Set your story in a drawing room.

Posted in Fiction on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 29 stories

“The Drawing Room” by Hannah Barrett

Submitted to Contest #131

She looks like the lady from the Klimt painting. No, not that painting. The one with the fan. Sooty bay curls caressing rose petal cheeks, imperious brows that rise and fall on the tides of conversation. Her eyes are so like rootbeer I wanna stick a straw in them and take a sip. And that mouth. It's at the upturned corners, where I know a million secrets linger, that I want to kiss. She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, and I might even tell her so if her boyfriend would shove off for half a second. We're in room 264 of the Cla...

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“Never Enough Time” by Anne Sellers

Submitted to Contest #131

Grandpa told me the story of his childhood many times. His mother was Native American and his father was White. He said that he never met his father because he died before Grandpa was born. The details of this story were vivid and intense. I remember hearing it for the first time when I was about eight and Grandpa was well into retirement, but agile for his age. We were working in his garden when he began. I can’t remember how it started, but midway through, I had stopped pulling weeds and was transported to the early 1900s. After her h...

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“Jack's Death” by John Hanna

Submitted to Contest #131

Jack opens his eyes with a start. Everything is at once strange and yet familiar. He doesn’t feel bad but he doesn't feel right; like clicking off a checklist he senses the quick adaptation, the focus adjustment. Now, he never felt better, his mood had never been more optimistic, his muscles hummed with health, his heartbeat is a pulse of wellbeing. He is sitting in a 19th-century Victorian armchair with a carved crest and a needlepoint seat facing a nondescript man in the same. “Where am I?” Jack asked. “You’re in the drawing-room,” the m...

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“Mr. Pratt's Game” by Chris Campbell

Submitted to Contest #131

Author’s Note:This is a true story. It is told as recounted to me by Mrs. Gladys White – who on this fateful night, danced unseen in the ballroom of the old Tudor Hall house depicted within. The author writes this story, solely in the pursuit of truth, and to dispel any previous inaccuracies published for the sake of selling scandalous newspapers. Anthony Ernest Pratt stood in front of the roaring fireplace, studiously peering through a glass of port held high in front of the flames. At the personal invitation of the distinguished physi...

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“Sunday's at Nana's” by W.D. Pierce

Submitted to Contest #131

Have you ever spent too much time in the card aisle of a pharmacy? Rifled through the cheesy designs and the overused well wishes, trying to find a decent note for a celebration? And by some miracle, did you strike greeting card gold? Because for one time & one time only, I found a card for my Nana that fit her absolutely. It said, "Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day, and now the day was complete." - Marcy Demaree The quote rang true of my Nana, who I always felt was waiting on us. Every S...

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“From the Shadows” by Cindy Calder

Submitted to Contest #131

His ice blue eyes reflected his anticipation, deepening to nearly black as he lingered from the shadows of the veranda, silently awaiting her arrival. ****************Adrienne stepped to the open window in ...

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“Salle d'attente” by Janet Change Balda

Submitted to Contest #131

She’s sitting on a simple couch on the other side of the small room, the pair to the one I am trying to get comfortable in. We’re the only ones here, and had exchanged a quick, only slightly awkward smile when I first arrived, before settling into the silence, very aware of one another’s presence. There isn’t even a loudly ticking clock to distract or drive me crazy. I look around the room to occupy myself. In another part of western Europe this would probably be called a drawing room, but here in the 1ère arrondissement of Paris, this com...

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“"The Rose of the Winds"” by Евгения Черногорова

Submitted to Contest #131

A great feast is gathering at the home of Countess Anna Ivanovna Starintseva, the "Rose of the Winds" mansion. In the living room nervously walks Anna Ivanovna Starintseva - a woman of extraordinary fortitude, but at the same time a gentle and vulnerable soul. Her looks seemingly simple, but behind this simplicity lurks a mixture of passion and divine obedience, which in itself is already wonderful. She looks as if to the bone undresses a man, and stands in front of her naked soul. The color of her eyes to describe - so it pulls, swamp, to e...

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“The Masked Figure” by Lawzha Latif

Submitted to Contest #131

It was eight forty five. I had finally finished my night shift and crossed the never ending traffic to get back to my little studio. My studio is located on the 22nd floor of an old building in the town’s center. It’s walls are covered with paintings of the passengers that told me their extraordinary stories each night. My chisel is in the middle of the room and my flat on the ground bed lying in the far left corner by the large windows. I don’t want to forget any of the people I get to meet during those interesting hours. Therefore as I com...

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“Secret” by Tzesa Palo

Submitted to Contest #131

He was my bestie….the one I could always rely on. My secrets he kept treasured, my childishness he loved and he accepted me for what I was. I was among those who knew his emotional side. Our parents knew our bonds and if one didn’t find me at my house they knew whom I would be with and vice-versa. We never compromised our friendship with any other thing. I had grown very strong feelings for him which I never understood when they converted into love but I closed all the doors of my heart fearing to lose him forever. We often exchanged ‘I love...

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“Draw what you see” by Jesus Nieves

Submitted to Contest #131

Jesus Nieves word count:2793jnieves6556@gmail.comDRAW WHAT YOU SEEBY JESUS NIEVESIt's 3 am and Trevor can't sleep. He sits in his drawing-room; thinking of what to draw, for his next graphic novel. Trevor turns on his TV, hoping to get inspiration. He watches a documentary about serial killers. A light bulb goes off in his head, what if he created a character who is a serial killer. This killer is an artist, his art does the killing for him instead of using his bare hands. The killer draws out the murder scene of how he imagines killing...

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“The Puppet Séance” by Alyssa Tsang

Submitted to Contest #131

Elias sunk uncomfortably into the high-backed deep rose armchair, puffing his meerschaum pipe. The drawing-room was dotted with expensive wax taper candles to combat the oppressive and encroaching darkness. The puppet sat menacingly in the middle of the seance table. Its painted wood eyes bore a hole in Elias' face. Elias stared back as though he was sizing up a bloke he was about to box against. "Mr. Dashwood, would you like a drink while we wait for the others?" Miss Polly Burns chirped. Elias Dashwood broke his staring contest...

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“Lady Madeline” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #131

The large house stood on a gentle slope, on the west side of a grove. The tall trees gave it a melancholic and pleasant shade. The landscape looked out on a lush and magnificent scene. A brook crept across the tall grass and the scent of wildflowers hung in the air. Scenes of pure delight in pastoral simplicity. I loved this place. I was happy to receive an invitation from Lady Madeline to come spend a few hours of afternoon with her. It was more than an invite. She begged me to come see her. I knocked the lion head on the thick, tall wooden...

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“Wonderful Granddad Harry Grimes” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #131

NB(swearing and indications of abuse)Jim strolled into the drawing room. It smelled of furniture polish, perfume and after shave. He stood before the ornate fireplace, his hands held loosely behind his back. His eyes skimmed the mostly bowed heads and solemn faces. The huge gold-framed mirror behind him reflected the multi-faceted chandelier. In the centre of the room stood an oval mahogany table and six chairs everyone had avoided. Instead, they crowded on the three sofas and four armchairs scattered about the drawing room.Jim took an in-br...

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“The Lady of Aurum Manor” by Emma Stafford

Submitted to Contest #131

Aurum Manor was known for its beauty. Nestled atop a mountain, besides a crystalline river, the estate was home to elegant gardens and looked as if it belonged in a fairytale. Although the exterior was truly extraordinary, the true beauty of the Aurum Manor was found in its residents. Lady Isadora was a true sight to behold, with hair the colour of wine and eyes like storm clouds. Her mother, Lady Irene, often found her hands full with suitors travelling from across the country to fight for her daughter’s affections. Lady Isadora was quite f...

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Set your story in a drawing room.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 29 stories

“The Drawing Room” by Hannah Barrett

“Never Enough Time” by Anne Sellers

“Jack's Death” by John Hanna

“Mr. Pratt's Game” by Chris Campbell

“Sunday's at Nana's” by W.D. Pierce

“From the Shadows” by Cindy Calder

“Salle d'attente” by Janet Change Balda

“"The Rose of the Winds"” by Евгения Черногорова

“The Masked Figure” by Lawzha Latif

“Secret” by Tzesa Palo

“Draw what you see” by Jesus Nieves

“The Puppet Séance” by Alyssa Tsang

“Lady Madeline” by F.O. Morier

“Wonderful Granddad Harry Grimes” by Barbara Burgess

“The Lady of Aurum Manor” by Emma Stafford

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two characters whose first impressions of one another are wildly inaccurate.

Write a story that includes (or subverts) the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Start your story with the arrival of a new person in a town full of gossips.

Write a story about a group of sisters, or a group of brothers.

Contest #131

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

185

Contest entries

128

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: