Write about a character’s secret area of expertise, something most of their acquaintances would be surprised to learn they know tons about.

Posted in Short Story on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 38 stories

“Full Metal Jackets” by Amanda Smith

Submitted to Contest #15

My hands were sweaty, the friction beginning to loosen between my palms and the metal banister that separated me from the tall men perched below. I tried to readjust my body by rotating my legs, but my arm muscles staunchly protested, my hands slipping another inch. I held my breath and tried to concentrate on what they were discussing…perhaps I could hold on a moment longer. “John, when does the shipment arrive?” “Two am on the dot.” John was a large man, looked to be fifty and was donning a hefty Colombia jacket that he had draped over his...

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“A Bump In The Road” by Hamish Braithwaite

Submitted to Contest #15

Well, that day absolutely sucked. My boss made me stay back till 10pm to finish some project. I’m that tired that I can’t even be bothered to remember what I’ve been doing all day. Now I just need to drive my normal route home. So far, so monotonous. It’s around 10:30pm and pitch dark all around, but I can see enough to know that I’m passing that small stretch of forest that marks the halfway point of the trip. I’m trying not falling asleep at the wheel but I’ve done this drive enough times that it’s practically muscle memory at this point. ...

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“Mirra's Talent” by Marissa Nava

Submitted to Contest #15

Mirra is her name. At first glance, she's a cold, introverted, stuck up person. She carries herself with so much confidence, so much that it seems ignorant. She never talks to anyone, never approaches them. But she's not exactly mean. She's polite and tries not to hurt people's feelings, just shuts them down. She had a rough start to life, losing both of her parents and living with an emotionally unavailable uncle. Mirra mostly focuses on school, as she has all her life. Despite being so reserved, Mirra does have friends, though few. C...

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“A Mother's History” by Terry Brewer

Submitted to Contest #15

They say a mother knows. I didn’t.Who we were. My husband and I lived in a mid-level suburb of New York City. He’s a lawyer in the City, and I’m a math teacher at a high school a few towns over. We have one daughter. Mattie. My husband, Tim, and I met in college and married after his second year of law school. As to what I didn’t know. It was mid-August so I was home while Tim was in his office in the City. I’d just come back from my regular yoga class and was toweling off after my shower. Mattie rapped on my door. She was still wearing her ...

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“The Housewife” by Kimberly Brodsky

Submitted to Contest #15

Sharon was the best homemaker. During Georgia's long, hot Summer months, she went to the local Piggly Wiggly to get the right cream and cheese cloth and hand-pulled her own Mozzarella balls for Insalata Caprese. While the cream scalded over the flame, she boiled the organic tricolor pasta with a special secret blend of Himalayan pink salt and dead sea salt for that special flavor that none of her garden party friends could ever place. Little Sara and Timmy helped too. They gathered ingredients and made finger sandwiches for mother to cut...

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“Thompson” by Helen Kreeger

Submitted to Contest #15

ThompsonAnyone passing the open French windows that led from the library at nine o’clock last Friday morning might have noticed Thompson staring at the telephone. If they’d been inclined to look closely, they might have reported that he was actually sneering at the instrument. This discovery would probably not have caused consternation as Thompson tended to sneer at most things – an admirable trait in a butler.At one minute to nine Thompson had been preparing to wind the mahogany, longcase clock that had been in the Earl’s family for over ...

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“The Final Day Called Exitus Umbra” by Emma Goertz

Submitted to Contest #15

On the final day, there will be no massive storms or fire, nor brimstone and chunks of meteor streaking down from the heavens to bombard the earth. It will be abrupt and ultimately, painless. Joe Smith, quite literally an “average Joe”, looked down at the chicken scratch writing that had covered the entirety of the once white piece of computer paper.It was the only place left where his calculations could be solved. The ceiling, floor, walls and numerous whiteboards were covered in an intangible conglomeration of numbers and letters, forming ...

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“The Unlikely Baker” by Kyle Pare

Submitted to Contest #15

The last thug’s head hit the pavement with a rather sickening thud, and Lute took a final look around before nursing his sore left hand. That big bruiser had put up a pretty good fight, and he would definitely feel the cracked ribs in the morning. Marvin had already begun busily moving the miscreants towards the nearest light pole or mailbox, zip-tying their hands around any object he could find that was anchored to the ground. It wouldn’t hold them forever, but it would at least keep them busy until some cops could show up. If...

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Write about a character’s secret area of expertise, something most of their acquaintances would be surprised to learn they know tons about.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 38 stories

“Full Metal Jackets” by Amanda Smith

“A Bump In The Road” by Hamish Braithwaite

“Mirra's Talent” by Marissa Nava

“A Mother's History” by Terry Brewer

“The Housewife” by Kimberly Brodsky

“Thompson” by Helen Kreeger

“The Final Day Called Exitus Umbra” by Emma Goertz

“The Unlikely Baker” by Kyle Pare

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a person trying to learn a new skill or hobby they find intimidating but want (or need) to learn anyway.

Write about one character’s fundamental misunderstanding of another character’s job.

Write about a character who is a reluctant expert on a topic they wish they didn’t know so much about.

Write about something you consider yourself an expert in, but do it from the perspective of a total novice.

Contest #15

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

160

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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