Write about a character who has landed their dream job, only to discover it isn’t quite what they imagined it to be.

Posted in Dark on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 34 stories

“Always Check the Dryer for Crayons” by Beth Jackson

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #109

CW: miscarriage “It doesn’t hurt,” the radiographer says, her voice light and cheery. Youthful. She shakes the gel, it slaps against the ends of the bottle, the vulgar noise harsh in the softness of the dim room."It did last time.” The words escape. Their weight settles on my chest, and each wretched syllable wraps around my throat and squeezes, forcing bitter tears from my eyes.The transducer is cold as it skims the barren expanse above my pubic hair. She pushes hard on my bladder, and I squirm and hope it holds under the incursion.“Th...

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“Mac” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

Submitted to Contest #109

It is Alex LaCroix’s fault. Even as a 1st grader, I know he is pure Virginia white trash—all the LaCroix’s are, my mother says. Still, blonde haired, blue-eyed Alex Lacroix is the most handsome boy in class, if not the entire grade. Even if he is shorter than I am. It will be two decades until I understand the Napoleon complex, but Alex LaCroix has it in spades. Regardless, I’d have done anything for him, an angry little boy whose mother worked nights at ShopRite. We are lined up for a field trip to the woodlands behind the sc...

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“Mr Tiggs Saves the Day” by Blue Green

Submitted to Contest #109

Mr Tiggs searched endlessly for his tea towel, until he spotted in the mirror that it was stuck to his back. Bother these bristles! Taking the tongs he kept especially for such circumstances, he removed the tea towel and proceeded to dry the polished acorn cups, before setting one down on the low round dining table. He poured himself a cup of nettle tea, and settled into his most comfortable armchair. The bright early morning sun streamed in through the window as he leant back in his chair, casting an eye around the neat walls of his cosy bu...

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“Tripping Between Dimensions: A Job No One Talks About” by Elizabeth Fenley

Submitted to Contest #109

My new job isn’t exactly my dream job—unless it’s one of those drunk, stoned trippy dreams. It’s surreal, and I can’t tell anyone about it. Kind of like the first rule of Fight Club. The NDA I signed before I knew the details was clear. I’m an imaginary friend for children in other dimensions, other realities. I know, that sounds like I’m halfway to Cuckoo’s Nest and massive doses of lithium. But it’s true. &nbs...

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“The Promotion” by Mackenzie Littledale

Submitted to Contest #109

The Promotion by Mackenzie Littledale I was an assassin, yet nothing and no one I’d ever faced shook me to my core like seeing my mom in this hospital bed. Her supine frame—twenty pounds lighter than just a week ago—made me feel powerless, not the invincible son she’d raised. A forked tube disappeared into her nostrils; her mouth hung open. I’m six-four and my knees wobbled at the thought of losing her. I dropped down into the armchair and pulled up to her bedside. Her hand felt frail, even though just two months before, this same hand had...

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“Elevator in the Sky” by David Brown

Submitted to Contest #109

Samantha Wringley truly thought she’d landed her dream job. She’d graduated at the top of her class with a double major in electrical and mechanical engineering and had been aggressively courted by numerous universities to carry on with her master’s degrees. Several large corporations had also offered to not only hire her, but cover all the costs of her post-graduate education. However, Sam was tired of academia and ready for a new direction, and ‘What could be more exciting than becoming a citizen crew member of the TSC, the Transnational S...

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“Jace's First Day in the Police Force” by Chris Chevalier

Submitted to Contest #109

xxx NYPD Building on 1 Police Plaza Jace opened the door to the NYPD Building. As soon as he stepped foot into the precinct office, he was greeted by a very short but stocky man who eerily looked exactly like Booster from the Mario RPG series. “Ahh, Jacen Riders!” he spoke with a grunting Texan accent, “Pleasure to meet you, youn’ man! Name’s Boomer. Officer Boomer Snifrit.” The two shook hands. “Boomer? Snifrit?” Jace tried not to laugh. “It’s actually Boomer Snifrit Whiffit.” he added. Jace chortled. Then a croak of pain left...

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“Modelle's” by Kim S

Submitted to Contest #109

Monica’s bag hit the floor and her upper lip curled when she rounded the corner for her cubicle. The kitchen trash was strewn across her desk, coffee grounds sticking to her keyboard and a black and slimy looking banana peel hanging off the edge. Empty creamer packets sat atop of it all, and a few sugar packets had found their way onto her chair. Monica dragged her fingers through her hair, covered her face with her hands, picked up her bag, and began the work of scraping the mess into her trash can. &nbsp...

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“Help Desk, How May I Help You?” by J. J. Fauria

Submitted to Contest #109

I On a Wednesday afternoon, at a small desk, in a cramped, long, dirty gray office trailer; right outside of an old dark urine colored building going through its third year of construction, sits an ordinary guy answering help desk calls for the Byte Corporation. “Help desk this is William. How may I help you?” “Yes,...I can’t figure out something on my computer,” responded a frustrated older male voice. His leathery, worn and tattered face smothered with wrinkles and sadness could somehow be seen over the phone. “Maybe I can help. What...

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“Dream Job From Hell” by Joyce George-Knight

Submitted to Contest #109

Having worked in several law firms, I was so looking forward to the new position that I was offered. The top law firm in state, offering superb salary and benefits. Was it all a dream? I was eager to find out. The interview progressed smoothly with a good-looking senior partner, whose description of my duties were exactly what I was seeking. More responsibilities as a real estate paralegal would enable me to handle real estate closings from day one right through to attending closings and making the transfer of property. Day One - Dre...

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“Green” by R Hall

Submitted to Contest #109

Green During the drive up the mountain for my first day on a cush job, gnarly cliffs were underscored by lush shades of olive, emerald, lime, avocado, and jade. In the foreground were sloping hills, like tops of a bunch of leprechaun-green balloons. Behind them, rugose rugged mountains looked as if they’d been sprinkled with powdered sugar. I slammed on the brakes. A small herd of mule deer crossed the road a few feet in front of my car—my kind of traffic jam. I rolled down my car windows. Whiffs of pine floating on cool air passed throu...

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“Workday Nightmare--Lifetime Dream” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #109

During John Wilkenski’s youth in Elizabeth, New Jersey he had played out his Fountain of Youth act well--so well, in fact, that none of his neighbors ever guessed that the age he portrayed in his daily life quite skillfully disguised his actual, and much older, chronological self. What they also didn’t realize was his “staged act” would come in handy in the future in a way neither he nor they had ever imagined. ...

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“A Dream Job” by Ramona Scarborough

Submitted to Contest #109

A squat grey building of only twenty-four stories dwarfed by blocks of skyscrapers was not what I expected. However, etched in the stone arch above the front entrance were the words, Institute of Dream Research. I have been hired as an expert in a new specialized field of study. I am an Oneironaut, a person who, while asleep, can be the master of my dreams, almost like a director of a play. This ability is called lucid dreaming. While asleep, some people may have occasions when they know “this is just a dream.” However, most people while l...

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“The Killing Pages” by Daniel Brown

Submitted to Contest #109

TW: graphic depictions of violent acts Day 1 I answer an ad formatted like a Black Ops mission that leads me to a colorless office building. You come here and read for money 772 Iris Boulevard The blacked-out words catch my wayward cigarette ashes like the cracked sidewalk catches raindrops in its crevices. I stare into the grey above and wonder if the job will be as intriguing as this ad. If my burnt fingertips will s...

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“The Frosting On The Cupcake” by Debra Sue Brice

Submitted to Contest #109

It has been two years already since the grand opening of The Frosting On The Cupcake cupcake shop and I am still pinching myself. Pinching myself because I simply can’t believe I went down this road. The building is everything I dreamed it would be with its pink and white striped wallpaper and well lit dining area. The crystal clear display case shows off our well-stocked cupcake flavors for the day, and the sweet scent of cupcakes fills the air, constantly inviting me everyday with a new adventure.But the adventures are not always the good ...

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Write about a character who has landed their dream job, only to discover it isn’t quite what they imagined it to be.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 34 stories

“Always Check the Dryer for Crayons” by Beth Jackson

“Mac” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“Mr Tiggs Saves the Day” by Blue Green

“Tripping Between Dimensions: A Job No One Talks About” by Elizabeth Fenley

“The Promotion” by Mackenzie Littledale

“Elevator in the Sky” by David Brown

“Jace's First Day in the Police Force” by Chris Chevalier

“Modelle's” by Kim S

“Help Desk, How May I Help You?” by J. J. Fauria

“Dream Job From Hell” by Joyce George-Knight

“Green” by R Hall

“Workday Nightmare--Lifetime Dream” by Bob Faszczewski

“A Dream Job” by Ramona Scarborough

“The Killing Pages” by Daniel Brown

“The Frosting On The Cupcake” by Debra Sue Brice

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a character quitting their job, or getting fired.

Write about a character who leads a secret double life outside of their day job.

Set your story during the night shift.

Your character sits down at their desk on a Monday morning and finds a completely unexpected email in their inbox. Write about what happens next.

Contest #109

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

162

Contest entries

149

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: