Write a story that includes someone (or something) saying, “No, don’t!”

Posted in Dramatic on Dec 6, 2024

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.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 44 stories

“"Sayemontess: Do Not Enter" #ReedsyTalk” by Tucker Sloan

Submitted to Contest #280

Trigger Warning: This short story contains Mature Themes, some Sexual Content, some Strong Language, Alcohol Use, Bloody Violence, and Suspense. Sayemontess: Do Not Enter.“All men to the gates!” I ordered. “Run. Run fast! Take your torches! Take your weapons and armor. Just go! Go now! Fire. We need fire in the pits! All of them! Sonja, please. Go quickly with this torch. Light. We must have light. The rest of you beautiful women, I depend on you to help me protect Sayemontess. Will you?” That was all I had to say as they took action ba...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Until the Day We Meet Again” by Raymond Yang

Submitted to Contest #280

Kai knelt before the grave, his trembling hands clutching the hilt of his blade. The chill of the earth beneath him seeped into his bones, but it was dull compared to the hollow, consuming cold within. Kai stared at the inscription etched into the gravestone—Thea Valens—which was too sacred to speak aloud and carried the weight of every moment they had shared.A heartache wracked Kai’s body as he bowed his head. He had felt the searing sting of death before—the sharp agony of a blade driving through his heart—but even that anguish was a fleet...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The price” by Daniel Stuart

Submitted to Contest #280

Trigger warning: Suicide/self harm, physical violence, gore and or abuse.Steve pushed the ladder off the bridge, the sound of metal on metal piercing the quiet of the night. It had taken months of hard work to get to this point but now, now it was time to reap the rewards. "Please don't make me do this." Steve pleaded, the last of his words punctuated by a splash as the ladder hit the water below. "You knew this was the price when you took the deal Steve." I said forcing him over the guard rail. "I held up my end of the bargai...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Smell the Flowers, Blow Out the Candles” by Scottie Van Anderson

Submitted to Contest #280

My name is David Young. I am 33 years old. I work remote in tech support, rent my apartment, and spend my weekends with my good friend Jim Beam. Due to poor life choices, I live across the state from my parents, friends, and any support system. Six months ago, my girlfriend of two years - my fiancée of three - left me. Two years ago we moved out here for her work. She kept the house, car, and daughter. Her name was Valarie, our daughter was Jessica. Three weeks ago I was angry - angry, and drunk. I punched a hole in my wall. White-...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Avalanche” by WJ Lawrence

Submitted to Contest #280

Content warning: Themes of terminal illness, grief, and emotional distress.I watched the sky as I walked home, feeling closer to the moon than anyone else on my own planet. The shadows across the sidewalk felt alive tonight, to the extent that I stepped over each one so as not to hurt them for they also knew the pain of being present yet not always seen. I shoved my hands in my pockets to escape the bitter chill and heard the telltale shifting of pills inside their container. How many others were like me, now tied to the rattle inside their ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Quoth the Raven, "No, Don't!"” by Maria DiFranco

Submitted to Contest #280

Once upon a midnight dreary, sat myself and fair Lenore upon a bench, from a long walk we both were weary. Tenderly, our hands against one another’s, did we hold each other, hers so soft and warm. Alone we sat, on that cold night, with stars and moon above, and alone we spoke, so quietly it would not seem the hearing of our words we were capable of. Yet distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December when I asked her for her hand. “Fair Lenore,” I softly spoke, “oh, rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—may I ask of you a fa...

0 comments 0

Read story

“What a Kid” by Patrick Foley

Submitted to Contest #280

When I saw my son for the first time, I was at a loss for words. That didn’t stop my brain from giving it a shot anyway. “What a kid!” The words came out of me forcefully, like a bullet out of a gun, looking for any way out. What I had said in no way reflected the swarming mix of emotions I was feeling. This one kid was the production of my lifetime. I had lost everything I had ever cared about in exchange for him. I took him into my arms and cradled him with more care than I thought I was capable of. The midwife looked at me ove...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Golden Boy” by Emma Robinson

Submitted to Contest #280

A yell of anguish, anger, and fear rang through the empty clearing, as I frantically stumbled back, causing the knot in my stomach to shoot itself straight to my throat. The sickening crunch that followed was arguably far worse to hear. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. My legs were weighing me down into the slightly damp earth. I could feel every blade of long grass scratching at my ankles. Horror held me in a chokehold, not allowing my body to free itself from its grasp to make sure my brother was alright. Horror, or perhaps disbe...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Matt and Jack” by Dastan Blades

Submitted to Contest #280

2006. While the Cobras and Spyders were fighting their underground wars for total control of Vicary City, a family had recently moved from London to Lionwest: the Prince family. Among them was Matt, an eleven-year-old boy with dark brown bowl-cut hair and hazel-green eyes. He was a quiet kid who had a solid bond with his grandpa, Jack, who totally got him like nobody else.Jack was a psychiatrist in his seventies, rocking gray hair, blue-green eyes, and a nicely groomed white beard. The love they both had for food brought them even closer. It...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Birthday, Fear and Marriage” by Rena Almaguer

Submitted to Contest #280

“A toast!” she exclaimed, holding up her shot, waiting for the others to follow suit. The two men held up their drinks, clinking and laughing.“Happy Birthday! she yelled unusually loud; I’m sure the whole bar heard her.The birthday man had the biggest smile, looking happy, appreciative, nostalgic if nostalgic had a look. He had his head cocked to one side, his whole face lit up but his eyes. His eyes were deep and distant.The small bistro table reached up to their chests. Even though the bar was dimly lit, displaying the usual neon beer sign...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Cupid ” by Abegail Ranaudo

Submitted to Contest #280

Oliver had a cupid tattooed on his arm. The overall design was not too embellished but it was enough to steal the hearts of those with cherubic sensibilities. He would grow to hide it under a long sleeve to cover the embarrassing marking he chose to get when he was eighteen. Now that he was in his mid-twenties, there were times when he would show it off like the time he went to a pub with a couple of his old friends. He thought the tattoo deserved to be out for its ethereal quality whenever he got the chance to display it. He had the idea th...

0 comments 0

Read story

“a tear for Mr, pesbody” by Steven Sommer

Submitted to Contest #280

. Evelyn was a woman in her mid-thirties who seemed to have it all, a successful career, and a beautiful home. But despite her outward appearance of happiness and contentment. Evelyn was constantly battling demons within herself From a young age, Evelyn had always been a perfectionist. She excelled in school, graduated top of her class, and landed a high-paying job at a prestigious law firm. But as the years went by, the pressure to maintain her flawless image became overwhelming. She was constantly striving for perfection ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The infinite sandwich” by Daniela Tote

Submitted to Contest #280

**Chapter 1: The Dance of Flavors**Ted woke up at 6:35 a.m.Each morning he liked to drink his coffee, and prepare a sandwich for his first meal of the day. As always, he rolled out of bed with groggy determination and made his way to the kitchen. He reached into the cupboard and pulled out a polished black cutting board that gleamed with craftsmanship."Those child laborers in China are really stepping up their game." he thought darkly, shaking his head.From the breadbox, he retrieved a loaf, its crust speckled with sesame seeds. As his ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“THE SUICIDE SHOP” by Gary Gallant

Submitted to Contest #280

The suicide shop When I first saw Kevin Trask, he was almost naked. Perhaps fully naked in my mind's eye, but he was wearing the skimpiest of bathing suits as he got out of his pool, stretched, and toweled himself in the noonday sun. He could have modeled for any underwear ad; he was that chiseled, with long angular lines from head to toe. I was both disappointed and relieved when he put on a purple silk robe. How appropriate, I thought, for the king of his world. He had yet to speak despite acknowledging my presence with a brief nod. H...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Bedtime Routine” by Sharon Thatcher

Submitted to Contest #280

TW: Adoption/Birth Mother 6:45 – It is a Tuesday evening. Your bath time. But tonight, instead of running there and leaving your clothes strewn on the floor, you knock your glass off the table in haste, the glistening shards and pieces scattering, the milk running away. You carefully help with a quick clean up job before you ask if we can do this instead of your bath. 6:47 – As you go into the freshly renovated bathroom, you ask again if you can skip your bath tonight. You already know what the answer will be and eventually relent. Naked as ...

0 comments 0

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that solely consists of dialogue. (No dialogue tags, actions, or descriptions. Just pure dialogue!)

Dialogue – 186 stories

Start or end your story with a character asking a question.

Dialogue – 80 stories

Write a story in which two or more people have a conversation — without using any quotation marks.

Dialogue – 36 stories

Center your story around a character who overhears others talking about them.

Dramatic – 37 stories

Contest #280

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Talk That Talk

$250

Prize money

383

Contest entries

138

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 13, 2024 EST

Won by Jay Wayne 🏆

Title: 45 Seconds

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!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story that includes someone (or something) saying, “No, don’t!”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 44 stories

“"Sayemontess: Do Not Enter" #ReedsyTalk” by Tucker Sloan

“Until the Day We Meet Again” by Raymond Yang

“The price” by Daniel Stuart

“Smell the Flowers, Blow Out the Candles” by Scottie Van Anderson

“Avalanche” by WJ Lawrence

“Quoth the Raven, "No, Don't!"” by Maria DiFranco

“What a Kid” by Patrick Foley

“Golden Boy” by Emma Robinson

“Matt and Jack” by Dastan Blades

“Birthday, Fear and Marriage” by Rena Almaguer

“Cupid ” by Abegail Ranaudo

“a tear for Mr, pesbody” by Steven Sommer

“The infinite sandwich” by Daniela Tote

“THE SUICIDE SHOP” by Gary Gallant

“Bedtime Routine” by Sharon Thatcher

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that solely consists of dialogue. (No dialogue tags, actions, or descriptions. Just pure dialogue!)

Start or end your story with a character asking a question.

Write a story in which two or more people have a conversation — without using any quotation marks.

Center your story around a character who overhears others talking about them.

Contest #280

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

383

Contest entries

138

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: