Write a story named after, and inspired by, one of Shakespeare's plays. Think modern retellings, metanarratives, subversions, etc.

Posted in Narrative on Jun 28, 2024

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✍️ 72 stories

“The Tempest” by Ethan Kimm

Submitted to Contest #257

The water of the great Atlantic claws at the sides of The Conspiracy. Tense air circles and tugs at fabrics and hair. The nameless man crunches a letter in his hands--fueled by an emotion untouched by his soul for decades. This was before his beard turned salty and age stretched his face to be a water rippled version of his past-self. His eyes lay anchor to his maple eyes with a thought swirling below the depths of moments that passed him by. The splinter scarred hands wore rope burns for skin. Clothes hung loose like options rather than com...

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“Much Ado About Nada” by Emily Miles

Submitted to Contest #257

Text messages between Badia and Ben, part 1:Ben: everyone keeps looking at me.Badia: Wipe your nose then.Ben: nah it’s the people. they’re just too friendly. why did we come here again?? destination weddings are such a scam.Badia: Yeah right. You’re so totally hating this trip. That’s why you went to Taormina yesterday to see where The White Lotus was filmed.Ben: where did you hear that?Badia: Pedro told us. ;)Ben: Traitor.Badia: Haha..Well I’m getting ready for the bachelorette party. Nada said "casual but classy" so we shall see. Cya. xBen...

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“The rise and fall of Lear Magazine” by Natalie Haslam-Conroy

Submitted to Contest #257

CORDELIA I had been walking up the steps of the Park Place subway for the past twelve years, but today was different. Today, I was thinking about how I had climbed these steps all those years ago on my first day at Lear magazine. I had spent the three years prior working four jobs while living in a coffin room in Bushwick. Eventually, I summoned the courage to submit a feature idea to Editor-in-Chief Margaret Lear, who read it and hired me on the spot. Working at Lear had been my dream—the reason I moved to New York—and the reality of it was...

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“Ghost Writer” by Robin Kaczmarczyk

Submitted to Contest #257

Having died, the bard found himself in Avernus. His throat was dry like the sands of the Sahara, and, generally speaking, he suffered an unspeakable warmth in his bones. He walked along a long road filled with dread trees; dead, devastated and dramatic. Fortunately, after a short walk in the most horrid country a man could dream, he found a tavern, a tiny little spot of sense in a senseless reality. The sign on the door of the tavern read: “The Bard’s Tail”, and it showed an image of Shakespeare himself, albeit with a tail behind his ba...

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“Much Ado About Nothing” by Noah Graham

Submitted to Contest #257

“Your haircut is an act of cultural appropriation against the retard community” Betty said as Ben walked into theschool cafeteria with Klaus. Hera missed the days when Betty would use a funny tone of voice for her insults. Back then she was sure it was a game, now more and more of her was starting to wonder if it was something more… but what? Ben and Betty had no reason to hate each other did they? “Nah. It ain’t cultural appropriation. Only a genuine retard would put up with you” Ben replied “Wow it’s like you to are both trying to fl...

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“RNJ” by William Riling

Submitted to Contest #257

Newsflash – June 16th, 2024, Dateline: Verona, Wisconsin—16-year-old Romeo Montague and 14-year-old Juliet Capulet were found dead today in the parking lot of Verona High School, the result of an apparent suicide pact. Texts of their final moments were found on the star-crossed lover’s iPhones but not released to the public. Funeral services are pending. In lieu of flowers the families are asking donations to be made to Suicide Prevention Hotline of Verona.---------------------------------------------------------------- (Transcript from...

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“Romeo and Juliet” by Abby Nanus

Submitted to Contest #257

"Hey, Julie, what would your older sister think of what happened last night?" Romy, my secret boyfriend, smugly asked me as we strolled through the mall. "First off, Emmie's on vacation with her boyfriend. Second, she'd take that as the reason as to why we can't date. Third of all, she'd most likely laugh her butt off at us. Once again, WHY is it that our parents won't let us be a couple?!" I angrily sneered. "You might not want to hear this, Julie, but, I think it's because ... uh, to make this conversation a long story somewhat short ... i...

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“True-Love Showers” by Jade Lawson

Submitted to Contest #257

I covered my eyes the moment I stepped beyond the castle doors. Still, fresh tears budded from the sun’s sudden brightness. It was as if Mother Nature was emphasizing the queen’s words. “I’ve found that if you smile, you can convince yourself, if only for a little while, that everything is fine. Eventually it will be.” But it didn’t feel fine. It didn’t feel right to smile. And it didn’t feel right for it to be this lovely out. That’s not how it works in stories. In tales the weather matches the story’s emotions. It is bright and...

