Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Posted in Middle School on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 153 stories

“Erasure” by Aimee Sanders

Submitted to Contest #85

Eighteen seemed like such a long time ago. In reality only three years had passed in the meantime, but for Marnie those those short years felt like a lifetime. Now twenty-one years old Marnie was making her way around Wellington for the first time since she left. Strolling through the cities streets, she passed cafes, shops and restaurants, some she could remember and others that must have popped up while she was away. After walking past a long drag of storefronts she came to a stop in front of a large high-rise building. Above the door of t...

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“I AND MY CITY” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #85

The City is far older than me and is my provenance. I had never in the past reflected on my relationship with my City but am looking to it now. I ask myself if I like my City. To answer that question let us take a practical example. A man marries a woman who isn’t particularly attractive but has redeeming features of practical life - acceptance of fortitude and tolerance to cope with the vicissitudes of life and you forget to look particularly for her beauty. You accept her. You get used to her. You may find you can’t live without her. It is...

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“City Life” by Lesley McGill

Submitted to Contest #85

The knife glinted at my throat; his eyes skewered into mine. I froze, my words, pleading and desperate, stuck in my mouth. The black hood fell over his face. He brushed it back. I stared into the dark eyes; did I know him? I inched closer to the hedge and my brain kicked free. So did my knee. I thrust up, he doubled over, grunted with the pain. I ran. Glad of my trainers for city living I pounded over the pavement towards the lights. ‘Stupid, stupid,’ I muttered the words between gasps and vowed to avoid...

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“You gotta learn the ropes” by Margaret Keefe

Submitted to Contest #85

I remember the first time I drove in, the city lights seemed to sparkle against the night sky. The excitement, the possibilities, I actually felt butterflies in my stomach like I did in middle school when Lenny Mason smiled at me. Lenny was the only reason I would ever consider sticking around Shelton. It didn't work out with Lenny, he was content staying put and would never leave this sad little town. The city pulled at me, it tugged at my soul. I could feel the energy and wanted to be part of it all. I had wasted the past 27 years liv...

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“Crime in the Deep” by Aubrie Wright

Submitted to Contest #85

I was the best Detective and my next crime was here and it was someone had killed Franklin D. Roosevelt. They had killed him because he threaten to keep all the schools in for summer and the killer had kids and he wanted to have summer break with his kids and if the president would have kept them in school the killer would not be able to have fun with his kids. The assistant president actually killed the president because he did not want his kids to be in school in the summer and also he wanted to be the president so his kid to be going to s...

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“Pukau” by Selvi Ariyarathinam

Submitted to Contest #85

Since the time I resigned from the horrified workplace, there is always been somebody idiot entity following me at odd times. He is known as Dean Geo. He too lost his job after one week later as he was considered useless in the eye of the management and he was a very good blamer as a boss. I hated him for back-stabbing me and downgrading me to the general manager's eyes. Whatever he does, the general manager supported him to the fullest. When he goes on off day, I take over for one day, I get slaughtered like a lamb without a reason. After f...

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“Red Saviors ” by Adriana Talamantes

Submitted to Contest #85

Silence...is all I hear from up here. The building was swaying and creaking with effort to stand. Up here is the only place where I feel free. I grip the beam that is on top of the long and monstrous tower. My legs wobble as I look below seeing millions of tiny dots and triangle shapes passing by. No one would guess from looking at it that this place was vile. It was a repulsive and abhorrent place to live. It was also alluring and inviting in some small spots in the city. I breathe in the musty air and the golden rays of t...

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“City My City” by Steve Cripwell

Submitted to Contest #85

A cold, biting, wind whips through the gaps between the high rise blocks, chilling my face and hands, as I walk towards the sanctuary of my home. This city has grown so tall that now the sun never reaches the pavements and people exist in a semi-dark world; lit by the glow of mobile phones as they shuffle about their business. The once bright street lamps are dimmed and discoloured by years of neglect; most remain useless and dark, unlit for years. The teams of patrols employed in their repair long since finished and redundant, crip...

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“Handuraw” by Jade Yu

Submitted to Contest #85

She'd like to blame it on the pandemic, but even she had to admit that wasn’t the full truth. Her growing discomfort towards Siboo City began years before she had to set foot in it again at the turn of the year.Do I really have to? She found herself grumbling as she dressed up, late that morning. She looked at herself in the mirror. Well, that was interesting. She hadn't dressed herself up for quite a while now. She remembered the first time she allowed herself to wear shorts in public, encouraged by her then-girlfriend in that room they ren...

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“Livin' In LA” by Sharon Bruno

Submitted to Contest #85

I moved my arm and my dog started barking, I jolted up and looked at Tiki, my Maltipoo. She is only 1 month old and I got her only 3 weeks ago. Her smooth cream-colored fur is almost covering her eyes.“Geez I’m sorry!” I said to Tiki, throwing my hands up in defense.I got up and let Tiki off of the bed. She immediately went to go and choose my outfit. She wasn’t too big, but when she stood up she was just tall enough to put her paws all over my 1-pieces on the bottom shelf. Every Sunday I let Tiki choose my outfit, mostly because I rarely ha...

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“Message From The City” by LM Konkel-Dixon

Submitted to Contest #85

Neri has only been in this city for two months and she has grown to hate it with a passion. Ever since she inherited her grandfather's estate, she's been rebuilding, repainting, refurnishing, and tidying up thanks to the money inheritance that came with it. It was her best friend Iki's idea to turn into the Calloway Manor, a local B&B with horse riding lessons and trails. But the city that came with it was more than she could handle. Everywhere she turned, she always seemed to catch a downpour that she swore was aiming for her. Iki was c...

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“Got to Get Rid of That Guilt” by Bradley J. Scott, III

Submitted to Contest #85

Today –– this morning, I absolutely hate New York City. While last night, I can definitely say I love this city. With my new girl, Meredith, we saw Hadestown and had a pre-dinner at an Italian place named Bucca de Bippo. There is nothing like a good meal and a good Broadway play to make me a happy hillbilly. Whether, it’s paid for or not, doing this with arm candy is an extra perk in my profession. I’ve live...

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“His City” by Debora Sanchez

Submitted to Contest #85

I slam my hand down on the alarm clock before it even has a chance to ring. The covers stick to me, begging me not to go, and honestly, I would much prefer to be here than wherever I will go today. I stumble into the kitchen and prepare my coffee. My eyes follow the steam up and are caught by the photos on the refrigerator. He wore a red parka and was smiling ridiculously at the camera. I really thought his face would split in two that day from how much he smiled. Just thinking of him made my eyes water. He was the only one who could s...

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“I Stole Her Memory” by Mardhea Malimbol

Submitted to Contest #85

GLAND's P.O.V:It’s hot. Slow internet connection.“This is what I’m exactly saying!” I whispered to myselfI already told mom and dad to left me in LA but they’re not listening. I used to live here in Metro Manila, Philippines when I was 6 and before I even turned 7, mom and dad agreed to live outside the country cause basically my grand Gilb has a family business abroad and he wants my dad to run it, while dad’s company here in the Philippines was managed by my older brother and his wife. For almost 12 years of living in a foreign countr...

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“Lost by comparison” by Sajid Bijapure

Submitted to Contest #85

Hameed was glad when he finally got transferred to his home town. He had spent nearly ten years away from home, working in three different towns. He worked around three years in each place. Those ten years he spent yearning for his hometown where he had spent his childhood. After completing his college education he got a job in a company that had branches in many cities including his own. But they had vacancy only in a sequestered little village far away. "In a year or two, there will be a vacancy in a branch in or around your city" said one...

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Set your story in a major city that your character has a love-hate relationship with.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 153 stories

“Erasure” by Aimee Sanders

“I AND MY CITY” by Sivaram Govindaraj

“City Life” by Lesley McGill

“You gotta learn the ropes” by Margaret Keefe

“Crime in the Deep” by Aubrie Wright

“Pukau” by Selvi Ariyarathinam

“Red Saviors ” by Adriana Talamantes

“City My City” by Steve Cripwell

“Handuraw” by Jade Yu

“Livin' In LA” by Sharon Bruno

“Message From The City” by LM Konkel-Dixon

“Got to Get Rid of That Guilt” by Bradley J. Scott, III

“His City” by Debora Sanchez

“I Stole Her Memory” by Mardhea Malimbol

“Lost by comparison” by Sajid Bijapure

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that takes place in the same building but in two very different time periods.

Start your story with the line, “That’s the thing about this city…”

Write about someone fighting to change their city neighborhood for the better.

Write about someone fighting to keep their city neighborhood the same.

Contest #85

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

671

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: