Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Posted in Dramatic on Jul 23, 2021

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✍️ 135 stories

“Descent” by Matthew Eubanks

Submitted to Contest #66

“Something's wrong with the pumping station,” Tadia said. Her eye was fixated on a blinking red light. The rest of the panel was cold and black. Irvine Cobb looked up from the alarm and out at the barren lunar surface. It had turned gray as the sun passed but it would soon be lit up in warm yellows when the sun rose. Tadia swore under her breath. In twenty four hours she was scheduled to see her children and husband on Pisces 1, have dinner, watch the water flow from orbit into the lunar lake they had spent a year p...

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“The Size of the Dog” by Ian MacVicar

Submitted to Contest #66

The 800-metre race is possibly the most intense competition in track and field. Part sprint, part endurance race, this distance taxes the body, bone, lungs, and the will every step of the way. This is really true in the last 400 metre lap when you body is running on empty, and especially in the last 200 metre sprint to the tape when you often have nothing left but the will to win. I had trained for track virtually my entire school career, and now as a college senior, I was on the verge of being selected for the Canadian National Olympic T...

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“The wait of the crown” by Scott Blevins

Submitted to Contest #66

Edward climbed the seven wooden steps up to the elevated stage; each bowing under his weight, with a painful-creak. His entourage, numbering seven, filed up the steps behind him, each announced by their personal sing-song of creaks and groans which varied by weight and by gait. The priest and other officiators were already on stage, having arrived earlier. As Edward cleared the last step, the master-of-ceremonies motioned him to the high wooden throne set in the middle of the stage. His new bride followed, who they motioned to the...

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“Ghost Writer” by Sarah Engelskirchen-Bugler

Submitted to Contest #66

Tomorrow. Tomorrow by eight in the morning. That’s what she had said. Six hours from now, and here I am with palms sweaty and shaking, but somehow supporting the weight of my head in my hands. Shoulders tensed and caved in, sending ripples of pain to my lower back. I can barely bring myself to peer through my fingertips at the blank and blinding computer screen in front of me, cursor blinking methodically. Mocking me. Eight in the morning. That’s what she had said. Like it was a favor. I suppose that it was. She had ...

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“A Contest of Sorts” by Ray Van Der Veer

Submitted to Contest #66

Jasper’s hands shook like an earthquake was rocking the ground, and the hot coffee in his hand began to spill out of his cup, the liquid scorching his hand. He dropped the cup and it splattered into the air, over his jeans and the two women standing next to me. “Oh my god!” shrieked the younger one, glaring through glasses that framed her face in a manner reminiscent of a raccoon. Her long pointy nose continued to point in his direction as she shook her right leg first and the...

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“Short Story ” by Samuel Shinneman

Submitted to Contest #66

It’s a rainy Friday morning in northern Ohio. Jack wakes up to his alarm screaming at him to get up and get some breakfast. He gets up, goes to the bathroom, washes up and goes to eat breakfast. He then realized he just brushed his teeth before breakfast. He has no time to eat and re brush his teeth so he eats and takes some gum with him. The bus arrives at 7:20 and he is ready for the day to commence. Jack gets on the bus and sees Spencer and Ella in the back like everyday. Jack is convinced that something is going on between those two but ...

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“The Elegant Entrance” by Rain Porter

Submitted to Contest #66

This is it... I'm here, one step ahead of the climax of my story. My journey, my painful struggles end here. I can't even hear a single word from the host's mouth but mumbles that slowly fade as I sank on my own thoughts and memories. Seven years ago ... My hopes and dreams was being crushed as I tell my family about it. "A musician? What a joke. There are tons of them in the street out there, and even some of them are homeless. And you want to become one of them?", She shouted her entire disappointment at my face. I mean, most of pare...

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“To Pull A Train Car” by Theo Thompson

Submitted to Contest #66

Before him on the table sat a neatly wrapped gift. As he reached to pick it up, he found it was too heavy to budge. This was surprising, not only because it was relatively small, but also due to the bulging of his arms through the loose sleeves of his t-shirt. Daniel’s mornings and evenings were spent lifting, squatting, and pressing on the floor from which he had removed his sofa, and during the days he did much the same but for pay in a warehouse. Over the past year, his closest friends had seen a great change in him; Daniel’s soft belly a...

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“What's next?” by K L

Submitted to Contest #66

Since the phone call I had barely put the violin down — well to be honest, the violin had become an extension of my hand for the past twenty-two years — but the last few days were especially intense. It was finally happening. My own solo at Konzerthaus. The place where my passion for this bizarre, wonderful instrument had begun. I was six, maybe seven years old. Most likely six, because my brother was yet to be born. It was just me and my parents on holiday in Berlin. I still have no idea what had gotten into them and they decided to dr...

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“Living the Dream” by Jacob Landers

Submitted to Contest #66

It’s been 25 years since the first trip, I remember watching him set the goal, save the money, say goodbye to loved ones and friends alike. He had a 1968 Datsun wagon, burnt orange in color with spray painted flames covering the hood and fenders. I never thought that car would make it far being it was 26 years old and had a million miles on it, but it had a soul forged out of an arduous life and perseverance, just like my friend. There was no stopping either one of them. He was around 20 at the time, living in his grandpa...

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“i could hear you” by Sarah Nelson

Submitted to Contest #66

I am a monster. I have killed those I call friend. Each time, feasting on their defeat. I am a monster. —— The final moments of someone’s life should be celebrated, adored, and even mourned. The end of a lifetime is a momentous occasion and not to be taken lightly. It was supposed to mean something. Killing him, defeating him was supposed to let me feel something; anything. To make sense and fulfil a purpose I had been striving towards for so damn long. Everything had been meticulously planned, from the time of day to what I would wear. ...

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“Mr. Carpenter & The Blue-eyed Witch” by Lin Khant Ko

Submitted to Contest #66

Mr. Carpenter & The Blue-eyed Witch It is a fine August evening with a chilling breeze slashing off the crimson red leaves from their thin crooked branches. Mr. Carpenter nervously rambles around the village as something big draws in closer. The Worldwide Carpentry Competition. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and Mr. Carpenter aspires to make the best out of it. He had dreamt of it since he was nine, turning eighteen, joining the competition, crafting the best of his talents into pieces of wood to the highest of the prizes. How...

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“Unluckily lucky ” by Faith Chaunga

Submitted to Contest #66

My name is Row ...( well not really) but that's what am called in the world I live in. My name is Kate Thomas in the world I was born and grew up in, I was a sweet and loving child all smiles and I cherished each and every thing I had no matter what size it was . Growing up life was difficult , it was a hustle to get good food and go to school . My father died when I was little and mother had to take up both roles to provide for the two of us and at that moment I promised to make it in life and get her anything she wanted , this is where...

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“16 Years, 1 Month, & 3 Days Ago” by Susannah Webster

Submitted to Contest #66

I remember that day like it was yesterday. Thomas reached for my hand between us and squeezed it gently. That boy. He was always so gentle. That time it may have been because my palms were so sweaty, but nevertheless. I wondered if he could see my tremors. They felt so strong, like if I wasn’t careful, the entire STAPLES Centre would turn and look at me. But I was just being nervous, of course. I wonder briefly what I wouldn’t give to feel that same fear again. Of course, it’s just as likely that when he curled his fingers arou...

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“Am I Corrupt?” by Sharon Bozkurt

Submitted to Contest #66

It is my 17th birthday today. As most teenagers do I think its silly to wish for stuff but if I didn't think it was weird, I would probably wish to be able to leave the bunker, it has been a life long dream of mine. I am so sick of waking up to these gray walls every day, &...

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Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 135 stories

“Descent” by Matthew Eubanks

“The Size of the Dog” by Ian MacVicar

“The wait of the crown” by Scott Blevins

“Ghost Writer” by Sarah Engelskirchen-Bugler

“A Contest of Sorts” by Ray Van Der Veer

“Short Story ” by Samuel Shinneman

“The Elegant Entrance” by Rain Porter

“To Pull A Train Car” by Theo Thompson

“What's next?” by K L

“Living the Dream” by Jacob Landers

“i could hear you” by Sarah Nelson

“Mr. Carpenter & The Blue-eyed Witch” by Lin Khant Ko

“Unluckily lucky ” by Faith Chaunga

“16 Years, 1 Month, & 3 Days Ago” by Susannah Webster

“Am I Corrupt?” by Sharon Bozkurt

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Contest #66

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

584

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: