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!

#96: Xenia

In Ancient Greece, it was believed that gods in disguise walked the Earth. While this might sound like fun, there’s a tiny catch: a blunder (like turning away a stranger in need of shelter) could get you into a deity’s bad books.

So what did the Greeks do? They lived by the principle of xenia: extending their hospitality to anyone and everyone without exception — in case a god was among their visitors. I make it sound like a life hack, but the Greeks approached xenia with real reverence, and the custom features in many works of the time — most notably Homer’s timeless classic, The Odyssey.

Ever since Odysseus made the journey home to Ithaca (where his unlucky wife was duty bound to entertain 108 unwanted suitors due to the sanctity of xenia), the delicate, shifting balance between stranger, guest, and friend has been a fertile source of conflict in stories. With that in mind, this week’s prompts invite you to explore the relationship between guest and host, or negotiate the path from strangers to friends. You can choose to embrace the concept of xenia, or not — I’ve left it up to you. Happy writing!

This week's prompts

Write a story about strangers becoming friends, or friends becoming strangers.

Fluff – 262 stories

Start your story with the arrival of a strange visitor in a small town.

Horror – 187 stories

Write about someone welcoming a stranger into their home.

Thriller and Suspense – 161 stories

Start your story in an empty guest room.

Horror – 150 stories

Write about a character who has to rely on the hospitality of strangers.

Fluff – 97 stories

Stories

“The Two Acquaintances ” by Ayanda Letsatsi

Submitted to Contest #96

He can see birds with his eyes closed which is something that is far from possible in real life. But no, these are not just ordinary birds for in their hands there are forks and they have cloven hooves. Although strange, it is as if he has heard of their kind once or may have seen them in their animated form. But how did he get here? And what is this place? Why is he lying on this hard rocky ground? He is even having a hard time standing up for it feels like the side that was in contact with the ground had been roasted for ...

Read story

“The Perfect Stranger” by Janetra Waters

Submitted to Contest #96

Thorn Ridge was a small town, surrounded by miles of thick forest on all sides, in the middle of nowhere. With less than a hundred residents, it was one of those communities where everyone knew everyone. It was seldom that anyone new graced the streets. So when the stranger rode onto Mainstreet on his Black motercylce, it was quite the buzz. Not used to newcomers, there was a certain wariness that settled over everyone. But that wariness never lasted long. The excitement from something new quickly overtook it. News travels fast in Thorn Ridg...

Read story

“The New World” by Writers Block

Submitted to Contest #96

Circa August 1500 Bon Voyage towards the New World. My immediate family waved goodbye to my extended family, and then we boarded the ship, New Hope. Due to crowded conditions, we were limited in our belongings to bring with us. Besides our clothing and books, we were allowed some tools and cookware. Once on the ship, my family and I scrambled to find seats. We could here the anchor being lifted from the water, and shortly New Hope began to move forward. People huddled together, full of anticipation of the voyage. Young children voiced thei...

Read story

“'The stranger in my family'” by Asha Pillay

Submitted to Contest #96

I hated to share my room with Aira, but I had no choice. She was my mother's best friend's daughter. A quiet and timid girl who didn't speak much. I never liked these silent types, who I felt were sly and full of pretenses.I was surprised at the animosity I felt towards the girl.It may have been because I had to share my room and bed with her. I was not sure.A few months ago, it was nearly after midnight when a crying and frightened Aira had called my Mom asking her t...

Read story

“A Lonely Patch of Trees” by Monica June

Submitted to Contest #96

Vance had been to many towns in his life, but never one quite like this. Everyone was nice, of course. He was a stranger to them but they treated him like one of their own. Unlike most places he’d visited, there was never a shortage of places to stay. Vance supposed that's why he’d been here longer, even if something about it there seemed off. He’d been there for three weeks now, and the townsfolk decided that he should stay with a new family every week. So today, he was going to stay with an old widow named Mrs. Crawner. ...

Read story

“The More Things Change” by ★ 𝑷𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒐𝒏 ★

Submitted to Contest #96

Ella-How do you know when friends are growing apart? Like the branches of a tree, like the petals of a flower, or like an animal family in the wild. Do you notice it? Does your friend notice it? Or do other people notice it and tell you?Nora-I remember a day on the beach with Ella when we were 8 years old, playing and splashing in the waves. We were the best of friends, the type of girls you could never keep apart no matter how hard you tried. But things have changed between us since then. I don't know if it's that we're growing older, or th...

Read story

“What is in an empy room?” by Millenia Todd

Submitted to Contest #96

What is in an empty room? By Millenia Todd The day was hot, and I just wanted to stretch out in the bed, with no covers on and rest through to the evening. I had been especially lucky today which never happens to me. Earlier this morning I had stopped for a bite to eat at this diner down the road, from my mother's old place. I was just passing through going down memory lane as it were when my car was towed. I saw it moving past the diner window, so I dropped my spoon in the sweet and creamy chocolate sundae I was enjoying and ...

Read story

“Courtesy for the Devil” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #96

You must have been freezing out there! Oh, you don’t look cold, but, you know, my cousin Ozzie never looked cold either, and one day, he was outside, and a cow kicked him, and the next thing you know, he’s dead. And by the time they found him, his body was cold as shaved ice, and Uncle Yankee tried to tell us that it was the cow’s kick that did him in, but that cow never kicked that hard. I think he was cold, and the cold sensed it, because cows don’t like the cold, and it kicked Ozzie, and he fell down, but he didn’t die from the kick or ...

Read story

“A Pet Day ” by Charlie Murphy

Submitted to Contest #96

Audrey passed the clippers over the last patch of hair. “Done!” She shut the machine off and dusted the hair off her pet’s scalp.“Let me see,” Carrie said and walked into the bathroom. She stared into the mirror and screamed.“What?!” Audrey ran in.”Oh, Audrey… I… I… I… love it!"“Great! I’m glad, but it’s not a good idea to scream while you're in the White House.”“Oh, sorry.”Carrie looked down at Audrey’s womanhood. “You need a trim.”“Nah… I’m growing it out… also, my armpits, see?” Audrey raised her arms, revealing thick bla...

Read story

“The River of Jewels” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #96

Gordon jumped off the train, alone as ever. The ticket collector looked him up and down, taking the sweat-damped piece of paper. He nodded forward as his passenger strode towards the exit of the throbbing station. From the end of November to the beginning of December, Kanchanaburi celebrates River Kwai Bridge Week, at the same time the Red Cross is hosting a fair. Perfect for Gordon’s needs. He checked into The River Flow guest house. “I booked six months ago. Mr G. Bank,” he said at the desk. The pretty young lady flicked through several le...

Read story

“Ready for an Adventure” by Rachel Kenley Fry

Submitted to Contest #96

Wanted: a full-time, live-in nanny to care for twin five-year-old boys in our Manhattan home for the summer. Must be responsible, energetic, willing to work hard, but most of all, ready for an adventure! Serious inquiries only.Natalie heard the door click behind her and let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She was alone.The room—her room— smelled like fresh white paint. It was small, maybe a ten by twelve foot rectangle, she guessed. Just enough room for a twin bed, a small dresser and a tiny rolltop desk under a window. E...

Read story

“The Battle of Brethren” by Valerie June

Submitted to Contest #96

This is a collab I worked on with Lone Wolf. Make sure to check out her POV!Lone Wolf's Link:https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/contests/96/submissions/69995/I survey the peaceful valley that lies spread out before me. On the opposite side of the river, is a stretch of generic army tents that held my future victims. The thought of their general makes me cringe away in disgust. A loud whiny pierces the air, bringing me back to reality.I sigh with relief at the sound. It's just my loyal companion and commander of my troops, Spots...

Read story

“‘It’s you.’ ‘It’s me.’” by Zahra Naazir

Submitted to Contest #96

Content warning: Mental illness.How did we get here? We were married, inseparable, and then it all ended. Now I was seeing you again in our empty guest room after one long, stretched out year. The sheets were clean and crisp, but it was the floral patterned, yellow duvet that dressed up the bed the way I had. Lively daisies sat in that glazed-ceramic, chic vase. The room was just how I liked it. It was a preservation of whom I once was. When you looked at me, I grasped the reel of images that ran through your mind. The still captures from yo...

Read story

“JOSH” by Aman Fatima

Submitted to Contest #96

Aaron walks behind his real estate agent as he shows him the whole house. The house is two spacious floors, 24 hours water and electricity and has a beautiful lawn. As Aaron walks through the house he thinks the rent is affordable and the place is amazing. At the end of the tour Aaron’s agent brings him to one final room at the far end of the house on the ground floor. “Why is this room empty?” Aaron asks curiously. “Well, you see, since you are on a limited budget and you requested to find a spacious house, and you have already rejected 12 ...

Read story

“Perpignon. The best place for business meetings” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #96

So that's what it is, Perpignan. I'll be damned. Three in one: France, Spain, and Catalonia, come together here under the hot Mediterranean sun. I didn't know it was possible. It's a place where you live both in France and Spain at the same time, on a completely legal basis. The wide, sandy beaches are just a few miles to the east and the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees with their ski slopes to the west. The world-famous resort of the Costa Brava is a 90-minute drive from Perpignan, while the hustle and bustle of Barcelona are less than tw...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

858

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 04, 2021 EST

Won by R E 🏆

Title: unoccupied

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 ⭢