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Write about someone who still practices a skill that used to be necessary but has long since been replaced by technology.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

“Sparks of Interest ” by Christian Singer

Submitted to Contest #78

My parents always thought I was strange. I played with trucks and trains and hated dolls. From the time I could speak, I refused to wear dresses. While most girls wore their hair in cute styles of braids or ponytails, I liked my hair short. When I was twenty I buzzed my head and have done so ever since. I love the fuzzy feel of it, and I have the perfect-shaped head for it. Crop tops, short shorts, a necklace, an anklet, and sneaks are my go-to outfit. For nearly two decades I’ve had multiple piercings in my ears, and I have a tat of a drago...

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“Hobby Hunters” by Meg M

Submitted to Contest #78

Lilly had gotten used to the nights blurring into days, the days and weeks blurring into months, and the seconds blurring into eternity. But what she couldn’t handle was the way the words on the pages of her beloved books were blurring in her mind. Her one true escape from the numbing depression, looming dread, and debilitating anxiety had been taken away. And she realized, without that there was nothing left. She tried to power through, but grew frustrated as her eyes danced across the words, unable to extract comprehension, never ab...

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“New Life” by Summer H

Submitted to Contest #78

One moment was all it took. At 2:47 p.m., I looked at the green numbers on my dashboard. I was so late, it didn’t make sense to even show up at all. John would understand. He doesn’t expect much from me, so I’m sure he won’t be disappointed if I just ditch the science fair just like I did last month’s open house. Besides, there is a 3:30 spin class I could still catch. Yes, sweet sweat over science. And the afternoon instructor adds a little pep to my step anyway. When I opened my eyes, I was still staring ...

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“Wyatt” by Lana Writes

Submitted to Contest #78

Chatter surrounded the room when Helena walked in. Birthday balloons surrounded the area, not to mention the big “HAPPY BIRTHDAY WYATT” banner that had been hung from the ceiling. The birthday cake, Helena’s prized possession, stayed hidden still in the refrigerator awaiting its owner. Her phone buzzed, it was a text from the birthday boy himself; On my way, just clocked out of work. I’ll be waiting for you here, drive safe, Helena texted her brother back with a grin. The guests spoke amongst themselves, taking pictures and helping t...

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“The Cost of a Burrito” by F A

Submitted to Contest #78

“Jaemmi, it’s burning--” “Crap...” Jaemmi rocketed off the couch and ran straight for the barstool. Using its cushion to propel herself into the air, she vaulted over the counter and landed just in front of the stove. Face to face with her disaster of a breakfast burrito. “Gosh darn… this happens every time,” she whispered to herself. “Quick, hand me the fire extinguisher.” “Coming right up, master chef,” Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes. Elizabeth opened the cabinet under the sink to get the fire extinguisher they kept there. She turned...

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“COLLECTING” by Marcelo Medone

Submitted to Contest #78

I had gotten off work early that afternoon and went to the Ye Olde Black Hound for a drink and some action. It was the first time I had entered that pub in central London. I walked up to the bar and greeted the bartender, who told me his name was Pat O'Bannon. I asked him for a double whisky, no ice. Pat poured me a generous measure and placed a paper napkin with the initials YOBH stamped in two colours next to the glass. I admired it for a few moments. “Beautiful napkin. The old hound drawing is wonderful,” I told him. “Yes, it is a classi...

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“A Commitment of Sorts” by T MM

Submitted to Contest #78

Mama always said I had trouble committing; after three weeks of ballet, I wanted to quit, and this trend continued for piano, softball, gymnastics, and choir. They were fleeting fantasies, dreams of a better self, a more talented, capable self. Should my abilities not shine within the first few days of my new pursuit, I grew sullen and pettish. By the time a week passed in a similar vein, I hung on by but a thread. “You’re too hard on yourself, Ness,” my mama had said, weary, as she picked me up from a failed art class. Failed in the sense...

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“Serenity” by Hjörleifur Halldórsson

Submitted to Contest #78

Catherine felt feverish and agitated, it was not like it was the first time she had a friend over and though it was a recognizable and therefore somewhat welcoming feeling she truly didn't understand why she felt this way. She was blushing and feeling short out of breath; she had opened all the windows and let the winter cold consume her small apartment. The welcoming part of her emotional spectra was the acknowledgment of emotions. She was not numb or cold, as she had been tainted as many times before. She was in a hurry to finish the basic...

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“Error 404: Purpose Not Found” by Mia Alvarez

Submitted to Contest #78

What is my purpose here? Why was I born a human? Why am I alive at all? Is there some truth to the Bible? Is God the reason I'm here? If so, then why? Why am I so useless? The only thing I can ever manage to do right is doing everything wrong. -- 21 Years Ago -- "Mommy? Why are you crying? Did something bad happen to you?" I remember noticing my mother's tear-stained cheeks that paired perfectly with her hazel brown rheumy eyes on my 6th birthday when she'd received a call about my dad and older sister's plane going down. My sister was ...

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“K's hobby” by A P

Submitted to Contest #78

Respected reader, the writing below is collected from my friend K. As the subject matter was of a man with ever changing hobby his face was the first I remembered. When we were in our college years he used to be different person everyday (as his hobby used to change daily). However it has been 7 years since I left the college and have not seen him since then but I have him in my Facebook . So I messaged him to write something about this subject matter (as this subject matter will connect to him more than anyone else). This is the reply I got...

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“Something Stable: Something Gone ” by Abdii Beyene

Submitted to Contest #78

After a decade with someone, I am told that people settle down a bit and become more predictable. They become solid in the things they like and dislike. Ideally they leave themselves room for growth, but they should, SHOULD, be solid. I suppose that was true for me; I got slower, less active, and more introverted. My games and my three monitors, and four cats, and six friends, and one partner--all uncomplicated. My job paid well, because cyberfluency is the currency of the now, DOW, and stock market. Battle-stations with multiple monitors ...

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“Model Parent” by Bianca Harris

Submitted to Contest #78

Being married is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. When I proposed, when she said “I do”, it felt as if I were on cloud nine. We were young, in love, and all of that. I know I sound kind of cliche when I talk about my wife, but it's the truth. She’s a beautiful, intelligent, warm, and compassionate woman. She was always there for me throughout our college years. I was studying engineering, and she went into teachers' college. We ended up meeting at a party, and I remember feeling so awkward to approach her, but once ...

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“My Hobby; Your Hobby” by Isabella Brown

Submitted to Contest #78

My Hobby; Your Hobby I have a few hobbies, but there is one I like the most. Baking. I absolutely love to bake. I bake all kinds of things, including cookies, cakes, muffins, scones, and truffles. My favorite types of cookies are snickerdoodles, classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and peanut butter. I also love making blueberry and cinnamon swirl muffins. The only con I would think I would say is that my brothers eat them all in two days. They have no self-control. Sometimes I also share them with our bible ...

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“The Wonder of Art” by Anna Marie

Submitted to Contest #78

“Hey, Nathan, come look at this.” I picked up the canvas and pointed it towards the doorway of the kitchen where he was washing dishes. Just moments later he appeared in the doorway, drying his hands. “Nice, man.” He replied. “Nice? This is a new life here. A world full of bursting colors.” I lifted the canvas up higher, afraid his judgment was clouded because he simply couldn’t see the true beauty of it from so far away. “A world? Where are the cities, countries, people?” He asked, moving further into the room until he was standing...

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“TO BE AN ARTIST, OR NOT TO BE?” by Sheila Payne

Submitted to Contest #78

Shannon and Denise have been best friends, since seventh grade. They did everything together, well, almost... Shannon was more creative, and did things like painting, scrapbooking, photography, and writing. Denise, liked to cook, and bake candies, cookies, pies, and gourmet meals. She had every kitchen gadget known to man, and was still wanting more. Shannon could never understand it, don't get me wrong, she liked to try new recipes too, but was more into the simplified method, like the oven. Denise's birthday was coming up and she needed ...

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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.

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