Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#130: What's in a Name?

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about names: our names, and the names we give to stories, and the way they shape people’s expectations. So I’ve decided to try something new: as you’ll see, two of this week’s prompts let you play around with our Title Generator and Character Name Generator to spark ideas — and the rest explore what the implications of titles and names can be. Have fun!

This week's prompts

Create a title with our Title Generator, then write a story inspired by it.

Teens – 97 stories

Write about a character whose name you got from our Character Name Generator.

Character – 46 stories

Start your story with someone finding an object labeled with their name.

Horror – 37 stories

Set your story in a nameless world.

Kids – 27 stories

Write a story titled ‘The Locked Door.’

Dark – 77 stories

Stories

“The Locked Door” by Brenda Butler

Submitted to Contest #130

Grandpa was always kind of corky, I could only guess it was from him having served in the Navy. He often spoke of his time overseas. He never told us kids the scary stuff it was always about good things, beautiful things he saw. If he ever wanted my brother and sister to settled down all he had to say was “Navy Time!” We knew than that grandpa had a story to tell us. But what I always found so interesting was that grandma would sit with us with as much anticipation as us kids. I thought she would have heard all these stories already. They ha...

Read story

“The Locked Door” by Barb Leedom

Submitted to Contest #130

The Locked Door Dorothy, aka Dottie or Dot or Deetee, depending on who was speaking to her, had enough of Lance. She’d spent all day, well not all, but she told herself was a considerable amount of the day tidying. The bags of books ...

Read story

“The Locked Door” by Holland Wells

Submitted to Contest #130

Where the hell am I? Why can I not see anything? HELP, HELP,HELP!!! Why can no one hear me? That smell, what's that smell? That smell is very familiar but I can not put my finger on it. It's sweet but yet a tangy smell. Lord are you listening? Is this a dream? What is my name? I am so confused, I can not remember anything. Am I dead? That's it, I must be dead. How did I die I wonder. Did I leave behind a family? Flowers? That smell reminds me of flowers. What kind of flowers? Hmm not sure but it is very familiar. Why is everything so dark? L...

Read story

“The Locked Door” by Ian Gonzales

Submitted to Contest #130

The door has always been there. It was in my earliest memories, even though I didn’t realize it until much later. Made of smooth, dark wood, set with a heavy knob of old brass with a large keyhole beneath it, the door was like something from an old, spooky house, right down to how it made me feel every time I saw it. My first clear recollection of the door was at my third birthday party. I guess that was when I first really noticed how odd it was. It was hard to focus on anything for long at that age, especially with a roomful of toddlers sm...

Read story

“"The Locked Door" ” by Paul Groves

Submitted to Contest #130

The sun had started to peer through the silhouettes of the leafless January trees while he drove down the winding country roads. The coffee he’d bought form the gas station 45 minutes prior had just a couple of lukewarm sips remaining as the last track of the Neil Diamond greatest hits album played on his old Land Cruiser’s CD player. With one more left turn, the old gate came into view and he started to slow down the car, eventually reaching a halt on the side of the road. He parked the car outside of the entrance and took a deep breat...

Read story

“The Locked Door” by Faith Williams

Submitted to Contest #130

From the time Raya was a young girl, she was told by the adults that she could be anything. “Anything?” Raya would ask. “Anything,” the adults would say. “Anything you put your mind to. Anything, if you’re willing to work for it.” As many little girls do, Raya believed the adults. They were adults after all. So, Raya would dre...

Read story

“The Locked Door” by Olivia Jackson

Submitted to Contest #130

Dimitri struggled up the hill, wrestling with the heavy sack he carried. He tried hard not to look over his shoulder, for he knew his pursuers were not far behind. He had been running for five days, and he was finding himself weaker and more tired with each step he took. He couldn't help looking over his shoulder though. He needed to know if they were still there.He knew the reputation of the king's guard. They were not known for their mercy, but he knew if he could reach it, he would survive. If he could just get to the portal, he wouldn't ...

Read story

“The Locked Door” by K.J. Hanson

Submitted to Contest #130

To me, the door was always locked. Ever since I can remember. What use is a locked door? It could have just been a wall this whole time. By the time I was eight years old, I would walk by the door without even realizing it was still there. Your mind gets used to things that never change, or mine does at least. One night, it must have been summer, because I woke up in a blanket fort. I was only able to sleep in a blanket fort when there was no school the next day, and this particular fort was masterful, a semi-permanent structure. It ...

Read story

“The Locked Door” by S Ceci

Submitted to Contest #130

Rose is what my dad called me when I was little. My name is Willow, so it doesn’t really make sense, but he said that my mother named me willow. He always liked Rose, so nobody calls me Willow, except my aunt, Dad says that she can’t move on. My mom walked out of the picture when I was 6 months old, so I don’t remember her. My dad always said she was a “messed up lady that didn’t think about anybody about herself.” I didn’t blame my mom for leaving, even if all the terrible things dad said about her were true. One year in second gra...

Read story

“Southern Belle” by Ariel Searcy

Submitted to Contest #130

Sensitive content warning: Strong language, topics of emotional abuse, suggestive sexual themes A somber blue undertone permeates my home as early winter morning unapologetically sets in. I stand in my front room, basking in the whimsical sight of frost glistening against the awakening sun. There's a slight chill seeping through the window pane. I shiver slightly, wrapping my cardigan tightly around myself as I sip on my hot coffee. Moments later, the wood flooring creaks and pops under the weight of my love as he hops down the steps, em...

Read story

“Devil's Daughter” by Jenna Tyger

Submitted to Contest #130

Mary Stark’s morning routine was entirely mundane. Wake up at 6 am, exercise for 45 minutes, shower, get ready for work, and feed herself and her cat, Avery. Mary’s job as an administrative assistant at a law firm was also mundane. She did the same things everyday - kept the coffee pot full, answered the phone, greeted visitors, scheduled appointments, ordered supplies, and fulfilled the attorneys’ requests. Mary’s evenings were also the same most of the time. Go home, make dinner, feed the cat, and watch tv or read. From the out...

Read story

“The Visitor In The Veil” by Skyler Svenrose

Submitted to Contest #130

“Sir, can you count down from ten for me?”I was not particularly tired so I saw no point - I would probably make it all the way down to one before they realized they had given me the wrongs medications - but I complied anyway because who am I to tell them how to do their jobs.“Ten,” I started, staring at the ceiling.“Nine,” I continued, the strength starting to seep out of my body.To be nameless in worthy deeds exceeds an infamous history - Thomas Browne “Eight,” The healing of the world is in its nameless saints - Bayard Taylor“Se...

Read story

“The Sign of the Devil’s Cottage ” by Julie Simpson

Submitted to Contest #130

The twisted tree stood in shadow against the pinks and oranges of the evening sky while the sun dipped behind the small cottage below. Young Osborn Fairchilde crept through the field towards the rickety home. He had already seen 12 winters pass but kept the curiosity of one much younger. Grasses crackled beneath his feet, and he slowed to avoid being heard. The air was cool as often happened between the seasons and a gentle fog tumbled along the path. He crouched behind some taller brush to study cottage. The windows blinked a...

Read story

“The Widow in the City ” by Bella Cole

Submitted to Contest #130

You can hear her humming in the summer afternoons, with the lazy tone and an unsteady rhythm. Yet, even if it is far from perfect, it was tradition. When the bustling of cars, and yelling of neighbors quieted, even just for a moment in the sweaty summer faternoons. From the streets below, you could hear her humming in her second floor apartment. When you're young on Braxton Avenue, the other kids whisper of the humming ghost, or the haunted humming. The one that traveled through the street when the air became too quiet. Once you grow ...

Read story

“SIGN OF A CROOKED HAND” by Debbie Curtin

Submitted to Contest #130

What happens when you are put in a position where money comes first. Always. I was on a trip to the other side of the country. My friend, Joey, was in the southwest part of Nevada and it had been quite a while since we got together to jam. And jamming had been our thing for quite some time, as in, since the third grade. The first time this came to light, was in a music class where we all had to pick a random object that was in a huge box in the room. How fun! When my name was called to go to the box, I looked over the ridge and with a ...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

284

Contest entries

179

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 28, 2022 EST

Won by Allie Erickson 🏆

Title: A Man's Man

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