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Write about someone who still practices a skill that used to be necessary but has long since been replaced by technology.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

“Painting a dream ” by Jadynn Rivera

Submitted to Contest #78

“So, Tom. Don’t you think learning to paint would be fun?" I ask Tom, who I have been trying to get to paint for three years. Or, in Earth time, one hour. “It is really fun.” I say trying to convince him. "I think I might try it." Old Tom says. "Alright, bye Tom." I say with a smile and watch him get up and walk away. Still sitting on the bench Tom and I were sitting at I say: "Out of paint." And I am back in my house. Twelve O'clock p.m. Only an hour after I went into the painting....

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“A Good Neighbor” by Anne Ryan

Submitted to Contest #78

“Anything you need, you need to just take that phone and ring my number!” Ariya said, smiling, as she waved at the middle-aged woman in front of her. “You’re always so kind, you know,” Tami commented, her eyes twinkling as she shut the door after Ariya. “No one ever bothers to wave anymore.” Ariya nodded wistfully. “It’s sad, isn’t it?” Ariya turned and breathed in the sweet January air. ...

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“Two to Tango” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #78

I thought I had finally managed to convince Ruth that nothing she could say or do would ever persuade me to even give ballroom dancing a go. That I have nothing at all against those who love it, and that I’m sure they’re all kind and decent people – it’s certainly true of her. Well, at least most of the time. But I actually believed I had penetrated her figurative tin ear and that she had realised she was wasting her time. Yet today, oh so casually, over a coffee, she brought it up again. The ballroom dancing, not the coffee. So she doesn’t ...

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“Style (5 points)” by Scott Skinner

Submitted to Contest #78

Dunn tugboated his way around the convention center parking lot. He passed tons of available spaces and was equally oblivious and accepting of the daze that had seized him. He was having difficulty re-framing his son’s participation in the Best Bagger Competition as something to be proud of. It messed up his ability to park, he wasn’t in the right headspace to make decisions. His dad friend’s had kids that were all doing cooler activities than his son, West. One dad friend in his orbit had a kid that was the starting tight end on the footbal...

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“Circles” by Kayla Roberts

Submitted to Contest #78

My mind runs in circles, picking up the nearest toy, and then throwing it away as I walk to the next one. Constantly moving, distracting, focusing on anything external. I used to think I was depressed, losing interest in everything so quickly. Truthfully, I just get bored with things. I try to slow it down, to tell myself that I could be so much better at things if I would just stick with it for more than a month or two. How much money have ...

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“Sniffing Books Must Be Normalised” by Lesli Williams

Submitted to Contest #78

Let's get one thing straight - even though I love the smell of a new book, I'm more than happy to keep sniffing them in secret. We all have our guilty pleasures and if sniffing the pages of a book is something that brings you even the slightest hint of joy, then you won't find me interfering. However, my cousin Leda, didn't seem to share that sentiment. She was going to a book sniffing convention this Friday evening. And naturally, I wanted to investigate. Mainly so that I could hold her to this very night for the rest of our lives - as...

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“Finding Sophie” by Sophie Aay

Submitted to Contest #78

“You should be more concerned,” Rebecca Kuti began with a loud yell. Her husband who was only a few metres from her looked up at her strangely, wondering if she was talking about the hero who died in the movie playing on TV but they weren’t watching. They had far more important issues to deal with and the one thing, which topped the list, was the unusual pounding sound coming from their daughter’s workspace. “About what?” he asked through clenched teeth, trying to control his anger. “The noise!” “It’s probably just Sophie...

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“Piper weekend” by Heidi Foss

Submitted to Contest #78

What along day piper said to herself, Huhu.. Im finally home time to make dinner;what should i cook piper thought to herself while standing in her kitchen, and thumbing through her recipe book what to fixed she thought when her eyes stops thumbing throught the pages maje her self a bowl of supple someting quick snd simple she though as she closes the book. Well that was filling now... She pauses I'll do the dishes in the morning after all tomorrow is the weekend and dont have to get up early as piper gets ready to leave the room she rinsed o...

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“My best birthday present ever.” by Somegenius Kid

Submitted to Contest #78

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!! I can’t believe this is happening! I hope this isn’t a dream. Let me pinch myself. Ouch. Ok this is totally not a dream. You won’t believe what I got for my birthday present! I just got a Vulpes ferrilata a.k.a sand fox! It’s super tiny and has a hint of black on the tail too. I have to keep looking at her because she’s so tiny and can fit anywhere. That’s why I need a cage or something so I can keep her, and I can do some other stuff without worrying. I have no idea what to do when I’m going to sleep. I guess I’ll have to...

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“Life with Fenix and Binx” by Varsha R

Submitted to Contest #78

"Good morning, dear” I greeted my husband who woke up late after attending the meeting all night.“Are you okay, now?” I asked him, handing his coffee.“Yeah, I’m good. It’s been a hectic night with all those international clients” he sighed.“Where’s Binx?” he asked and called out her name.She came waddling, more like a quick run and jumped on to my husband’s chest. She is the cutest, with brown-white color combination. She weighs about 0.9 kg and loves the way my guy lifts her with his palm.It’s been 2 years since we adopted her from the anim...

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“The Decomposers” by Valerie June

Submitted to Contest #78

“Happy Birthday Jeffy!” “Mae a with!” my two year old baby sister shrieks out loudly. Elle could be pretty loud when she wanted to, even for her petite size. I blow out all eleven candles in one go and forget to make a wish. I guess there's always next year, I think. “Open this one son!” says Dad reaching for what looks like a cup wrapped in girlish Happy Birthday pink wrapping paper. Elle’s birthday was just the month before so my presents were always wrapped in her wrap...

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“1963” by William Flautt

Submitted to Contest #78

1963Violet walked to the front window to see what was coming into view at the edge of the high beams. “Slow down.”Her vehicle began to decelerate smoothly, but she felt nothing. Must not have heard. “Slow down,” she repeated, louder this time. Still, nothing. She frowned."Slow down!”The vehicle replied by displaying a speedometer on the smooth glass. She glanced at the screen. A number was slowly ticking down: 147…146... 145. She glanced to the side. It was dark, but the penumbra of the headlights was just enough to see s...

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“The Girl with the Squirrel” by Black Cat 🐈‍⬛

Submitted to Contest #78

“Penny? Penny! Penelope, where are you?” I called as I wandered through the house, looking for her. Where was that little rascal? I’d leave her alone for one minute and she’d scurry off somewhere. She’d better not be getting into trouble, wherever she was. That’s one thing she was good at. But I guess it’s only typical of her species, so what could you expect?I headed to the kitchen. “Mom, have you seen Penelope? I can’t find her anywhere.”My mother shook her head as she stirred a pot of spaghetti for dinner. “No, I haven’t seen her. And, Ri...

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“A New Trade, Perhaps?” by Writers Block

Submitted to Contest #78

Laura and Jeanette work along side of each other as sales specialists at a design shop. Both are great at getting leads and meeting their quotas. Jeanette takes more of a forward approach whereas Laura remains cool as a cucumber. One day Sharon, the owner of the design shop drops in. She walks over to Laura who is diligently working on a sample board for a client. Sharon praises Laura on the last project, which dealt with a large housing development. Jeanette overhears and quickly ends her phone conversation. She hurries over to Sharon and...

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“The gift of family” by Varsha R

Submitted to Contest #78

"Just give it a try. It will be fun,” my friend insisted. He kept on pestering me until I said yes. I accepted just to shut his mouth. He had eagerly waited for me to spill yes. As soon as I spit it out, he ran to his room and brought a big fat journal.“Is this your album of stamp collection? Why does it look similar to a PhD research book?” I questioned."I know that you are annoyed. But stamp collecting is fun. It’s been my favourite hobby for days." Ayaan declared. Ayaan is obsessed with stamp collection. He wanted me to join him. I really...

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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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