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!

#41: Fuzzy Friends (or Foes?)

Hey, writers! I'm Tracy Gold, an editor, writer, and mom to a toddler, horse, and dog. And this week, I'm taking over Reedsy Prompts!

As an editor, I've enjoyed working on young adult fiction (like Amanda Searcy's Watch You Burn), non-fiction (like Gary Vikan's The Holy Shroud), and sci-fi/fantasy (like Nikki Richard's Demon in the Whitelands). Visit my Reedsy profile to learn more about me and my work!

My theme for this week is "fuzzy friends." From Hedwig in the Harry Potter series to Enzo in the The Art of Racing in the Rain, nothing captures hearts like a beloved animal. Animals can be powerful antagonists, too: just look at Jurassic Park! Perhaps what I love most about books featuring fuzzy friends (or foes) is that they mine the depths of the human heart by exploring how we interact with animals. I hope these prompts help you sniff out a good story!

This week's prompts

Write about an animal who changes a person's life (for better or worse).

Kids – 232 stories

Write about an animal species that doesn't exist in real life — an alien, new discovery, imaginary creature — it's up to your interpretation!

Middle School – 145 stories

Write about an animal who goes on a journey.

Kids – 69 stories

Write a story featuring an animal who subverts expectations (like a snuggly tiger, or something more magical, like a literal fish out of water).

Kids – 69 stories

Write about an animal who causes a huge problem.

Middle School – 99 stories

Stories

“freckles' story” by Trevor Pence

Submitted to Contest #41

Well, this new experience has been different. Honestly, to heck with experience! My pet toad can drive race cars! Well, he can’t really, but honest! So I was in this one city tourney qualifiers race, and I had recently bought a toad because my depression counselor decided 1) I have depression and 2) I should buy a pet to talk to. But this guy, he’s like turbo the snail! He snuck into my race visor and started pulling on my ears. I crushed those guys like… what do crush? A can? Ok, anyway, it started that I was in my counselor’s office, and s...

Read story

“Pet Shop” by Matt Render

Submitted to Contest #41

Jingle jangle went the opening door of Ms. Kayman's pet store. The people walking by smiled at the sleeping puppies nuzzled up by the big bay window facing the street. They touched their fingers to the glass, trying to get the attention of the fish inside the tanks on display. They beckoned to the cages filled with the kittens, or turtles, or the tiny Tweetie birds. They peered into the little tanks trying to catch a glimpse of lizards hiding out on their little caves. Ms Kayman greeted all the people with a jovial grin. “How do y...

Read story

“Ackadakka” by Blane Britt

Submitted to Contest #41

I’m so thankful that I’m not writing you this serious message from 92 miles below the surface of the earth just like the Oarlocks a humanoid species which were once descended from humans, particularly low-class underground machine license plate operators. They exist in several future timelines, notably in Oaror. They were subterranean and prefer dark, as their eyes were sensitive to light. After the Covid-19 or Coronapocalypse as it was called in the hood wiped out 27% of the world’s population in 2020. The aliens from our real and tru...

Read story

“Mother” by Kelsey Marlett

Submitted to Contest #41

The deer buckled beneath the wheels. Em’s scream started, then stopped, then started again. She clutched her stomach like she was trying to keep it from escaping.“Oh my God pull over, pull over pull over –”Burnt rubber, seatbelt straining. The car stopped and I reached for her.“Oh my God oh my God ohmyGod –”“Hey. Hey, it’s okay. Em – I’ll –”Em kept sobbing. I undid my seatbelt, clambered out the door.“Did we kill it? Did we kill it?”“I don’t know.”I approached the deer. Its head twisted in the wrong direction, eyes reeling. No blood. I glanc...

Read story

“History of the Hunters” by Timothy Gabriel

Submitted to Contest #41

“They have been called Hunters. They have been called Predators. Their actual name is unpronounceable by the human tongue. Their native language is unintelligible to human ears, yet they can speak in our native tongue after limited exposure. Their kind has been around since ancient times. An advanced species, yet simple in nature. Their entire culture revolves around . . . the hunt. I have been on this planet for thirty-seven cycles now. Some would call that a miracle since this is the Hunter’s Playground. That’s how my parents describe...

Read story

“The Beast on Fire Mountain” by Hayley Eden

Submitted to Contest #41

The mountain of Yanartaş breathed fire. It gasped and hissed, exuding bright flames between its blackened rocks - its cragged teeth - as though Hades howled from within. There, prowling its peaks and troughs and its gaping mouth-like caves, lived the Chimaera; a beast of immortal conception. Few had dared to venture up the mountain, lest one was confronted by the flames incarnate, but today it had to be done. The entire town had agreed from the moment the Seer had declared Kadir to be a demi-God. No fate or prophecy was ever worthy without t...

