Write a story about inaction.

Posted in General on Aug 5, 2021

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.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 111 stories

“Purple and Green ” by May Mills

I looked up at the three moons in the dark pink night sky, they really did look beautiful. I shifted my gaze to our sister planet, Melandriota. Her dark blue surface was banded with stripes of various other shades of blue. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a squeaky voice behind me.“Miss, it is time to eat.” I turned around to see a short boy far younger than me. He had bright purple eyes and his pale face was shadowed in the dark. He was wearing shabby, ripped clothes and had dirt on his face. I, on the oth...

18 comments 18

Read story

“Over The Years” by Lata B

“Kids know nothing about racism. They’re taught that by adults” -Ruby Bridges The clock had struck noon and the sun was already beating us down. The game of tag was getting harder to play. Beads of sweat were trailing down both our faces. We were hot, sweating, and sticky. Trever’s face had almost turned into a tomato. “Don, I'm gonna get some water. Wanna come with me?” Trever asks, moving his curly brown locks from off his sweaty forehead. “Sure!” I rep...

29 comments 29

Read story

“Divided” by Amiable Sorceress

Nestled perfectly in the grass atop a massive hillside, I gaze at the starlit sky. The sound of crickets chirping is the only thing to be heard over a mile away, and the full moon shines its light like a summer day. An owl hoots in the distance as I look past the stars to the newly built wall. It cuts through the forest in a loop, making its way back to where it starts. Tomorrow, this part of the woodland would be blocked off too, leaving the city surrounded by stone. Suddenly, a...

6 comments 6

Read story

“The Black Man's Salvation” by Elliott Laurence

Fire and thick black smoke tower over the city street like an avenging angel gazing down on razed retail stores, restaurants, and a police precinct. “This is what happens when good men do nothing,” stated his father. “But then the others were just as evil as the one who did the killing.” “Several attempts have been made, pop, but when will people realize the destruction of the black race ...

14 comments 14

Read story

“no one cares ” by Anja Z

As I lay there in a pool of my own blood the first thing that came to mind were not that I wanted someone to come and help me, although I wanted, but it was rather the fact that would someone identify me solemnly by my feet. You see my left foot had a big red speck of a birthmark. I found it rather odd that most people had a birthmark rather on their head or on their hip, but mine was a big red swoosh on my toe. Maybe the birthmark knew I would be...

11 comments 11

Read story

“Parent Conference” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“Thank you for coming in today, Mrs. Sampson,” the principal said, smiling thinly and motioning for the anxious mother to sit in the chair directly across from the principal’s desk. The bookcases behind Mrs. Sampson’s seat were filled to capacity, mostly with well-thumbed history textbooks and supplemental Advanced Placement materials that the principal had kept from her many years of teaching social studies. Holding her large designer handbag in front of her like a shield, Mrs. Sampson’s salon-perfect nails made indents on th...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Inaction” by Ayomide Ajayi

In all sincerity, I was so tired that day. It was a stressful day at work: it rained heavily, yet, my boss won’t cease to send me on an errand. I can’t picture how I got home, either the bus stopped in front of my house or I trekked down from the junction of my home. I took my shoes off and unknot my ties while on my bed. I tried to strip down my shirt and trouser, but the hands did not move. I lay down succumbing to my ...

20 comments 20

Read story

“Second Thoughts” by Claire Taylor

If you’ve ever seen a typical American high-school movie, you know the plot: there’s a nerd, who likes a jock, but the jock is dating a pretty cheerleader. Or they like the cheerleader but the jock is in the way. Either way, in the end, the nerd ends up dating the one they wanted. Since the cheerleader/jock is always the main antagonist, the nerd is the protagonist who everything works out for. That’s supposed to say that, even if you’re a nerd, you can get what you want. &...

24 comments 24

Read story

“Vapid” by Amy St. Pierre

In a family of activists, being the one who stayed home, who didn’t make signs and stand outside the state house and walk in marches and participate in protests, was like having a spotlight on you. You were the one who was careless and flippant, the one who was too dumb to watch the news and actually be able to understand and process what was happening. The world was changing, I knew that, but I was also hyperaware of my powerlessness. I knew that standing outside the...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Folly of a Flower” by Kathleen Doidge

An eerie melody stole the winds freedom, forcing it to send the fluttering orange blossoms across the sky as an ocean wave. The spinning white petals soared upward, mimicking the song of the little girl sprawled in the grass. She was humming a made up tune, her emerald eyes squeezed shut in concentration. A flower landed on her small cherry nose as she sang a low note, a flurry of giggles vibrating her tiny body. She opened one eye, peering at the traitorous blossom relaxing on her face. A chubby hand clasped it ever so gently and brought...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Saving the village!” by Sebastian Ehlke

The crisp mountain air stung my lungs as my legs threatened to yield to the unrelenting pressure they were forced to endure throughout my journey. With each step, I seemed no closer to reaching the end of my quest. Every day melted into the last with the end out of sight.I decided to give in to my fatigue and boredom, and fall to the ground. The rocks beneath me felt uneven, but I savored the opportunity to rest. As I caught my breath, I closed my eyes to picture how my mission would end.There I was, st...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Hearts” by Kathleen March

Dr. Lavinia Rivers was stiffly propped against the wall of her bedsit. Her hazel eyes were too horizontal. Her arms, like stiff wings, hovered somewhere near her waist. Anyone watching her would probably come to one of two conclusions: (1) That she was not feeling well or was tired from the activities of the day; or (2) That she was about to explode. She was feeling fine, but was indeed tired, having walked the better pa...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Ghosts” by Erick Morin

Shoulders huddle together, enclosing two boys inside a jagged circle. Shouts and laughter is heard down the hall. Bodies shuffle with heads turned, ignoring the event taking place in the center of the ring, blocking the gym, out of sight, out of mind. The huddled mass of students becomes the focal point of Marco’s eyes. He watches, processing every minute of the abuse taking place before him and the other students, onlookers frozen in space, unsure how to react. Some join in, chanting and jeering; others stare, inactive robots waiting to ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Your Fault” by Jessica Buford

When Jared came strolling out of the abandoned house with a rusty gun swung over his shoulder I knew I shouldn’t have come. He lifted it to eye level and peered down an old sight straight at me. “Ba-pow,” Jared said then followed it with a laugh as he let the sight fall back toward the ground. “That’s not funny, Jared,” I said through the half rolled down car window. “Dat’s not funny,” he mocked, squishing up us face. I swallowed the ball of fury that was creeping up my throat like a caterpillar. I was always ...

6 comments 6

Read story

“CONDEMNED” by Deborah Mercer

Malcolm Rowe had never approved of that second referendum. Come to think of it, he had never been that enthusiastic about the first one. But he had gone along with it, telling himself he believed in democracy and consulting the people, and the truth was, that when it came to the EU, he could take it or leave it. He thought that leaving would be bad for the economy (and had been proved largely right, though he admitted there were exceptions) but wasn’t inclined to come over all tearful if he heard Ode to Joy or...

6 comments 6

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about solidarity.

General – 57 stories

Write a story about activism.

General – 46 stories

Write a story about community.

General – 67 stories

Write a story about change.

General – 167 stories

Contest #45

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: A Time for Action

$50

Prize money

448

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 12, 2020 EST

Won by Raven Quill 🏆

Title: Constellations

Won by Yves. ♙ 🏆

Title: The Traveler Wife

Won by Vj Hamilton 🏆

Title: Winds of Change

Won by Anisha Yagnik 🏆

Title: Full Price

Won by Natalie Strawbridge 🏆

Title: Legacies

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!

Tired of MS Word?

Join the revolution and write your book in a tool designed for authors. 🙌

Includes FREE typesetting to print-ready PDF & EPUB files, track changes and collaborative editing.

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story about inaction.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 111 stories

“Purple and Green ” by May Mills

“Over The Years” by Lata B

“Divided” by Amiable Sorceress

“The Black Man's Salvation” by Elliott Laurence

“no one cares ” by Anja Z

“Parent Conference” by Deidra Whitt Lovegren

“Inaction” by Ayomide Ajayi

“Second Thoughts” by Claire Taylor

“Vapid” by Amy St. Pierre

“Folly of a Flower” by Kathleen Doidge

“Saving the village!” by Sebastian Ehlke

“Hearts” by Kathleen March

“Ghosts” by Erick Morin

“Your Fault” by Jessica Buford

“CONDEMNED” by Deborah Mercer

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about solidarity.

Write a story about activism.

Write a story about community.

Write a story about change.

Contest #45

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

448

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Tired of MS Word?

Explore more writing prompt ideas: