Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog

Menu

✕
CONNECT
Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships
ABOUT
About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write about someone making a seemingly inconsequential decision, which goes on to have important consequences.

Posted in Narrative 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.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 153 stories

“A Flashlight’s Truth!” by Cathy Bagley

Submitted to Contest #95

A Flashlight’s Truth!    “Chia-Hao Chen, did you do this, that and/or the other thing?” The rambunctious five-year-old boy’s mother, Yi-Chun Chen, asked rhetorically knowing he'd never fess up to the deed in question. Instead, the child stretched his almond-shaped, brown eyes to their absolute limits looking in his young mother’s direction and concocted the most incredibly off-course answer he could possibly fathom! Subterfuge was a word eluding the kindergartener; however, his mother swore Chia-Hao’s picture appeared in ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“I Do” by Aisha Olanrewaju

Submitted to Contest #95

Author’s Note Read at your risk. :) This story has been dedicated to Daniel Hayes because I said he inspired me, and I’d dedicate one to him XD. I think there were so many things wrong with it, though. Also, I wrote this in a single sitting, except for a few breaks in-between. On second thoughts, do give it a read. It’s a unique story that holds so many things in it. By the way, I’m on a streak, lol! 3 in a row, twice. Okay, bye! Copyright © 2021 by Fallow. All rights reserved. *** “I do,” you confirm, smil...

9 comments 9
Read story

“Peanut butter or Chocolate?” by Pahani Wijeratne

Submitted to Contest #95

“Call the ambulance for God sakes, Kelly! Oh my gosh! This is a life or death situation!” These were the words that were shouted out by Miss Fanouchi. I trembled with fear as I agreed to her order, constant pain stabbing my heart of thinking what to do. What will happen to Philip Jr? How about the grudge Miss Fanouchi will hold against me? My career?Little Philip was gasping for air as he held tight to Miss Fanouchi’s poofy, floral skirt. He was mumbling, “I can’t breathe, mama, I can’t breathe.” He was struggling on the floor, spinning, fid...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Unicorn” by Amanda Lieser

Submitted to Contest #95

Alex stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Her blue eyes shot lasers into the small, red dot in the middle of her forehead, willing the pimple to explode and disappear. She reached a long fingernail out and began scratching at the spot. It hurt. She bit her bottom lip and scratched harder, drawing blood to the surface. “What are you doing?” came a small voice. Alex jumped.  “Don’t do that!” she shouted at Annie. Her little sister’s big eyes filled with tears. “No! No! No! Don’t do that!” shushed Alex. She wrapped her arms around Annie’...

0 comments 0
Read story

“"What if he hadn't?"” by Wizard Oblivion

Submitted to Contest #95

Ethan cautioned, 'Watch out-a!' Samuel ducked and slipped into the doorway with Ethan, escaping the night patrol. Ethan unlocked the basement door with his master key. Ethan felt a certain uneasiness, which only calmed after entering the basement and not finding any unexpected surprises.  Samuel and Ethan were students at Sapienza University, Rome. They had traveled to Naples to research the Castle dell' Ovo and its legends. They were working on the myth about Virgil putting the magical egg in the foundation of the castle.  Samuel ...

1 comment 1
Read story

“The Butterfly Effect” by Alayna Snedden

Submitted to Contest #95

My grandmother is a psychic and no one is ever going to convince me otherwise, and here is why.Growing up I came to the realization that I am lucky to be alive on Earth. I discovered that every choice or action had an effect and anything throughout time had a chance to cease my existence. One day, that choice took effect on my mother.When my mother was a teenager, she was invited to a friend’s birthday party. The group of girls planned for a day on the beach to hang out and celebrate. My mother decided to wear her brand-new bathing suit and ...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Quit a Well-paying Senior Electronics Position for a Trainee Job?” by Charles Harmon

Submitted to Contest #95

Charles was a senior electronics technician working for an aviation company in Southern California back in the early 70s. It was an interesting job diagnosing aircraft navigation computer problems, then repairing them or having other technicians repair them. One day he received a mysterious phone call on the job. It was from someone, unbeknownst to him, asking him if he wanted a computer programmer trainee job. The gist of the conversation was for Charles to just go on the interview and he’d get the job. Was this a joke or what?  ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Can I do it?” by Mind's Pen

Submitted to Contest #95

Exams, people say are difficult but for me, exams are simple because to me exams are proves of my abilities and strength, even though I find exams simple am still lacking behind because there is this classmate I always want to win against, he has been thorns in my flesh when it comes to taking the first position, he will always be the one to get the first position and I will always be the one to get the second position with just little mark differences, I always want to win against him by taking the first position from him but no matter how ...

12 comments 12
Read story

“Secrets” by Lavender Marigold

Submitted to Contest #95

Janiss’ phone buzzed and she swatted at it with a growl. “No,” she told it as she stirred in her bed where she’d flopped only moments ago. “Go. Away.” Her phone buzzed again and she slapped her hand onto it, turning it on only to finally silence it. 3 new messages and 1 phone call. All from new numbers. “Hello! It’s nice to meet you!” the first one said. She swiped away the notifications. The others would just be more of the same thing. “Hello! Nice to meet you!” they’d start. She’d reply with “It’s nice to meet you as well.” Mostly be...

1 comment 1
Read story

“THE CHOICES ” by TriLoK Creations

Submitted to Contest #95

Why is it hard? It's been a while. Can't choose anything. It confusing me very much. what should I do? 'Do you need my help?' Someone asked but I couldn't see anyone. " Who are you?? " I asked loudly. There was a fog formed and a lady appeared with a beautiful face and cute smile. She had a crown. And a stick having a golden star on one end. She wore a white simple dress. "What are you starring at? Don't tell me you are already in love with me " She said " Not that. I just wondering " I said " Oh... I thought you are mesmerized by my beauty ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“My Diary: The War Times” by Serena Johnston

Submitted to Contest #95

Warning: Content is completely fictional, and any relation to real things is entirely coincidental.Tuesday, April 24, 1941Dear Diary,It's not safe out here. I have been running from the Nazis for two weeks now.It is still cold at night, but fortunately I brought some warm clothing. I wish I could be somewhere else, preferably somewhere warm, but I don't really have a choice. Unless I want to go to one of the Nazis' AWFUL concentration camps. Mama and Papa were taken to one of those, and they promised they'd come back for me and my sisters. T...

2 comments 2
Read story

“To Argentina. Urgently. On business” by Valery Rubin

Submitted to Contest #95

This is a real story, as far as any story can be real, not made up. But who makes up stories, since it is already History? - Historians, of course. And if History is at odds with reality, who should we turn to? - Right, to historians. The correct and interpret everything in the light of current events and trends. It is not worth getting upset about such insignificant things because our past is still unpredictable, and our future is in a thick, impenetrable swamp. You know as well as I do that we are living in times far worse than ancient His...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Now i lay me down to sleep” by Madhatter Thawne

Submitted to Contest #95

I found Charlie through a friend of an old roommate that I didn’t even care for. Lisa, even her name annoyed me, I remember when she moved out that I was so grateful to never have to smell her perfume again lingering in the hallway of my apartment as she would skip off to one of her five jobs. She used the apartment to keep her stuff, I was Lisa’s unfriendly landlord of her storage facility. Lisa was never home because she was always so busy working day in and day out, some people did that, they worked the entire time. I worked a lot too but...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Bored” by Rachel Hudson

Submitted to Contest #95

This is a sequel to my previous short story Partners Against Crime. Kassian leaned his forehead against the glass wall, watching people pass by on the street below him. He folded his sinewy, tattooed arms and leaned into the window, allowing his nose to smoosh against the glass and his mind to wander. If he hadn’t, he’d have noticed much sooner that Chandra had approached him and was now watching him with an amused expression on her face. “Bored?” she joked. Kassian didn’t move. “How long is Atlas going to be gone?” Chandra leaned against th...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Man Who Walks” by Mac Leys

Submitted to Contest #95

Every evening, at precisely 6:30, the man opens his front door and walks out. He stands at the top of the steps, and looks around. He then walks down the steps and on to the sidewalk. He walks with his head down, rarely noticing anything in his surroundings. He walks past the Robinson’s red mailbox, past the Johnson’s white fence, and past the Jenkins’ blue Honda. When he gets to the end of Turner Street he pauses for about 30 seconds, and takes a right on to Carrol Ave. At least, that’s what he usually does.      &n...

0 comments 0
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone being presented with a dilemma.

Character – 216 stories

Write a story about someone who’s extremely impulsive — or extremely indecisive.

Character – 105 stories

A character stands in front of two doors. Write a story about what happens after they choose one to enter.

High School – 237 stories

Write about someone finally making their own choices.

Middle School – 203 stories

Contest #95

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Decision Time

$50

Prize money

920

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 28, 2021 EST

Won by A.Dot Ram 🏆

Title: Moira's Day Off

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!

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