Read story

“Trix” by Virginia Wanner

Submitted to Contest #41

I was walking home alone, like usual. It seemed I was always alone. I had been alone my entire life. At least that's what it felt like. What was it about me that people shied away from? Every foster home I had ever been in had returned me, citing that I was just too strange. I didn't fit into their family dynamic. Not that I didn't try. I did. I couldn't help that I was the way I was. I WAS different. I knew that. But before my parents were gone, my differences were celebrated. I was told I was unique. But my parents were gone. I didn't kno...

Read story

“The Ploperheimer” by Micah Lewter

Submitted to Contest #41

Sniplering yawned and stretched his talons, blinked away the sleep in his eyes, and turned his neck back and forth to wake himself up. “Is it time to go out front again?” he asked. “It seems you only wake me up when--” “Yeah, I know. But remember, you can’t talk about that. We can’t talk about it. No one can,” Sarah snapped. “Of course. I just wish I could see the world when things weren’t so...dark,” the Ploperheimer said. Sarah lowered her torch to eye level, and looked back the way she had come. She sniffed the musty cave air, and l...

Read story

“The Legend of The Enchanted Doe” by Iman Fatima

Submitted to Contest #41

King Dyryke was restless. He had tried so hard to get a good night’s sleep, but had failed. He was growing desperate. After all, the fate of the Dakridor Kingdom lied on his decisions. If the explorer was not mistaken, there was still a chance to save Dakridor from eternal tyranny, the annexation by the Lucea Dynasty. King Dyryke had ascended his father’s throne with high expectations. The people of Dakridor saw in the young prince a savior, someone who would rescue them from the never-ending war and threats of takeover by the Lucean Lord. T...

Read story

“A CENTAUR” by Krushani Patel

Submitted to Contest #41

It is not a big deal for any kid growing up -day dreaming about unicorns and dragons to have no limits imaging various other species with same unusual magical powers .Regardless of culture,time,period or place ,kids imitate animals because it allows them to take powers and control over them which is more fascinating fantasy than a harsh reality.There was this one movie which everyone must have heard about i am sure called "The chronicles of Narnia" that then blew my mind about fictitious creatures with not one but a pack of them. I gulped my...

Read story

“From Behind” by Cara H

Submitted to Contest #41

From Behind Part I: Behind the WallA Rocky LandingA spacecraft resembling a high-tech acorn wobbled drunkenly into the Martian atmosphere. Inside the ship, two Gamma Iridian officers in the guise of human females frantically worked the controls to keep the craft upright. A third woman sat strapped into a passenger seat, her onyx eyes wide with terror. She ran her fingers into the mane of a grand griffin, who sat contentedly chewing on what appeared to be a roast. The unhappy passenger made a face.“Griffy, you would be disgusted if you knew t...

Read story

“NOVUS” by Ted Villamarzo

Submitted to Contest #41

The clearing was surrounded by blue-green vegetation. In it were arranged five rounded stone stools, three on one side and two on the other. On one side three men were seated. They looked like men, but on their backs were folded wings that don’t seem to have bones in them. The wings were part of their bodies and they were mostly composed of tendons with wonderfully articulated...

Read story

“A Sunset in my Heart and the Phoenix of the Inner Realm” by Himanshi Y

Submitted to Contest #41

I was scared,so anxious, I couldn't move. I did not know what to do. " Child!", in a voice deeper than I had ever heard, the ancient bird of wisdom, the phoenix said to me,"Child! You have to choose." I remember, it was a hot summer afternoon, sun was brightest and our shadows were shortest. I was going somewhere, following my friends, some other familiar faces and many other people. Heat of that noon was creating a little mirage, an illusion of water on far black tar road, when we reached at that point where it once appeared, ...

Read story

“Strike the Sparkwheel” by Andrew Busch

Submitted to Contest #41

Noah’s keyboard clicked as he repeatedly slammed the 4 key with his index finger. “Noah we need your ult!” Paul yelled as the double-headed serpent swept its crimson head across the screen casting a spray of venom. As if things weren’t bad enough, a hoard of undead warriors leapt from the ground that fizzled with the venom’s acidic burn and began to circle them. &nbsp...

Read story

“Ezekiel's Eye” by Janet Inglis

Submitted to Contest #41

The small child held his arms up and beamed at the woman. Bright sunshine lit up his features as he waited for that glorious moment when she would lift him high and hold him close. His plump backside bounced expectantly on the soft green grass and his adoring gaze never left the face of the woman who stood two metres away.He waited. The woman was smiling down at the child as quiet tears fell from her eyes. Her breathing was deep and overly controlled. Her face was frozen with eyes locked onto the adoring face of the ...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

614

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 15, 2020 EST

Won by Jack Basson 🏆

Title: A Cat of Ganymede

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 ⭢