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!

#293: On the Go

Whenever I commute, I always bring a book to help me pass the time. These days, I’ve been enjoying short story collections set in faraway places that make my long journeys feel like their own little adventures.

With that in mind, let’s write some stories inspired by transportation and movement. Our official contest guidelines are still 1,000 to 3,000 words per story, but for this week’s contest, I’m inviting you to draw inspiration from flash fiction and stay as close to the lower limit as possible. With fewer words and limitless possibilities, how far will your imagination travel?

This week's prompts

Set your entire story in a car, train, or plane.

Short Story – 43 stories

Center your story around someone who realizes they’ve left something behind.

Dramatic – 12 stories

Write about someone who strikes up a conversation with a stranger during a flight.

Short Story – 8 stories

Start or end your story with someone looking out a car or train window.

Dramatic – 13 stories

Write a story with the line “I’m late!” or “We’re late!”

Short Story – 10 stories

Stories

“Go!” by John Rutherford

Submitted to Contest #293

The huge psychological relief of looking out of the aircraft window on the Bangkok airport taxiway and seeing the next landing aircraft with the dark green tail, the familiar logo of a palm tree and crossed swords, was one of those moments in life, when miracles do happen for insignificant people like me. Someone had looked after my family and me. Especially since I had been so foolish. It was an ambitious plan, and not without its obvious risks. The logistical problem can only be summarized as follows. A family spread out in different parts...

Read story

“Reflections” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #293

Reflection.The land hadn’t changed. She had.What she saw from the dirty train window was the same land she had left so many years ago. The train track meandering through the valley, followed the river. On both sides the hills slowly grew taller. Meadows with placidly regurgitating cows, gave way to small vineyards. Ancient villages dominated by churches with tall, slender steeples clung haphazardly to the hillside and larger towns with high rises and factories crowded closer to the tracks.Her eyes glazed over, lost their focus. She didn’t se...

Read story

“The midnight ride” by Laura Camacho Frias

Submitted to Contest #293

It was a dark night, one of those without any stars to look at and a dark moon. Not even the Universe was interested in what was about to happen. There was no spotlight over me nor a guiding light to help me escape. As I ran to my car, one of my heels broke, and I twisted my ankle. I took out the shoes and limped to the door while looking for the keys in my purse. Damn big fancy bags. This whole scenario would have been much easier with jeans and sneakers, but that was not something I could change, and dreaming about better times would not h...

Read story

“Reflections” by Jim LaFleur

Submitted to Contest #293

The car hummed beneath him, a mechanical heartbeat counting down the miles. Martin Ellery watched the world stream past his window—a blur of autumn trees and small towns that would soon exist only in memory. The handcuffs bit into his wrists, cold metal against skin that would know no other touch for decades to come. Life without parole. The words still echoed in the hollow chamber of his chest. “Beautiful country,” said the marshal sitting beside him, a man whose name Martin hadn’t bothered to remember. “Shame you won’t be seeing it again.”...

Read story

“Left Behind in Fukushima” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #293

I’m sitting on a coach bus at 7 a.m., staring out the window, scanning the streets for tourists. This isn’t where I thought I’d be. Not after graduating with a Master’s in International Relations, fluent in two languages, and ready to take on the world. But here I am.Outside, the street is quiet. I spot him—our last passenger, a foreigner in a blue T-shirt and shorts, looking as if he’s searching for something. I jump out of the bus, waving him over, holding my clipboard. It’s my way of taking control. A trick I learned from my manager.He ap...

Read story

“A Man Died on the Train Today” by Rebecca Hurst

Submitted to Contest #293

A man died on the train today. I have never wanted to see a dead body, or to ease the passing of someone so close to the angels. I know how to do CPR, but I am wary of performing such an intimate and selfless act in the service of another.He was in the opposite aisle, one seat down and facing me. These are the people you study the most on a train, because to observe someone directly opposite you is so boldly confrontational. I have seen him before because we both favour the same carriage, although it’s ridiculous, because they’re all alike.I...

Read story

“Philosophy 101” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #293

Philosophy 101"Are we there yet?"Bobby was bored. He had stared at SpongeBob all morning and there was nothing to see out the window. Just flat land, green grass, blue sky and cows. Big cows that mama said were buffaloes. But she was wrong. Buffaloes had wings. But she just laughed when he pointed that out to her.“Are we there yet?” He whined from the back seat for the umpteenth time. While swinging his legs he could reach the back of mama’s seat. She had asked him not to do it several times. But it felt so good. Thump, thump, thump.“Not yet...

Read story

“Orphan Train” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #293

The children swayed back and forth to the rhythm of the train as it went through the countryside, suddenly slowed, and finally came to a halt with a screech. Laura pushed through the crowd to stick her head through the window looking around at the vast emptiness of the land. Beyond the small station there was nothing to see in any direction. “Do not get placed here, Johnny Miller. Ya hear me?” She turned to look into the eyes of the boy traveling with her, the boy she had known her entire life in the city. “It ain’t my choice....

Read story

“A Pinch of Stars” by Natalie Garside

Submitted to Contest #293

Benedict Augustus Reardon had the misfortune of discovering he was in possession of magical powers whilst aboard a speeding train. A man who believed every situation deserved a singular, well-selected adjective, his exclamation upon turning the morning toast of every traveler in the breakfast car into a parliament of owls: “Untimely!” “I say sir,” declared the official in the dining car, a burly man named Franklin who bore a brusque moustache, “An impolite time to be practicing magic while people have their breakfasts.” “My apologies,” Bened...

Read story

“Evelyn’s Journey ” by Linda Kenah

Submitted to Contest #293

[TW-This story discusses death] Evelyn put her hand to her face in an effort to wipe her brow. It slipped to the side of her head, not achieving its goal. Her gray curls, tinged with sweat, clung to her forehead. Disheveled and on the verge of tears, she had seen her children staring at her, before they had to leave. She hadn’t wanted them to go, but Dr. Marshall had ushered them out of the room. It was what it was. No longer able to speak, she had no control over anything that was happening. Michael would be here s...

Read story

“Lucien in the Sky with Diamonds” by Kim Olson

Submitted to Contest #293

I really should have realized how vindictive Heather could be. What is that saying? Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. When she found out I was seeing someone else and had traded her in for the other woman – a younger, prettier model, I just know that it was that very moment that she decided to exact her revenge. Unfortunately, Heather knows all of my secrets, including the biggest one of all – the fact that I am a world renowned jewel thief who has recently completed one of the largest heists of the century – the theft of the Weat...

Read story

“Wing Woman” by Brutus Clement

Submitted to Contest #293

“God, I hate flying” I look out the window of the 747 so foolishly boarded in my rush to get cross country as quickly as possible. We are flying through some dark clouds so there is little to see. The old familiar fear rises in the pit of my stomach as I try to push it back. I have to maintain myself. Don’t start to panic. Nothing’s going to happen. I try to flood myself with calm, even as I’m white knuckling the arm rest. The four Jack Daniel’s I had before the flight aren’t working. The ...

Read story

“dick's Loose Gems” by Lily Finch

Submitted to Contest #293

[Contains sexual content]Christmas Day, 2020, arrived. Our family had planned a trip to San Antonio for months. I had everything all set. Except I didn't.The woman taking our tickets asked for our passports. I produced five and gave two birth certificates for my little ones. I thought they didn't need passports. My hands shook. My heart burned as it beat into my throat, and as the beats came, they seemed to choke me. I couldn't breathe so well, and I had no words. I turned and stooped to my youngest children's height. I put my arms around th...

Read story

“The First Frost” by Kashira Argento

Submitted to Contest #293

The cold bites through his new uniform, still stiff with factory creases. Ken pulls his collar up, remembering last winter’s cashmere coat, now sold on eBay along with his Brooks Brothers suits. Nowadays, he doesn’t need them; neither his job nor his surroundings would explain such high-end garments. The security company’s uniform allowance covered one set of shirts, pants, and a jacket. He’d bought a second set with his own money – a habit from his management days. Always be prepared.The evening bus stop gathers its usual crowd beneath the ...

Read story

“The Gloryship of Gerguloid” by Audrey Elizabeth

Submitted to Contest #293

“Attention, crew! This is your Supreme Commander, Gerguloid, speaking! Welcome aboard The Gloryship—the finest, time-bending spaceplane in all the universes! We prepare for take-off. Let us soar like cosmic warriors! We shall plunder and pillage!”A hand rose. “Sir, uh, we’re just scientists looking for a rare crystal.”The commander exhaled, his eye twitching furiously. “Fine.” He waved a hand. “No plundering or pillaging today. But we WILL rise victorious! And no more interruptions!” His veins bulged dangerously.Gerguloid’s voice boomed as h...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

393

Contest entries

141

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 14, 2025 EST

A winner will be announced soon.

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 ⭢