fallen asleep in his deep leather chair with a book in his lap or if he was still awake - browsing some well-thumbed novel by Vidal or Mailer - was another question. My father’s sleep schedule was anything but on schedule lately, mai...

Read story

“Hombre de Agua” by G S Martin

Submitted to Contest #261

He couldn't play the guitar. Neither could I. But we were smitten with the art of music and strived to understand the craft of it. We spent countless hour...

Read story

“The Art Critic” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #261

John Gideon Edwards is an art critic extraordinaire. Well, perhaps cynic extraordinaire is more appropriate. He is also a snob. His father was a curatorial assistant at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for many years. John Edwards Sr. had grand ambitions for his son, hoping he would someday become a world-renowned artist. He enrolled him in the educational art program at the museum itself. Its purpose was to teach various techniques and methods while exposing children to the museum’s vast works o...

Read story

“Dad’s Fine With Me” by Lily Finch

Submitted to Contest #261

What the hell is he doing? Gassing a frog? That's not right. My brain calculated as terrifying and sick things clashed, messing up my stomach and mind. Goosebumps sprouted like braille on paper.Jimmy, my cousin, caused us more trouble every time he visited. I was horrified as I saw Jimmy's eyes dance with excitement at the flaming frog leaping around.What a hack! I turned away, helpless—the young girl in me couldn't save it. Even though I was woozy-legged and my stomach was turning at the horrible sight, it gave me strength.#Jimmy's actions ...

Read story

“Let It All Out, brutha” by Tommy Goround

Submitted to Contest #261

There’s a sign near my door which reads:60 years maximum parking.It might seem arbitrary but it is given in time units because the bureau sweeper knows my biology. The blood smears have a purpose and we have to make room for the young.The Activity Counselor/Wills & Trust Lawyer comes into my room with a tray of eggs and one flower in a vase. The flower is a dandelion. Judy Bench says I should blow on the dandelion after making a wish and proceed with the eggs (wich are always poached in boiled water).The eggs resemble brain matter unleas...

Read story

“Hakeem and Walid” by Daryl Kulak

Submitted to Contest #261

I left the room with the kidnapping suspect and walked to the opposite side of the hallway to meet with the parent. The eight year-old boy only had a father now since the mother was killed as part of the abduction. As I entered the room, I saw the father, Hakeem, sitting at the empty table. His hands were gripping the chair seat and he did not acknowledge my presence. I deal with these parents all the time so I wasn’t affected by this. “Mr. Fayez, it is nice to see you again.” I used my most pleasant office voice. He still didn’t look up. “M...

Read story

“Things I sort-of like” by Amelia Bourke

Submitted to Contest #261

May rustles around in the plastic bag for a few moments before handing the small book to Ethan. He glares at the book, and then back at her,“You’re having me on. There were no others you could have picked up?”He scorns at the pink sparkly hardback diary in his hands. Flipping the pages, observing the contents. ‘Gratitude’ is pasted in big bold glittery letters on the front cover.“It’s the only one they had in the store so it’ll have to do. Besides, the outside of it doesn’t matter. Who’s going to see it anyway?” She places the plastic bag on...

Read story

“Show Appreciation, Communicate Clearly, and Assume the Best!” by Jeremy Burgess

Submitted to Contest #261

From: Maxine Leyland <maxine.leyland@digipencils.biz>To: Jay Collingwood <jay.collingwood@digipencils.biz>Subject: Re: Conference room projector29 July 2024, 10:37 Message:Hi Jay,Thanks so much for your clear request! I hear you, that projector is giving trouble big time, and I'm on the case of getting it fixed. I thank you for your patience, in advance - Kelly, James, Linda, and Jude are all out sick today, so we're a bit tight staffed in IT today. Not to worry though, I'll get to it as soon as I can!Thanks,MaxFrom: Jay Col...

Read story

“I AM” by Sandy Paluzzi

Submitted to Contest #261

When I was in my late forties, the men I’d known since childhood began dying – one by one I lost all three of my uncles in a year and a half. Then, in one terrible week, a close childhood friend and my dad (my anchor) both succumbed to cancer. Unable to cope with the enormity of these losses, my mind went spiraling out of control. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, I felt caught up in the eye of a tornado. Everything and everyone seemed to be flying away from me, buffeted by the wind until I was left with only my paranoid psychotic delus...

Read story

“Where is the Goddam Cowbird?” by Luca King Greek

Submitted to Contest #261

“Oh, there’s all kinds of witches,” said the gray-haired crone as she pulled the leather-bound journal from off the shelf behind her desk.“And which are you?” said Pippa, enjoying the banter with this cranky old lady in the Wicca World retail store, who was playing the part of mischievous witch to a fault.“Depends on the situation or the person, I can be good or bad”, said the old woman, placing the book on the desk so that Pippa could examine it.Pippa flicked through the writing journal to make sure it was suitable. The paper felt old ...

Read story

“Travel Through Italy With Me” by Isabella Caston

Submitted to Contest #261

Italy. Birthplace of the Renaissance. Motherland of Da Vinci and Galileo and Julius Caesar. Home to fashion, history, and art. Center of the great Roman Empire. The eternal circulation of culture and food like blood in our arteries. Neptune, Venus, and many more reside here, and we just hope to get a glimpse. We hope to glimpse at the churches that tickle the sky and the cobblestone forever worn by generations of people. We hope to smell garlic floating through the air and cigarettes that stick to your clothing, similar to velcro. The ...

Read story

“Lessons” by Priyanjali Bhattacharyya

Submitted to Contest #261

It was all dark, all-consuming. She was choked mentally. Dumb physically. Blank in the mind – till she started thinking of terrible things. She had a nervous lump in her throat which stopped her from talking. She was afraid of the darkness numbing her tell-tale horror stories, because of its deepness and what she felt like a tangible girth – on the one hand, she would be glad because it stopped her from thinking terrible, terrible things – on the other hand, its motionlessness and depth scared her. She was silent. Breathing in, one breath at...

Read story

“Five Thankyou's” by James Scott

Submitted to Contest #261

Trigger warning: Terminal illness, grief and suicidal thoughts.Martin stared at the crumpled and untidy shoe box resting on the coffee table. Organisation was never one of Ellie’s strong suits; the fact she had managed to pull this together was a small miracle. Each of the five envelopes, peeking at different angles from the lidless cardboard container were a threat to Martin’s composure. They looked like white teeth, waiting for his hand so that they could bite down and drag him back into despair. He knew he couldn’t stare at them forever, ...

Read story

“Confessions of a Crabby Cynic” by Samantha Red

Submitted to Contest #261

Walter Crabb was a master of the art of grumbling. His colleagues often joked that if they needed a lecture on why the world was going to hell in a handbasket, Walter was their guy. When his boss, Claire, suggested he start a gratitude journal during a mandatory team-building workshop, Walter’s reaction could have curdled milk.“Just try it for a month,” Claire had said, her smile as radiant as a sunrise. “It’ll improve your outlook and productivity.”Walter had barely concealed his disdain. “Oh, sure, because jotting down ‘I’m grateful for co...

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 ⭢