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!

#79: The Family You Choose

They say blood is thicker than water — but is it always?

The truth is that not all families offer healthy relationships to each other, and sometimes the harsh act of cutting them out of your life may be the best course of action. Fortunately, we can still meet people who love us no matter what and become our new families. Not to mention adoptions, blended families, and all the wonderful ways people connect with and support each other, regardless of whether they share any DNA. It's fair to say that family is a lot more than blood!

This week, we’re going to turn family life upside down and examine all the ways that family succeeds — and fails — for our characters.

This week's prompts

Write about someone who decides it’s time to cut ties with a family member.

Sad – 260 stories

Your main character is approached by their long-estranged parent who wants to reconnect. How do they react?

Dramatic – 193 stories

Write about someone who discovers the only family member they have left has just betrayed them.

Sad – 160 stories

Write about two characters who’ve gone through something so intense they now feel like family.

Adults – 190 stories

Write about a “found family” who are finally able to get together again after a long time apart.

Fluff – 100 stories

Stories

“Tʜᴇ Dᴀɪʟʏ Dᴏsᴇ Oғ Fᴀᴍɪʟʏ TALK SHOW” by 💖♎ℂℍℝ𝕀𝕊𝕋𝕐 ℍ𝕆𝔽𝔽𝕄𝔸ℕℕ♎💖

Submitted to Contest #79

"My name is Josh." He looked next to him."My name is Rose." She shrugged."My name is Jamie." She pushed her glasses up. "I'm Micheal." He sat back putting his arm on the back of the sofa."Brandon, yo." He held up two fingers."I'm Lou-Ann." She sank a bit in her chair from shyness."And I'm Alan." He looked across the vastness of the audience. "Well, what a great group of young people." Alan Sanders, the host of The Daily Dose of Family talk show said. "What or should I say who brought you here today?" He pointed at Micheal."Well Alan, I ...

Read story

“Permanent Fixture” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #79

A delicate atmosphere enveloped the dining area. Each word said sliced through. Like cracks on a frozen lake, they stemmed out little by little. Tiny brittle sounds filled my ears. The silence was like forever, waiting for a random passerby whose step could break the entire frozen lake and drop him into the oblivion of a dark, cold universe. That wasn’t the mood we expected to have for Ma’s 60th birthday celebration.The table was filled with my favorite food as if I was the birthday celebrant. Ma made spaghetti with sweetened tomato sauce, s...

Read story

“Goodbye” by Alya Kaikuahine

Submitted to Contest #79

“You know what you have to do.”“Yeah.” The spray bottle was cold as ice as I rolled it between my fingers.“I expect this to be done by tomorrow. You must disappear and get rid of that nuisance. Or else….” The threat hung like a cloud in the cold night air, draping over my shoulders, weighing me down. We walked away from the bench we were on, careful to make sure no one knew we were talking. As I walked back to my house under the cover of night, I thought about what I had to do. It seemed impossible, though I knew it was necessary. He had bec...

Read story

“Our Escape” by Naduni De Silva

Submitted to Contest #79

The escape was harder than I ever though it would be. the slightest noise around me made me stop on my tracks and reach out for the dagger that was hidden in my coat. I was never a fighter. I just accepted whatever the life gave me and thought this is the way things should be. I could see the reflection of the river and to my disappointment it was totally melted. The only way for me is to go around the river to the other side but it is riskier than getting across the river. There are guards everywhere around the river waiting to catch those ...

Read story

“𝐴 𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑙𝑦 𝐶𝑢𝑝 𝑂𝑓 𝐶𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑒” by 💖♎ℂℍℝ𝕀𝕊𝕋𝕐 ℍ𝕆𝔽𝔽𝕄𝔸ℕℕ♎💖

Submitted to Contest #79

***Trigger warning*** Active shooter***It was early. Shane was not ready to face the day. She glanced over at her phone knowing it would quiet soon. Laying there in silence, she questioned how she become boring. The phone rang again. “If it weren’t for my ringtone" I would throw that damn thing,” she said to no one. It played the intro song of Sons Of Anarchy every time it rang. Again her phone silenced. She didn’t know long she laid there, but she did know that her phone went off 12 times before stopping. “Oh my God,” she exclai...

Read story

“A Mothers Embrace ” by Kay (:

Submitted to Contest #79

I was walking home alone, lost in memories of the day and what I would find when I got back home. I looked around wearily, pulling my coat tighter around me. My mind buzzed with rules and measurements, I muttered the combinations and ingredients under my breath. Hoping I didn’t forget them for the exam the following week. I turned a corner and walked towards my small apartment which I shared with the only family member I had left, my mother. I had no choice but to let her move in. It was hard for her living alone since dad died, it wa...

Read story

“Black Rain” by Victor Mwongela

Submitted to Contest #79

The alcohol Billie felt in her prefrontal cortex had automatically shifted to standby mode and her primitive self wholeheartedly put on its party shoes. It was undoubtedly the amber that brought resolve to her soul. Tottering on her ornately padded ebony black stool, Billie peered through a thick puff of smoke from Billy's cigarette. She craned her coyly curved neck discreetly scanning the dimly lit humid room as if she was on the lookout for someone or something in particular. But that was typical Billie who had always been a de...

Read story

“Not Him” by Somegenius Kid

Submitted to Contest #79

Not him. No not him! Please! 6 Hours ago, Perry Bane ************************************************************ “How was school?” He asked. “Egh, not bad. I guess.” I replied. I made myself a PBJ although I ate lunch at school. My stomach was hollow no matter how much I ate. He was dressing for an interview. “When you gonna come back?” I asked. “You care?” He said. “Uh yeah no dur. I thought we were going to eat together.” I joked. “Nah make your own dinner. You’re no baby, are you?” He teased back. “Ok.” I sighed. Bucky Bane *******...

Read story

“No Good In Goodbye” by Courtney C

Submitted to Contest #79

Surveying the drab, muted room Poppy felt a peal of hysterical laughter rippling upwards like bubbles fighting their way to the surface of a lake. She clamped her hand over her mouth to fight the urge, fingernails digging crescent moons into her palms. You cannot laugh right now, she told herself. Keep it together, Poppy. A bell clanged over an intercom, harsh and metallic, and on the other side of the glass men in orange jumpsuits began streaming into the narrow space. Most of them were middle aged, although there were the outliers...

Read story

“Ammunition” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #79

“Now.” He would not disobey his father. Even if he was no longer a child, even if it clearly not his fault, he was willing to accept that he was going to have take responsibility. “Yes, dad.” * The best thing about this time of the day was that the house was usually empty and quiet. His younger sister was with her friends at someone’s house (always late for dinner most days; she got permission for this when their mother saw how quickly the tears came); his mother was still at work (pick-up was around 4 pm; another hour to go and th...

Read story

“Silence Louder than Words” by Aimee P

Submitted to Contest #79

Julia had imagined this interaction a thousand times. Her mom would show up, or her dad would show up; maybe both. The scenario would change for her every time. Sometimes, in her head, she would open the door and be hostile. Yell. Insult. Disparage. Make the situation as absolutely painful as she possibly could for those who had caused her so much pain. Other times she imagined sitting in her bedroom, listening anxiously as her partner handled her parents. Other times, she imagined just calling the cops so they’d get off her doorstep and be ...

Read story

“'I'll protect you'” by Carole Cobos

Submitted to Contest #79

Two girls and one boy stare at him.Their toned muscular bodies reeking of confidence and self-importance.“Who are you guys?”The short redhead smirks, “You let us in even though you don’t know us? Not very smart of you, is it?”He was more afraid of the racket they would make...leaving him to suffer a big explosion from the lunatic that called himself a father. Actually, it really wasn’t too bad… Gregor only ever hit Jackson. Jackson suspected that a part of him feared Arlo. “Too late now, ain’t it?”“I’m sorry,” the guys spoke up “for bei...

Read story

“I'm just trying to leave something behind, for good!” by N S

Submitted to Contest #79

DRAMA- “It has been 19 long years and I don’t want to drag a long time over relationship just for the sake of my kids”, I told the attorney. “I have been doing it for almost 2 decades, but no more, I have now promised myself.” I continued, “The abuse only increased by double and the tolerance has reduced by half. To me, my only support are my 3 kids.” “Do you even know what they tell me –‘You better die rather than leave this home!’—I keep hearing this warning from time to time from his family , Every time I go to them with a new scar or a...

Read story

“I love you, but...” by Josh Gelb

Submitted to Contest #79

Love is a fickle emotion. Finding your mate can be a daunting task. Thanks to woke culture, for the most part, it is accepted that it matters not who this mate is. Love is love and that is all that is important. What a time to be alive. However, sometimes, love is not enough. When I met her, we were kids. I was a young man, no more than 25. She was a newly 21 year old. I was not looking. I was enjoying being single, and not in the way that it sounds. Perhaps to my detriment, I was and st...

Read story

“Blood Sisters” by Rexy Rexy

Submitted to Contest #79

There was a noise of chattering in the corridor. Then the door of the student accommodation burst open by a fierce gush of the cold wind bringing the snowflakes inside. ‘Come in, quickly, and close the door after you!’ Ying said in a hushed tone. ‘Ling is still asleep, be quiet.’ ‘Not anymore.’ Ling replied in a weak voice, she looked pale. ‘Well, good. We just came back from the canteen. Let me see.’ Ying climbed up the ladder of the metal bunk bed. She rubbed her hand together furiously and put one hand on Ling’s forehead. ‘A fever i...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

905

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 05, 2021 EST

Won by Reha A 🏆

Title: Puzzle Pieces

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 ⭢