Write a short story about someone in the self-help aisle of a bookstore. What book do they pick up?

Posted in Short Story 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?

✍️ 90 stories

“Self-help” by Miles Gatling

Submitted to Contest #25

What's this now? "The monkey in you. Discover your origin." Hm… He placed the book back. "Life secrets. Untold, never before heard of secrets." Pass. His eyes shifted towards a yellow cover with black writing. It looks like a labor safety manual. "Top ten lists of top ten things to improve about yourself. A guide to life, 100% results guaranteed." Do people actually buy this? He flipped the book over. Best selling author, over 1 billion sold. He glanced around and saw a whole section dedicated to yoga. Hm, that could be interesting. It's sup...

6 comments 6

Read story

“An Outspoken Angel” by Anastasia Foxx

Submitted to Contest #25

As Aella Boylen walked down the main street of Shiloh, she was a funny sight, her ears and face flushed strawberry bright from the cold. Her dwarvish body tramped through the snow loudly, her petite figure rounder by the many layers she had on. She walked past chocolate shops and Christmas stores that were desperately trying to get rid of their holiday merchandise before February. She walked past rows of boutiques and pubs before stopping at an odd, large bookstore labeled Boylen’s Books.Removing a small key from her pocket, she stomped the ...

13 comments 13

Read story

“Black Frame” by Yoomi Ari

Submitted to Contest #25

There is roughly 8 billion people in the world. About 70% have brown eyes, blue is 8%-10%, 5% have amber or hazel eyes and 2% have green eyes. My point... nothing really, just thought I’d impress you with my knowledge... that I googled.Flicking off the switch, I heaved the creaky door towards me, the flowery wallpaper containing near sheer happiness clipping away from the wall. The decorative furniture held a cozy glaze under the set of caked stars, perfectly aligned to make everything perfect. Dark though it was, the library was open, like ...

4 comments 4

Read story

“A Long, Narrow Box” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #25

Marvin needed help, and this seemed to be the place to get it. He looked at the laminated label on the bookshelf. SELF-HELP SECTION. He nodded to himself. Yup, this was the right place all right. He held his hands behind his back – neatly, as Mother had taught him – and surveyed the books on offer.Deidre had been making a stink all week, and Marvin had finally caved and gone in search of a remedy to their problems. It was a very specific issue. Marvin was doubtful that he’d even find a single book dedicated to alleviating the matter, let alo...

6 comments 6

Read story

“An Uncertain Future” by Tori Routsong

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #25

The ground isn’t burned beneath your feet. It makes sense that it wouldn’t be—the bombs never came here—but the grass under your toes is deceptive. You sigh, and put your shoes back on. You’ll never admit it, but your mom is right. There’s too much broken glass left over from the riots.Nobody thought it would come here—there hadn’t been a war on American soil since… well, the Civil War, you suppose. Nobody was expecting it, at least. And in true American fashion, the backlash caused uproar throughout the city. More people had been killed by ...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Vanessa, You're Glowing! ” by Christian Monee

Submitted to Contest #25

Vanessa walked out of work and wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around her body. The wind stung her face and even with her heavy bubble coat and thick scarf, she shivered walking through the parking lot of the Spruce Shopping Center. She eyed the Joe-Betty bookstore. In there, she’d be able to warm up and there would be places to sit and relax; that would be her place of refuge. As she walked through the doors the warm air caused her glasses to fog up and the smell of coffee whirled around her head. She felt like she might be sick fr...

11 comments 11

Read story

“Shipwrecked in the Self-Help Aisle” by Najwa Zandlo

Submitted to Contest #25

Dear Sandy, WOW! Can I just start by saying I may be your biggest fan? I’ve followed your column in the newspaper for years. The piece you wrote last week, about therapeutic gardening – that was genius. I bought a small bonsai tree for my office at work, so fingers crossed. I’ve read everything you’ve written. I’ve listened to you tell wives to leave their husbands, give new mothers breastfeeding advice, and help siblings reconcile their differences. I’ve read every...

1 comment 1

Read story

“As Below, So Within” by Bree Kokiri

Submitted to Contest #25

I don’t know what would possess you to cut off all that gorgeous strawberry hair I gave you and dye it black. You look so washed out now. And another thing, your nails…have you been biting them again? That’s a disgusting habit! Ariana are you even listening to me? ARIANA!”“Ari.” I mumble, subconsciously correcting my mother from my dazed state. “I am NOT calling you that. I gave you a beautiful name, your grandmother’s name, and I won’t soil it by calling you…ugh…Ari.” She makes a soured scowl that brought me out of my protective daydream bu...

