Write a story that includes the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Posted in Dialogue on Apr 21, 2023

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✍️ 27 stories

“Square Root” by Adrian Hayes

Submitted to Contest #195

“Beep, Beep, Beep” the sound went on in succession “Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep” so ingrained was the tone she hadn’t noticed it had stopped. So occupied was her mind, abuzz with varied thoughts of the tasks she wanted to complete, and the tasks she must complete. “Miss, are you alright?” The clerk asked as she fell back into the present. “Madam, did you hear me? That will be 1200.79 Francs.” Waiting patiently the clerk eagerly watched her reach into her pocketbook, and slid out the correct amount of currency with expediency, rushing her ou...

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“Critical Inaccuracy, Chapter 3 of 7 - Trust is a Double-Edged Sword” by Jared Meeks

Submitted to Contest #195

It was just another peaceful, solitary, dreadfully droll, spring afternoon. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, yada yada. Only, today was not just a typical afternoon. For Wyril... "Ah... Well, that's enough of that.", said Wyril, as he finished stretching, and stood up from his bed, "I won't get anywhere just lazing around all day. With that said, no good work is done on an empty stomach.". Wyril stepped out of his room, and into the kitchen/dining room, hoping to find something good in the fridge, though knowing it was wishful thin...

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“Lucky” by Amanda Goeppner

Submitted to Contest #195

Raina looked over her shoulder as she turned her back in the snowy parking lot to lock up. From the backseat of her Saturn she got out her scraper and began to work the ice. Inside the car’s engine growled, shaking its steel frame as she sat there hunched in a shaggy black overcoat. The pumps were deserted. The car wash was closed up tight for Willie who they let sleep inside with his dog. Just as she was about to pull away she saw a figure coming towards the gas station. It was Gean. Raina cursed under her breath as she watched him approach...

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“Dreams of their Ancestors” by David Reynders

Submitted to Contest #195

The elders of the Native American tribe gathered around the newly constructed casino, marveling at its grandeur. "It's been a long time coming," said Chief Running Elk. "But it was worth it." "Aye, that it was," agreed Medicine Woman White Feather. The younger members of the tribe were excited to see their dreams come to fruition, but the elders remembered the struggles of the past. "Remember when we started this venture thirty years ago?" asked Running Elk. "There were so many obstacles in our way, but we never gave up." "Aye, we ...

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“Connections part 1” by Marie Perederii

Submitted to Contest #195

“Celia…this sounds insane” Amara primly wrote in a letter to her friend, a letter which she would later deeply regret “But since you have made the clear statement that you won’t back down I shall accompany you.” Amara paused briefly before writing the next sentence because she knew that it would hurt her friend the most “I know that your family's death was unjustified and completely wrong-I do. But don’t you think that maybe this isn’t what they’d want?” Amara felt her heart rising into her throat, she felt horr...

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“⅘ Of A Hero” by Louise Wernham

Submitted to Contest #195

“Dammit!” The Hero screamed, punching the resilient wall with his fist. “I almost had her! I almost had her!” I didn’t flinch. The poor wall was peeling and cracked, bruised and broken, loose sediment falling off it with each forceful blow but it never gave way. The room shook, almost as if it were trembling in fear. I, however, did not hold fear for the mercurial man before me, nor did I look at him in awe or admiration as I once had, not even with pity. Resentment - it was with resentment that I watched him as he pounded ...

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“Dreams Can Come True” by Linda Mello

Submitted to Contest #195

“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” By Linda Mello Today was one of those days where nothing I did turned out right. I started my morning with my usual cup of coffee with its heaping serving of French Vanilla coffee creamer. Of course, when I poured the French Vanilla into my hot coffee, the cap came off the bottle and I had creamer all over my counter. It took me at least 10 minutes to clean up the sticky, milky mess. I tried to remain calm and poured myself another cup of coffee. Anyone who knows me knows I must start my day with that jolt of ...

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“Denny” by Tallowood Ridge

Submitted to Contest #195

Fuck it! Bloody Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I could do with some freakin help around here, Dad yelled as he climbed off the tractor. For two days he’d been ploughing the western paddock. Three hundred hectares that we needed to tilth and get under seed before the rains, if they came. It’s not a tough job – air-conditioned cab, music, GPS steering the tractor. All of which makes it very boring after a few hours. Grey-black flood plain soil, flat to the narrow horizon, sauntering past endlessly as behind you the double eight discs gri...

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“Melissa's Last Words” by Ann Espuelas

Submitted to Contest #195

Shane kicked at the front tire of the wheelbarrow. Hard enough that it fell right over, sending up a tiny cloud of dust. “Dang, Shane, coulda seen that one coming,” he said out loud to no one. He stood in his scrubby piece-of-shit backyard, where his parents and most of all his sister Lois never came. It was ages since the wheelbarrow had been used. No flowers, no lawn, just a patch of land you’d find literally anywhere in the world, Shane imagined. It was where he paced.It was the most peaceful place for miles. But today there was no p...

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“Daniel and Thomas” by Catherine Hudson

Submitted to Contest #195

“Thomas, James! We are almost there!” I called to the boys in the back of the wagon. The boys popped their head out of the wagon eager to see the “light dirt” called “sand.” James stared at it in wonder and Thomas hollered that he wanted to go play in it. The tall grass by the seaside was swaying in the breeze like it had something to say. The sky was a bright blue, so different than the grey of the city which only had patches of blue here and there to remind you of what color the sky really is. The sand dunes were piled high everywhere y...

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“ILLUSION” by V. Adriane (RIN)

Submitted to Contest #195

'Hey, babe! Are we on for tonight?' Abigail texted Molly. When she received her best friend's text, Molly was busy cooking prawns and pasta for lunch. She then asked Siri to call Abigail's number quickly. 'Call Abigail,' she requested Siri. Siri is one of the reasons why Apple phones are perceived as superior to Android phones. If you don't know Siri in 2023, what do you know? 'Hello… babe! I was just about to double-text you. I was happy to see you calling.' 'Ha-ha, I've missed you too, Abby.' 'So we're on, right? I can't wait for you t...

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“Happy Place” by M Hepburn

Submitted to Contest #195

I pull my head up from the hard table, rubbing my eyes awake. I must’ve fallen asleep only a little while ago; there is still light outside. The trees outside my window sway in the breeze and I notice a few reddy-brown leaves falling from up high, landing in the tall grass of the field below. Shifting my focus inside, I look across the table in front of me and realise that dark chestnut wood is almost invisible. Maps, letters, news articles and photographs are strewn across the table, and I chuckle at my lack of organisation. I pick up a pil...

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Write a story that includes the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 27 stories

“Square Root” by Adrian Hayes

“Critical Inaccuracy, Chapter 3 of 7 - Trust is a Double-Edged Sword” by Jared Meeks

“Lucky” by Amanda Goeppner

“Dreams of their Ancestors” by David Reynders

“Connections part 1” by Marie Perederii

“⅘ Of A Hero” by Louise Wernham

“Dreams Can Come True” by Linda Mello

“Denny” by Tallowood Ridge

“Melissa's Last Words” by Ann Espuelas

“Daniel and Thomas” by Catherine Hudson

“ILLUSION” by V. Adriane (RIN)

“Happy Place” by M Hepburn

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story in a staff room of an essential profession that is often undervalued — nurses, cafeteria staff, sanitation workers, etc.

Write a story from the point of view of a sidekick, or someone who is happy to stay away from the limelight.

Write a story about someone who receives — or makes — a life-changing, anonymous donation.

Write about someone who is learning to recognize and take credit for their own achievements.

Contest #195

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

206

Contest entries

92

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: