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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#270: The Perfect Recipe

Writing can often feel like trying to follow the perfect recipe: with the right inciting incident, you can push your character out of their status quo or comfort zone, and if you sprinkle some challenges in there, you get character development. Then, you turn the heat up until you reach a boiling point — maybe you even toss in a third-act crisis — and just before it spills over, you add the finishing touches and plate it up.

But sometimes, no matter how carefully you stick to a recipe, things don’t turn out as planned. That’s when, like any great chef, you realize it’s better to forgo exact steps and simply season to taste.

This week’s prompts take inspiration from the world of food, so grab your aprons and preheat your ovens — let’s get cooking!

This week's prompts

Write a story in the form of a recipe.

Short Story – 82 stories

Start or end your story with two people discussing an important matter over a meal.

Dramatic – 60 stories

Write a story inspired by the saying “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

Angst – 59 stories

Set your story in a kitchen, either early in the day or late at night.

Short Story – 82 stories

Write a story about someone searching for a missing ingredient, literally or metaphorically.

Dramatic – 53 stories

Stories

“The Recipe of Life” by Anna Nistler

Submitted to Contest #270

Smoke rose above the trees from a little cottage. The sign on the door said ‘Keep out! Life making in progress’. Storks flew there and back, at least once a week. Everyone thought the little stout woman who lived there was just a crazy woman. Inside, you probably wouldn’t think differently. The little old lady would hum and mutter to herself while she poured glowing liquids into a cauldron with an air of certainty. She wasn't crazy, though. She worked for a secret organization that... never mind. You'll find out soon enough. Long stor...

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“Memory recipe #1: A Call” by Leah A

Submitted to Contest #270

A potentially dubiously perfect recipe for trying to figure out what it is that you forgotten yet againtwo cups of focusone cup of frenetic energy or motivationone tablespoon of “Christ please help me because I really really have work to do and I want to figure out what in the world’s going on so Holy Spirit please make my memory actually do its job for thank youtwo cups of pacinghalf a cup of checking in with Holy Spirit again on that whole memory businessfive cups of doing random things until something clicksExcept no, it didn’t click. Wha...

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“Death on the Menu” by Mark Snoad

Submitted to Contest #270

Mark’s 50-minute murders DEATH ON THE MENU With plentiful red herrings and several licks of spice INGREDIENTS 1 x local politician (I like to use a congressman)1 x sponsored Community Event in a local park (Independence Day is always fun)A dozen potential suspects6 possible murder scenarios500 attendees in fancy-dress costume and masksCatered finger-food and wineFireworks (optional) PREPARATION 1. Select a local politician. Be careful to pick one who is a rising star within their political party. They need to be ...

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“The Trampling Artist ” by Tamara Mallia

Submitted to Contest #270

A wooden chair. A wooden table. A wooden spoon. All is well in the world. For what we strip from the Earth will be replenished. A vital life source. There are no sacrifices to be made. For our sole existence in this world is to provide, and nourish. Nobody is starving in this world. And yet, what about those whose gluttonous greed submerges those that are desperately starving for even a morsel of food? Has the Earth’s resources been exploited? To the point of no return? Why do we kill? Why do we survive, here on this Earth? Is it our c...

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“The many types of intimacy ” by Rosa Arlotto

Submitted to Contest #270

The many types of intimacy They agreed to meet by the Eaton’s Center and walk over to Hokkeida Ramen Restaurant. “It’s nice to have someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.I just deleted everyone from my friends list who I wouldn’t make pancakes at night.”She added and pulled her chair in.Her mother laughed. These were the most moving moments of mother and daughter times together.Her daughter came bearing the good news. She was happy. Her two best friends whom she had known since hig...

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“Cheers” by Jake Hailey

Submitted to Contest #270

“I’m gonna put in drink orders,” Mark said to the waiter. “But I want you to ignore those. Instead, bring out a bottle of champagne. Something French—like a Canard-Duchêne, or I don’t know…something I can’t pronounce. Something fancy, I guess?” The waiter raised an eyebrow the same width and color as his stencil-thin mustache. “Special occasion?” The waiter said in a flat, Midwestern intonation. The way every Midwesterner feels the need to ask a polite though prying question whenever given any sort of instruction. No accent; that w...

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“Daybreak Diner” by James A. Irving

Submitted to Contest #270

DAYBREAK DINER I pulled up in the yard at Aunt Mary’s Hometown Eats, early; black ravens and white gulls squabbled around the dumpster beside the kitchen door. My brother was already there in the late September predawn, waiting out front beside his eco-lovers’ Tesla. Just off the morning ferry from the city, he didn’t belong. Locals like me wore boot-cut blue jeans and ball caps; Jerry was in black skinny jeans and a fedora. We both wore plaid flannel shirts, open and untucked, over T-shirts, but his T was black. We’ve both gone grey, years ...

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“Carrion Eaters” by Erin Kelley

Submitted to Contest #270

The private dining room of Zann’s Gastronomy was opulent in the kind of timeless way that only money can make look trendy in a decade. A lone business-man sat at the massive live oak table, thoughtlessly popping a canape into his mouth from a silver tray as he scrolled through a text message on his smartwatch. He smiled as he turned to the singular entryway, a mahogany door stained black on the opposite side of the room, seconds before it burst open to the sight of flailing converse. A burly man came into the room, man-handling a much smalle...

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“The love of cooking” by David Nutt

Submitted to Contest #270

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“Cancer” by Jan Thompson

Submitted to Contest #270

Cancer “So it’s for sure, then?” Paula nodded. The man, who sat across from her at a table in the coffeehouse courtyard, ran a hand through the thick sandy-blond hair that he was wearing a little shorter now, probably because of the gray she could see frosting the area right above his ears. “That’s rough, I’m so sorry,” he said, looking her in the eyes and then away, over her shoulder and into the window of the coffeehouse. Her own eyes went downward, to the Kleenex she’d twisted into a series of tight little knots. She wasn’t sure she’d don...

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“A Big Red Tale” by Melinda Eiselt

Submitted to Contest #270

Hard conversations were always served with a hot meal on the Orion’s Heart. The ship’s dining hall was decorated to tell the story about the crew’s origins; each member’s home world and culture were represented on a mural behind the long table. Other than offering the comforting ambiance of home, it was also one of the few places where even Orion couldn’t see or hear - unless he was present in the form of his projection.“We have to see the surface of this planet for ourselves. If we can confirm that there is no complex life on it yet, it cou...

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“A Dinner with Mister Capazino” by WRL Battle

Submitted to Contest #270

It was supposed to be a simple Italian dinner between two respected gentlemen. I swear, I have no idea how it went so wrong. I thought Capazino and I were on good terms. We never became buddy-buddies, but we were working on a mutual relationship. Capazino is what you call the unofficial official of the city. You want to get something done? You talk to Capazino. You have a hard time with your business? You talk to Capazino. Do you know the saying that money doesn’t grow on trees? Well, Capazino proved that saying as a bunch of hooey. He...

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“The alphabet killer ” by Jhordanne Hayles

Submitted to Contest #270

TW: The story contains mature themes: Sexual violence, Murder, Mental illness “I poisoned your food.” I pause eating and look up at my husband, William, who by profession is a chef. He cooks our meals everyday, he hates eating out. He doesn’t trust people to make his food for him after his sister poisoned their father. “What do you mean?” I asked confused. “Who are you?”. William looks me in my eyes as he questions me. William and I have been married for 4 years. I walk...

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“BEST SERVED COLD” by Jolanta Polk

Submitted to Contest #270

(some strong language, death)His jaw almost dropped when he spotted her relaxed at the table, her arm casually draped over the back of the chair like she owned not only the apartment but even the whole building."What ya lookin' at?" she asked, her accent a strange mix of British and Australian, surprising him even more.She looked nothing like the woman he remembered—her blonde hair was freshly shampooed and combed. She was wearing a clean T-shirt with the Van Halen band emblem, and her eyes were bright and focused. It seemed as if ...

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“The sweet taste of revenge” by Sandy Burke

Submitted to Contest #270

Miranda woke up and looked at the clock on her nightstand. It was 11:00 pm, and she had only been asleep for an hour, but something felt wrong. When she looked at Peter's side of the bed, she noticed it was empty and decided to see where her husband had gone. She crept down the stairs and looked in his office and the family room, but he wasn't there. As she walked into the kitchen, she heard a muffled voice from the garage and stopped to listen. Her heart sank as she realized he was at it again. She asked herself how many times she was goin...

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$250

Prize money

336

Contest entries

133

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 04, 2024 EST

Won by Jay Wayne 🏆

Title: Add Vodka to Taste

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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