7 comments 7

Read story

“Woah! Tell Me How to Say No to This (not a Hamilton fanfic)” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #25

“Ahhhhhhhhh…” A girl around age eighteen sang to herself. “Ahhh…hmmmmm… oh yeah, those are words all right.” She pinched the spine of a book and dangled it in the air. “Not thought I know what any of them mean…” “Do you need any help, ma’am?” I asked while leaning against a crooked bookshelf. “No, I’m quite fine. You don’t need to worry about me.” She accidentally dropped the book. “Oh, nuts!” She cried as she fell to the floor it get it. Her body banged against the bookshelf, knocking the column off-balance. “Hey!” I exclaimed as the book s...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Can you help me?” by Mia Hunter

Submitted to Contest #25

“Martin, can you clean table 4?” Ms. Lucious, the librarian of St. Joseph, ordered in a stern voice.“Yes ma’am” Martin replied and started piling the books on top of each other. Science encyclopedias, nat geo magazines, reader’s digest; all brainy books at one spot!Martin picked up the lot, his back straining a bit. He was born under a weak star and was a far cry in comparison to the athletic, energetic boys of his class. Walking slowly to the ‘Education’ section of the library, Martin tried his best to look at his feet from below the pile o...

4 comments 4

Read story

“The helped, the helper, and the help” by Kari Hyp

Submitted to Contest #25

Of course, those you help others have either been: a) those who are just plain NICE; always having that copy-and-paste smile slapped across their faces, b) those whom hate the idea of “not being polite” so they can get their special brownie “points” also known as their parents, spouses, friends, teachers YOU name it! And of course, category c) those who have been helped and don’t necessarily want to help, but they just DO it. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression about ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Created To Be” by Keri Dyck

Submitted to Contest #25

Who am I? Who am I when no one is watching? Who am I, really? The question was always there, but this was the only place she would let herself think it. She was deep between a set of bookshelves filled with unread knowledge, under a high ceiling that allowed the imagination to soar, lit by impossibly tall windows and huge chandeliers. She loved it here. Books could make it feel like someone understood. She picked out an unabridged version of the classic Little Women and settled down i...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Be You, Be New” by Whitney Trang

Submitted to Contest #25

Kirsty couldn’t believe it. She had found the book that would change her life: Be You, Be New. The front cover had a large ornate mirror with a golden background. The book’s title was written in the center of the mirror in a large, solid white font. Kirsty picked it up and turned it around to read the synopsis on the back cover. Ready to turn your life around? This book will teach you all the tools you need to live the life you’ve always wanted. The best part? You don’t have to be anything but y...

3 comments 3

Read story

“How To Tell Her "I Love You"” by Lee Kull

Submitted to Contest #25

"Well hello, Oscar, it’s nice to see you again," the young lady behind the bookstore counter blushed. "How have you been?" "I’ve been okay. I missed you, Sue… I mean, you know, seeing you here." He paused awkwardly and adjusted his glasses, a nervous habit of his. "I guess you didn’t know that I wrote a book." Her face lit up. "Oh, so that’s what you’ve been doing lately! That’s amazing, Oscar. You never mentioned you were writing one. What is it, a novel?" His awkwardness slowly melting, he quickly replied, "It’s a self-help book, actually....

0 comments 0

Read story

“A Pink Jacket and A Small Hat” by Natalie Frank

Submitted to Contest #25

The bookstore was dark, covered in a thin veil of dust. She coughed as quiet as she could, allowing her thin jacket to shroud her face as she coughed again. A clerk looked up, disinterested, and continued to read her book. CLEOPATRA (and other Egyption romance stories), the title read. Coco coughed again, louder this time. “May I help you?” The clerk tried, plastering a fake smile on her face. “Yes, actually, you can. I was wondering if you could point me in the romance section,” Coco asked with a British voice that echoed around the empty b...

4 comments 4

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a short story about someone writing Valentine's Day wishes.

Valentine's Day – 49 stories

Write a short story about someone reflecting on their previous year's resolutions.

Holiday – 33 stories

Write a short story about someone who refuses to write New Year's resolutions.

Winter – 37 stories

Write a short story about someone accomplishing one of their resolutions.

Holiday – 54 stories

Contest #25

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Resolutions

$50

Prize money

263

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 24, 2020 EST

Won by Emily Sperber 🏆

Title: 10 Things To Do Instead of Writing New Year's Resolutions

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 short story about someone in the self-help aisle of a bookstore. What book do they pick up?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 90 stories

“Self-help” by Miles Gatling

“An Outspoken Angel” by Anastasia Foxx

“Black Frame” by Yoomi Ari

“A Long, Narrow Box” by Joshua G. J. Insole

“An Uncertain Future” by Tori Routsong

“Vanessa, You're Glowing! ” by Christian Monee

“Shipwrecked in the Self-Help Aisle” by Najwa Zandlo

“As Below, So Within” by Bree Kokiri

“Woah! Tell Me How to Say No to This (not a Hamilton fanfic)” by Lily Kingston

“Can you help me?” by Mia Hunter

“The helped, the helper, and the help” by Kari Hyp

“Created To Be” by Keri Dyck

“Be You, Be New” by Whitney Trang

“How To Tell Her "I Love You"” by Lee Kull

“A Pink Jacket and A Small Hat” by Natalie Frank

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a short story about someone writing Valentine's Day wishes.

Write a short story about someone reflecting on their previous year's resolutions.

Write a short story about someone who refuses to write New Year's resolutions.

Write a short story about someone accomplishing one of their resolutions.

Contest #25

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

263

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: