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 a character who has to rely on the hospitality of strangers.

Posted in Fluff 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?

✍️ 97 stories

“The Cloudiness” by Shoshana A

Submitted to Contest #96

The earth: on surface “Weather Forecasters have predicted that a powerful cyclone will hit some regions of South East Asia. Whereas coastal zones will get sever hit from it and may experience heavy rainfall along with a storm, other regions will only witness heavy rainfall. Forecasters have blamed warm temperature at sea surface and atmospheric instability for the formation of cyclone,” the news reporter says on the TV.After listening to the news George summons his wife, Amaliah, and tells her that they need to stay extra careful for the cy...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Abandoned” by Jay Luuu

Submitted to Contest #96

The stars glitter above me as I lie under a tree, its canopy of leaves shrouding parts of the sky. I sigh to myself, clueless about what to do next. Another night alone.The park is void of people, albeit it’s still pretty early into the night. The water on the lake shimmers like the stars, reflecting a circular silhouette of a pretty blue moon. Only the distant hoots of faraway owls and frequent buzzing of nearby mosquitoes are my companions for the night.I slump against the hard bark of the tree, looking at my back every so often if ants or...

26 comments 26
Read story

“Death's Ink” by Elia Christensen

Submitted to Contest #96

I DON'T WANT TO DIE. No one wants to die. But someone has to — always. Everyone has to die. I lay on my back, staring up at the grey sky. Pregnant clouds slide drearily across the rough surface. The dry grass prickles my bare skin. I try not to groan in pain. I press my fingernails into the dry dirt. My gut churns as I try to block out the rest of the world. No matter my efforts, I can still hear the pained cries of the people surrounding me. The smell of smoke wafts down the street. As I watch the clouds, passing mournfully across the site,...

5 comments 5
Read story

“Shoemaker” by Lucía Nemo

Submitted to Contest #96

“Blast.” She cursed. The dirt road scratched the shoemaker’s bare feet as she ran, but she didn’t care. She had bigger problems. “Blast. Blast. Blast.” Her pack, full to bursting with tools, with leather and thread and cloth and even wooden heels, made a wretchedly distinctive sound as they slammed against her back. The shoemaker adjusted her glasses on her sweaty nose and gulped for air. Perhaps she should have taken the cart rides she was offered many times along the road. Unfortunately, carts and carriages were rather unfit for plunging ...

2 comments 2
Read story

“413” by Isha Rawat

Submitted to Contest #96

"Andy..Andy get up" "Don't disturb me on a Sunday Monica" " Well you better get up and come down stairs with me cause I won't be dealing with this all alone" Monica has always been the tough one. That's one of her qualities I like the most. Her in hysterics was a situation worth looking into. She waits for me while I pull my shirt over my chest. Together we descend to meet 413. Monica refuses to fill me in and tells me to move quicker. 413 happens to be a woman with blonde hair probably in her mid thirties who's terribly shaking. Monica le...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Running And Running” by Serena Johnston

Submitted to Contest #96

Leila was running. She had been running for a very long time, so long that she didn't even really remember what she was running from. She just knew she had to run. And fast. Leila had been on the run since she was 1 year old, but that was when her mother carried her on her back, her older brother in tow. Now her mother and brother were gone, and Leila was alone. There was a time when Leila and her family didn't have to worry about things like war and hunger, but those times were so long ago, Leila couldn't remember. Now, she barely manag...

5 comments 5
Read story

“The Wreck” by Meta M Griffin

Submitted to Contest #96

The Wreck  Owen was gob smacked that someone who had been such a close friend would go along with terminating his position in the English department. His best friend, and mentor, called him into her office and informed him that his position had been terminated. He searched her face for evidence for remorse, but found none. Bernice was tight lipped and avoided making direct eye contact with him. She refused to answer any questions.  Owen threw his books in boxes. He didn’t even care about cleaning the entire office. H...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Stop The Fall” by Adam Wan

Submitted to Contest #96

Arisu sat on the bench and plugged in her earphones. A gentle breeze sent a chill up her legs. “Achoo…” Her battery’s at twenty-five percent. It would last her about an hour, at most. The night wore on and the sky darkened, and somewhere behind them the clock struck twelve, going dong, dong, dong… A large river flowed in front of her, the walkway guarded by a metal barrier. From here, she could see the moonlight shimmering over the water, as though crystal-gems laid beneath its surface. The deep, low drone of the river ran heavy. Like the pa...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Dead Strings ” by Alexander Katz

Submitted to Contest #96

(Author note: contains violence and NSFW language.) “Shhhh.”  A hand wrapped around my mouth, stopping my squeak in its track. You’d think after five years I’d know better. Know not to be afraid. To bite my tongue and keep my calm. But fear’s a tough bitch to shake, a real leach if you ask me. Once it gets its teeth in you, it ain’t looking to let go. And it don’t matter how many times I’ve seen ‘em staggering about with those milky white eyes dripping black, sludge tears; the sight them will haunt me till the end, I suppose. It’d...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Agape Mou, Xenia” by Sapphire Maid

Submitted to Contest #96

I couldn't move my fingers anymore. The dry, frigid air forced them into stiff, dark icicles. I kinda wish I could still feel the sharp kisses of winter in my hands and face, it meant that they were ok. That I was ok. Now I'm not so sure. The snow clung to my drenched clothing, weighing me down as I walked in search of some kind of sanctuary. A wise man would have stripped and walked naked the second he got out of the river, but I'm no wise man I suppose. A wise man wouldn't have ended up falling a good 40 ft off a bridge in the first pla...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Two Moons” by Lavender Blue

Submitted to Contest #96

TWO MOONS The girl awoke, from what she wasn't certain, it surely was not a natural sleep, but nonetheless she awoke - face down in a drainage ditch. Her hair was caked with mud and twigs and she could feel a soreness at the back of her head. She was wearing a New York Yankees tee shirt and jeans, and her feet were adorned with a pair of mud colored socks. She sat up slowly and felt the back of her head with a scratched and filthy hand. She discovered a soreness there and a slight lump which protruded from her scalp.  There wasn't muc...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Book of Few” by Hugo Millaire

Submitted to Contest #96

Hey fellow reedsy writers! Before you dive into this story (or don't) I just want to set it up a bit to avoid any confusion. This is a story following the perspective of a certain journal, or diary whatever you like, during World War 2. I do like this idea but I'm not the best at writing down whatever thoughts are going through my head, so if anyone has some critisism please share I would love to get some feedback. Enjoy!13/06/1943; Naples, Italy  Well, this is going to be the last time I write in this journal. Or diary. I still do...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Strannik” by Marie McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #96

Ivan and his pack of six hunting Dogs had cornered a large Bear. The Bear was angry and fierce, and fought with all it's might against the Hunter's Dogs. Two of the Dogs had their fangs fixed tightly on either side of the Bear's neck, the Bear clawed one of Ivan's Dogs to shreds."Okhotnik!!" Ivan shouted.The Bear then bit down on another Dog and shook the poor animal violently. "Laika!" Ivan yelled in anger.Ivan aimed his rifle at the Bear's neck, and pulled the Trigger, sending a shell into the Bear's Jugular, felling the animal once a...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Finmi” by Lila Manjel

Submitted to Contest #96

Finmi stared at her eviction letter, and wondered what she was going to do with her life. Suicide seemed like a good option, at least she would find peace in death, and rest from the turbulence that was her life. But she had her daughter to consider. If she killed herself her daughter's life would be ruined, and she would go through untold hardship like she did. Nigeria was a cruel place to be left as an orphan. She was born to middle class parents. Finmi was the last child out of five children, three had died as infants. Her parents brought...

4 comments 4
Read story

“WSTA, Sect. Q, patient H-293775481: Welcome to Hrshwth” by Kelly Burmeier

Submitted to Contest #96

Arrived in Hrshwth. Gate connection in approximately five minutes, the automated voice chimed. Metz felt tremors down her spine as she stood to shuffle on the landing of the ship. Oof. Her back ached. Her neck ached. Her hands… her whole body ached from remaining in her seat the past 18 hours for the landing process. The whole seven month flight was easier than the last half-day. If Metz had been bathing in a second story tub when it finally fell through the rotted floor and shattered with her still in it, she would have been in less pain....

5 comments 5
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about strangers becoming friends, or friends becoming strangers.

Fluff – 262 stories

Start your story with the arrival of a strange visitor in a small town.

Horror – 187 stories

Write about someone welcoming a stranger into their home.

Thriller and Suspense – 161 stories

Start your story in an empty guest room.

Horror – 150 stories

Contest #96

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Xenia

$50

Prize money

858

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 04, 2021 EST

Won by R E 🏆

Title: unoccupied

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 ⭢