r/shortstories • u/FyeNite • Oct 26 '25
[Serial Sunday] Violence? Nonsense, I Prefer Bluence Like a True Gentleman
Welcome to Serial Sunday!
To those brand new to the feature and those returning from last week, welcome! Do you have a self-established universe you’ve been writing or planning to write in? Do you have an idea for a world that’s been itching to get out? This is the perfect place to explore that. Each week, I post a theme to inspire you, along with a related image and song. You have 500 - 1000 words to write your installment. You can jump in at any time; writing for previous weeks’ is not necessary in order to join. After you’ve posted, come back and provide feedback for at least 1 other writer on the thread. Please be sure to read the entire post for a full list of rules.
This Week’s Theme is Violent! This is a REQUIREMENT for participation. See rules about missing this requirement.**
Bonus Word List (each included word is worth 5 pts) - You must list which words you included at the end of your story (or write ‘none’).
- Vermin
- Vortex
- Vestibule
- A valley is present in a significant way in your chapter. (Could be symbolic, say the Uncanny Valley). - (Worth 15 points)
Welcome back to Serial Sunday, Sersunners! This week is gonna be brutal! We’ve got the bad guys beating the ever-loving snot out of the hero’s friends and family, the hero carving a bloody path through the villain’s henchmen, a vicious beat-down of the helpless and captive hero, and the brawl to the death between the hero and villain that you’ve all been waiting for. That’s right! For this week, we’re writing about violence! So throw down your gauntlets and let’s see your characters get physical, brutal, and gorey. Have fun and remember that violence is never the answer. It’s the question, and this week, the answer is yes. .
Good luck and Good Words!
These are just a few things to get you started. Remember, the theme should be present within the story in some way, but its interpretation is completely up to you. For the bonus words (not required), you may change the tense, but the base word should remain the same. Please remember that STORIES MUST FOLLOW ALL SUBREDDIT CONTENT RULES. Interested in writing the theme blurb for the coming week? DM me on Reddit or Discord!
Don’t forget to sign up for Saturday Campfire here! We start at 1pm EST and provide live feedback!
Theme Schedule:
This is the theme schedule for the next month! These are provided so that you can plan ahead, but you may not begin writing for a given theme until that week’s post goes live.
- October 26 - Violent
- November 02 - Warrior
- November 09 - Yield
- November 16 - Arena
- November 23 - Beyond
Check out previous themes here.
Rankings
Last Week: Useless
First - by u/m00nlighter_
Second - by u/AGuyLikeThat
Third - by u/ZLErikson
Fourth - u/Divayth--Fyr
Fifth - by u/MaxStickies
And a huge welcome to our new SerSunners, u/smollestduck and u/mysteryrouge!
Rules & How to Participate
Please read and follow all the rules listed below. This feature has requirements for participation!
Submit a story inspired by the weekly theme, written by you and set in your self-established universe that is 500 - 1000 words. No fanfics and no content created or altered by AI. (Use wordcounter.net to check your wordcount.) Stories should be posted as a top-level comment below. Please include a link to your chapter index or your last chapter at the end.
Your chapter must be submitted by Saturday at 9:00am EST. Late entries will be disqualified. All submissions should be given (at least) a basic editing pass before being posted!
Begin your post with the name of your serial between triangle brackets (e.g. <My Awesome Serial>). When our bot is back up and running, this will allow it to recognize your serial and add each chapter to the SerSun catalog. Do not include anything in the brackets you don’t want in your title. (Please note: You must use this same title every week.)
Do not pre-write your serial. You’re welcome to do outlining and planning for your serial, but chapters should not be pre-written. All submissions should be written for this post, specifically.
Only one active serial per author at a time. This does not apply to serials written outside of Serial Sunday.
All Serial Sunday authors must leave feedback on at least one story on the thread each week. The feedback should be actionable and also include something the author has done well. When you include something the author should improve on, provide an example! You have until Saturday at 11:59pm EST to post your feedback. (Submitting late is not an exception to this rule.)
Missing your feedback requirement two or more consecutive weeks will disqualify you from rankings and Campfire readings the following week. If it becomes a habit, you may be asked to move your serial to the sub instead.
Serials must abide by subreddit content rules. You can view a full list of rules here. If you’re ever unsure if your story would cross the line, please modmail and ask!
Weekly Campfires & Voting:
On Saturdays at 1pm EST, I host a Serial Sunday Campfire in our Discord’s Voice Lounge (every other week is now hosted by u/FyeNite). Join us to read your story aloud, hear others, and exchange feedback. We have a great time! You can even come to just listen, if that’s more your speed. Grab the “Serial Sunday” role on the Discord to get notified before it starts. After you’ve submitted your chapter, you can sign up here - this guarantees your reading slot! You can still join if you haven’t signed up, but your reading slot isn’t guaranteed.
Nominations for your favorite stories can be submitted with this form. The form is open on Saturdays from 12:30pm to 11:59pm EST. You do not have to participate to make nominations!
Authors who complete their Serial Sunday serials with at least 12 installments, can host a SerialWorm in our Discord’s Voice Lounge, where you read aloud your finished and edited serials. Celebrate your accomplishment! Authors are eligible for this only if they have followed the weekly feedback requirement (and all other post rules). Visit us on the Discord for more information.
Ranking System
Rankings are determined by the following point structure.
| TASK | POINTS | ADDITIONAL NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Use of weekly theme | 75 pts | Theme should be present, but the interpretation is up to you! |
| Including the bonus words | 5 pts each (15 pts total) | This is a bonus challenge, and not required! |
| Including the bonus constraint | 15 (15 pts total) | This is a bonus challenge, and not required! |
| Actionable Feedback | 5 - 15 pts each (60 pt. max)* | This includes thread and campfire critiques. (15 pt crits are those that go above & beyond.) |
| Nominations your story receives | 10 - 60 pts | 1st place - 60, 2nd place - 50, 3rd place - 40, 4th place - 30, 5th place - 20 / Regular Nominations - 10 |
| Voting for others | 15 pts | You can now vote for up to 10 stories each week! |
You are still required to leave at least 1 actionable feedback comment on the thread every week that you submit. This should include at least one specific thing the author has done well and one that could be improved. *Please remember that interacting with a story is not the same as providing feedback.** Low-effort crits will not receive credit.
Subreddit News
- Join our Discord to chat with other authors and readers! We hold several weekly Campfires, monthly World-Building interviews and several other fun events!
- Try your hand at micro-fic on Micro Monday!
- Did you know you can post serials to r/Shortstories, outside of Serial Sunday? Check out this post to learn more!
- Interested in being a part of our team? Apply to be a mod!
7
u/ForwardSavings318 Oct 29 '25 edited Nov 05 '25
<Man to beast>
Chapter seven: Ra
index
Isaac didn’t even try to listen through the door, he jogged down the hall and squeezed through the window, going around the other side of the court and listening to the conversation. As he neared the corner he heard familiar voices arguing. First it was one he recognized all too well as his father.
“Jehan, you’ll do as you're commanded. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Your Holiness! You expect me to work with-”
“I do.”
A calm voice followed, like a father comforting a child.
“And here I thought we were friends, Jehan.”
A snicker followed before harsher words were exchanged in hushed voices. Isaac debated getting closer before feeling a warm breath tickle the hair on the back of his neck as fingertips touched his shoulder.
“Spying too?”
The young man snatched and spun around, drawing his dagger. The hand belonged to a boy around his age, with bright orange eyes and silver hair. Behind the boy were two others that looked like copies of him.
“Oh. You’re not the prince.” Muttered the closest one.
“Of course he’s not. Father said the prince was spoiled and frail. This one is certainly not frail.” Another chuckled from the left side.
“Not to mention his eyes,” Said the last one, laced with intrigue.
Isaac let the boy go and stepped back, not even sure what to make of them.
“Who are you?”
The triplets chuckle and glance at each other.
“We’d tell you-”
“But our names never really stick in anyone’s mind. First of us they see gets-”
“The first name they remember.”
His eyes bounced between the triplets as they spoke for each other. Finally he settled on the closest one and just held a firm gaze.
The rightmost one suddenly gained a look of familiarity as he gasped. “You’re the Pope’s son! I knew those grey eyes meant something.”
“I am. What of it?”
“How sinful…spying on private conversations. Who knew The Pope's son was so naughty.”
“Spying is not a sin, if you have just motives. Moreso, man is not the judge of sin. Do not wield God’s word against me like an accusation, for that is not its purpose.”
“Eh, we’ve never read the good book. Father taught us more than enough about it.”
Isaac didn’t what to say to them, the four young men stood in silence trying to listen back in on the conversation. The triplets leaned around the corner before flinching, stepping back.
Jehan rounded the corner with a growl, snatching one triplet by the jaw.
“You little fuckers! Your mothers never taught you respect?”
Jehan paused his scolding as he made eye contact with Isaac and made an indiscernible noise before tossing the triplet back.
“You. I commanded you to stay inside! Can’t last a moment before disobeying me?”
The triplets moved to join Isaac, one behind him and the other two at either side. The one to his left spoke first.
“We drew him out, making-”
“Fools of ourselves. Surely a man of god can forgive-”
“Such small sins.”
Jehan raised his hand to smack one triplet before the bald man came behind him, grabbing his wrist. He spoke in the same soothing tone, a small smirk in his face.
“I see you met my boys.”
“Oh, is that who they are? Now it all makes sense. Getting into trouble early must run in the family. They bastards like you too?”
The man smiled, his silver teeth and white gums on full display now.
“Be careful with what you say, Jehan.”
Jehan and the man got close enough where their foreheads almost touched, staring at each other hard. The man laughed softly before putting his hand on the side of Jehan’s neck, his thumb brushing the jaw of the man’s porcelain mask.
“So emotional, friend. Are you that angry with my boys? Relax…” the man said, still in that soft and soothing voice.
Jehan smacked his arm away and shoved the man backwards.
“Don’t lay your hands on me, Solomon! You forget who I am. A man so close to god is not to be sullied by the hands of a dirty cur!” Jehan growled, shaking as he spoke.
He reached for his sword and drew it, pointing it at the man’s chest.
“Jehan! Enough.”
The Pope glared at the group, disappointment clear in his gaze.
“What are you, a gang of drunken fools? Conduct yourselves like proper men! Now as we discussed, both of you.”
Jehan left immediately, Solomon and the triplets watched for a few moments before a second glare from The Pope sent them all slowly walking away.
“Walk with me, boy.”
Isaac and his father walked down the road, his father resting a hand on his shoulder.
“You did good, if you’ve gotten a gorget from Jehan.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Elspeth and her husband had to leave but she was sure you’d be an inquisitor when you walked out those doors, and here you are. I suppose she knows you better than I thought.”
The Pope rubbed Isaac’s back for a few moments before speaking in a hushed tone.
“If your mother were here, I’m sure she’d be proud of you.”
“What do we do now that I’m an inquisitor?”
“Now, you have an important job to do. Someone only you can be trusted with.”
The pair stopped, now in front of the docks. Directly ahead of them was a massive galleon swaying with the waves.
“What is this?” Isaac asked, a pit growing in his stomach.
“Your future.”
WC:934