Write a story about a monster trying to become more human. Or about a human trying to become more monstrous.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Sep 8, 2023

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✍️ 60 stories

“It Became My Brother” by Lorrel Cooper

Submitted to Contest #215

The house was old. It made all kinds of sounds at night, in the dark. At first, Emily hated the place and pleaded with her parents to move back to the city. It was an adjustment, something she would get used to, which her parents kept telling her. They assumed it was trepidation that played into their young daughter’s anxiety. They had left behind most of what she knew, like her school and friends. They understood it was scary, but they promised she would come to love their new home and the school she’d be attending in the fall. “It’s so b...

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“Monster Boss” by Christopher B.

Submitted to Contest #215

“Did you find anything yet? I want something weird, something no one’s watching, you know?” “Yeah, I get it. I’m trying. Look, I’m on page thirty-two of the search, ok? First ten pages were all the same shit.” “Oooh, what about that one.” “Uhh, let’s see. Monster Boss. Some kind of show. What do the comments say? ‘Its like if The Office happened in hell.’ ‘Omg wtf is this?’ ‘Low budget arthouse crap.’ ‘I don’t get it. Is it supposed to be a joke?’ ‘How are there three seasons of this?’ ‘The monster is kinda hot, ngl.’ ‘Something about ...

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“The World is Not a Safe Place ” by YEMISI B

Submitted to Contest #215

I watched as the throng of students made their way into the classroom and into their seats and reminisced on what it felt like to be a student many years ago. Boisterous, curious, and passionate. Age had since tempered those qualities in myself. I removed my glasses from my face and proceeded to wipe them with the napkin that I kept in the front pocket of my suit jacket. Naturally, I wanted to believe that my transition back into a monster would have prevented the deterioration of my eyesight, but it remained one of the lasting implications ...

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“Live Like A Human” by Jeydie Woloszczuk

Submitted to Contest #215

Threatening to escape her gnarled grasp, the receipt fluttered in the summer breeze; Lena stared at it as if she'd forgotten what it was for. At least not yet; her zombified brain still functioned. What she couldn't grasp were the figures that were printed on the slip. Lena thought she had calculated the numbers correctly; it should have been about $1,200, not seven hundred. Then it hit her; she had loaned money to her friend, whose birthday was coming up. He had asked to have his organ wishlist funded. Lena sighed and shoved the rece...

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“The Machines Fear Death” by Tyler Duggan

Submitted to Contest #215

The Droid knew there was a list of names that came before Death’s blow and it was the first thing the Droid recalled when Death suddenly appeared in the canyon. Being an 80-year-old robot meant that its gears and screws were either rusted, bent, or just missing, and it likely wouldn’t get far. But running was the only option. It ran as fast as it could, its metal foot-like structures ping-ing and pang-ing against the rocky base of the canyon, echoing off the canyon walls. The sound of metal banging against ore and graphite repeatedly woul...

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“Goolop Gets a Job” by David Willett

Submitted to Contest #215

Does anyone shortlist a fuzzy-faced terror beast when sifting through applicants? Goolop certainly had respectable underworld experience to be considered for any jobs in his search. However, something on his CV would likely hold him back. So he briskly hammered the backspace key and typed out his new alias, Steve. ‘Ready to submit,’ said Goolop to no one in particular. His gruff voice ricocheted off the softly lit studio apartment walls. Most dwellings ...

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“Before The Sunrise ” by S Cahill

Submitted to Contest #215

The great Alexei collapsed in a chair staring out at the black sea through the massive half-moon window of his manor. His face was gaunt, vacuum sealed, and his taloned hand supported his tragic head like the skeletal mount of a crystal ball. Far and low on the black horizon, a flicker of sun grayed parts of the eastern sky. He could feel his skin beginning to burn. His phone, that rested on the arm of his big chair, began to ring. He picked it up. “Yes?” He answered. “I have just spoken with Kartlov. He’s told me everything. Draw...

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“The Shadow of the Colonies” by Lei Schwartz

Submitted to Contest #215

The moon is swollen, fat, round, and full. It lazily drips, like molten chocolate, a glaze of silver upon the dark forest. I sit at a cliff's precipice at the top of raggedy Millers Peak, tucked amongst reddish thorn bushes that scratch at my arms, leaving raised red scratches. I’m staring down at the flickering firelights of the small town. A sigh escapes my pursed lips without my permission, my state doleful as I sit alone while the United Colonies live, drumming like the heartbeat of a living thing below me. The colonies here, they're s...

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“Origin Story” by Dan C

Submitted to Contest #215

I am just an old man now, kiseyiniw, but I have known the fear of the wendigo since I was a child. He was born under the Great Moon, the full moon of deepest winter. There was much snow and hardship, but the hunting was good that year, and he grew strong. He grew to be a great hunter and warrior. He suffered many hardships with his people, and was a great leader for them. It is a sad story. That summer, they smoked the pipe with the red feathers. Blackfoot war cr...

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“The Monster and the Child” by Joanna Smart

Submitted to Contest #215

Vaughn paced through the forest, dappled shadows chasing the sun patches through the swaying trees as he made his way down to the stream. He growled at a fox that crossed his path, his normal indifference to the woodland creatures fouled by the human who dared to enter his domain. At the river he drank deeply, ridding his mouth of the bitter taste of human blood. It had been decades since anyone had been foolish enough to enter the Forsaken Woods (a stupid but apt name in his opinion). Well, anyone except the elf.&nbsp...

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“Wolfman's Sweater ” by Caite Elia

Submitted to Contest #215

One morning, before the sun had fully declared itself from the skies, Gorf the wolfman found a solitary rose and a finely braided basket stuffed full of muffins outside his den. This was unusual for he had no close neighbors with such domestic skill as to deliver baked goods. Wolfmen may live in proximity to other such creatures but not a single one of them could master the use of a kitchen fire or even grasp a utensil in their large, clumsy paws. The paws of Gorf were more adept at churning up earth in his wake as he crossed the moonlit del...

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“Monsterous Sabotage” by Annie Harrison

Submitted to Contest #215

Monstrous Sabotage“I am creative”. I told myself over and over as I held a sparklingly clear wine glass of bubbling ginger ale in my left hand. Peering through the glass cast a sepia hue on the already dimly lit room. I was creative. I could write a funny, yet nostalgic comic book for my Dad’s birthday tomorrow. The dryness of my tired eyes itched. My eyes darted down to see the digital time sitting in the bottom right hand corner of the computer screen. “11:06pm” It read. My cursor blinked. For work, I always came alive on the night shift i...

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“"Hush, My Eko"” by DeLante Blagburn

Submitted to Contest #215

The hallway was a slender passage in the enigma of the night, cocooning her in the hushed stillness. Her footsteps, like whispered secrets, mingled with the sighing of the night winds that danced through the hallway’s hallowed hush. The narrow corridor stretched endlessly, a twilight tunnel leading to the haven she sought. She had lived her entire life in this house, and it would be thought that 12 years would be enough time to memorize every turn at every corner, but the night is restless and loves to play her tricks. She may have gone a fe...

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“Good Reason” by Mickey Liebrecht

Submitted to Contest #215

With one thought, I am dead.One feeling, and I am gone.One word… and she is all there is.My madness is what clings me to her. My sanity, what keeps me away… but I see farther now into the distance of our lives. Farther than I ever have previously, and in her absence… it is empty. It is stale, blank, un-harrowing, useless without the challenge, and she is the best who ever challenged me.She who walks in death, dines on pain, and wishes to pleasure me with all of it.Her part of the world is a dark storm, fearless in its chaotic dance, striking...

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“I Am Not a Bad Guy” by Marley Grace

Submitted to Contest #215

I am not a bad guy. I am not a bad guy. I am not a bad guy. Why is she looking at me like that? Look at her stupid bitch face looking at me like it was my fault. Well, it wasn’t my fault. “What do you want me to say? I didn’t mean for this to happen. I had nothing to do with this.” I responded sharply. I don’t even know why I booked this session. She looked at me and blinked a few times looking confused. “Jeff, I am not here to judge you. I am on your team. I only asked if you could tell me what happened in your own words. I’ll phrase it...

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Contest #215

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This week's theme: Monstrous

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Title: What Kind of Mother

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Write a story about a monster trying to become more human. Or about a human trying to become more monstrous.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 60 stories

“It Became My Brother” by Lorrel Cooper

“Monster Boss” by Christopher B.

“The World is Not a Safe Place ” by YEMISI B

“Live Like A Human” by Jeydie Woloszczuk

“The Machines Fear Death” by Tyler Duggan

“Goolop Gets a Job” by David Willett

“Before The Sunrise ” by S Cahill

“The Shadow of the Colonies” by Lei Schwartz

“Origin Story” by Dan C

“The Monster and the Child” by Joanna Smart

“Wolfman's Sweater ” by Caite Elia

“Monsterous Sabotage” by Annie Harrison

“"Hush, My Eko"” by DeLante Blagburn

“Good Reason” by Mickey Liebrecht

“I Am Not a Bad Guy” by Marley Grace

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about someone trying to resist their darker impulses. Whether they succeed or fail is up to you.

Set your story in a haunted house.

You confront the monster you’ve spent many long years hunting. Except they’re not exactly what you thought they’d be…

Write a story about someone making a deal with the devil.

Contest #215

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

388

Contest entries

135

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: