Write a story that takes place in a small town where news travels fast.

Posted in High School on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 50 stories

“Grimville” by Stephanie Njoku

Submitted to Contest #12

In a small myopic town of Grimville, the road looked empty with dried up trees and leaves swirling away by the forceful wind; neighbors were indoors with locked houses; as if to mind their business; but not Me, I was outside at 8:45 am mowing my lawn.‘'good morning jay'' said my next-door neighbor who had a very pretentious attitude.‘'morning Nellie taking out your trash?'' I asked.‘'um, good to see you'' she replied as she relocated back in.I knew she wasn't taking out her trash, I was trying to be funny or maybe stupid; I always didn't kno...

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“Judge me not” by Yoomi Ari

Submitted to Contest #12

Friday 19th January 2015, 3 in the morning.“Okay mum, yes I will be there on time...I know.” I mumbled angrily, trying to not channel across as annoyed. “I promise I will bring the flowers and...the rest.” Baffled I peered across at my luggage; it was more than a little and less than a lot. Surveying my dress, it was a light shade of crimson from the tip but then faded as the light vanished as I dismissed the call angrily, whilst mum shouted at Tony, her boyfriend.The sky dripped, it shed tears as the hues of blue and violet splashed above t...

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“The Tangled Town” by Deborah Mercer

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #12

THE TANGLED TOWNThe first time I saw one of those pictures of a city (I think it was New York) in the early days of electricity, it was horrifying and fascinating at the same time. That mass of wires and cables draped and criss-crossed across the streets, between the houses, almost blacking out the sky, a labyrinth of tangled tendrils. But that tangle is still there, and not only in mega-cities like New York, but in the smallest of towns; the most peaceful and staid looking of market towns and sleepy suburbs,&nbsp...

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“Martha Didn’t Show” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #12

“Where’s Martha, Ben? You lose her?” That was Tim talking.“Naw. She didn’t show.” Ben tapped his steering wheel. He won the game tonight, but looked anxious.“I thought I saw her.”“You’re joking.”“I saw her get into someone’s car. Maybe with Simmy…?”“Oh, man… What’s she doing with that ass?”“Guess you’d have to ask him or her about that…”It was the traditional Friday night gridlock, down Bentfork’s three block Main Street. After the game, anyone with a car would meet here. Three blocks up, and three blocks back. Repeat. Horns honking. Engines...

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“Three Petals” by Jasmin Park

Submitted to Contest #12

I was walking along the cobblestone road to my small cottage at the edge of town when I saw smoke in the distance. I hurried along, past our small garden, heading inside.The fire was still burning from earlier that day when I decided to leave for the local market for some bread. My husband stayed behind to tend to the fire and our daughter."Hello my dears. What have you two been up to since I've gone?""Just waiting for you my love." My husband said as he kissed my cheek. We have been together since our schooling years and we live the most pe...

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“The Loudest Whispers” by Amy Dear

Submitted to Contest #12

Kai popped off the white lid, and lightly swirled his pinky around the foam that frothed on top of his venti latte. He then placed his finger in his puckered lips with a smirk lurking in his mind. Mona rolled her eyes and tried to hide her irritation as she watched the droplets of condensation drip off his lid onto the glass table. “I really wish you would stop projecting your thoughts like that, Kai. You know it drives me crazy.” She stated between gritted teeth. Oh, I think that young couple is fighting, thought a middle-aged woman t...

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“Express News” by N B Edwards

Submitted to Contest #12

In the near distance, the train to Chicago blared its horn. The sound was mostly drowned out by the mechanical thump and whirr of the production line, not to mention the loud chatter of a dozen local people doing what they always did when stuck in a room together: gossip. "Well I heard young Clem is sweet on Lizzy's daughter," said Joyce. Her clever hands, wrinkled and thick-knuckled, made quick work of sorting through the green stream of apples. Good one, good one, good one. Aha! Bad one! In a flash, she whipped it off the line, no second ...

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“The suspicious bag ” by Elianna Penkar

Submitted to Contest #12

It was once said that the wind whispers woes of those unheard. I don't know who said it and it doesn't matter who did. On this stormy night on Thonhill, I stand by the edge and wait. I was to meet a young man with a red cap, he was to hand me a bag and disappear quickly. And so he did. The bag held unfamiliar contents. That made me - the middleman, in need of cash.I was without a wife, not to say that I never loved. I did. We were to be married but she took ill, and we spent the rest of her days paying medical bills. After she was gone,...

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“The Fairfield's of Pine Ridge” by B McNutt

Submitted to Contest #12

Nicolette lived in a fishbowl. A town so small, she could see the rippling glass at towns edge. Well, at least in her minds eye. And with what just happened... she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that all 300 residents of Pine Ridge would have the full scoop in less than 30 minutes. Honestly, most probably ALREADY knew. There was nothing she could do to fix that now, the damage was done. Fixing her ponytail, she walked toward home. Her thoughts gnawing at her. She just couldnt stand the idea of them all talking behind their hand. Whisp...

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“Far From Home” by Deanna West

Submitted to Contest #12

When I was younger, I never thought much about if aliens were real… Because I knew that they wasn’t. I mean yea we see them on T.V., with all the special effects, there’s even some show about finding aliens in your backyard… But I don’t (Well didn’t) believe in any of that, until one fall afternoon…. Here’s the story of “Far From Home”My name is Kimmee MaeFlower! …Ohhh we being technical here huh? Okay well my government name is Kimberly Alise Haven. That’s a nickname that my sweet mama gave to me, but anyhow I grew up here in the South (hen...

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“Chasing the news” by Dominik Pavičić

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #12

Tris jumped out of her bed. Realizing she overslept, she put her clothes on as fast as she could. She didn’t bother to take her time to put matching socks on and her hair was still ruffled.She looked at herself, decided that she enough clothes on her and dashed outside.“Tris,” her mom shouted for the door, “stop by your aunt’s place on your way home, she said she would send us some bread.”“Sure thing mom,” Tris answered not bothering to look if her mother heard her.Autumn mornings in Havonbourgh were cold compared to the rest of the kingdom....

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“The News With Lost Time” by Iona Cottle

Submitted to Contest #12

It never takes long for anything to make its way around the town. Even the little things- especially the little things, I guess. If someone has a new haircut, they’d need only walk down one street before someone else had spotted them, and through phone calls and social media, it would be old news before they hit the next street. That was part of why I love living here. True I don’t live here full time, but with the current job market you have to go where the money is. But I come back more weekends than not, and my folks have said they’ll alw...

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“Sudden Bleaks” by Jazmin Norflett

Submitted to Contest #12

No one knew Kirk like I did. He was soft and sensitive. He had had his moments for sure. Like, he could be very paranoid and was always convinced somebody had it out for him. He thought that I was cheating on him with his friends, the neighbors--shit, even my own blood. I couldn’t be too close to anyone, so it felt a little isolating at times, but it was worth it. He was worth all of it. One time, he picked me up from work for a lunch date and we ended up hiding away at this campsite for three days in the Allegheny Fo...

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“Villa de circque” by Jill Siegler

Submitted to Contest #12

Our family is a small generation but I have learned as a young child how extensive it's vocal spirit stretches. We live in a small French Villa no secrets, no privacy, but lots of history. I was ten when my parents fessed up to why we kept to ourselves. "Walls have ears!" They said. I didn't know what they meant until I went to school the next day. A young girl who had been in my class was absent. I didn't notice it at first until the end of month because she was quiet, shy and kept to herself.I had just learned, through the locker room that...

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“Fallen Hero” by Ramona Scarborough

Submitted to Contest #12

Fallen Hero Bert Wick was a war hero in the small town of Prineville, Oregon. When the other old veterans gathered at Vera’s Café, they would brag about Bert’s exploits to out-of-towners and easily impressed young people. “If you want to hear about some real combat, just talk to Bert here.” Even Marla, the pretty, well-rounded waitress, gave him extra respect, “More coffee, Mr. Wick?” If Clifton Gadberry hadn’t shown up, Bert might have preserved his legendary status indefinitely. In Bert’s favor, he looked the par...

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Write a story that takes place in a small town where news travels fast.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 50 stories

“Grimville” by Stephanie Njoku

“Judge me not” by Yoomi Ari

“The Tangled Town” by Deborah Mercer

“Martha Didn’t Show” by John K Adams

“Three Petals” by Jasmin Park

“The Loudest Whispers” by Amy Dear

“Express News” by N B Edwards

“The suspicious bag ” by Elianna Penkar

“The Fairfield's of Pine Ridge” by B McNutt

“Far From Home” by Deanna West

“Chasing the news” by Dominik Pavičić

“The News With Lost Time” by Iona Cottle

“Sudden Bleaks” by Jazmin Norflett

“Villa de circque” by Jill Siegler

“Fallen Hero” by Ramona Scarborough

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a character with a sidekick.

Write a story featuring a protagonist with a knack for getting to the bottom of things.

Write a story that involves a mystery — it doesn't need to be crime-related, it should just include something that remains unexplained until the end.

Write a story that features an ensemble cast of characters.

Contest #12

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

175

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: