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

“Mr. Happy” by Pamela Saunders

Submitted to Contest #25

The counter assistant is busy today. The latest book of a popular author is selling well since it came out just last Monday. Today is Saturday. It's 2pm and he must have checked out at least 5 copies since he got back from his lunch break. He greets each customer cheerily and politely and they go away happy with their purchases or Christmas returns. He is aware of people around the aisles and knows that other assistants are ready to help if needed.2. In the children's section, a girl in a pink velour tracksuit sits in an armchair with her le...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Where the Lost Things Go” by Alaina Logan

Submitted to Contest #25

“George, pick your coat up out of the aisle.” “Cecilia, your book is not a stool; please don’t stand on it!” “Can I help you find anything, Mr. Henry?” “Doing well, Cheryl?” It was my job, as a librarian, to make sure the library was in shape. Politeness and respect for others encouraged them to come to the library. Asking the children to fix things that they were doing wrong kept our library clean. While none of these things were my favorite things, however, I still did them well. My most favorite thing was sorting books. Not shelving them,...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Courage to Heal” by Jasmine Shouse

Submitted to Contest #25

No matter how difficult the day, there was always peace to be found among the aromatic stacks of books.Andrea took another steadying breath as she paused by the small table at the front of the store, momentarily distracted by the stack of new releases. Her fingers trailed over the glossy embossed cover of the latest Patterson release but resisted the temptation. She was about to move on when a Tom Clancy novel caught her eye. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she remembered a few of her co-workers raving about the latest gam...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Remembering Down Under” by Kate Strong

Submitted to Contest #25

Sunshine streamed in through the bookstore windows, the late afternoon light falling through the slatted blinds and onto the short gray carpet. Barely a sound could be heard in the small bookstore but the padding of footsteps several aisles towards the back. A tall man with striking gold-blond hair strode back and forth in the row, his gray-green eyes scanning the shelves and roaming across each and every spine of each book. Inhaling a deep breath, Lachlan blinked several times to clear his finally blurring vision and shook his head. &n...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Hopeless” by Mitra S

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #25

It has been two weeks and I still feel completely devastated. I sit motionless for hours. I can’t eat. This wasn’t my intended diet plan, but I have lost ten pounds. And now I look at myself in the mirror and I am shocked that I hate the thinner me. I wish I could cry but I don’t have the energy for it. I haven’t told anyone about this. I go to work as usual. I sit behind my desk and pretend to be busy, but I don’t do much. My parents called and I ignored it. My mother will be so disappointed when she hears about this. She will even cry...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Unexpected Bounty” by Brittany Gillen

Submitted to Contest #25

Pam stood at the end of the aisle and took a deep breath. Only one book, she told herself. Only one book.“Excuse me,” a voice said from behind her.“Oh, sorry,” she apologized, stepping to the side and pushing her hair behind her ear. “I didn’t mean to create a log jam.” Pam laughed nervously.“No worries,” the girl behind her said. She walked into the aisle and stopped about halfway down, slowly scanning the titles with her finger.Pam couldn’t help but stare. The girl was way t...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Thanks George You are my hero” by Shifa Asif

Submitted to Contest #25

My dear Katherine I am sorry for what I have done to you. And I know these will sound like empty and contempt words leaving negativity in your heart more than hope! I wanted to say not in a classic Romeo and Juliet way but there is no other way in Which I could tell I love you. You unlocked the door to my heart and it will never be locked for you again. This speck of life will anon leave me and I shall be a lifeless body who you liked. I have an advice for you leave this town, please there is a long reason for this statement but trust me and...

6 comments 6

Read story

“A Life Well Spent?” by Bruno Lowagie

Submitted to Contest #25

Peter couldn’t believe his eyes. He had finally found the book he was looking for.For twenty-seven years, he had searched for it in every library and every bookstore. He dedicated the first half of his adult life almost entirely to his quest. It didn’t take long before he was considered being the expert on rare books. Kings and beggars, knights and knaves, scientists and wizards, they all turned to him if they needed to find a book of some sort, whether it was a book that could help them make someone fall in love with them, conquer the world...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Really, Really Hopeless” by Grey Oberst

Submitted to Contest #25

You ever notice how terrible self help books are? Like, look, I get it, sometimes they can help if you’re really, really hopeless, but come on. You’re really going to turn to a five hundred page book by some rich author who succeeded thanks to Daddy’s money and dumb luck? You really want to read what someone like that has to say about living life and being happy? They’re all the same book anyway, so why are there so fucking many of them? They’re all “take risks!” and “have a positive outlook!” and “believe in yourself!” etc, etc. You can get...

1 comment 1

Read story

“This Book Will Save Your Life” by Karen McDermott

Submitted to Contest #25

I felt conspicuous about the Tesco carrier bag I was holding. Not so much for the logo or material. Everyone was broke and my eco anxiety had taken a backseat lately. But I was aware of the contents as though I were wearing them. The bookshop’s staff and the customers browsing the January sales…I was sure they all had x-ray vision and were judging me for the chocolate fudge cake (serves: 10), litre bottle of vod...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Confidence Is Key” by Kate Widrow

Submitted to Contest #25

Let's get this straight, I hate this self help crap. Nothing in this God forsaken world can save my cursed soul. This is exactly why I don't understand how I got myself into this situation. I stand face to face with the spines of self-help books. Cutesy self-help section bullshit. But, this is besides the point. This whole situation started about four hours ago. When I wake up, my tired eyes try to focus in my dark apartment. I get up from my daybed. My feet touch the cold wooden floorboards. They creak under my toes. I feel like the w...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Help or Helpless” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #25

Adele Macdonald didn’t “do” self-help. It wasn’t that she had any deep-rooted moral objections to it. Indeed (and sometimes clichés just happen to be true!) one of her best friends was a counsellor. She felt her hackles at least twitch a little, if not rise, when folk started on about stiff upper lips and manning up and snorted when they heard a community, school, or whatever, hit by tragedy, was to be offered counselling. She’d never had cause to consult such persons herself, but that was still aware that there but for t...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Self-Help” by Allie Pittman

Submitted to Contest #25

Mary watched the woman from the moment she walked into the store. She headed straight for the Self-Help section. Mary smiled. “ I knew it!” Having been a bookseller for 20 years and a people watcher all her life she had a knack for knowing what section a potential customer would walk to upon entering her store. This particular lady, had a look of melancholy about her. The way she carried herself, the sad droop at the corners of her mouth. “Now to see which book she picks!” Another game Mary played in her mind. After 20 minutes, and...

7 comments 7

Read story

“The Art of Conversation” by Lynne Fellows

Submitted to Contest #25

Laura left the library, her shoulders drooped, and set off towards the book store. The book she’d wanted had been checked out only the day before. That’s what comes of leaving it to the last minute! Muttering to herself, she dawdled down the High Street, past the animated faces in the coffee shop and the moochers in the clothing store. Much as she loved the bookshop, it would be packed with the lunchtime crowd, and Laura Walker didn’t do crowds. In fact, to Laura three was more than a crowd, it was an ambush. She arrived at the entrance and ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Old Ennui: Or, The Refusal to Enjoy Anything” by Leanne Mara

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #25

Cole is pleased to admit that he’s never before found himself in the self-help section. Never needed it. Would hate to stoop so low, he thinks, dragging a superior eye over those brushing their fingers over all those bright-coloured titles. He’s not here for self-help. He’s here for help. Because just being in a bookstore will help. The culture of it all. The majesty of the written word, finely curated. He’s lucky he reads. Unlike all those sheeple out there who’ve forgotten how. Poetry, Cole thinks. Surely. This is his regula...

0 comments 0

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

“Mr. Happy” by Pamela Saunders

“Where the Lost Things Go” by Alaina Logan

“Courage to Heal” by Jasmine Shouse

“Remembering Down Under” by Kate Strong

“Hopeless” by Mitra S

“The Unexpected Bounty” by Brittany Gillen

“Thanks George You are my hero” by Shifa Asif

“A Life Well Spent?” by Bruno Lowagie

“Really, Really Hopeless” by Grey Oberst

“This Book Will Save Your Life” by Karen McDermott

“Confidence Is Key” by Kate Widrow

“Help or Helpless” by Deborah Mercer

“Self-Help” by Allie Pittman

“The Art of Conversation” by Lynne Fellows

“The Old Ennui: Or, The Refusal to Enjoy Anything” by Leanne Mara

🌟 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: