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!

#38: Close to Home

A few weeks ago, our 'Staying Inside'-themed contest received quite a big response from the Reedsy Prompts community. Because this is clearly a relatable theme for so many these days, we've decided to run a second edition of prompts that all revolve around being at home. 

 

But that's not the only popular writing activity we're bringing back: today, we're hosting another LIVE Write-In on YouTube at 3pm Eastern Time! Once again, our guides Shaelin and Jenn will guide you through a series of 20-minute writing sprints. During the breaks, you can share your progress and ask our hosts any questions you may have. 

 

To join, tune in to our YouTube channel at 3pm EST. We hope to see you there!

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone who finds a magical portal in their home.

Fantasy – 240 stories

Write a story about someone who is working from home and constantly getting distracted by their pet.

Nonfiction – 98 stories

Write a story about two neighbors talking from their yards, windows, balconies, etc.

Dialogue – 196 stories

Write a story about someone learning how to play an instrument.

Nonfiction – 75 stories

Write a story about someone posting a video on social media that goes viral.

Teens – 54 stories

Stories

“The City in the Portal” by Lilly Blossom

Submitted to Contest #38

The gate was large and magnificent. It’s shining, gold-bronze arches at the top had a regal design that seemed Heavenly. For David and Meghan, it was almost frightening to walk through. What if they weren’t worthy? What if they were burned by fire upon entrance? It had started with a map, but not just any map. Meghan and David had been neighbors as children, and when the time called for quarantining at home, Meghan had returned. She’d only lived at the large home for three years from ages 8-11. But she and David had been best friends, always...

10 comments 10
Read story

“Plague Dogs” by 𝗢wen 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿

Submitted to Contest #38

 A series of taps at his wrist alerts Nathan that a delivery has arrived. His vitaband lights up with the checkmark that indicates it is government approved and sterile, so he swipes the alert away and gets up from his desk. He can hear Edgar, already aware of the rover’s arrival, racing back and forth in front of the door with that manic energy that all mini-pins seem to have — tiny doberman pinschers with all the tension of a coiled spring. This racing habit has only become worse now that the lockdown has carried on for so long. Covid...

8 comments 8
Read story

“Mask to Mask” by Nancy Lou Henderson

Submitted to Contest #38

Staying home was not something Elsa wanted to do.  Accustomed to being at her office from sunup to sundown was the norm for her.  The pandemic had changed everything, and everything seemed surreal.     Elsa’s apartment was modestly decorated.  If not been for an insisting girlfriend, she probably would most likely not have any furnishing, except maybe a bed and chair.  Entertaining was not a priority for Elsa.  She just&nbs...

10 comments 10
Read story

“Finding Revasala” by Kira Kloehn

Submitted to Contest #38

     I sat in a hospital room and held Grandma Sable’s hand. She was fading fast, and I knew she didn’t have much time left. She had asked to see me alone, though I wasn’t sure why. I waited patiently for her to say something. She sat up slowly.    “I have been blinded by this world,” she said quietly.    “What do you mean Grandma Sable?” I asked.    “There’s more to it,” she said, “There’s more to everything. We just can’t see it.”    “W...

13 comments 13
Read story

“A Matter of Words” by Kate Rucker

Submitted to Contest #38

They come for me at night.  I doubt they will stop and I can’t imagine I will either. They seem to enjoy the darkness, thrive in it even. They sneak from my ear and whisper hateful things. I catch the words in my hands and stuff them deep inside my pockets where no one can see them.  Once ‘worthless’ came floating out of my ear like an apparition. But unlike in the darkness where it was a numbing throb, in the light of the day it felt like a lead weight settled painfully on my shoulders. Like I was holding up a sign in big letters ...

8 comments 8
Read story

“Absolutely Ruined” by Nicola Campbell

Submitted to Contest #38

I can still see the innocence on my face, the complete faith in my friends that secrets don’t go beyond the four walls from which they’re told. Technically, they didn’t.“Your turn, Nora,” my friend Isabella’s voice comes through the phone’s speaker. “Truth or dare?”Being my sweet sixteen, I got to come up with all the games. We had a pinata, a turn of Just Dance on my brother’s Xbox and, of course, Truth or Dare.I sit, pondering for a second, but really I’m just biding my time. If you could see my thoughts through the video, you’d see a coun...

10 comments 10
Read story

“A quest for knowledge” by Marte Van Der Linden

Submitted to Contest #38

When Jack decided to set off on a Quest he had been fully prepared to walk for months, meeting mysterious witches and battling dragons along the way. He had not expected to find the Great Portal to the Mysterious Alternate Dimension at the back of his wardrobe while searching for his cloak.The portal was smaller than Jack had expected. It didn’t even take up the entire back wall of the wardrobe. Still, it was definitely the Great Portal to the Mysterious Alternate Dimension, capital letters and all. It shone with an eerie green light and the...

6 comments 6
Read story

“Festing In Place” by Brandon Rich

Submitted to Contest #38

John stared at the blinking cursor on his computer screen, willing it to make words appear without his help. He looked maliciously towards the clock, tick-tocking ever closer to a deadline he was nowhere close to meeting. From the desk in his home office, John could see his son Ben sitting on the couch. Ben was also nose-deep in a computer, although he seemed to be having more success than his dad. Something on the screen caused a broad smile to stretch across Ben’s face. His happiness drifted through the air, nearly reaching John, until—&nb...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Stacey's Journey” by Vicky S

Submitted to Contest #38

“………..the jewelry has never been found. Its’ value today is approx. $5 million”, the news reader droned.Sighing, Stacey picked up the television remote and, ignoring the sticky spot caused by a drop of soft drink, turned the television off. Stretching her arms above her head she looked around the room, noting the cracks in the wall near the ceiling and the peeling paint exposing the red bricks underneath.It was very quiet now . She could hear a car or two driving along the main road, a few streets away, and a distant plane flying over the ne...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Portal? Virtual Reality? Imagination Station?” by Keri Dyck

Submitted to Contest #38

Quarantine was supposed to be a good time to organize your house. I had spent most of my time with my books and siblings instead, and now quarantine was over, but the organizing still needed to be done. In that moment I am telling you about, through, all I could think was that I should not have been organizing with such vigour. My stack of books tipped forward. I leaned backwards, trying to level out, and suddenly they all decided to follow me. I landed on the floor with shower of paperbacks and hardcovers hailing down on me. ...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Fairytales Don't Exist” by Neha Dubhashi

Submitted to Contest #38

Stella Nena was brought up in a dreamy cream cottage by the forest lake, living off elderberry juice, poinsettia jam, and eucalyptus bread. She dressed in silky soft robes of swan feathers—all given willingly, of course—and swept the soot from the fireplace while singing. The same fireplace that would squeal steaming embers when she came to the rocking chair every evening, prop her feet up on the cotton-wood cushion, and bury her face between the yellowing pages of a large tome. This was the fantasy she concocted. A pretty picture in her hea...

14 comments 14
Read story

“Grace From The Glass Psyche” by Kiamesha Denise Sims

Submitted to Contest #38

Grace From The Glass Psych: Screeching and snickering rimpled through the home. Circling and looking for an exit route. It came to a closet, embracing a young and afraid woman named Stella. Her eyes rang and were hot under her hands. She was panting and shaking. “Amazing grace,” she choked. It was then when the screeching stopped. “Thank you,” she sighed. She stepped out of the closet and found a piece of parchment tied with a red but worn ribbon. She moved the ribbon and saw a sentence written. We need you as much a...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Finders, keepers” by Imogen Bird

Submitted to Contest #38

From what she had seen of lockdown so far, Lucy didn't think it was that bad really. She was getting to spend a lot more time with her mum and dad. Her mum worked in an insurance firm (very boring) and her dad was a CEO of something or other. Their jobs meant they worked often and late and dinner was usually absent of one of them. Because of these well paid jobs though, Lucy wanted for nothing. A comfortable life with a lovely big home and frankly too many toys. The weather for the last few weeks had been tantalisingly lovely. Lucy's mum oft...

8 comments 8
Read story

“Forgetting Fame” by Margot Greene

Submitted to Contest #38

10...9...8...7…Counting down helped.  There was always such an intoxicating rush when she did this and it helped her to have this simple routine.  She was focused and ready.6...5...4...  She shut her eyes, but not too tight.  She didn't want to get crows feet, after all.  Her appearance was everything.  Her makeup had been applied artfully, and her outfit chosen with intent.This would be it.  She could feel it. 3...2...1..She smoothed her long red hair, took a deep breath, and clicked "post".The n...

8 comments 8
Read story

“One Moment in Time” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #38

One Moment in TimeSuzanne MarshAfter a long day of antiquing in Bar Harbor, Maine I finally found a small antique shop thatI had never noticed before. It was a bit odd, the proprietress was dressed as if she were a Gibson girl. She welcomed me to her shop with a voice that could shatter glass. She asked if perhaps I would like to see a mirror that she had. She stated that the mirror was found washed up on shore. She had no clue as to where may have come from. I snatched it up immediately. Heading toward home, I began to wonder about this par...

2 comments 2
Read story

$50

Prize money

663

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 24, 2020 EST

Won by Clyde Roan 🏆

Title: The Paper Airplane

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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

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 ⭢

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.