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

“The women in the shadows” by Tara Trainor

Submitted to Contest #95

  The women in the shadows The last few moments before death are the most significant, those are the ones I choose to steal. Every morning I wake up, go to work and type and type and type, the pitter-pattering of keys and the desperate pleas of criminals are constant of my daily life. After work I walk home surrounded by the honking of horns and the collective understanding of the need to get home. I eat my dinner and then I write about anything really, my hopes, my dreams or quite often the daily activities of my cat, Velma. When,...

0 comments 0
Read story

“It's The Little Things That Matter” by Gerard Watson

Submitted to Contest #95

This may sound crazy, but Attorney Darryl Jones looks forward to his flight from New York to Los Angeles. Darryl hopes to review the legal brief for three hours during the six-hour flight and then sleep for three hours. A skillful Constitutional Law Attorney acknowledged as a constitutional law expert, he’s often hired to help resolve legal disputes. This past week, he flew to Washington one day, Nevada two days later, and Florida yesterday. The airline personnel herds California-bound passengers down the corridor towards the plane. D...

0 comments 0
Read story

“THE CHANGE” by Christian Monte

Submitted to Contest #95

    When Frank opened his eyes, he could feel the gurney rumble beneath him. The fluorescent rectangles whizzing past his field of vision told him he was being wheeled down a hospital corridor. Frank tried to survey his immediate surroundings, to find a familiar face. He could see only strangers enveloped in a din of medical terms and stern commands. The adrenaline swirling about him was palpable. It seemed to accumulate until it overwhelmed him, and he slipped back into unconsciousness.      ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Hard Strings” by Patrick McManus

Submitted to Contest #95

    Hard Strings TW: sexual violence, attempted rape   Kathy was a busker at Charing Cross station, she sang and played guitar at the bottom of the escalator. Under the old clock she played a heart song. She wore a faded sweater, patched up denims worn trainers. She played a £2000 Taylor acoustic. Her fingers ran up and down the frets searching out notes of exquisite tenderness. She sent them spinning over the heads of hurrying commuters until they settled on them burrowed into their souls and compelled them to listen. She sho...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Banana-Fana-Fo” by David Zasloff

Submitted to Contest #95

Ernest stood before the supermarket freezer section, contemplating the flavors. Vanilla...strawberry... chocolate...coffee...all the usual stuff. Nothing really appealed to him. He opened the door and pulled out the closest pint, paying no attention to the flavor (ice cream is ice cream, isn't it?). Then he headed to the checkout counter. On his way home, he wondered what flavor he had picked up. Hopefully, Wendy would enjoy it. If not, they'd just have to call the donut shop. No big deal. They'd done that before. He brought the bags int...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Decision” by Sandra Claros

Submitted to Contest #95

I was at   the newspaper building, where I used to work as a journalist. That specific day, I was working on a village slaughtering caused by  ruthless narcos : they have burnt the bodies alive, women and children included. But they did not like it, as I  divulged  the  names of some narco  leaders in the last issue of the newspaper, something not new at all,  as the majority of the inhabitants of that little town depended direct or indirectly on them, the narcos. -    &n...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The right choice” by James Mckinley

Submitted to Contest #95

It had been a long day. I was worn down to the frazzle. All I wanted was to catch my bus and head home. The Metro street bus came pulling up. Just as it came to a stop, several people got off. I looked through the window as they disembarked and saw that it had been standing room only. I stepped up as the last person got off of the front of the bus. I looked around and it didn’t seem that there was anywhere to sit. I thought to myself, great now I have to stand up, my feet ache and I am weary. Just as I was about to give up hope, a person nea...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Sister/Friends” by Molly McGuigan

Submitted to Contest #95

TW: murder, mass shooting Why did we have to go to the mall that day? Everyday I think, what if we went to the Southside mall instead? What if we just stayed home and watched a movie? What is Stephanie just took the bus instead of me driving? What if we got a flat on the highway on the way to the mall and never made it there? It was something so innocent. So inconsequential. Something we did practically every weekend ended in the murder of my sister.    It was a Saturday during the summer and just like every other weekend...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Lavenders and Tea” by Varnika Thukral

Submitted to Contest #95

The restaurant was empty like it used to be back in days when it started. It was really a surprise to how they paid their employees in full. Though it hardly mattered to Adreesa Vollen, she was busy smelling the scent of cinnamon and the water it boiled in. The restaurant was like those you once wished to have an elite cup of tea and breakfast in. Beautiful and light structure covered in shades of white, light pink on the ceilings with a chandelier that might have cost fortunes to our beloved owner of the restaurant. It was really a matter o...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Complimentary Toothpick ” by Loxie Oaks

Submitted to Contest #95

The restaurant was dimly lit, with a thick, dusky atmosphere that made it almost eerie. The round tables were spread neatly throughout the restaurant, their dark wood blending with the deep red tablecloths. The only bright thing in the room was a small vase at the center of each table, containing a single white daisy. The room was almost empty, a few couples and small families sitting at the tables in the middle of the room, where the light was brightest.  Edika, Miles, and Jen walked into the restaurant, eyes slowly adjusting to the d...

0 comments 0
Read story

“I NEVER SAID SHE STOLE IT” by Mahek Kim

Submitted to Contest #95

Nikhil entered the classroom trying hard to conceal a huge grin. His face was lit like a bulb and his vibes were filled with contagious happiness. “ Nikhil , you look way too happy today. Did something happen ?” asked his benchmate. “No nothing” he replied while being lost in his own world. “ Nikhil you are trying way too hard to not smile.” Exclaimed another friend. “Ofcourse , he came to school today with his crush Reeya” pointing at Reeya who was sitting on the first bench and laughing and giggling with her friend. Nikhil immediately shus...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Sins of the father” by Yvone Mthembu

Submitted to Contest #95

She tried to open her mouth and call Caitlyn her friend but she couldn’t, she slowly opened her eyes to darkness, she trained her ears for any sign of anything rather than dread that crept up her spine only to pick up a faint muffling sound followed by shuffling all around her, she thought of patting herself and check for injuries but her hands are bound and by the feel of the knot whoever tied her up is no amateur because that is a constrictor knot, she opted using her legs only to feel they are tucked in a hay sack and tapped together. S...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Best Decision” by Aisha Oloriegbe

Submitted to Contest #95

Today was an awesome day. My name is Zen. I am currently 15 years old. I live in Ontario, Canada. I plan to visit my friends, Matthew and Michael. But before that, I needed to go to my Grandma’s house first to give her muffins, cupcakes, and some other delicious foods.  “Hello, Grandma,” I said. “Hello Grandson,” she said.  “I brought your food.” “Thanks,” she said. She opened the basket and brought out all the food that I had for her. “Thank you, dear,” she said, smiling at me. “You’re Welcome,”  I said. She opened th...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Red Dead Redemption” by Eagle Vision

Submitted to Contest #95

In the shady forest of savanna the sun was shining which seemed very hot but beautiful at the same time. Filled with brownish green grass with very few trees. Under the Fillicium tree, there is a 19 year old young man, with his left leg tucked into his right leg who sits casually, slings a banjo on top of his leg and sings while playing the banjo and the harmonica into his mouth which he sounds as accompaniment to the banjo. "Oh Sussana, don't you cry for me. I come from Blackwater with a banjo on my knee." His voice was very melodious, real...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Hidden Squirrel” by Laura Les

Submitted to Contest #95

The day when the story takes place is a day in the middle of a week, a Wednesday or a Thursday. Avril was walking in the streets of her childhood town when she suddenly felt the urge to take pictures of the autumnal scenery around her. She took out her beloved smartphone of her jeans pocket and started shooting squirrel photos. She liked to publish neat pictures on her Instagram account so she took care of choosing the best angles, not fearing to get her knees dirty. One of the squirrels she chose as her model was challenging, he was quite q...

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 ⭢