Write about someone whose desire to constantly improve something borders on obsessive.

Posted in Dramatic on Nov 25, 2022

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✍️ 25 stories

“Canky Tops” by Edward Latham

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #174

Anyone who’s walked down the alleyway off Fifth Avenue will remember it. And they’ll tell you to take any other road.For a start the street is suffocatingly narrow. The old, grey buildings look like they are trying to either squeeze the life out of you, or fall on top of you. Then, there’s the cobblestone path that has so many cracks, trips and loose bricks, it surely wants to break your ankle. But worst of all is the smell. First, you’re assaulted by the sharp, pungent odour of nail polish remover, which might not be too bad if it wasn’t fo...

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“Good and Wild and Wonderful” by Aeris Walker

Submitted to Contest #174

This endless void has remained long enough. It is time to begin—time for the light. Let there be light.A watery orb is suspended in the dimness—shapeless, lifeless, so still, and dark—a murky drop in the void of the universe. Oh, the things I can do with this, what a wonder it will be, this liquid sphere of potentiality. It hovers, quiet, waiting, yearning for its beginning. Now, I will begin. I shall push the waters down, pour them away from the great beyond, and fill the gap with atmosphere—air—nitrogen, oxygen, the perfect compo...

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“Rural Route 12: All Atwitter” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #174

It started out harmlessly enough. When I found myself with an abundance of leftover black sesame seeds from a failed baking experiment, I figured why not share, and tossed them out onto the back deck.I chanced to walk by later that day and was delightfully surprised at the trio of delicate feathered creatures assembled there enjoying their meager repast, each seemingly with its own personality. I watched for a time as they and others came and went. I was hooked! When the seeds ran out, so did my entertainment. Woe!How to get them back? ...

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“Everyone has a small business nowadays ” by Sophie Maree

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #174

(contains swearing)A piece of advice: Keep your passion as a hobby. //What time?….. opens 9:00am…“Babe.”emails…coupon…“Babe.”A nudge pulls me up out of my dream.“You were talking again.” Quick check of phone. Painfully bright screen reads 5:42am“Sorry. I’ll get up.”“It’s too early, Jess.”I get up anyway. More time to work. It’s raining outside. I love when it rains because it makes me feel less guilty about staying home all day. Even though I’m technically at work. Check outside front door. No package. The boiling ke...

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“The Picture” by Isaac Walker

Submitted to Contest #174

I have spent half of my entire life trying to become an artist. I spend days upon days perfecting a picture that eventually ends up in the trash. I wish to change my thinking, but I fear that it is too late. It is already day 234 of trying to draw the perfect picture. I keep failing and failing, and I am starting to hate myself for it. But soon, that all changes . . . I am applying the orange paint to my canvas when he knocks, causing me to leave a streak across my canvas. I groan, throwing down my paintbrush angrily. I look at the clock. I...

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“DEATH AT THE GRAND CANYON” by BRUCE MARTIN

Submitted to Contest #174

There are individuals in this world whose success is predetermined. Hailing from wealthy families and spawned of experienced and wise parents, their paths in life and the trappings of their existence are paved in gold. Their only requirement to achieve success is simply to show up.Then, there is another type of individual. This is the self-made variety, those who had to work and strive for every advantage, to scrape bottom and endure hardship, power through life’s difficulties, and reach the pinnacle of success on their own.Charles Cameron w...

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“The Leaf Blower” by Kathryn Fitzsimmons

Submitted to Contest #174

The Leaf Blower By Kathryn Kerr Fitzsimmons “Birth, life, and death - each took place on the hidden side of a leaf.” - Toni Morrison Carol is an elegant 79 year old woman who has had both hips, both knees and one ankle replaced. She suffers from bursitis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. While doing her best to age with dignity, there are few things that bring her greater joy than blowing leaves, despite her lack of balance, strength or agility. For nearly thirty years, she has lived in the Low Country of South Carolina, where everything eve...

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“Smooth skin ” by Jadeyn Buchholz

Submitted to Contest #174

Trigger warning this content has mental health, self harm, gore and depression, If you do not wish to read about that do not continue. As a child I was diagnosed with OCD, I never really thought it would affect my life as much as it has. The day my mom had brought me to the clinic to see if I was mentally ok, the doctor said I was showing early signs of OCD. With me being only a child I thought I had a so-called "good difference" about me, I would soon learn I was wrong. I started to noti...

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“3,452,677” by Ashes .

Submitted to Contest #174

Three million four hundred fifty-two thousand six hundred seventy-seven. I’ve just finished counting them. The number of unresolved problems in my life.It’s a pain to spell out such a long number.3,452,677There, much better.1 / 3,452,677 solved.It’s so much easier to write it this way, but it’s still a mouthful to read.So, don’t.It takes your eyes 23 milliseconds to recognize if two numbers are the same. That’s all that matters. That sameness. If there are still problems to be fixed, why bother reading the total?2 / 3,452,677 solved.Why do I...

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“Brotherly Love” by Bella Fox

Submitted to Contest #174

I couldn’t stop pacing in the stables. Bastian was grooming Balder and shooting me nervous looks, but I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge him, as I was still fuming over my brother putting my invitation to his wedding in with the traitors. I thought, not for the first time that morning, about how different things would be if Priamos hadn’t been killed. My oldest brother had never understood me, much like the rest of my family, but unlike them, he made an effort to connect w...

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“atelophobia” by Alice Lyon

Submitted to Contest #174

"I know this... thing is important to you, but don't you think you're going a little too far?" "I can honestly say I have no idea what you're talking about." Amira bites her lip. Elodie stirs her tea with a swirl of her finger, stopping on the tenth turn and pulling it to her lips with a come hither gesture. She decides to try again. "When was the last time you slept?" "This morning." Elodie sets the cup down with a little pat, pale green wisps of her magic disappearing beneath it. "For three hours. That counts, doesn't it?" "Did you f...

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“Her Ray (Only the Moon: Episode II)” by Sarah Rich

Submitted to Contest #174

“Noah!” Violette screeched.Noah jogged through the small, concrete space housing his friend’s array of plants. They’d lived and thrived for over a month since Violette convinced him to travel underground. As a self-taught botanist, he wasn’t confident in his skill at all, but he refused to admit it. He guessed he was worth something if Violette wanted him on her crew to ‘revive the world.’“Noah!” she howled a second time. “I think I did it!”“What?” he heaved. “What did you do?”“I’ve finally got a powerful enough ray, and it won’t melt your h...

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“4 years” by Qiyi Lin

Submitted to Contest #174

The fabric beneath my fingers is silky smooth and cool to the touch. My dress is nearly restored to its former glory; the thought makes my mind go numb with joy. Soon. The day is soon. I examine the pearls lining the waistline and resew them with an iridescent silver thread, fingers shaking in excitement. The dusty, neglected telephone starts to shriek, begging for my attention. I turn a deaf ear to the rancoring machine, finishing off the pearls. Light starts ...

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“Validation” by Teresa Wing

Submitted to Contest #174

Char went to the tanning booth. Trying to improve herself because she thought the better, she looked, the more validation she would get from the people she wanted attention from most. She thought if I just looked a little better, they would not choose the next person for sure, or if I am the chosen one, surely getting my hair dyed would keep my partner from leaving because at least it was not frizzy like hers. When she realized that her efforts were thwarted, she focused on how she did not tan enough or how the hairdresser most certai...

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“Fabricated Deities” by Lily Borealis

Submitted to Contest #174

Tw: allusive depiction of bulimia and graphic portrayal of Pica, specifically amylophagia. Fabricated deities There was raspberry polish on your middle fingers smudged on the edges of your skin. The rest of your fingernails were painted black. The glossy finish reflected through the light and made it look like you added specks of glitter for festivities; I couldn’t tell from the distance. I looked down to my own grown, naked nails sprinkled with tiny indents. I wondered if sickness ran through me and if you had the same calcium-depri...

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Write about someone whose desire to constantly improve something borders on obsessive.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 25 stories

“Canky Tops” by Edward Latham

“Good and Wild and Wonderful” by Aeris Walker

“Rural Route 12: All Atwitter” by Wendy Kaminski

“Everyone has a small business nowadays ” by Sophie Maree

“The Picture” by Isaac Walker

“DEATH AT THE GRAND CANYON” by BRUCE MARTIN

“The Leaf Blower” by Kathryn Fitzsimmons

“Smooth skin ” by Jadeyn Buchholz

“3,452,677” by Ashes .

“Brotherly Love” by Bella Fox

“atelophobia” by Alice Lyon

“Her Ray (Only the Moon: Episode II)” by Sarah Rich

“4 years” by Qiyi Lin

“Validation” by Teresa Wing

“Fabricated Deities” by Lily Borealis

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story where someone says, “Everything is changing.”

Write about two old friends meeting for the first time in years.

Write a story about someone coming to terms with how different they are from their younger self.

Write a story about a brilliant scientist making a startling discovery.

Contest #174

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

239

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: