Write a story where a character must continue to tell their tale to a listener to avoid unsavory consequences.

Posted in Dramatic on Mar 10, 2023

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✍️ 41 stories

“Chuckie’s In Love” by David B Fraser

Submitted to Contest #189

It was a three bedroom walk up and every girl had paired off with a boy except for me. I was the only girl left. Three engineering guys were heading out to continue their party at a bar. They were the bottom of the stairs saying goodnight to a couple. Once the door was closed the couple put down a blanket and made the landing at the bottom of the stairs their own make out spot. The bedrooms were full, and the kitchen. And, gross, there was a couple in the bathroom, too. I went back to the living room where I fou...

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“Christopher’s Tale” by Charly Woods

Submitted to Contest #189

I found this boy famished on the side of the road, with dirt smudges across his face. The boy looked like he was thirteen or maybe fifteen years of age.— He didn’t speak much. We rode the lonesome road and let the asphalt take its time. Fourteen minutes had passed. ‘Riley’ the boy stared ahead. ‘Is that your name?’ I asked with my deep voice.— He didn’t answer. I presumed Riley was the boy’s name. ‘John’ I replied. There was a glimpse from the boy, but his look soon returned to the road as he noticed me looking back. We passed the fields tha...

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“The World is at stake in Station 7” by Steve Bonitsis

Submitted to Contest #189

“Hold up, I’m telling you this is important” screamed a man who most would consider a madman from the clothes hastily draped over him. With a shirt two sizes too big, he was running in a pair of jeans with one leg ripped off at the knee and the other so full of holes that a slice of Swiss cheese would be envious. As he continued his path, another person dressed more appropriately for a Monday morning rush hour could be seen running ahead of him at a bit of a breakneck speed. It was obvious that something was amiss. It was unclear as to what ...

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“THE ESCAPE” by Mara Masolini

Submitted to Contest #189

THE ESCAPE “…and then the barefoot princess agreed to wear the silk slippers that the shoemaker had made to measure for her” “ But did the princess marry the shoemaker?” “ Sure, they got married and lived happily ever after” “ Where did they go to live? Don’t tell me that the princess accepted to live in the little shoemaker’s house…” “ But no, they lived in the princess’s castle” Martha couldn’t take it anymore, her jailer was becoming more and more demanding with the story she had to tell him. She had been ...

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“Ne'e Trampa” by Emory Tales

Submitted to Contest #189

Ñe’è Trampa Hello there, dear reader. I am so glad you've found this. I wish to share with you a tale, though you may find it fantastical or strange, I assure you every word I write to you is true. First a brief introduction. I am Percival Jason Alexander, English-born, American-raised, academic scholar, and lover of hi$tory! I was born in London in 1798 and my family moved to America that same year. What? No, I assure you I am very much alive at the time of this writing in 2023. But that would make me over 7wo hundred years old I hear yo...

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“The Power of Storytelling: A Pact and a Purpose” by Ramesh KM

Submitted to Contest #189

Amelia had always been a storyteller. As a child, she would spin tales for her siblings, weaving magical worlds filled with heroes and villains, monsters, and fairies. But, as she grew older, her storytelling talent only blossomed, and she became known as the woman with the gift of gab in her small town.But one fateful night, Amelia found herself in a situation that no amount of storytelling could get her out of. She had been caught stealing from the wealthy merchant living at the town's edge. Unfortunately, the merchant was cruel and vindic...

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“A New Life” by Keith Maynard Jr

Submitted to Contest #189

TW: Physical and Sexual violence, Suicide.Splash. Oh My God, I’m drenched. I start to shiver --- where’d that water come from? Wait the light… huh? What is this? My hands are chained and the light extends to create a sphere around me. I don’t understand…what’s going on here. Thud, that sounds like a…a bucket, I think. Splash. Oh wow, now that’s cold.Nervously I ask, “Who's there?”“Good, it seems I have your attention.”“Who are you? Why am I chained? Where is this?”“Wouldn’t you like to know? Why don’t you let your eyes adjust? I’ll be back.”...

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“Bedtime Stories” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #189

“You have awoken me.”The little man’s face grew comically wide, his eyes threaten to pop from their sockets. There was fear there and a generous helping of it, but there was also another emotion vying for territory upon his features, and the result of this battle pulled his facial muscles this way and that. It were as though he was suffering from the worst case of facial cramps in history. There were doctors, who if present, would make a name for themselves with this man in their care.This was a one-off show though, and the show on his face ...

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“An Ant at the End of the Universe” by Q.L. Vincent

Submitted to Contest #189

The universe was ending.In truth, that phrasing may be a bit over dramatic– it wasn’t so much coming to an end in an explosive, bombastic fashion (though the supernova from the few stars left certainly made for a beautiful light show), as it was with a slow, sputtering gasp.More aptly, it was dying.In a fruitless pursuit to reverse the inevitable heat death of the universe, or really just anything in such a hopeless situation, a lone arthropod had fashioned a humble little spacecraft. Out of scraps of metal and splintered wood it was crafted...

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“Keep the story coming” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #189

Keep the Story Coming I was sitting on my couch, wondering whether I should give her a call when I hear a sudden loud noise. There was a bang, bang, bang on the door of my apartment. I knew that it would be Dwayne. His apartment is right beside mine, and when he gets angry he often knocks on my door forcing me to listen to the story of why he is angry. I had a dark thought about what he might be angry about, but I still went and opened the door to let him i...

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“Strawberries and Champagne” by E.M. Barnes

Submitted to Contest #189

“… And then what?”“And then what, what? That’s it.”“That can’t be it.”“I’m sorry, but that’s it. That’s the end.”“Well then, we’ve got a problem.”“What? No we don’t, I told you everything I remember.”“Not everything.”“I’m telling the truth, I- wait, what’s that? What are you doing?”“One more chance. And then what?”“I- You can’t do this, I’m telling the truth, I swear-”***The recording ends with a bang and a fizz. Like the worst bottle of champagne in the world. I can’t help but shift in the chair. Metal, uncomfortable and easy to clean. Ever...

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Write a story where a character must continue to tell their tale to a listener to avoid unsavory consequences.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 41 stories

“Chuckie’s In Love” by David B Fraser

“Christopher’s Tale” by Charly Woods

“The World is at stake in Station 7” by Steve Bonitsis

“THE ESCAPE” by Mara Masolini

“Ne'e Trampa” by Emory Tales

“The Power of Storytelling: A Pact and a Purpose” by Ramesh KM

“A New Life” by Keith Maynard Jr

“Bedtime Stories” by Jed Cope

“An Ant at the End of the Universe” by Q.L. Vincent

“Keep the story coming” by John Steckley

“Strawberries and Champagne” by E.M. Barnes

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story inspired by this quote from Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy: “In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.”

Write a story about a fox spirit (a gumiho, jiǔwěihú, kitsune, or hồ ly tinh), inspired by, e.g. Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese folklore.

Write a modern version of "The Tiger, the Brahmin, and the Jackal," in which someone suffers from their own good deeds and must turn to an unlikely source for help.

Start your story with “It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark.” (Hans Christian Andersen, “The Little Match Girl”)

Contest #189

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

281

Contest entries

121

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: