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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#78: Keeping Busy

I’ve noticed that hobbies often get overlooked in fiction. Unless it plays a major role in the plot, many main characters don’t even get a hobby — supporting characters, even less often. Yet hobbies are an important part of many people’s lives, especially in lockdown. They’re the things we bond with our friends over, the pastimes that refresh our spirits over the weekend, and the activities that give us some of our greatest joy.

So this week, hobbies are going to take center stage. From mainstream to obscure, let’s analyze our character’s most interesting quirks and explore the many things they can obsess over!

This week's prompts

Start your story with one character trying to convince another to take up their favorite hobby.

Fluff – 177 stories

Write about someone who keeps an unusual animal as a pet.

Teens – 178 stories

Write about someone who still practices a skill that used to be necessary but has long since been replaced by technology.

Fiction – 133 stories

Set your story at a convention for a hobby most people have never heard of.

Fluff – 70 stories

Write about someone who keeps picking up different hobbies but never manages to stick with them.

Character – 176 stories

Stories

“The Joy of Knitting” by Nimi Kurian

Submitted to Contest #78

The Joy of Knitting By Nimi Kurian Aalia had recently discovered the joys of knitting. Now she could not stop. She knitted all the time – while watching television, eating, sometimes even in bed. When invited to coffee mornings or parties, she brought along her knitting. It was getting tiresome to see her balance her needles and wine glass while extolling the virtues of her recently acquired hobby. “Aalia has become quite the bore hasn’t she?” asked Shirley, Aalia’s neighbour. She bore the brunt of the monologues. Shirley and Munira w...

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“Business Venture ” by Kay Swenn

Submitted to Contest #78

The day I found a letter in my mailbox addressed to me by Finley Scott was not one I thought I would ever see again. My old friend had vanished while we were in college and I hadn’t seen him for at least seven years at that point. The envelope was brown and reminded me of deli paper, it had been wrapped with twine and sealed with a wax stamp which detailed an ornate ‘S’ on it. It was odd considering I hadn’t quite pegged Fin to be the romantic writer, but who was I to judge the man I’d assumed dead for nearly a decade? Excitedly, I we...

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“Finding Their Way” by John Meiners, Jr

Submitted to Contest #78

Finding Their Way by John Meiners, Jr. Pamela and Bob leave Community, LA around nine o'clock in the morning traveling down I-12 heading to San Antonio. It's snowing for the first time in almost ten years, and Samantha had called earlier warning them to be careful. Good news though, it wasn't snowing much past Baton Rouge. Both look forward to getting to know one another better. Pamela asks Bob about singing Blues on Jackson Square. She realizes it's a subject dear to his heart that he loves to talk about. He sings a little Sinatr...

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“LESSONS FOR THE TEACHER” by Claire Tennant

Submitted to Contest #78

The day had arrived. My job on this day required skill, nerves of steel, determination and the ability to be myself. As I stood touching up my makeup, going over the topic, checking for spots on my clothes, not that I could have done much about that; I acknowledged that I was nervous. Leaving the ladies room, I had one of two options; I could push on knowing I was well prepared and risk not doing as well as I hoped, or I could give up entirely, and would definitely fail. More than that, it would be a lost opportunity, an...

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“Mean, Green Suckers” by Kassidy Christon

Submitted to Contest #78

Lucas thought his friends, and teacher, were joking when they said Mr. Howard Alcott volunteered to be a chaperone on their field trip to Pure Pine National Park; Mr.Alcott's ideal trip is visiting an art museum, not getting his shoes dirty outside. He said so himself two weeks ago.Pure Pine National Park is a popular tourist attraction in upper Wisconsin; the place is more beautiful in the springtime. That's when the vibrant flowers bloom, the leaves on the trees are greener than ever and the fresh smell of the river dances in people's nost...

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“Vicissitudes” by Vibes Blossom

Submitted to Contest #78

TW: Suicidal ideation Adrian flinched again and again as Joana jerked the car and drove deliriously. “Joana”, Adrian began cautiously, “Where are we going?” His disheveled and disturbed hair sprung up and down frenziedly. “Wait for it. It will come to you. I promise.” Joana said diplomatically, with a dull hue. “Uh, okay.” Adrian’s ‘a tilt towards right’, ‘traffic light are green’ and other such inputs were omnipresent. The car zoomed impressively along the wave of the street, swaying and revamping in style, and the whol...

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“Astronomical Turbulence” by Neermita Bhattacharya

Submitted to Contest #78

Plu looked at me sideways.“What would you like to do in your free time?” I asked.“A hobby?” he shrugged his shoulders. He glanced behind me where the most ‘powerful’ gang in the school stood. “I like to be them. That’s my hobby.”I turned my back. “Oh, those guys who keep revolving around Sir?”“Not only revolution; they have power. They have a name. Everybody knows them. Everybody trusts them.”“You trust me?” I smirked.“Sure. I know you’ll always be there around me.”"Hm, I guess it's a hobby? You should always strive to be the best in the sys...

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“When he Asked His friend to take up his Hobby” by Shams Afif Siddiqi

Submitted to Contest #78

SHAMS AFIF SIDDIQI‘‘Life sometimes leads you to a precipice,’ Zahid spoke like a philosopher though he was actually a realist. ‘You need not tumble down,’ he smiled at his young friend sitting on the other side of the table. ‘I will tell you how to cope with it. It will work.’ He frantically looked for the waiter over the innumerable heads walking through the aisle of the sprawling café hall. He was abnormally tall and looked tough like iron. People loved to see his physique; ...

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“Full Plate” by Taylor Crehan

Submitted to Contest #78

Steven was briskly walking ahead of me, gripping his two reusable bags in one firm hand. Trips to the grocery store with him were calculated. There were no impulse purchases allowed. “Why waste money when you can focus on what you really need and have a great, savory meal?” He would repeat when my wandering eyes would fixate on things like potato chips or chocolate milk. Steven was a great cook. His kitchen was his safe haven, each trip to the store for ingredients a pilgrimage. I didn’t accompany him often, because I could only take s...

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“Dawn Quixote” by David Mowry

Submitted to Contest #78

Contrary to popular belief, most of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales don’t actually begin with the line, “Once upon a time.” There are a variety of openings, but the most common one is, “In the olden days, when it was still of use to wish for things…” At least, that’s what Dawn’s dad had told her. Dawn then considered that, for a person in the future, right now would be considered “the olden days” and it might still be of use to wish for something. So, she wished for a dragon, as any respectable second grader would. Her s...

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“Honey eyed” by Shaina Blakely

Submitted to Contest #78

They were running so fast down the hill that she was sure one of them was going to fall and then tumble the rest of the way down. They kept their footing though, surprised as she was, she was glad. They were down the mountain and heading to the house when she finally dared a glance backwards towards the wooded mountain they had just flown down. Bending at the waist she stopped running and tried to catch her breath. Spike was panting hard. His black fur sleeked with dirt and sweat from running. She looked up at the mountain and there was no s...

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“ Can't Be Like Them” by Priscilla Taiwo

Submitted to Contest #78

Caitriona and Mirabel looked at me like I'm a creep each time I ask to sit at their table at school lunch hour. Heck, I couldn't figure out why yet. We used to be friends. Real tight friends. Maybe they don't like me anymore. The same way, friends outgrow friends. We were all in grade 9 but they already were becoming ladies - with round, sexy figures. They let their hair fall in waves to their backs and wore more glitters and leather unlike me who still wore braces and coloured socks. I wondered silently as I smiled stiffly, moving ...

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“Sandra and her....pet” by Natasha Schultz

Submitted to Contest #78

I have this best friend. Her name is Sandra Hankins. She is weird to say the least but I think she's the coolest person I know. We've been friends for about our whole high school life and she has this pet. Let's start at the beginning. Sandra and I met in Mr. Laurence's science class freshmen year of high school. We were lab partners and I had just transferred from a few towns over. I didn't talk to anyone because I was shy and new to this school. Sandra is kind of popular. She sat with the cheerleaders and talked to the football players but...

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“Once Upon a Roach” by Abigail Osoro

Submitted to Contest #78

I rushed into Aime's compound and slammed the gate so hard behind me, I thought it would fall and take the fence down with it. The huge rottweiler which overpowered its owner and chased me down the block, was now at the other side of the gate, barking like it had a score to settle with me. I bent forward, my hands on my knees, and tried to relax. As I ran for my dear life, I had actually wondered if that was the end. If I was going to be torn to bits by someone else's ‘cuddly wuddly’. As I straightened up, I heard someone walk briskly toward...

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“Crozier ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #78

Ask me how it feels to be one of the most hated men in the world. I dare you. Names meant to bear the full weight of a grindstone tied around your neck, Even children singing songs about the evil doctor as they skip rope in the park. Reading editorials condemning me for my disregard for public safety. Mad scientist, indeed! When someone has the betterment of society at heart and is reduced to a common criminal in a twelve by twelve cell, what matters could possibly be so grievous, so defiled, so deprived as to c...

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$50

Prize money

735

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 29, 2021 EST

Won by Christina Marie 🏆

Title: Life's Leftovers

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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