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!

Start your story with someone being forbidden from doing something.

Posted in Dark on Oct 25, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 44 stories

“Aami” by Siddhit Siddhits@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #116

Aami The dust ball flew into his face as he thought of Aami. He should not have yelled at her. A twenty-two-year-old with no mother and an out-of-luck father. All she wanted was to study further. But Pandu was out of options and more importantly, money. He cursed many things these days. A small dust ball or two in the dry, agrarian town of Palkhed1 was usually only an annoyance. But not today. He shook off the bits of desiccated hay and soil from his face. After only one step forward he fell on his knees and bawled. The October sun lashe...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Forbidden Woods” by Sarah Deisel

Submitted to Contest #116

Avery’s life had been filled with endless ‘do not do this’ and ‘do no do that’ ever since she could remember. Very few times could she ever recall her parents actually allowing her to do something. Most of the things she had been told she cannot do, start with the words ‘do not.’ However, there was one thing on the list that starts with ‘you are forbidden.’ It was that one thing that held her attention over all the others, that one word making all the difference. You are forbidden from stepping foot inside those woods. That one little sente...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Caleb” by Amy Wright

Submitted to Contest #116

“No! Caleb, put down that doll this second. We don’t touch other people’s things without permission. Apologize right now.” Caleb’s mom had one hand on her hip and was punctuating her speech with the other. Caleb noticed that her scrubs were wrinkled. Caleb did his best to look apologetic as he mumbled, “Sorry, Sherry. Sorry I took your doll,” though he didn’t feel sorry in the least. That Paw Patrol doll should be his, not hers. He picked at his worn tie dyed t-shirt and stuck out his lower lip, even though he knew he would be punished if ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Small Town USA” by Kryste Andrews

Submitted to Contest #116

Warning: Racial prejudice                                    Small Town USA                                   by Kryste Andrews          “If you date a Mex...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Prime of Life” by Rob Ryter

Submitted to Contest #116

Admonition “Primrose! Just what do you think you are doing, young lady?” Great Aunt Jane’s stentorian voice blared along the landing. Primi’s hand fell limp from the doorknob. “I’m… sorry, Aunt Jane. I just wanted to…” “You know perfectly well you are forbidden to enter Great Uncle John’s office. It is off limits. You are seven years old and you know my rules. Now go to your room. I do not expect to see you until suppertime.” Hot tears welling, Primi ran down the landing to her own room, slammed the door and threw herself face down on he...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Help! ***Sensitive Information***” by Malik Coley

Submitted to Contest #116

Help! Help me! I'm trapped. I'm trapped, as my life is mapped — mapped out that is! A naive me, trying to figure this crap out. That's how I felt as the kid version of me didn't even want to live. My mental state is having the world's biggest disaster! I'm blown away from my experience, shaking from my anxiety while hurricanes drop down from my eyes as everything adds up and subtracts me from reality. It divides me into the people who've been haunted. It multiplies more flashbacks as — I've lost count of the amount of pain I've gone through....

0 comments 0
Read story

“Hot Dogma” by Noah Pelletier

Submitted to Contest #116

I had a friend who was a competitive eater as the result of being a Jehovah’s Witness. Because of his religion, Ben wasn't allowed to celebrate holidays like Easter or Christmas, or even his own birthday. Ben had to stand in the hallway as the rest of us celebrated our pagan rituals, like the fertility rite of hunting for colored eggs, tree worship, and blowing out candles endowed with wish-granting magic. So, Ben got his kicks by becoming a competitive eater. That Friday Ben and I were walking to the cafeteria. We were both very excited b...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Cabin on Forbidden Land” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #116

The land had been cursed for centuries. Stories were spun and exaggerated over firelight after children had been put to bed. When Serdwyne heard the rumors and saw the cabin in the middle of the heavily forested land, she decided it would suit her purposes. For her “Forbidden” was a challenge she loved.Serdwyne’s appearance in the village attracted attention. As a six and a half foot tall bolva hevitar or “cursed white” with triple scars running diagonally across her face, she was accustomed to attention. Anyone looking was stared down by Se...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Doggone” by Larry Kerr

Submitted to Contest #116

Doggone by Larry C. Kerr Butch was lying in his bed when he heard them coming, but it was too late to escape. Although his dog ears were much better than those appendages attached to human skulls, he was dozing and didn't clear his head in time. Most of the time he didn't mind when his owners visited him. As a matter of fact, he enjoyed it. However, now the man and woman had Mikey with them. Butch pushed his snout into the blanket in his bed and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. Mikey was the reason Butch was now known as Oggi...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Orphan” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #116

     The flickering light of the coachman's lantern barely pierced the darkness as Janey clambered down from the carriage. The gusting wind snatched at her hood as she tried to cover up against the driving rain. As the coach rumbled off into the night, she was relieved to see a sliver of light in the dark bulk of the house in front of her.     “Don’t just stand there on a nasty night like this,” said a voice. “Come in so I can shut the door.”     Janey was yanked out ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Please Don't Be Mad” by Elizabeth Chen

Submitted to Contest #116

CW: This story deals with references to terminal illness and death. “Alright, alright, I promise. I will never, ever, ever, ever go anywhere without telling you, as long as you do the same.” I made the promise between giggles as you laughed triumphantly, swaying your body back and forth to the rhythm of your own joy, enthusiastically nodding your mutual consent. The promise started as a joke, but that didn’t mean we stuck to it any less. Any party, any evening seminars, and when we moved in together, any late nights in the office, late ...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Being Forbidden Should Not be Taken Lightly” by Iain Archibald

Submitted to Contest #116

“Please, please tell me Father what is in the locked wardrobe in the basement”. George once again begging at his father more out of curiosity than anything else. George’s father Thomas 6ft 3 in height, average build, black curly hair with a few grey strands has said to his persistent son a couple times before more in a nicer tone but this time he was more angry though more pleading, “For the umpteenth and for the very last time and this time I am pleading with you that the wardrobe in the basement is locked for not only to protect you but al...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Mr. Branderschmidt's Basement” by Mason Bufkin

Submitted to Contest #116

               Peter stood at the window and watched his dad’s silver Honda drive out of the cul-de-sac. His hand clenched the top loop of his backpack, heavy with books and homework. A finger tapped his shoulder, making Peter jump. Looming over him was the gaunt face of his caretaker for the day. Mr. Branderschmidt, the mysterious old man who lived across the street and wore a trench coat and a constant sneer. His skin was too tight over his bones, making him look li...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Forest” by David Carter

Submitted to Contest #116

THE FOREST ‘Stop! You are never to go in there! Do you hear!’ My great aunt was screaming at me. I was visiting her and her husband for the summer holidays. She and my great uncle lived on a farm on the edge of a forest and I had not seen them for many years and only when they visited my parents in the city. Besides my parents they were my only living relatives.  This summer my parents had decided to go overseas for a second honeymoon for a month and they hadn’t wanted to take me with them. My great aunt and uncle had reluctantly agre...

0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a character breaking a rule, but for good reason.

Teens – 38 stories

Write about a character seeking forgiveness for something that happened in the past.

Angst – 67 stories

Write about a character who is being asked for their blessing, but is reluctant to give it.

Angst – 14 stories

Write a story that centers around a parking permit.

Fluff – 11 stories

Contest #116

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Permission vs Forgiveness

$250

Prize money

174

Contest entries

112

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 22, 2021 EST

Won by Story Time 🏆

Title: Straw, Sticks, and Brick

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

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 ⭢