Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog

Menu

✕
CONNECT
Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships
ABOUT
About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write about someone who still practices a skill that used to be necessary but has long since been replaced by technology.

Posted in Fiction on Oct 26, 2022

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.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 133 stories

“The knocker-upper” by Agnes M

Submitted to Contest #78

Dad sat by the window deep in thought.  He was holding his usual cup of morning coffee in one hand while the other balanced his chin. Spirals of steam rose up from the coffee into the air, getting lost in the beam of the sun's rays. Outside, the village was waking up. The thrushes were singing, welcoming the new day, while all around the neighbouring houses, people began their daily lives. It was another Friday and the year was 1920.  A twelve-year-old me was already dressed up in uniform, ready to go to school. I had just come...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Wild Garlic” by Cynthia Keeler

Submitted to Contest #78

“Where did you get all this?” Samuel is surveying his kitchen. The granite countertops are hidden under a jungle of green leaves. The sweet herbal aroma fills the kitchen more than the verdant wild garlic that overflows out of the sink and over every surface. He is talking loudly, almost yelling to be heard over the roaring food processor. His young son is standing on a stool at the sink washing the leaves while his wife stands almost motionless pouring oil in a thin stream into the spinning appliance.  “The forest.” She says without t...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Wooden Whistle” by LuAnn Williamson

Submitted to Contest #78

Wooden Whistle By LuAnn Williamson            Cold! It had been so cold a few minutes ago, when icy sleet had soaked through their lightweight coats and shoes. But at last she was warm. The survivors had found a small clearing in the forest where the trees had sheltered them from the weather. Better yet, it had sheltered a scattering of fallen tree limbs.            As she drifted off to sleep, Kate realized the...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Hey, Rosie” by Monica Sarwat

Submitted to Contest #78

Jack parks the car under the shade of a tree, just in front of her house. He doesn’t believe his eyes. There’s a green ribbon on her door, it is big enough that he can see it from the other side of the street. It was a week ago that he sent her his first letter. "Hey Rosie. Long time no see. I was really pleased to meet you. I won’t tell you where I’ve met you yet, but I’d like to play a game with you.. if you don’t mind; I will write you every week, if you like that, put a green ribbon on your front door for me to see. If you don’t put t...

1 comment 1
Read story

“The Typsetter” by Tristan Willis

Submitted to Contest #78

FURTIVE. Orla let the word rest in her hand for a moment, feeling its weight. There was something about seven-letter words. None of the flighty lightness of fives or sixes, but somehow still delicate enough to dance their way into the composing stick. They were Baryshnikov, at once immovable and in motion.  FURTIVE. What a word. She allowed herself a last moment with it and then, with a deft movement, flipped it over and slid it into the composing stick as one. FURTIVE. Yes. That would do nicely.    She understood tha...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Candles and Typewriters ” by Beatriz Monteiro

Submitted to Contest #78

The room was gloomy, a single scented candle flickering at the desk casting a yellow glow.The sky outside was even darker, not a single star to be seen beneath the pollution of the city, not even the moon making an appearance tonight. There was a lamp post in front of her house, although it was barely potent enough to shine through the street, much less to let the light into her house.She didn’t mind. She liked the dark, her candle was more than enough. The vanilla scent was comforting and the yellow light was warm.She was home alone tonight...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Belasco X” by Joshua Wiggins

Submitted to Contest #78

A timid fire An aloof person, distant from anything besides his work. Logical and overly practical on the surface, but behind it all artistically inclined. He had dreams of being an architect at General motors, the most desired job in the world at the time it seemed. His name was Todd, Todd Xavier. School was odd, and separated. While most kids saw black and white, ate lollipops and drunk from coke bottles, Todd often read books, and disregarded the reality in front of him. Todd hated the staple brown corduroy pants the grownups wore, and sa...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Forgotten Treasures” by Nuha E.

Submitted to Contest #78

“Lila, wait up!”  I rolled my eyes, but I slowed my run into a slow walk. At this rate, I was going to be late and Mr. Rohan didn’t like it when I was late. He would always grumble, moaning about how nowadays kids have too much freedom and don’t respect their elders, before making me stay behind as punishment to finish menial tasks that he definitely did not pay me for. After last time where he got me to empty the trash, 5 bags full, to the Dumpyard, 4 miles south of the shop without Tom’s help, I wasn’t about to land myself in that tra...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Her perfect work.” by Chaeyeon Lee

Submitted to Contest #78

Her perfect work. By Chaeyeon Lee They stepped back. There lay the shimmering mirage; each thread tightly wound in each other’s embrace. Each dyed hue seeping into its miracle. Every winding needle path decorating its glory. It was a grandeur serenaded with praises of silk and satin. Admiration tinted her lips and blushes of pride and pink adorned her cheeks. She turned, beaming, at the man beside her whose grin outlasted her own. He almost blurted out a whisper of his awe when a sudden stillness echoed around her small studio, boun...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Unconventional History” by Samantha Hartford

Submitted to Contest #78

It was a lovely day in the shadow of Conisbrough castle. There in the castle yard, the weavers wove, the knights practiced swordplay, the cooks busily tended fires, and the visitors happily snapped pictures with their iphones. May took a break from her 12th-century shoemaking, brushing pieces of leather off her apron and blowing strands of greying hair away from her face as she looked around. The sky shimmered blue, the air tingled with woodsmoke and full of laughter and ringing metal. Not everyone from her reenactment group had made it, ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Marginalia” by Zachary George

Submitted to Contest #78

        Charles Shriver felt the tension melt from his shoulders as he drove down the highway. He had spent more time watching the clock than he had spent working that day. It was always impossible for him to focus on anything else in the time leading up to his annual trip. The sky was gray and the forecast called for a periodic and gentle snowfall over the next two days, which was just fine with him. In fact, he would prefer a blizzard to come swooping in so long as it waited for h...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Of Tomes and Time” by Angelo Buanno

Submitted to Contest #78

Henry ran his thumb down the page to turn to the end of the book. His eyes beamed laterally, anticipating each and every following word. His spectacles rested on the lower bridge of his nose. His grey beard stretched down to the bottom of the page. The outdoor cafe he sat in was nonexistent to him. The deep black coffee at attention before him, long turned cold, was adjacent to the pain au chocolat, missing just a nibble.  “Monsieur?” the waitress asked, “monsieur?” She had been standing in front of Henry for only a few moments but she...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Last Knocker” by Nelson Locklear

Submitted to Contest #78

It always seems to start the same way every year around this small busy town. Fall gives her last dance of trick or treat and Thanksgiving wishes, while winter steps in to take over the dance. It begins with a cooler less brisk shuffle, followed by a waltz of cold air that makes the mercury fall quickly on the thermostat. The people begin to arm themselves with thicker coats and boots that hide inside of them double pairs of socks or thermals to keep warm.  Even the sun that provides all us with its warmth of rays, start leavi...

0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with one character trying to convince another to take up their favorite hobby.

Fluff – 177 stories

Write about someone who keeps an unusual animal as a pet.

Teens – 178 stories

Set your story at a convention for a hobby most people have never heard of.

Fluff – 70 stories

Write about someone who keeps picking up different hobbies but never manages to stick with them.

Character – 176 stories

Contest #78

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Keeping Busy

$50

Prize money

735

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 29, 2021 EST

Won by Christina Marie 🏆

Title: Life's Leftovers

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!

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