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!

#14: The Plot Thickens

This week, we launched a very fun* tool at Reedsy: our brand-new Plot Generator!

Turning to writing prompts is a great idea when you need that extra bit of help coming up with ideas to write about. This plot generator is here to do the same, offering more than 1 million** story combinations to inspire you.

You can choose to generate a fantasy, drama, mystery, romance, or sci-fi plot — or, just hit "random" and you'll get a little bit of everything! Plot ideas include characters, a theme, a setting, and even a plot twist... with just one click of the finger!

Each of this week's prompts is a plot element pulled right from our generator. You can feel free to incorporate as many of the elements in your story as you want — whether it's one or all five!

*Almost too much fun, if that's possible.
**Actually, trillions!

This week's prompts

It's about a photographer, who is a rookie.

Character – 34 stories

It's a literary fiction story about growing up.

Novel – 39 stories

It kicks off on a yacht with the delivery of an important letter.

Short Story – 35 stories

Someone in the story has a lot of hard lessons to learn.

Sad – 35 stories

And there's a twist! It actually all took place in the past.

High School – 32 stories

Stories

“Ring Of Fire” by Jack Byrne

Submitted to Contest #14

We were in the queue for our free dinner tickets. A daily ritual for most of us. Sammo was behind me. "Going to the Parade?" he asked. "Yeah, chip shop then the park." "We can go to our house if you like?" Sammo was my best mate, but I ignored the offer anyway. "Pete, do you fancy that? Going to our's."What I fancied was Teresa Doyle. If I could see her in the Parade then fuck Sammo's. "What about your dad?" "He'll be out. Gets his giro today, so he'll be in the bookies." "Alright, but let's go the chippy first." &nbs...

Read story

“Sacrifice” by Amy Tan

Submitted to Contest #14

A loud bang shattered the silence.In that moment, everything seemed to stop. The gunman stood still, his weapon raised and aimed at Jake. Jake was facing the other way, completely unaware of the bullet that was about to hit him. As little kids, we thought that growing up was all about going to bars and partying every weekend. Spending money on luxurious food and spoiling ourselves. Moving into our own house. Getting our dream job. What we never knew about growing up, was that it made us an entirely different person. Growing up changed our va...

Read story

“A sparse story” by Lea -

Submitted to Contest #14

I can’t breathe, the weight, I can’t breathe. The crushing weight of it all. Only twelve years old and the world has decided that the quota for pain and suffering was to be filled this evening. This rainy stormy evening devoid of clouds. Time didn’t stand still, it became a crushing weight resting, gluttonously on top of everything. Always feeding vigorously on top of apt 4.Sounds grew louder, or was that the blood roaring in my ears. Hanging upside down from the four poster bed while my young child’s curls dragged on the ground. The noise, ...

Read story

“Threads of Life” by Judy McIntosh

Submitted to Contest #14

I could never have imagined a more perfectly balanced life growing up. There was a constant parade of characters, laughter and little shows that wound it's way through our lives.My father was a published writer. He would spend months holed up in his vast library. Research books stuffed with scraps of paper were stacked crookedly everywhere.We were supposed to be quiet during these writing times and with mother, that was easy. We just carried our craziness outside.During the warm summer months, we would be in the backyard rehearsing shows. We...

Read story

“The comforts of hearth and home” by Sara A

Submitted to Contest #14

On a dining table, in one Sunday afternoon, Michelle sat around two hundred fifty-seven pictures of her childhood. With a tea cup in her right hand, and a photo album in her left, a smile raised upon her face, it was the album of her and her older sister, Mary in Berlin, where times were much easier for both of them. She took a picture out of its place and looked at it closely, a picture of Mary kissing her on the cheek, in front of Berlin’s tan trees. Michelle has never forgotten Berlin, nor its air or trees, especially not the cold surroun...

Read story

“Beverly” by Zara Lee

Submitted to Contest #14

The yacht, that's where I need to go...Beverly flapped her grey wings as the wind rushed through her feathers. The river below her had a beautiful silver glint as the sunlight reflected off it. Gliding close to the water she looked ahead, spotting the white speck in the distance. The yacht! That was where Beverly had been sent."The pigeon!" A man called. He waved Beverly over and she glided up, landing on the edge of the yacht. The man smiled at her and she gave a graceful flap as he carefully untied the message from her leg. He unfolded it,...

Read story

“Deal” by Rose Tyler

Submitted to Contest #14

Jonathan delicately sipped on a Pepsi. It was a warm summer day, the rocking of his yacht relaxed him. Many of his friends got seasick, but he never did. Something about the ocean calmed him. It was his first week into retirement, and he was enjoying every moment. He adjusted his sunglasses and looked out at the sea. The shoreline was barely visible. Good. The further the way the better. Jonathan needed a break from everything. He didn’t know if it was because he was old, or if he had overworked himself. Everyone had told him that he was lat...

Read story

“Aquarius Veturus and the Terribly Important Letter” by Scrithe Mendacious

Submitted to Contest #14

Concerning yet another elaborate adventure of AQUARIUS VETURUS, Pirate Extraordinaire— When last seen, Aquarius and his crew of the unparalleled Shining Wanderer were grum at their malsuccess in all things piratic. Instead, they turned briefly to lemon farming, given Min’s proclivity toward sour things. I tell you now, Aquarius and Co. achieved such success in this endeavor, in spite of snow, blights, hurricanes, cannibals, wolves, birds, auctioneers, and the ever-pr...

Read story

“Waterlogged” by Angel Kaye

Submitted to Contest #14

A seagull dived to the water, the only color against the sky that was stripped of any clouds or sunset. Just a blue sky.Just the blue, endless waves.No phones or Wi-fi served the outdated yacht that was miles out from land, and the three people on it had already spoken about anything worth speaking about.Finally, after 42 days on the ocean, The Pirate, was appearing. A small boat that would bring a letter saying where and when the group would return."Bonjour, mademoiselle.""Hello, Pirate, the letter..?" The woman tried to keep the humor but ...

Read story

“From the diary of a jewel thief” by Aria Peyton

Submitted to Contest #14

The vista before us flickers, the shimmering light interrupted by something else on the ocean. Backlit by the sun bouncing off the gentle waves, it is hard to see what is blocking the perfect view. Little by little, the object gains on us, slowly revealing itself. We watch as the tiny boat approaches, not knowing why it is here. Behind me, I feel the captain move. Unsure what he is doing, I flick my head around to see. When his form slowly arises from behind the wheel, I spot something in his hand. Though he tries to hide it, I can see him ...

Read story

“Out in Manila Bay” by Leandro Manuel Antazo

Submitted to Contest #14

The early morning sun is shining across Manila Bay revealing much of the cobbled streets and vehicles going up and down Roxas boulevard. The windows of the hotels reflecting the sunlight back to the sea where street children, not heeding the “no swimming sign” on the sidewalk are jumping in and out of the surf. The water is pretty deep even by the shoreline and they are having the time of their lives doing flips from the rocks. Little do they know that if they slipped, it would be the end for them. That’s the trouble with signs sometime...

Read story

“Read Between the Lines” by Frank Dimaio

Submitted to Contest #14

It kicks off on a yacht with the delivery of an important letter.Slap. Slap! The small ripple of cresting waves rocks the vessel back and forth, resembling the motion of a child's cradle or wooden horse pressing it against the dock bumpers.A delivery man stands on the dock; his voice calls out. "Hello, hello, anyone on board?" The question goes unanswered, as a letter is dropped beside the ship's wheel. The delivery person jumps to the dock and disappears in a crowd of partygoers converging upon the deck of a sailboat tied off next to the ve...

Read story

“The Calm Before the Storm” by Kennedi Hubbard

Submitted to Contest #14

It was the most important party of the year. James Avian, the hottest boy in school since 9th grade, was having a summer bash to start off the summer break.His parents agreed as long as it was on the yacht where there was supervision, but not enough to ruin the party. It was almost like an actual club, with bouncers and security guards but no lame parents.James' parents were wealthy and naturally spoiled their son. Since this was his senior year they wanted to make it extra special. They booked performances from celebrities like Katy Perry, ...

Read story

“Painted” by Candace Thompson

Submitted to Contest #14

As a child my father was always more of a friend than a parent. He would consider a bowl of candy as a full meal; he would let bedtime be whenever our tired bodies could no longer stay awake. We would play video games at odd hours of the night and day and whisper our victories and defeats to avoid awaking my sleeping mothers’ wrath. My father would play games more than cook dinner, he would have petty arguments in which his main persuasion was that he would not be my friend anymore if I so told on him for not doing the dishes or for denting ...

Read story

“Poppy Tea” by Patrick Hilligoss

Submitted to Contest #14

He drank his way across the Narrow sea. Which he had thought would make the rough churning waters more hospitable, he was incorrect in that assessment. He had lost count as to how many times he had to wretch in the small bucket that lay in the corner of his small cabin. He tried thinking happy thoughts to make himself feel better, "Maybe going up on deck and getting some from fresh sea air would help". He slowly got up and put on a pair of woolen breeches and light linen shirt. By the time he reached the ...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

175

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 08, 2019 EST

Won by Raven T 🏆

Title: On Becoming Marcus

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 ⭢