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“Ophelia dreaming” by Eddie McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #257

It was the dream again. It was always the same, blurred and gentle under the veil of dreamish memory, just as real as the waking world with none of the harsh realities of wakefulness. Details, as was often the case with dreams, as she had found, seemed just beyond her grasp, out of reach for even her desperate clinging fingers. With a body still heavy with the bindings of lingering slumber she had yet to shed, a pajama-clad Ophelia padded from the sanctuary of her bedroom to the little kitchen, a yawn hidden beyond the sleeve of her dr...

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“Midsummer Night's ... Nightmare” by Malcolm Twigg

Submitted to Contest #257

Contains satirical reference to transexual, lesbian themes, neurological disorder and stereotypical racial profiling.“Are you sure we got the right place, Moragh? The note didnae specify a location.” Moragh peered again at it. “Aye, it did, Eilidh. The most important thing is the weather, and there is nae thunder and lighting, nor rain, so …”“And I should bloody well hope not,” the third member of the group broke in, with some acerbity glancing up at the lowering skies. “Not yet. Does anyone actually know why we’re sat here on this bla...

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“A Midsummer Night's Dream or A Dream of an App. ” by Lesley McDowall

Submitted to Contest #257

A Midsummer Night’s Dream or The Dream of an App. He stalks off, hands in his pockets. “Oren, for God’s sake, come back. Let’s talk about this.” He ignores me, striding towards one of the beer tents. Oh, well, let him. I’ve got enough to do. I check through the list on my phone. “Damn! I haven’t seen all the bands yet” You going mad? Talking to yourself out loud? Shaking my head, I allow myself a small smile as the girls setting up the burger wagon, wave to me. “Save one for me won’t...

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“Much Ado About Nothing” by Esme Bonner

Submitted to Contest #257

“Please Trix, all the bridesmaids are going with the groomsmen, you’re Maid of Honour and Best Man, you have to ride together.” Hero begged over the phone. Trixie pinned it between her shoulder and cheek, reaching across her desk to pull over the script she was working on. “Hero, he hates me. I hate him. We hate each other. You do not want us riding together, we’ll turn up at the venue covered in each other’s blood.” Trixie could picture it now, Ben Moun...

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“Moth Ado About Nothing” by Marien Oommen

Submitted to Contest #257

Moth came a-flying into the living room as the family lounged on the sofa after lunch. He had followed his natural homing instinct, and the garden door, left wide open, beckoned him inside. Mama was eating a generous slice of the sumptuous Christmas cake because it was the twelfth day of Christmas and ‘her true love’ had brought nothing else. The song was an annual recurrent betrayal of her romantic notions.Now there were two pretty women sitting on their high chairs leaning against the kitchen slab. One was Mama, her mouth full, checking ou...

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“Macbeth” by Jill Rattray

Submitted to Contest #257

Nearly a thousand years after her death ‘Lady MacBeth’ reflects on that play, her portrayal and how storytellers have treated women throughout history. I'll be honest with you right from the start I really can't stand that play. The first time I saw it, I was livid. Who does that man think he is? And now, four hundred years later, I'm still livid. He destroyed the truth of my life, of MacBethad’s, for his own selfish gain. MacBethad doesn't care, he thinks it's funny how ridiculous the play is. That if anyone believes it, more fool them. He ...

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“ROMEO AND JULIET: STAR-CROSSED LOVERS” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #257

JULIET: SAPPHIREOur love wasn't supposed to last. Our love was supposed to die. We weren't destined to get married. Our destiny was to break-up. Our love was poison. Our love was toxic, a blight on society. Our families were against us. Our friends were against us. Our town was against. But despite the odds our love was strong. No one saw the beauty in our love. They only saw poor girl taking the rich boy for a ride. A gold digger after his money. That was a lie. The truth was that I loved my Romeo. My Romeo made me happy. He made me smile l...

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Write a story named after, and inspired by, one of Shakespeare's plays. Think modern retellings, metanarratives, subversions, etc.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 72 stories

“The Tempest” by Ethan Kimm

“Much Ado About Nada” by Emily Miles

“The rise and fall of Lear Magazine” by Natalie Haslam-Conroy

“Ghost Writer” by Robin Kaczmarczyk

“Much Ado About Nothing” by Noah Graham

“RNJ” by William Riling

“Romeo and Juliet” by Abby Nanus

“True-Love Showers” by Jade Lawson

“Ophelia dreaming” by Eddie McKenzie

“Midsummer Night's ... Nightmare” by Malcolm Twigg

“A Midsummer Night's Dream or A Dream of an App. ” by Lesley McDowall

“Much Ado About Nothing” by Esme Bonner

“Moth Ado About Nothing” by Marien Oommen

“Macbeth” by Jill Rattray

“ROMEO AND JULIET: STAR-CROSSED LOVERS” by Melinda Madrigal

🌟 Similar prompts

Write your story in the form of a script, complete with stage directions.

Write a story in which a case of mistaken identity plays a pivotal role.

Write a story about a tragic hero.

Set your story during rehearsals for a production of a Shakespeare play.

Contest #257

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

215

Contest entries

79

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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