Write a story where a rumor starts to spread. Your protagonist is either the topic or the source.

Posted in Short Story on Jun 7, 2024

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✍️ 54 stories

“Whispers” by Trudy Jas

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #254

Whispers.Did you hear the latest? Oh, my! Do sit down, have a cup of tea. You have met Lady Farnsworth, have you not? Exactly! At the Wendtworth ball. Yes. Her garden is legendary. Or so I’ve heard. I don’t really know anyone who has seen it firsthand. With the exception of Lady Creason, but all she will say about it is that the garden is simply magnificent, divine.No, really, it’s almost too much. She does it herself! Can you imagine? I shudder to think … Oh, the horror! Dirtying her gloves as she digs in the soil, as if she’s a common maid...

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“Rumours” by Helen A Smith

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #254

OAKWOOD FOREST, 1350.Like any right-minded boy of nine and a half, hadn’t Tom always dismissed the rumours as unbelievable? Too good to be true.“Stuff and nonsense,” his mother said firmly. “You are to ignore them.”“But what if they are true?” He’d asked her this more than once.“They are not true.” She shook her fist to emphasise the point. “You must stop your foolish chatter, Tom. There have been no sightings and even if there were, the king has forbidden such talk. Haven’t we enough troubles, without adding to them?”“But…”“No ifs and no bu...

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“The Aroma of Really Good Cooking” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #254

“So, have you heard?” Splinter asked in hushed tones. The magical stump with a stylish carved beard and a small crack in the middle of his forehead was too gleeful. The kind of glee that only comes from gossip or a joke involving a pulled finger. “I hear lots of things,” Oakaford answered. The captain of the Stumper Guard thought it was a ridiculously easy question, but he was pleased with himself for knowing the correct answer. He nodded, then turned to leave. “Wait! That’s not all.” Splinter grabbed Oakaford’s shoulder. “I mean, have you h...

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“Tangled Up” by Linda Dennis

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #254

Ava had two favorite pastimes. One of them was her afternoon tea served on pure white China. The other was reading the daily gossip column in the New York Gazette. Even better when she could enjoy those cherished moments alone. “There’s a rumor going around about a girl.” She nodded a thank you to the servant who poured her tea and handed the cup to her. “I can take it from here. Thank you, Stiles.” “Ma’am.” Stiles nodded at Ava’s husband, Clarence, and left the room. The rumble and clip-clop of a horse-drawn carriage could be heard from the...

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“Little Lies and Big Truths” by Ty Warmbrodt

Submitted to Contest #254

It was almost the end of the school year, my senior year in 1990 at St. Andrew’s, when I walked into school and the hallway went silent. I knew it was because of me. You know how noisy high school hallways get. So, when they suddenly go quiet when you walk in, and everyone starts staring and whispering, you know something is up. It’s an eerie feeling not being in on the gossip that has everyone so tightlipped and gawking. I put my head down and made my way to my locker, occasionally stealing glances through the corners of my eyes. I get half...

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“ELIM CIVOLUDAR'S MEMOIRS: BREAKING FREE” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #254

Imagine life as a TV program where, at any moment, you could press a button to change the channel when things were not going your way. No longer would you have to endure discomfort or displeasure. With a remote control, you could effortlessly switch to a different scene, a new plot, or even an entirely different life genre without leaving your seat.Are you facing a difficult day at work? Just flip to a scene where you are on a tropical vacation. Are you encountering a challenging relationship issue? Change to a narrative where harmony and un...

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“The Preacher's Daughter” by Brian Haddad

Submitted to Contest #254

Richard cleared his throat in a futile attempt to restart his shocked heart. An itch nagged at his scalp as fresh sweat began trickling around his hair follicles. The space inside his top hat was quickly becoming a sauna. "Well?" Joanne pressed airily, her smiling eyes flittering with false innocence. "I presume you, a gentleman, can hardly do more than politely deny the accusations, but I'm afraid my husband absolutely insisted that it was true." "Madam," Richard began warmly, shifting his hat around to allow the steam to exit at the back o...

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“Land, ho!” by Kim Olson

Submitted to Contest #254

George looked out over the ocean. As far as he could see, there was nothing but deep gray sea, teeming and rolling under equally gray, cloud filled skies. He felt his spirits plummet. He had hoped to see faraway, distant shores, some sort of mark on the horizon. The mark of Terra Firma. Mother Earth, land. It wasn’t to be. At least not yet. He didn’t know exactly when that momentous occasion would occur. The moment when one of the sailors on board would yell triumphantly “Land, ho!”George had almost forgotten what day it was and how long he ...

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“Debacle at the Ball - A Regency Romance” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #254

Dear hearts and gentle people, let me tell you the tale of the dreadful scandal at Viscountess Agatha Grenville’s Ball. DEVONSHIRE 1812 CEViscountess Agatha Grenville’s Wentworth ResidenceOut of kindness, Lady Agatha had invited her widowed niece-in-law to stay at magnificent Wentworth Hall. This is the notorious Mrs. Rowena Findlay, formerly married to Robert, the son of Lady Agatha’s brother Stuart. Rowena’s Aunt, by marriage, wanted to provide her with company and pleasant surroundings to lift her spirits after her tragic loss. Rowena had...

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“The Set-Up” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #254

(contains sexual references and mild swearing)I have to word it carefully. Too little detail – no one will take any notice; too much detail, or too extreme – everyone will be incensed, disgusted, turned off.A major consideration will be medium, of course. I could send it out as an anonymous e-mail, but there’d be a chance of tracing it back to me if things got out of hand. Notes under doors? Better – it has the whiff of a mystery hand at work, although people may simply throw it in the rubbish, thinking it’s a publicity flier. Or I might get...

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“The Bacchanalia” by Thomas Wetzel

Submitted to Contest #254

The back of the SUV was loaded with all the necessary supplies; the cooler full of food, several cases of beer, camping gear and, most importantly, all the pagan costumery. The radio was turned up loud and the four 20-somethings traveling north across the Oregon border were all in high spirits.The Bacchanalia was no Coachella or Burning Man. It was not meant for the masses. It was not a commercial venture. The organizer’s didn’t even have a website or any social media accounts. The whole point was for any potential attendees to be clever and...

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“Cold Air on a Crepe Paper Chain” by Carol Stewart

Submitted to Contest #254

The magic of Christmas was this, thought Tim, as he drove into Gillirig and parked in the grounds of the Cottage Hospital; the pressures and anxieties – the evils – of all other seasons boxed up and stacked in ‘Sherlock’s Attic’, replaced for a while by the tinsel and twinkling lights, the choirs and angels, the smiles all merry and bright… Charades. How many people were currently playing that?A moment, he decided. Just one moment, to check himself in the mirror, to smooth back his hair. Suitably Brycreemed, properly shaved. Smile, Tim, smil...

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“Marshall Pat Garrett Comes to Call ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #254

July 1881McSwain Ranch House Marshall Garrett came to Maxwell Ranch on July 10, 1881, to talk to Pete Maxwell. Maxwell was well-known to Marshall Garrett due to his loyalty to the Regulators. While he had reservations about the most famous outlaw in the territory, Billy the Kid, he knew if he could get him to surrender for his most recent murder of Joe Grant. “So, you are gonna bring the Kid to justice, marshall?” Pete stroked the gristle on his chin. “Governor Lew Wallace is putting one of the biggest bounties ever on his...

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“The Interrogation of Margaret Thompson” by Daniel Legare

Submitted to Contest #254

Note: I wanted to write a story about a manipulative narcissist. It ended up only being dialogue, and it was more challenging than I had imagined. This said, I would like strong critiques on how this could be improved. To whoever reads this - feel free to let loose with the critiques. Warning: Mentions of suicide, manipulation Interrogation Transcript : Margaret ThompsonDate: 05/11/1997Location: St. George Police Station, St. George, SCInterrogating Officer(s): Sgt. Patrick GreenTime at start of interrogation: 8:22 am Green: Good morni...

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“The Villainous Micky Elwood Shakes Up the Town” by Suzanne Cushman

Submitted to Contest #254

In small towns everywhere, there’s always one of each. The tiny village of Twisted Creek isn’t any different. We have one person to chair meetings. That’s Dave. One to fix anything that breaks. Always Jim. One person to explain the hard stuff. That’s Arnie. Virginia organizes social events you look forward to, and Sally organizes social events you dread. And, of course, there’s one bad guy. Ours is The Villainous Micky Elwood. Micky has a perfect track record. Without exception, he has managed to wrong, scam or offend every person in this co...

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Write a story where a rumor starts to spread. Your protagonist is either the topic or the source.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 54 stories

“Whispers” by Trudy Jas

“Rumours” by Helen A Smith

“The Aroma of Really Good Cooking” by Daniel Rogers

“Tangled Up” by Linda Dennis

“Little Lies and Big Truths” by Ty Warmbrodt

“ELIM CIVOLUDAR'S MEMOIRS: BREAKING FREE” by Darvico Ulmeli

“The Preacher's Daughter” by Brian Haddad

“Land, ho!” by Kim Olson

“Debacle at the Ball - A Regency Romance” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

“The Set-Up” by PJ Town

“The Bacchanalia” by Thomas Wetzel

“Cold Air on a Crepe Paper Chain” by Carol Stewart

“Marshall Pat Garrett Comes to Call ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“The Interrogation of Margaret Thompson” by Daniel Legare

“The Villainous Micky Elwood Shakes Up the Town” by Suzanne Cushman

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story at a Regency-themed fair.

Write a story about two characters who start as mortal enemies but learn to embrace their differences.

Write a story where an important conversation takes place during a dance.

Write a story in the format of a gossip column.

Contest #254

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

218

Contest entries

88

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: