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!

#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

“Here There Be...(well, you know)” by Susan D Onem

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city-- dragon turds. Dragon turds are EVERYWHERE. I swear, does no one believe in picking up after their pet anymore? I mean yeah, you might need a drum-liner-sized garbage-bag. You’re the one who bought the extra large dragon, though, aren’t you? Not to mention feeding your extra-large dragon all that junk food. Sheep, cattle, door-to-door serfs, the list goes on, doesn't it? If you'd stuck to healthy servings of dragon kibble, Poopsie wouldn't have tummy issues! You should've taken that into con...

Read story

“The world We Live In” by Parody Loving

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city is this week's writing assignment prompt. Today is March 15, 2021, and I moved to Atlanta Georgia at least two weeks ago. Since I've barely lived in Georgia I had no clue how to answer the question. The day went on and my mind was too focused on what my answer would be. I had to present to a class through a zoom class filled with 10th graders and that was already one thing I was worried about. Would I go silent, would I just take a zero, or would I really try to think of a well-thought-out answer? My brain wa...

Read story

“Our city is just the way we like it...” by Flora Bell

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city," the man smiled, carefully lowering the shield from above his head. "You don't know what's going to happen next.""That is quite true," the woman at his side said, shaking her leg and making slimy green goo fly everywhere. "Last week it was dragons, the week before that, zombies determined to be Starbucks barista's.""And last month we had a song pandemic!" The man continued. "Caused everyone to sing when they spoke and speak when they sang; it was rather hilarious if I had to admit!""You have to be on your t...

Read story

“Phantomscape” by Amber Zhao

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city…some believe it’s haunted.There are the urban legends that every tough street-smart teen hears, about petrifying phantoms that only weave spells of darkness and enchantment in the inky blackness of night-glimpsed from top-floor casement windows.Here are students who blanch, with faces like undercooked pudding, whenever ghosts are even mentioned, coupled with the name of this mysterious city- Everfall. Some can sense the suspenseful chill in the air and the sense of a supernatural stalker, watching, waiting, a...

Read story

“Fallen” by Nosihle Magwentshu

Submitted to Contest #85

“That’s the thing about this city”, he muttered to himself as someone tripped over his buddy and started swearing calling them filth and scum. This place was cruel, cold and very dirty, well this part of the city at least which is why he and Badger had chosen to sleep there the previous night. Luckily for the idiot in the suit Badger was fast asleep and did not feel a thing otherwise there would have been hell to pay for that man. He grudgingly got up and gathered his things around him not that there was much to gather but what is a ma...

Read story

“Thank You for the Memories” by Manndi DeBoef

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city... It gets in your blood. Those that were not born in this small city, USA, berg of central north America, simply do not understand. It is a bit like the Hotel California where, "you can check out anytime, but you can never leave". I was born in this city. I lived the first eighteen years of my life in this city. I reached epic monumental milestones in this city. I left this city. I no longer live in this city. Yet, when I visit, it feels like a place lost in time. Nothing has changed, yet everything is ...

Read story

“My Reality” by E.J. A.

Submitted to Contest #85

That's the thing about this city, it never stays the same. Every day is a new adventure to look forward to. Or that’s what I used to think anyways. Change is exciting. The slightest changes can make someone so happy; can make their life so much better. But change can be really scary too. I’m scared. I’ve only lived here a couple years and for the most part I’ve loved it. Watching the sky change over the all powerful ocean as dawn becomes day is the only reason I make an effort to wake up so early. I love my city, but what I need is a h...

Read story

“The City Wall” by Anna Weber

Submitted to Contest #85

Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…” “That’s the thing about this city,” She said through mouthfuls of her Double-Decker Breezy-Bite sandwich. “You never know what’s coming next. It’s all a mystery!” She briefly put down her sandwich to gesture with her hands above her head. “Oh, come on Cindy. Don’t go on about this again.” I scoffed. “It’s true!” She wiped the sauce off her face and put her hands down on the table. “Think about it. What do you do every day?” I rolled my eyes. “I check the mail, I do my work, ...

Read story

“A Perfect Place” by Tori Tottomley

Submitted to Contest #85

"That's the thing about this city… it reeks of desperation. Not the kind that you find in say, Los Angeles, where everyone is obsessed with being famous. No, San Alma's kind of desperation trembles within its residents while they take out the garbage, do the laundry, or the school run. Jacked-up on anxiety, they tell themselves over and over that they are different from the other families living on the estate, in identical houses. But they are not. They let their busy lives fog over their desire for a greater purpose. It's disgusting." &n...

Read story

“That's this City” by Judith Macha

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, it’s not called a city by the inhabitants, they call it a village. But it’s still a city, you can’t call a place with more than a hundred thousand inhabitants a village or even a town. But a village sounds better, it gives them a sense of brotherhood, and self-reliance. This is a city that runs for twenty four seven and never stops. Everybody has a designated job, and responsibility. There are actors, artists, writers, musicians, engineers, architects, farmers, doctors, administrators, teachers and a le...

Read story

“Benny's City” by Greg Pierce

Submitted to Contest #85

Benny’s City That’s the thing about this city, Dixon Creek runs thru the poorest neighborhoods. The city owns the land on both sides of the creek, about a hundred yards on each side, until the creek empties its filth into the Pearl River. Old growth trees and thickets surround the creek which twists and turns as it slithers toward the fast-running river. Bike trails, human trails, secret places abound among the thickets and trees. Murders are committed, rapes perpetrated, deals made, and crimes planned along its banks and among the trees. T...

Read story

“The Town That Never Lets Go” by Maya Mcalester

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city. No one ever came here by choice. For my father, it was an escape. With cops and lawmen on his tail, he needed a place to hide, to start fresh. And my mother, she had been born here. Like most, she resented it. But she never left. That was the other thing about this city. Once you stepped foot across the boundary, once you passed the faded ‘welcome’ sign decaying on the road side, once you realized just what you’d walked into, it was too late. That was the unspoken rule: never leave. The few who tried had all...

Read story

“Hello Future” by Maddi G

Submitted to Contest #85

Warning: mild LGBTQ+ and mild cursing That’s the thing about this city, it's always alive. Every bit of it. I rush into the graffitied tunnel, going along the walkway apart from the cars. This tunnel has so much personality. And I will stick with it even though I'm not alive because of it. Because opportunities are limited here. It's alive from the nature just at the edge of the city stretching to the mountains, one with a star on top. To the city which Even in the county, where everything seems to be I love this city. I grew ...

Read story

“Calvin Klein’s Hotter Brother” by M.W. Nel

Submitted to Contest #85

Isaac“That’s the thing about this city; you’ll never know who and what you’ll meet around the corner.”“And cut.” The director yelled from his seat behind the camera.“Finally! I wondered if we’d ever be done.” My co-star, Franco said as he stood up from the poker table.“Hopefully it’ll be the last time I have to say those words again.” I shrugged off my jacket and handed it to one of the costume crew members.“How many scenes do you have left?” Franco asked.“Tomorrow is my last day of shooting.”“Shit, man. And how do you feel?”We made our way ...

Read story

“Blessing” by Andrea Kepple

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, business is transacted, neighbors greet one another, the little tasks of each zidan are completed within all-encompassing safety, protected from the army encamped outside the city walls. On that zidan when the Kingdom of Hexeoral, commanded by King Bertramus the Confident, invaded our lands, citizens flooded through the city gates looking for refuge, safety, an oasis of peace, away from the violence and death breaching the border, flooding our land. The protective spell was cast and fully realized, e...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

671

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 19, 2021 EST

A winner will be announced soon.

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 ⭢