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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of creative nonfiction short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

150+ Creative nonfiction Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. The creative nonfiction stories on this page deliver exactly what it says on the tin: true stories told in weird and wonderful ways.

Creative nonfiction Short Stories – Page 3 of 10

When the Darkness Set In

Submitted to Contest #334

When the Darkness Set InIt was terribly cold.Snow was falling, and it was almost dark.Not the gentle kind of snow that feels quiet and soft,but sharp, stinging flakes that struck the skinlike reminders that the body was still herewhether the mind wanted to be or not.The snow was ice-cold,like the feeling this darkness had cast into my heart.This was not the kind of dark that falls across the earthwhen the sun goes downand the world simply turns its face away from light.This was the kind of dark that sets inwhen you realize time has run out.T...

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Will Travel for Beer

Submitted to Contest #333

There is something deliciously intoxicating about finding yourself in a foreign land, as you sit with the anxiety and anticipation of the unknown yet to reveal itself. From the moment the plane lands and you follow your weary seatmates toward an unfamiliar airport gate with its own variety of chaos, you know you are about to have an “experience.” Whether it will be sublime, horrendous, or somewhere in between is yet to be known. As you consider your fate, it becomes clear that you have no other choice but to surrender to the whims of the tra...

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The Bear Necessities of Contract Law

Winner of Contest #334 🏆

Goldilocks Lockwood v. Bear FamilySmall Claims Court, Woodland DistrictCase No. 2024-SC-0847Transcript of the Plaintiff's Opening Statement THE COURT: Ms. Lockwood, you may proceed with your statement.MS. LOCKWOOD: Thank you, Your Honor.[Sound of papers shuffling]My name is Goldilocks Lockwood. I am a licensed house-sitting professional, bonded and insured, operating in the Forest District for the past five years. I hold certification number 4721-GL from the Forest District Professional Standards Board, and I am a dues-paying member in good ...

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Birthday By The Bay

Submitted to Contest #333

Fifty…half a century…the age that a man has probably seen it all, done it all, lived through it all – an age of accomplishment. Their was a time in my life when I wondered if I would make it to fifty or even wanted to live that long. I pondered that question and this nice even number, sitting on a wooden chair overlooking the bay, with a small glass of smoked maple bourbon, a Churchill cigar, and the sun setting on this seventy-degree weather day, and a rolodex of memories. This day was the day I turned fifty. For whatever reason, the good L...

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Cooking for Gucci

Submitted to Contest #333

This story is based upon true events. Some of the names were changed for accuracy Cooking For Gucci I picked up the phone on the second ring. “Hello” “Hello, Mr Anderson, this is Bianca Nappi.” She had a deep, smoky voice with a slight Italian lilt. “We saw your ad in the trade paper about preparing a dinner in our home. Sorry, this is so last-minute. But are you engaged this Friday? We are planning a dinner party for twelve. We’d like to employ your services.” I let out a silent gulp. “Hum,” I stalled, “Let...

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Efficiency, Improvisation, And The Space Between

Submitted to Contest #334

By the time this trip began, Tanzania was no longer a destination—it was a relationship, one that had already tested my patience, my ethics, and my understanding of what collaboration actually requires. I wasn’t arriving with answers. I was arriving with unfinished work, people I cared about, and a growing suspicion that efficiency, my most trusted tool, might not survive the journey. I used to think efficiency was about speed. Get in. Get out. Don’t miss the flight. Don’t miss the meeting. Don’t miss the point. That illusion usually starts ...

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Oil and Vinegar

Submitted to Contest #333

Oil and Vinegar Spotting Monsieur Deschamps waiting on the platform as we pull into the Limoges station, I’m tempted to slip back into the crowd and pretend I missed the train. Too late. I’m shoved onto the platform by excited passengers. Monsieur Deschamps raises a hand halfway when he spies me, like a kid who doesn’t want to be seen by the professor, and takes a drag from his cigarette in the other. “Bienvenue,” he says in a flat voice, surveying me before reaching for my bag. I’ve been his kids’ au pair for two months, but he still treat...

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The Best is Yet to Come

Submitted to Contest #333

The Best is Yet to Come Tamara Pachis I looked down at my soorj as the fine grinds clumped together in a muddy lump at the bottom of the cup. The bitterness lingering on my tongue turned sour, mirroring the ache settling deep in my stomach. My aunt slid another freshly baked nazook onto my plate. Its aroma filled the small apartment, stirring memories of a childhood that once felt warm, loving, and kind—feelings now distant, like recalling a dream just beyond reach.We sat around the table with our heads bowed, my hands resting on the curve o...

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Savoring the Lonely Lunch and Bacalhau in Portugal

Submitted to Contest #333

Reedsy Story December 19, 2025: Savoring the Lonely Lunch and Balalhau in Portugal by LYNN ADLER It’s been many years since I sat alone under the awning at a sidewalk café for a leisurely interlude to my group tour of Portugal. We had stopped at the seaside town of Cascais outside of Lisbon. Everyone scattered around the marina area. There was a promise of shopping too, but I sought out a good place to eat lunch. I wandered into a small dark entrance with a bar on one side. They were used to tourists now. The host quickly appeared a...

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Salt Rice with Burnt Garlic

Submitted to Contest #333

When I finish a meal now, I notice something off. A kind of fullness I didn’t recognize before. It isn’t the sharp, twisting pain of real hunger easing away, the kind that leaves you relieved and sleepy. It’s quieter than that. A hunger that stays in my body even when my stomach should be satisfied. I only recognize it when everything else goes quiet when the dishes are cleared, the room settles, and there is nothing left to distract me. The fork hangs off the edge of the table, tipped just enough that it might fall if I breathe wrong. I not...

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The Little Broken Cake: A Lesson in Love

Submitted to Contest #333

Looking into my childhood, there are many memories with tales to tell, lessons to teach, and wonderful stories to pass down through future generations. But there is one memory that is so full of love, compassion and the spirit of giving that it has a magical quality. This memory enriches the soul with inspiration, courage, and wisdom. One is reminded that love has the power to work miracles and create magical memories that can be called upon in times of trouble. This particular memory has served me well, so I want to share this gift of love ...

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Cabbage

Submitted to Contest #333

Easy enough. Learn to cook. Make something edible. I got this. Despite my warnings to the contrary Phoenix thinks his pep talks will teach me how to cook. Like it’s some mental block in my head. Or I’m too lazy to dump a few things in a pan. Hopefully, after countless efforts to convince him otherwise, I went a bit too far last night. He was out of town to witness the aforementioned event that would occur. But the aftermath will forever leave its mark.Egg roll in a bowl. Sounds catchy. Follow that by a 3-ingredient Trader Joe’s magic recipe ...

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I sit where I can see the door

Submitted to Contest #333

I found the way back to La Fourchette on a corner in Akwa, Douala. The pavement still smells faintly of rain, diesel, and fried plantains, even on today’s dry night. It’s Thursday. I’m not really sure why I picked this one for the assignment; it’s rare that the editor gives me the choice. Chances are, I simply needed a pretext to come back here. I like to think that “work” brought me here. One thing I notice is how salient everything else feels now. From the outside it still looks like every other place promising comfort and a little aspirat...

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It Wasn't Venison

Submitted to Contest #333

It was my lucky day when I stopped by to visit my son after he returned from his annual hunting trip. He is gone every Thanksgiving but there’s always the rest of the football season to enjoy together. I couldn’t care less about the games but cheering alongside my boy is priceless.My daughter-in-law is a fantastic cook and I smelled chili simmering before I even rang the doorbell. This is going to be a good day. Spending time with family, watching football on the big screen, the last two year’s hunting successes mounted next to the tv watchi...

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When Momma Bakes

Submitted to Contest #333

Trigger warning: Child abuse and child abandonment. Watching Momma bake always brings happiness into my life. Humming an original honeyed tune, Momma brushes past me, grabbing the fresh milk from our goats, duck eggs, and hand-whipped butter. “These need to come to room temperature before we use them. Always pull them out first and set aside the necessary amounts.” My eyes lock with hers while her smile slows time. I'm seven now, and I remember when Momma taught me last year, although she’s sure to remind me each time. Her voice is sweet an...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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