Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Posted in Novel on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 120 stories

“City Dreams” by Kavita Rawat

Submitted to Contest #66

The bus was fully packed with people. Bodhi can smell the sweat lingers on their clothes. The smell of cow dung on their fingernails. There were mostly male inside the bus. She can feel the eyes of the men looking at her. Scanning her, trying to pinpoint from which village she is from. Where must be her husband? Where she is going alone? Bodhi can feel the bile rise at the back of her throat. It is the cheap petrol. It was three years back since she traveled last time. The day she came to ...

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“Make My Day” by Martin Buckell

Submitted to Contest #66

On a crowded platform, Lester Philips stuffed the last bites of breakfast into his mouth and watched the late running train pull in.He squeezed into a tightly packed carriage and held onto a hanging strap. Most of the passengers were looking down at their hand held screens and wouldn’t notice the crumbs of toast stuck to the corners of his mouth.The train lurched forward causing his face to disappear into the armpit of a large passenger. He recoiled and winced as his nostrils filled with the odour of someone in desperate need of a shower.&nb...

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“I've been Thinking” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #66

Sometimes an idea spreads like a fire in the mind. We even hear it called, literally, ‘The Spark of Inspiration’. But some ideas don’t start as sparks, or twinkles in the eye. They begin as a shadow in a corner of your mind that you try to leave unattended. But as the sun goes down they get longer, bigger, scarier. Sometimes. And when the light’s all gone, they’re everything. “Jemma,” Lifting my head I pulled one of my earphones out of my ears, “Just one second Larry,” I said to the face in my screen and I turned to face the man who was ad...

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“A Self Made Man” by Jon Burge

Submitted to Contest #66

“I’m sorry? You want to do what?” That’s how she reacted when I told her. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I didn’t expect her to jump on board right away. But she just stood there, one hand on a cocked hip and a dippy look accompanying her dropped jaw, like she wasn’t even sure I had spoken English. To be fair, she did have a long day doing nothing and had barely sipped her vodka tonic before I approached her. I reclined into t...

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“Michael’s Odyssey ” by Ryan Norwood

Submitted to Contest #66

Michael and his father slowly and quietly moved through the woods that surrounded their Montana homestead. They were both careful not to alarm any wildlife of their presence which was particularly difficult thanks to the freshly fallen leaf litter that blanketed the forest floor. Michael, who was normally very uneasy and timid felt safe next to his father. Michael's dad, William, was a rudy, dark featured, mountain of a man. He was hairy. William's dark beard hid his square jaw from the cold wind, and his long, dark ...

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“MAN UP” by Grace Estano

Submitted to Contest #66

It is early morning here in the coastal town where I live. I savor the warm morning breeze that caress my bare arms as I jog to the little chapel on the hill. I know Father Al would be waiting for me at the doorstep to show me the trees that I would prune in exchange for a good breakfast. When you ate nothing but sweet potatoes and corn meal with soysauce or boiled vegetables with fish sauce all your life because there was nothing else, the breakfast at Father Al's church is a king's feast.Mama tells me and my bed-ridden sister that life had...

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“Life in the Theater” by Amy Wright

Submitted to Contest #66

Jenna looked up at the bored waitress, obviously pleased with herself. The waitress didn’t bat an eye when she repeated Jenna’s order. “One peach pie and a pot of coffee. Coming right up.” She shuffled away and Jenna smiled broadly at Carl, her wrinkled face falling into familiar lines. The edges of five brightly colored cardigans lined up in upside down triangles down her large, bare chest. Carl sighed. Jenna had been over-the-top so long that it had gotten boring. He knew she would eat a small amount of the food, then take it home for la...

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“"The Dainties that are bred in a Book"” by Josephine Andersen

Submitted to Contest #66

“The Dainties that are bred in a Book” Caro looked at her watch, she had twenty minutes to get to her meeting in town and would have to hurry. She had a reputation for being on time. Her crisp white blouse and figure hugging trousers added to her air of efficiency. She was proud of the way she had climbed to the top in the engineering firm where she had worked since graduating. Her shoulder length hair and fine features, added to her image that she strived for, one of achievement and beauty. Caro expected the same kind of dedication...

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“BATTLES WITHIN” by MAIDA KHURRAM

Submitted to Contest #66

Battles within! It was the moment of truth; truth about her life-long inability to take decisions when required, truth about her failings. She had a terrific history in hiding, avoiding and evading moments like this. But, that had to change today! The small voice at the back of head, that had been conveniently and persistently warning her against getting out of her consolation, was now eerily silent. Perhaps, the voice had decided to intimidate her through ‘silent treatment’. She vowed to herself not to think about “Her’; for the umpteenth...

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“The Pursuit Of Happiness ” by Melissa Robinson

Submitted to Contest #66

Leo took one glance at the envelope and tossed it to the pile by the side of his desk. Each pocket contained a check, money from the work he had done. There were months’ worth of paychecks lying there, untouched. His job payed well. He was lucky. He didn’t have to worry about anything, his life was set. But money isn’t everything. Each day, he wakes up. He gets dressed, drinks his morning coffee, reads some news articles. He brushes his teeth, puts on a tie, smooths his hair. He starts up his car and drives twenty minutes to the ...

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“FULFILMENT OF A DREAM” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #66

Isaac was over 6 feet in height. At 40 he was ruggedly handsome though his hairline was receding. He had been a sportsman while studying law and had even won a marathon. He had also won oratorical contests while he was a student. After a spell of apprenticeship with a well-known legal firm, he had set up private legal practice in a downtown area. He would commute for work by car from his home not far away in an apartment. Isaac had good legal knowledge and clients would come to him based on his reputation. Besides legal apprentices he had a ...

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“ Our Segregated Table” by Zoey F

Submitted to Contest #66

Trigger warnings: fat phobia, bullying Our Segregated Table By Zoey F. We had been best friends for five years. We were so close that even our parents were good friends, and because of that our sleepovers seemed to be endless. We always hung out during and after school- never void of each other’s company. We were both loners; both social outcasts as we shared the burden of being labeled “ the ugly chubby girls” within our school. Perhaps if we were funnier, perhaps if we were more outgoing and cool, we could...

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“A Writing Life” by Vincent Cruz

Submitted to Contest #66

I’ve been at the same job for nineteen years and eight months. It will be twenty years driving trucks at my next anniversary. I’ve driven all across this country. I've seen polarizing politics, unique fried food, the same damn chain stores all across America. I’ve navigated some of the best roads crisscrossing the nation. I've seen the variance of life, of culture and the subtleties of being. When I go to sleep--the road lingers in my mind. The endless highways and freeways with their long white lines and dotted yellow ones. Headlights as fa...

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“Amaris just wants love” by Moana Fatongia

Submitted to Contest #66

“Just kill me now. I don’t have the strength to go on...” A young woman in tattered clothing sat on the cold floor of a jail cell as she struggled to keep her eyes open. Her wrists were shackled above her head as blood dripped down from her nailless fingers. The woman, who had just endured days worth of torture, was covered in old and new wounds from head to toe. As the world’s top agent she has never surrendered to anyone, but now she is pathetically asking for death. ‘I’m tired. I’m tired of fighting...I thought that gaining strength and...

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“Wish” by Anupama K Thomas

Submitted to Contest #66

Life demands a lot, it takes a lot away and gives a little. We let it happen, when we are the ones who can change it and make life ours. Aaron was devastated. His left leg was not moving. He was getting upset while laying on the hospital bed waiting for someone to come inside and tell him why his leg is not responding. He cared less about the rest of him. He wanted to know that his leg is okay. Before he could explode of frustration, the door opened and a nurse came in. He expectantly looked at the lady and followed her movement. She check...

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Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 120 stories

“City Dreams” by Kavita Rawat

“Make My Day” by Martin Buckell

“I've been Thinking” by Conor Thackray

“A Self Made Man” by Jon Burge

“Michael’s Odyssey ” by Ryan Norwood

“MAN UP” by Grace Estano

“Life in the Theater” by Amy Wright

“"The Dainties that are bred in a Book"” by Josephine Andersen

“BATTLES WITHIN” by MAIDA KHURRAM

“The Pursuit Of Happiness ” by Melissa Robinson

“FULFILMENT OF A DREAM” by Sivaram Govindaraj

“ Our Segregated Table” by Zoey F

“A Writing Life” by Vincent Cruz

“Amaris just wants love” by Moana Fatongia

“Wish” by Anupama K Thomas

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Contest #66

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

584

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: