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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a short story about someone in the self-help aisle of a bookstore. What book do they pick up?

Posted in General on May 8, 2021

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✍️ 90 stories

“Self-help” by Miles Gatling

What's this now? "The monkey in you. Discover your origin." Hm… He placed the book back. "Life secrets. Untold, never before heard of secrets." Pass.

4 comments 4
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“An Outspoken Angel” by Anastasia Foxx

As Aella Boylen walked down the main street of Shiloh, she was a funny sight, her ears and face flushed strawberry bright from the cold. Her dwarvish body tramped through the snow loudly, her petite figure rounder by the many layers she had on. She walked past chocolate shops and Christmas stores that were desperately trying to get rid of their holiday merchandise before February. She walked past rows of boutiques and pubs before stopping at an odd, large bookstore labeled ...

13 comments 13
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“Black Frame” by Yoomi Ari

There is roughly 8 billion people in the world. About 70% have brown eyes, blue is 8%-10%, 5% have amber or hazel eyes and 2% have green eyes. My point... nothing really, just thought I’d impress you with my knowledge... that I googled.Flicking off the switch, I heaved the creaky door towards me, the flowery wallpaper containing near sheer happiness clipping away from the wall. The decorative furniture held a cozy glaze under the set of caked stars, perfectly aligned to make everything perfect. Dark though it was, the library was o...

4 comments 4
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“A Long, Narrow Box” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Marvin needed help, and this seemed to be the place to get it. He looked at the laminated label on the bookshelf. SELF-HELP SECTION. He nodded to himself. Yup, this was the right place all right. He held his hands behind his back – neatly, as Mother had taught him – and surveyed the books on offer.Deidre had been making a stink all week, and Marvin had finally caved and gone in search of a remedy to their problems. It was a very specific issue. Marvin was doubtful that he’d...

6 comments 6
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“An Uncertain Future” by Tori Routsong

The ground isn’t burned beneath your feet. It makes sense that it wouldn’t be—the bombs never came here—but the grass under your toes is deceptive. You sigh, and put your shoes back on. You’ll never admit it, but your mom is right. There’s too much broken glass left over from the riots.Nobody thought it would come here—there hadn’t been a war on American soil since… well, the Civil War, you suppose. Nobody was expecting it, at least. And in true American fashion, the backlash caused uproar throughout the city. More people had been ...

4 comments 4 SHORTLIST ⭐️
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“Vanessa, You're Glowing! ” by Christian Monee

Vanessa walked out of work and wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around her body. The wind stung her face and even with her heavy bubble coat and thick scarf, she shivered walking through the parking lot of the Spruce Shopping Center. She eyed the Joe-Betty bookstore. In there, she’d be able to warm up and there would be places to sit and relax; that would be her place of refuge. As she walked through the doors the warm air caused her glasses to fog up and the smell of coffee whirled around her head. She felt like she might be si...

11 comments 11
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“Shipwrecked in the Self-Help Aisle” by Najwa Zandlo

Dear Sandy,             WOW! Can I just start by saying I may be your biggest fan? I’ve followed your column in the newspaper for years. The piece you wrote last week, about therapeutic gardening – that was genius. I bought a small bonsai tree for my office at work, so fingers crossed. I’ve read everything you’ve written. I’ve listened to you tell wives to leave their husbands, give new mothers breastfeeding advice, and help siblings reconcile their differences. I’ve ...

1 comment 1
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“As Below, So Within” by Bree Kokiri

I don’t know what would possess you to cut off all that gorgeous strawberry hair I gave you and dye it black. You look so washed out now. And another thing, your nails…have you been biting them again? That’s a disgusting habit! Ariana are you even listening to me? ARIANA!”“Ari.” I mumble, subconsciously correcting my mother from my dazed state. “I am NOT calling you that. I gave you a beautiful name, your grandmother’s name, and I won’t soil it by calling you…ugh…Ari.” She makes a soured scowl that brought ...

7 comments 7
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“Woah! Tell Me How to Say No to This (not a Hamilton fanfic)” by Lily Kingston

“Ahhhhhhhhh…” A girl around age eighteen sang to herself. “Ahhh…hmmmmm… oh yeah, those are words all right.” She pinched the spine of a book and dangled it in the air. “Not thought I know what any of them mean…” “Do you need any help, ma’am?” I asked while leaning against a crooked bookshelf. “No, I’m quite fine. Yo...

2 comments 2
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“Can you help me?” by Mia Hunter

“Martin, can you clean table 4?” Ms. Lucious, the librarian of St. Joseph, ordered in a stern voice.“Yes ma’am” Martin replied and started piling the books on top of each other. Science encyclopedias, nat geo magazines, reader’s digest; all brainy books at one spot!Martin picked up the lot, his back straining a bit. He was born under a weak star and was a far cry in comparison to the athletic, energetic boys of his class. Walking slowly to the ‘Education’ section of the library, Martin tried his best to...

4 comments 4
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“Created To Be” by Keri Dyck

   Who am I? Who am I when no one is watching? Who am I, really?   The question was always there, but this was the only place she would let herself think it. She was deep between a set of bookshelves filled with unread knowledge, under a high ceiling that allowed the imagination to soar, lit by impossibly tall windows and huge chandeliers. She loved it here. Books could make it feel like someone understood.    She picked out an unabridged version of the classic Little Wom...

4 comments 4
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“The helped, the helper, and the help” by Kari Hyp

Of course, those you help others have either been: a) those who are just plain NICE; always having that copy-and-paste smile slapped across their faces, b) those whom hate the idea of “not being polite” so they can get their special brownie “points” also known as their parents, spouses, friends, teachers YOU name it! And of course, category c) those who have been helped and don’t necessarily want to help, but they just DO it.           I don’t want to give you the wro...

0 comments 0
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“How To Tell Her "I Love You"” by Lee Kull

"Well hello, Oscar, it’s nice to see you again," the young lady behind the bookstore counter blushed. "How have you been?" "I’ve been okay. I missed you, Sue… I mean, you know, seeing you here." He paused awkwardly and adjusted his glasses, a nervous habit of his. "I guess you didn’t know that I wrote a book." Her face lit up. "Oh, so that’s what you’ve been doing lately! That’s amazing, Oscar. You never mentioned you were writing one. What is it, a novel?" His awkwardness slowly melting, he quickly replied, "It’s a s...

0 comments 0
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“A Pink Jacket and A Small Hat” by Natalie Frank

The bookstore was dark, covered in a thin veil of dust. She coughed as quiet as she could, allowing her thin jacket to shroud her face as she coughed again. A clerk looked up, disinterested, and continued to read her book. CLEOPATRA (and other Egyption romance stories), the title read. Coco coughed again, louder this time....

3 comments 3
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“Mr. Happy” by Pamela Saunders

The counter assistant is busy today. The latest book of a popular author is selling well since it came out just last Monday. Today is Saturday. It's 2pm and he must have checked out at least 5 copies since he got back from his lunch break. He greets each customer cheerily and politely and they go away happy with their purchases or Christmas returns. He is aware of people around the aisles and knows that other assistants are ready to help if needed.2. In the children's section, a girl in a pink velou...

3 comments 3
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Title: 10 Things To Do Instead of Writing New Year's Resolutions

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