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

“Death Is All I've Known” by Ray Sierks

Submitted to Contest #85

I always thought that I would grow up with my dad walking me down the aisle on my wedding day or my mom braiding my daughter's hair. All of that vanished on September 11, 2001. I remember that day vividly. My mom and dad were late for work that day, but my mom still made me pancakes for breakfast. You could smell the bacon from the second floor. I kept asking my mom to stay home for the day, but she kept telling me she had an important meeting that day. She promised to come home for lunch and that we could get Chipotle. School was canceled ...

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“Mondongo” by Moss Bramall

Submitted to Contest #85

Bradley recognised the street vendor that was hawking arepas. He walked over towards the small cart and asked her what the filling was today. “Chicken and onions,” replied the street vendor, presumptuously picking up one of the nicely browned discs from the grill and slicing the top open with a knife. She stuffed it with a generous helping of the filling and wrapped it in a napkin, holding it out for Bradley. “How much do I owe you?” asked Bradley, being careful not to let any of the filling spill out as he took it from the street vendor...

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“Like the Wind” by Hil Horvath

Submitted to Contest #85

“I will never again feel warmth.” The young woman was sure of it. After a decade living in an eight-month polar vortex, Chicago was in her bones and kept her blood from running warm. This was evidenced by the saurian skin encasing her now witchlike hands. Hands whose dry white cracks, seemingly etched in the winter weather that made them this way, ensured the snow would always be with her, even through a summer spent far, far away. She remembered dreaming of a life in the Windy City but couldn’t recall those fantasies foreshado...

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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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“Jemima Goes Shopping” by Imogen Stead

Submitted to Contest #85

Jemima Goes ShoppingIt was a crisp Autumn morning, I had told Hugo it was my monthly meeting with my old school friend Charlotte. I was now on my way to the train station to catch the 9.53 from Chalfont St Peter to Marylebone. From there, I would pick up the Bakerloo line to Oxford Circus. Usually there was enough time for a mooch around Liberty’s fabric and haberdashery department or perhaps Selfridges, maybe even the Wallace Collection, that is if I could be bothered to brave the throng of shoppers.My trips into town gave me the ...

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“Blinding Lights” by Maycie Holdeman

Submitted to Contest #85

When I look out at the city lights, I remember just how beautiful New York City can be, and why I moved here in the first place. But then I remember how tragic this city is and what it took from me. ...I’m woken up to Keisha vigorously shaking me and shouting, “Wake up sleepy head! Today’s the big day! Your first day as a model!” she squealed. A couple weeks ago, I came to New York so I could apply to be a model at one of th...

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“The Park” by Gary Crawford

Submitted to Contest #85

THE PARK, by Gary S. Crawford Some of us stayed here through the highs and lows. It didn’t start out as a city. It was more of a settlement once the railroad extended down the shoreline. A small town, just like the other line of towns spawned by the growth of the railroad. But the founders of my town had better ideas. After all, a big town a few miles north, where the rail line had originally ended, was reaping the benefits of becoming a resort, with ocean beaches and lakes, numerous hotels, and even a horse race track. Nightlife, gambli...

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“Dear Diary” by PremiumGoose Gaming

Submitted to Contest #85

Dear Diary Tasha, Age 15 Feb 2, 2016 Hello creeps, future boyfriends, or nosy parents (seriously mom stop). I wanted to start a diary and what better time is it now than on the first day I move in. We drove a long. long, long... you get the idea. All the way from the state of Oklahoma. At least back in Oklahoma we had the fresh air and a nice breeze but as soon as I got out of the car the LA air hit me by surprise. Still can not get used to it even though this is now my new home, yippie! I cant even lie its been in a way; Peculiar. But I got...

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“Everything” by Magnolia D

Submitted to Contest #85

A young girl makes her way down a worn, paved street, the heat waves that radiate up from the dark pavement distorting her fragile image as she leaves the airport. She clutches a worn, black backpack to her side, dark eyes darting to and fro, lingering on nothing and yet everything as she processes the sight before her. She has finally arrived in the city of her dreams, where her best friend and college lie together, yet... this was not what she was expecting. A shaky breath is inhaled, a full bottom lip trembles, and she blinks rapidly ...

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“Quare: The City Upstairs Sees You” by Laurie Molnar

Submitted to Contest #85

Sometimes, we feel alone. We don’t feel comfortable in our own skin, or in extreme cases we don’t even feel safe. Why? I’ve had many conversations prompted by these questions with my psychologist and bathroom mirror. A year ago, I had an excellent routine: woke up early, meditated, worked out, ate with pescatarian dietary restrictions, and started my day with determination to do my absolute best. “But, why?” my doctor would ask me, to which I replied: “it’s healthy.” If what I said was in fact right, how did my well being take such a rapid d...

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“The cicadas are calling” by Mei Joan Guyll

Submitted to Contest #85

That’s the thing about this city, 6 million humans cramped into a space less than half the size of London. Visitors to Singapore would expect encounters with concrete jungles at every turn. Personal space? Forget it. And yet, I found myself wandering in a nature reserve, no one else in sight. Only birds and butterflies flitting from flower to flower, as I strolled lazily through well tended paths, under the shade of mighty giant-leaved tropical trees. I am accompanied by the high-pitched whine of a cicada, a brown winged insect native to Asi...

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“The Towers” by Virginia Soto

Submitted to Contest #85

On the morning of September 10, 2001, Sarah Wong wakes up to the sound of her alarm clock. She gets out of bed and cleans her room, then walks into the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. As she places two slices of bread into the toaster, her french bulldog, Muffin, comes in and paws Sarah’s ankle, barking. “Good morning to you, too,” Sarah says, smiling. “You want some breakfast?” The dog barks twice. “I’ll take that as a yes.” She pets the top of Muffin’s head. She turns away and opens the cabinet over the counter, grab...

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“A Day in Chicago” by Chelsie Hermsen

Submitted to Contest #85

It's four AM. Most people are sleeping, but I'm not. I'm just hitting my stride. Some people call me a vampire because I like to stay up at night. I like the solitude the night brings me. I feed off it. I like looking out my window and seeing the pretty lights of downtown. I love the city because it has pretty lights at night that my small little town of 1,200 that I grew up in did not have. At 4:30, ...

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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

“Death Is All I've Known” by Ray Sierks

“Mondongo” by Moss Bramall

“Like the Wind” by Hil Horvath

“His City” by Debora Sanchez

“I Stole Her Memory” by Mardhea Malimbol

“Lost by comparison” by Sajid Bijapure

“Jemima Goes Shopping” by Imogen Stead

“Blinding Lights” by Maycie Holdeman

“The Park” by Gary Crawford

“Dear Diary” by PremiumGoose Gaming

“Everything” by Magnolia D

“Quare: The City Upstairs Sees You” by Laurie Molnar

“The cicadas are calling” by Mei Joan Guyll

“The Towers” by Virginia Soto

“A Day in Chicago” by Chelsie Hermsen

🌟 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: