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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#85: City Living

There’s something deeply compelling about cities, isn’t there? Whether it’s the influencer-driven styles of LA, the laid-back sophistication of Athens, or the perfectly manicured greenery of Singapore, each one truly has its own unique soul. Those who visit are awed and at times overwhelmed, either falling in love or swearing them off forever — while lifelong residents take up a fierce loyalty that nothing can shake.

When writing, it’s often helpful to think of your setting almost like another character. Cities are an excellent way to explore this line of thinking, so for this week, pick a favorite and invite your readers in. What gives your city (whether real or imagined) its local “flavor”? And what impression do the people there give to the many tourists traipsing down their streets? Tap into your inner tour guide — it's time to travel the world!

This week's prompts

Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Middle School – 153 stories

Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Historical Fiction – 154 stories

Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Adults – 283 stories

Write about someone fighting to change their city neighborhood for the better.

Teens – 44 stories

Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Teens – 34 stories

Stories

“City Lights” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #85

1978 First Impressions I have arrived. Here I am, a small town kid who just got a good job, my first job that wasn’t working for friends of my parents. I am an employee at Woodbury’s Financial. And it’s in the big smoke, the city. I did not ever think that this would happen. I have to admit that I am a bit intimidated. Everyone seems so sophisticated, so big city. I wonder whether the people I am working with are going to think of me as the very opposite, almost smelling like I come from a small to...

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“Gift of Love” by Anita Neal

Submitted to Contest #85

“Well, what do you think, John?” asked the pastor. “I don’t know Sam. The leak could have come from several places because it is a wide spread leak. We know this is part of the original exterior wall. And that adjacent brick structure was the chimney that was part of the original boiler. This church is over 100 years old, so I won’t know anything until I get in there,” said John as he looked through the attic beams trying to pin point where the leak was coming from. The trails of water were still damp where then ran down the length of the br...

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“Then and Now” by Gabe King

Submitted to Contest #85

Then and Now By Gabe King I walked into the office building not knowing what was happening. Our wifi had been shut down and service too. I couldn't watch the news or look anything up. With the coronavirus going around I had heard people talking about a new virus spreading but I thought it was just another string. I got to my office and started on my work. Since the power was out in my office I had to type using a typewriter. I brought the work I had done to my boss and he checked it over. “Write a ...

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“The Toils of a Scribe” by Sierra Tkacik

Submitted to Contest #85

“Welcome, students, to the castle of Laceit!” The teacher beams at them and holds her arms out, trying to add more pizazz to the grand building that lies before them. Moss and vines crawl up its exterior, giving Eleanor the sense that the structure was natural, when in fact, it was anything but. A tour guide swathed in velvet crosses the massive drawbridge to join them. “Hello, citizens!” He intones. “I am Lord Fredrick, and I will be your guide to the hallowed halls of the Laceit reign. Historically, it was written, Laceit castle had ...

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“The Mystery of Burleigh House” by Siobhan Mulalley

Submitted to Contest #85

Burleigh House 2021 Mike Calloway looked in to the hole in the flowerbed in the middle of the main lawn. He had recently purchased the derelict Georgian manner for a knock down price. The magnificent facade belayed the sad interior, neglected for the last 50 years as the previous owner had let the building decay. Damp and mould had overtaken most of the building, and as yet he had not ventured up the stairs as the once magnificent oak stair case appeared to have rotted most of the way up. The former staff cottage was currently home. The lo...

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“Martha and Sarah” by Robin Owens

Submitted to Contest #85

With sweaty palms, Martha opened her borrowed attaché case and slipped her resumé out to review it while she waited on a pew bench in the extravagant lobby. This would be her third interview that week, and her nerves were nearly frayed. She would be showing in no time, and she knew no one would hire a pregnant woman. Martha had stuttered during the second interview and had fought back tears as she walked home in defeat. On this morning, more determined than ever, she practiced her old speech exercises as she walked the 20 blocks to tackle he...

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“Them, Forever” by Lyn Carstone

Submitted to Contest #85

1926 Pearl can’t help being a little awestruck as she stares up at the Hotel Finch. Forty floors of pure opulence. Anyone who was anyone came here for the parties and tonight for just a little while she would join them. “You sure about this?” Pearl glances to her sides. Henry shifts from foot to foot, his nerves getting the best of him. “Yes. I’m very sure.” Perhaps surer than she’s even been about anything in her life. “Thank you for walking me Henry, but you can go on home. I’ll be fine.” The look Henry gives her says he very much doubts t...

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“Escape” by Silver Erudite

Submitted to Contest #85

Dust covered her fingertips as they glided across the walls. The wooden planks creaked as her weight shifted with each step she took. Green vines peaked in from the outside uninvited. Mirror shards decorated the ground signifying a story lost to time. All the while there was only one word she could think of to describe this place—an escape. Just like there was only one word he could think of as he looked around the place—escape. He had to escape. It was a prison disguised as a beautiful mansion. He knew he should be grateful. Not many ...

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“Silver Diary” by Trista Shea

Submitted to Contest #85

Sarah sought refuge atop the roof outside of her bedroom window. She does this often in an attempt to escape the constant yelling coming from the living room downstairs. This time her mother was losing her mind over a text message John received from “some skank.” Other times they argued about Sarah and her “shit attitude,” according to John. But most of all they fought over drugs. Most of the yelling was over who did the last of it. Followed by who would be going out to get more and finally, who would be paying for it. This has been Sarah’s ...

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“Style and profile are what matters” by Greg Ford

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. No matter how many times I drive through it or traverse it by foot, I get the same impression. This metropolis of the Southwest values style over substance. Straight south of us, about four hours away, is Houston, a place I don’t particularly care for, but one that does have a certain distinctiveness and flair. For one, officials decided long ago not having any zoning, which means, arguably, you could see a slaughterhouse right next to a senior citizen’s home. It’s the kind of quirkiness for which a number o...

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“Enter, the Clowns” by Susan Whitlock

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city," Carson whispered, "it is only partially visible." Dane leaned closer because that could not be what his best friend had said to him. "Huh?" he replied, definitely not whispering. An older gentleman, who had been half-heartedly reading his newspaper, glanced over at them as the bus wheeled around the corner of 9th and Vine, pulling up with a rough stop in front of the Public Library. Carson straightened, pressed his lips together to indicate silence, and nodded his buddy off the bus. "What did you say?"...

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“The City of Meat and Bones” by Astrid Harper

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, glamorous on the outside, rotten on the inside. Each of us was shredded into meat and bones walking, disguised in decent outfits twice the value of our individualities. She thought survival was easy in college. She succeeded in each semester with a row of shimmering Grade A. They told her studying well is the only pathway to get a job, earn a living and survive so she finished her bachelor degree with a First Honour. But they didn’t tell her that her academic record card is never handy to win bread from...

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“Where Am I?” by Hugh Russel

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, everything is perfect, it’s so fabulous that foreigners fill the streets, the restaurants and the shops. I know it sounds ungrateful and selfish, but there are times when I think we’d just like to have the place to ourselves. My city is for my people. Wherever I go there are strangers in the way, prattling on in languages I don’t understand. What’s really irritating is that a lot of them expect me, or us, to be fluent in whatever it is they’re speaking. Time for a confession. I’m not from here either, but I’...

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“Transplanted Grass” by Rebecca Nestor

Submitted to Contest #85

I could remember stepping out of the airport for the first time and sheilding my eyes from the sun, like a lazy salute to the blue Virginia sky. This land had long been tamed and industrialized. That's the thing about this city, it's rich history, dusty buildings, and bumper to bumper traffic seem to be all it has to offer and I could see right away that what I had feared wasn't too far off from reality. Unfortuntly, there weren't any small drive-thru coffee shops, There wasn't anyone on the side of the road selling hand-knitted blankets and...

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“Hey y'all: Stronger Together” by Rena Mistinguett

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, I’m in a land-locked prison with the loveliest people, a strange dichotomy to be sure. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to leave Oklahoma City. Born and raised in the smack-dab-in-the-middle-city of America, as a creative nature loving kid OKC felt like a sort of prison. All I could feel was gray concrete and felt a longing for technicolor that was somewhere… out there. The ocean, redwood trees, rainforests, snow capped mountains, the colors and textures were all constantly calling an...

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Ended on 23:59 - Mar 19, 2021 EST

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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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