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!

#5: Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway's novella The Old Man and the Sea was published for the first time in Life Magazine on September 1st, 1952. The story went on to win the Pulitzer Prize the following year, turning Hemingway into a bonafide international celebrity. And remember, this story was published decades after some of his now most famous works, like A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bells Tolls. A good reminder that it's never too late to achieve literary acclaim!

To celebrate the last full-length work published during Hemingway's lifetime, this week's prompts reflect topics and themes from some of his best-known works. (No need to have read any of Hemingway's books to use these prompts, but if you're looking to get better acquainted with his works, check out this Hemingway reading guide!)

This week's prompts

Write a story about someone who finds life meaning in an unexpected place.

Fiction – 34 stories

Write a story about two unlikely people falling in love.

Romance – 40 stories

Write a story about someone who decides to confront their fears head-on.

Character – 35 stories

Write a story about someone striving for a "comeback."

Adventure – 11 stories

Write a story about someone who is tired of their day-to-day routines.

Sad – 36 stories

Stories

“My time” by Lori C

Submitted to Contest #5

"Hey Cath, are you going in your date after work?" The young woman said to me, while I was typing in my computer. I nodded but I felt induced to say, "Yes". "So what's your type? I know, it's the sports type. Since you are a baseball fanatic." I closed the search tabs, filled with late baseball players, and continued the report I had to finish today. "Just asking," she murmured and got back at work. "Is someone from work?" "I didn't know my personal life was that interesting," I said. "But as adults those things shouldn't be remarkable." ...

Read story

“By Night” by Ron Scott

Submitted to Contest #5

Clang. “Lights out!” I roll over on my thin bunk to stare at the wall. I hate staring at the bars before I drift off. It always gives me nightmares when I do. Nightmares of (stabbing) (blood, so much blood)my life before this place. The things I done. So I stare at the wall and try to let my mind go blank. That’s a lot of my life—blank. Blank walls, blank faces, blank future. I close my eyes (Please no, please, please don’t)and try to concentrate on the blac...

Read story

“IOTA” by Jay Kasperbauer

Submitted to Contest #5

Just west of Socorro, New Mexico where the highway splits from the interstate due south west, the soapweed yucca and sage brush screens the vast flat land as far as sight allows. Yellow wild flowers grow in the shade yearning for the hot desert rain. The arid sand floor is alive with creatures, indistinguishable from far. At a blurry distance the surrounding earth appears pale terracotta.He shifts his big rig downward as he approaches the paved descent. The inside of his cab smells of stale air. The pine-scented air freshener bought in Amari...

Read story

“Cold Arctic Zone ” by Mike Vokos

Submitted to Contest #5

by Mike VokosLeonard looked at the ship arriving at their port and felt sad.He walked over to the window and considered their frozen surroundings. He always loved cold Arctic Zone with its icy, snow-dancing storms. It was a place that encouraged his tendency to feel creative. ‘Oceans SOS’ a non-governmental org, confided him in the last 16 months to research and report about carbon dioxide (CO2) ramifications on the increasing aggressiveness and death mortality of polar bears on the Arctic Zone. His findings were colossal. Thirty billi...

Read story

“FEAR.” by Bianca Andrade

Submitted to Contest #5

I walked down the corridor. I couldn’t see in front of me at all, but the door I’m walking towards is burned into my mind. I don’t have to know how many steps it takes to get there. My body knows already.I turn left and open the door. The room is dark, like it always is. I close the door behind me, knowing if someone heard me or saw me, I’d be taken away and humiliated in front of thousands of people. I press a syringe into my neck and drop it. A few moments pass and the ground shifts beneath me and turns into soft earth, tall yellow grass b...

Read story

“KADDISH FOR THE TROGLODYTES” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #5

KADDISH FOR THE TROGLODYTESBy Andrew Paul Grell“You must take the ‘A’ Train.” Sophia, as usual, made the practical suggestion. The group was occupying their customary real estate near the west end of Stiffy’s polished oak bar, enjoying the freedom of 1970s Upper West Side New York. Jacob prepared for other people trying to help him by punching in the code for a DUI—a Drinking Under the Influence; a very dry martini, eight parts gin and one part vermouth. Stiffy’s cousin poured the ingredients, gave it a ride on the paint-...

Read story

“Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid” by Veronica Carr

Submitted to Contest #5

I will always love you. Never forget that. But I have to do this. No matter how many times Blanche read the letter, her eyes always came back to this one line. It was the line that haunted her dreams, causing her to wake in a cold sweat. She could almost hear James’ voice, speaking aloud as he wrote the words. It was how he wrote all his letters. She raised the crinkled white letter to her nose, inhaling the scent, and then brought it to her lips, brushing the paper against them. The slam of the front door brought her back to ...

Read story

“Blessed Are the Children” by Tony Hall

Submitted to Contest #5

Friday, 22 June 2018"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" Mother asked for the zillionth time.10-year-old Latoya Williams, smiling, replied, "Practice, practice, practice!"A collective cheer erupted in the silver Honda Coupe. Behind the wheel, Father asked, "And WHO exactly is performing there this December in that August and hallowed hall?""I am, Daddy!" Latoya jumped excitedly from her seat."Damn right, Baby Girl. Never forget, you've earned it."Mother, in the backseat beside Latoya, gave her daughter a big hug. "Oh, Latoya, we're so proud of...

Read story

“Sawdust” by Joe Glocke

Submitted to Contest #5

Ralph was beginning to think that his desk wasn't made of real wood. It looked like wood, but he thought it might be a piece of plastic with a wood grain pattern stuck to some cheap particle board. Now that he thought about it, everything on his desk was made with plastic. His computer monitor, the speakerphone, his latest "ship-it" trophy, and the picture frame of his -- Someone knocked on his door. Without windows in his office, Ralph had no idea who this could be. No one was supposed to come by today. He needed to submit his expense repor...

Read story

“Great-Wings, How Boring!” by Stephanie Elizabeth Saul

Submitted to Contest #5

I watched him bank sharply, his wings turning him effortlessly as he pushed them against the oncoming breeze. He angled himself just right before slowing into a hover through the dense hanging willows. His dark brown eyes sparkled, mirroring his toothy grin, and I cringed. How could he still be enjoying this? I scrutinized him from my sitting spot on a hefty willow branch. My wings twitched behind me, automatically reacting to how I would have flown his route, a kind of self-simulation to create some sort of excitement in my day. Unfortunate...

Read story

“Read The Card First” by Zach Young

Submitted to Contest #5

In the afternoon, my mom asks me “Dad and I are going out to dinner, did you want to come?” They’re going to korean, the same place we always go for korean food, Hot Stone. A good place, really, just not always my top pick. {First world problems, what have I become.} On our way, mom talks about going to help the candidate for city council put stamps on last minute items before the big voting day. She jokes and laughs about how she would be at home drinking if they didn’t need her. The feeling creeps up on me. It begins with a thought. {How h...

Read story

“Shuffling” by KD Live

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #5

6:15. Wake up. Everyone has some sort of ritual in their life. 6:20. Wash face. Brush teeth. Jeremiah Lee was no exception. 6:25. Stretch His days had been the same everyday for many, many days. Most of the time it was like running on auto-pilot. 6:40. Morning run around the block. It was simple, comfortable. Familiar. Predictable. 7:00. Return from run. Grab today's paper on the way in. St...

Read story

“unforgettable experience ” by Xien Western

Submitted to Contest #5

i didn't know start from where, when senior school life finished , i decided go abroad college life by myself ,first , i feel very amazed and happy because this my first time without my parents beside me ,i don't feel lost direction because i feel many people around me .then second degree , my friend and i have a problem communication and that time she decided back to her country , that is my best friend , then i busying myself i doing lots of homeworks , test to do so i miss communation with other friend , so people think me bored pers...

Read story

“Waves of Truth” by Ann Hunwicks

Submitted to Contest #5

Waves of TruthHorns blare through the fog. People run and shout. Announcements pierce the air.“All on deck. Everyone on deck. Now.” I stand by the railing on the main deck with my backpack slung over one shoulder, all my possessions stuffed into one bag. I brought it down to breakfast with me as I want it in my field of vision at all times. I hold on tight to ensure the gusts of wind don’t snatch it away from my grasp.The message from the captain is clear and precise with an authoritative voice behind it, necessary to keep...

Read story

“THE MYSTIC CAT” by Yogesh Mohla

Submitted to Contest #5

The crackle of piston blades sent shivers into the pilot’s body. The plane nose-dived into the wild woods of Andaman Island, ripping away the starboard door, altimeter dial spinning crazily, dropping below 6,000 feet. The skydivers on board toppled, crashing into the pilot’s seat.“Thirty seconds to crash!” Harry shouted as he pulled back the joystick- But it was dead.“All skydivers jump on the count of three!” Sejal yelled as she adjusted her parachute strap. “You guys better land on trees than crash with the aeroplane…!” As the sky div...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

156

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 06, 2019 EST

Won by Yves. ♙ 🏆

Title: World Got Smaller

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 ⭢