Write a story inspired by a piece of music (without using any lyrics).

Posted in Middle School on Oct 26, 2022

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?

✍️ 39 stories

“The First Kid” by Cam McDermid

Submitted to Contest #119

I am the first kid, Kid A. They sent me on a great wooden carrack where I contracted scurvy almost immediately after my departure. In my delirium, a storm had raged, both internally and externally. My crewmates were experiencing the harsh violence of the storm outside, while I was experiencing it inside myself in the form of a fever. They had me lay in bed, and to keep my mind steady I focused on the placement of things in the cabin. Everything was where it should be. The lantern that swung madly in the storm was placed above the crates of s...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Dark in the City” by Joan Kearney

Submitted to Contest #119

This story contains sensitive content including, substance abuse, and minimal physical/sexual violence It happened on a quiet winter night. The snow was so heavy all day that it left no place for cars with their motors, people to make noise, and no bird or bug for anyone to hear. The temperature had gone up just enough on Monday afternoon to allow the winter storm watch to become a warning for all five boroughs and gave Sophie a reason to leave early. Sophie, who was grateful to have had half the day off and to be home, but she was sad too....

0 comments 0

Read story

“Waking to music” by Cameron Landers

Submitted to Contest #119

I was having some pleasant dreams, some gentle thoughts. I was watching an incredibly lovely young girl doing a springy dance on grassy hills as the sunlight seemed to chase, trying to catch her. I don’t remember dreaming music, but now I was, a lilting picolo sound, and yes, violins. I opened my eyes and searched for my clock, and it was time to rise up. That picolo still sounded, seeming to fade into silence. I shook my head. I thought, “I must still be half asleep!” I opened my eyes as...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Team Building” by Webb Johnson

Submitted to Contest #119

Team Building“The purpose of team building is to increase trust, improve communication, expand collaboration, and broaden, or maintain motivation.” Unknown The office memo had a worrying tone: “Bob, find Lew before you leave.” An hour later I sat in front of Lew Cook’s neat desk─so neat there was nothing on it while he informed me that the selection committee had recommended Clara North for Regional Sales Coordinator because they felt she’s better at team building. I felt my face turn red as I tried to form a thanks-for-even-considerin...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Sea Sounds” by John Vincent Bahrenburg

Submitted to Contest #119

Only one person was on the beach that evening. A shaded figure, dressed in a long black jacket, stood at the edge of the great blue abyss. The figure stared, over the tops of the cresting waves, out to sea. They were humming. The breeze off the salted shore whistled the old tune. Seagulls sang the melody through the rain hazed mist, hungry for the food that was no longer so easily found. The waves, of course, provided the harmonies. The discordant cacophony of the summer crowds had come and left. It was a new song now. “He’s out ...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Why I Have Bars on My Windows” by Samantha Shaffer

Submitted to Contest #119

Warning: attempted sexual violence and gun violence When we have children, we promise to give them lives better than our own. We try to raise them with respect and encourage a good education. We want to give them the world but protect them from the evils around them. I grew up a pretty typical life in 1960's America. My father worked for the local bank and my mother stayed home and raised my brother and I. There were dinner parties on Saturday nights, that the kids were not invited to. I was on the pep squad and my brother was a star f...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Nights and Letters” by Vivian Gould

Submitted to Contest #119

I watched the candle flicker from the breeze coming from the open window; quill poised above the letter I needed to finish. I looked at the stack of letters I had written to you each night, never sent. Each a declaration, of what, I was never sure about. The thoughts of your beauty in my head confused me, making it hard to concentrate on what I needed to say. I set the quill down and walked over to the window. I opened the curtain to let the moon in. As its harsh white light fell onto my turned down bed, I thought about you. Your beauty; you...

0 comments 0

Read story

“You Know I Am No Good” by Nelly Shulman

Submitted to Contest #119

You Know I Am No Good I do not know why I have such a fancy for this little café. The sparse copper burners exude the marginal warmth, failing to penetrate the numbing iciness of the wintry city. The sharp wind whips the pedestrians, hurdling them into the corner holes such as the one I have been frequenting lately. The central, brightly lit places swarm with beautiful young things. They order fancy coffees unheard of here, where the dilapidated plaster walls shed the greying particles as if the unkempt man scratches his head, spraying ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Zoom” by F.O. Morier

Submitted to Contest #119

Zoom... Remember that song? I haven't heard that one in a while. I think I forgot it and to be honest, I think I chose to forget it. It was a commercial R&B hit with a soul vibe, during the '80s. Bang... heaven called and all the angels sang. It´s a song that comes pretty close to a demonstration of what might happen when love comes into your life. I'll admit it's a song you have to be in the mood for. (I guess it would be more accurate to say, that you have to be in the zone for this one.) Last week it came on the radio, and I fou...

0 comments 0

Read story

“You're Just Drunk” by RG .

Submitted to Contest #119

I really love her but her and I are two different people. We "mutually" decided to not talk anymore due to our differences. Ever since Ely turned 21, all she does is party and drink all day, while I just like to chill at home and play video games on my free time. I can't blame her though, she's a young, alluring model, while I'm a broke college student. Today, I surprisingly wasn't even thinking about her, I was playing Call of Duty and I got a text message that read "I miss you..." . As soon as I read the text, I dropped my controller. Sh...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Perfidia in 4 Acts” by James Freeh

Submitted to Contest #119

6:30 pm As he pulled into the restaurant parking lot, it occurred to Alberto that he had already worked 9 hours today. Tonight, if he was lucky, he should be home by 10:15, so that would give him just over 12 hours today! He knew he was working too much, but he really wanted to take Carla to Mazatlan for her birthday, and it wasn’t that far off. And what was wrong with Carla lately? She seemed, he thought, a little distant, a little sad. He loved his wife, but she was so complicated. They’d been through a lot together, but he sometimes wa...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Through closed eyes” by Rayna Falch

Submitted to Contest #119

Trigger warning: self harm and suicidal themes I roll up my shirtsleeve for the seventh time in the past two days. My grip on the blade tightens. I close my eyes. There’s a lump in my throat and my mouth is dry. I take a shaky breath as I press the sharp metal to my wrist. Tears start to fall as I feel the point pierce my skin. I can feel the blood start to trickle out as I drag the blade across my wrist. I’m scared to look. I’m always scared to look. I look anyway. A heavy sob escapes my chest when I see the trail of red slowly flowing ou...

5 comments 5

Read story

“Like Strangers Do” by Yel Hipolito

Submitted to Contest #119

It was just one Sunday when they met. Ace was sitting there, staring out the window as the buildings pass him by. It was so serene. It was as if he was at peace. Jade had her own smile while standing in front Ace. She couldn't hide her fondness for how Ace looked. So calm. She wished she was too. For a moment, at least, she was. Thanks to him. "Have a seat, miss." Ace’s deep and husky tone brought Jade out of her trance. She stared down at him, paling as she realized that she must've looked dumb with a smile on. "Oh! Uhm....

0 comments 0

Read story

“Outward Eyes” by Lily SW

Submitted to Contest #119

Trigger Warning-Mental HealthClinging to the metal bars, Mars is enjoying his stay in prison; clearly, an insane man the officers in the precinct are eager to avoid him and his little games.“Ooh, toss a biscuit to this poor soul, would you?” He grins unnervingly, drawing his lips wide, exposing his yellowing whites. He spits a little bit when his request is ignored, still smiling in overexposed hubris like Boxer.Catrin, a novice detective dares to glance at him, an action Mars thoroughly enjoys, his nose flaring in self-indulgent glee as he ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Tone Deaf” by Jennifer Peaslee

Submitted to Contest #119

Curtis Crawford was raised to follow two Gospels in equal measure. The first, of course, was that of the Bible, but equally important in Curtis’s household was that pervasive, unspoken Commandment of the South: Politeness before all else. Had Curtis lived in a dusty era of stiff collars and brimmed hats, he would not have been a speck out of place. As it was, nobody tipped — or even wore — hats anymore, so he contented himself with showing everyday politeness in a friendly smile or a held door. Fellow churchgoers and neighbors knew wh...

2 comments 2

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with an unusual sound being heard.

Horror – 41 stories

Start your story with a character saying “Listen, …”

Valentine's Day – 57 stories

Write a story that involves eavesdropping.

Fluff – 34 stories

Set your story in a silent house by the sea.

Dystopian – 61 stories

Contest #119

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Listen

$250

Prize money

232

Contest entries

160

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 12, 2021 EST

Won by Rachel Dzengelewski 🏆

Title: Suzanne

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!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story inspired by a piece of music (without using any lyrics).

Submissions are closed

✍️ 39 stories

“The First Kid” by Cam McDermid

“Dark in the City” by Joan Kearney

“Waking to music” by Cameron Landers

“Team Building” by Webb Johnson

“Sea Sounds” by John Vincent Bahrenburg

“Why I Have Bars on My Windows” by Samantha Shaffer

“Nights and Letters” by Vivian Gould

“You Know I Am No Good” by Nelly Shulman

“Zoom” by F.O. Morier

“You're Just Drunk” by RG .

“Perfidia in 4 Acts” by James Freeh

“Through closed eyes” by Rayna Falch

“Like Strangers Do” by Yel Hipolito

“Outward Eyes” by Lily SW

“Tone Deaf” by Jennifer Peaslee

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with an unusual sound being heard.

Start your story with a character saying “Listen, …”

Write a story that involves eavesdropping.

Set your story in a silent house by the sea.

Contest #119

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

232

Contest entries

160

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: