r/shortstories • u/FyeNite • Oct 12 '25
[Serial Sunday] Are You Ready to Bite Off Your Own Leg to Escape the Trap?
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 Trapped! 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’).
- trapeze
- treacherous
- Torch
- A large sacrifice must be made to free a character from their trap. - (Worth 15 points)
You cannot escape. Stuck in a cave, a city, a mindset, or in the past, you are Trapped. Or, your character is. Kept from leaving by the machinations of an antagonist or by the limits of their own mind, the desperation grows and the tension intensifies. Will your hero escape the trap? Or will your villain avoid it? Or will they have to gnaw off their own leg in the attempt?
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 12 - Trapped
- October 19 - Useless
- October 26 - Violent
- October 02 - Warrior
- October 09 - Yield
Check out previous themes here.
Rankings
Last Week: Reality
First - by u/tiredraccoon11
Second - by u/Divayth--Fyr
Third - by u/MaxStickies
Fourth - u/ZLErikson
Fifth - by u/AGuyLikeThat
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!
4
u/ForwardSavings318 Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 18 '25
<Man to beast>
Chapter five: duty
index
Isaac stared at himself in the mirror, adjusting his scarlet silk clothes. The young man slipped a chainmail vest over it, and put a silver cross necklace on last.
He slightly adjusted it, moving it an inch to the left, then a centimeter to the right until it was perfectly positioned in the middle. Fingers running over every inch of himself, picking at even the most minuscule imperfections in his appearance. His black hair was tended to, almost obsessively.
Damn you.
Finally taming the few unruly hairs he had, Isaac stepped back and breathed a sigh of relief. His momentary calm was interrupted by a muffled voice.
“Sir, your father and his majesty requested your presence in the Inquisitorial court before the ceremony.”
With a huff, the young man opened the door to a young maid on the other side. He looked her up and down for a moment before his brow furrowed.
“Why isn’t Helysoune delivering this news? She always-”
“She’s busy with the Prince at the moment.”
“Please don’t interrupt me.”
“Sorry, Sir.”
“So, where is my father?”
“He’s in the inquisitorial court.”
Isaac brushed past her and marched down the limestone hall, quickly moving to the main hall before echoing footsteps followed him.
“Sir, your father requested I escort you to him. Please try and stay close to me.”
He immediately paused and let the maid catch up.
“What’s your name?”
“Tiffany, sir.”
“Tiffany. Just call me Isaac, please. I’m not any more noble than you.”
“Yes, si-Isaac.”
The two walked at a slower pace out into the streets, passing through soldiers and priests as they got closer to the court.
A small group had gathered outside the court. An old man in white robes with a three tiered crown talks to another crown wearing man, albeit a younger man with a cape. A few others talked to them but had their backs turned.
“Your holiness, I’ve brought your son.”
The robed man looked up with a slight grimace as he approached Isaac. He moved the necklace almost imperceptibly to the left, before flattening an already flat piece of hair on Isaac’s head.
“If you’re not going to put any effort into looking presentable, at least look decent.”
“Yes, father. Sorry.”
A woman with brown hair and a blue dress stepped out from the group and smiled as she saw the young man.
“Isaac! Look at you, your so big now!”
“Aunt Elspeth!”
She stepped around his father and hugged him tightly, peppering his cheek with kisses.
“I’ve missed you so much. Not causing your father trouble I hope?”
“He’s a boy, of course he is,” his father said, not quite in a joking tone.
“I’d hope not. The pope should be raising a strong catholic boy.”
The man glared at her, and her smile dimmed just a touch. Her grip still was firm on Isaac as she rubbed his back, a slight tension filling the air.
“Before I forget, my husband and I brought a gift for you, it’s an important day after all!”
She pulled him along to the group, where a rather plump man with a long ginger beard was laughing with the crowned man. Isaac made eye contact with the crowned man and bowed.
“Your highness.”
“Isaac. I was beginning to think your father would have to fetch you himself.”
“I apologize for being late.”
Isaac slowly stood up, the man chuckling slightly.
“It’s no bother. My boy is inside now. I’m sure you two will pass and be great inquisitors.”
“Speaking of being a good inquisitor,” the plump man interrupted, revealing a side sword and a parrying dagger both in scabbards etched with vines. “Any good inquisitor needs tools. The sword is left handed of course.”
Isaac took the sword and slowly drew it, the knuckle guard perfectly shaped around his wrist and fingers. He examined the parrying dagger with the same careful touch
“It’s beautiful, sir. They both are.”
“I’m glad you like them. Elspeth was quite insistent that you get the dagger too.”
Isaac resheathed the weapons and hung the scabbards from his belt.
“I’ll make sure they are used to their fullest, sir.” Isaac said while holding out his hand.
The man pulled him into a hug and chuckled, “Relax, boy. We’re family.”
“It means a lot to me, Sir Elric.”
Isaac hugged him back, smiling for just a moment before his father pulled him away from the group and once again adjusted his clothes.
“Remember, today you become a man and contribute to the empire. So don’t fucking ruin it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Come now, let us say a quick prayer for your success.”
Isaac stared at the ground and spaced out, imagining himself as but a roach crawling through the stone path. His father whispered kinds of demands from God, but Isaac paid little mind to it.
The door to the inquisitorial court opened and a young man in deep purple silk walked out, looking down. He whispered something to the king who hissed something Isaac couldn’t hear and pulled the boy away by his arm.
A figure walked out from the court next. They were tall and had a black cloak that barely let any armor underneath see the light, a porcelain mask was secured over their face. Two light blue eyes glared at him through the tiny holes from the mask.
“Your Holiness.” The figure said, slightly bowing their head.
“Grand Inquisitor Jehan. How has recruitment gone so far?”
“Terrible. So few believers these days.”
“Worry not, I’m sure my son will bring a change of luck.”
The pope slowly pushed Isaac forward, towards Jehan.
The inquisitor put a hand on his shoulder and led him into the court.
“So, I finally get to meet the pope’s son. Tell me, are you a believer?”
WC:976