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!

#248: From the Top

Often, one of the most difficult parts of writing a story is giving it a name. I've been known to agonize for days over finding the "perfect" title — because, like it or not, we do judge a story by its title. Those few words at the top of the page set the tone for what follows, and picking the right ones matters.

This week, I'm asking you to approach titles in a different way. Rather than writing your story and then choosing your title, we want you to start "from the top" with a just title and see where it takes you. I've selected some evocative titles from literature to inspire you — but don't worry, you don't need to have read the original works to respond to them.

This week's prompts

Write a story titled 'A Tale of Two Cities'.

Adventure – 34 stories

Write a story titled 'Paradise Lost'.

Angst – 70 stories

Write a story titled 'Desperate Remedies'.

Dark – 66 stories

Write a story titled 'The Wind in the Willows'.

Spring – 50 stories

Write a story titled 'Persuasion'.

Funny – 41 stories

Stories

“Paradise Lost” by Carolyn Neal

Submitted to Contest #248

They say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. I suppose that is true, but such platitudes are usually reserved for much different circumstances. It’s meant for you to appreciate impermanent things in your life: your youth, your loved ones, maybe a delicious pie… As grand as the intent behind those words may be, there are some things that you just never plan on losing. I know that may sound stupid, given the reality of, well, everything, but when you design and manufa...

Read story

“Paradise Lost” by Mells Capec

Submitted to Contest #248

I felt the sun faintly frying my skin, a fairly enjoyable sensation if I don’t stay in one place for too long. So I stayed for a second, and then moved. I looked at their messy light hair and noticed another strand that was out of place. That made me laugh.Their black eyes pierced through me, gave me an eyeroll and smirked. It wasn’t the kind of cold gaze that gave you shivers, rather the one that saw your brain, read your eyes and knew what you think. But they couldn’t do it always. They thought they did, but sometimes they just got it wron...

Read story

“Paradise Lost” by Roneta Davis

Submitted to Contest #248

Trigger Warning: Throughout this tale, there will be subtle mentions relating to mental health, body image, sexuality, physical violence, and religious tone. Shakey blistered-sunburned fingers holding a pair of binoculars scan the sparse landscape seeking anything to ease the ache of solitude and impending doom. The sun's rays twinkled off the beads of sweat racing each other as they fell from brow to chin. A parched tongue gently soothes the sting of salted droplets on red cracked lips. Weeks had passed since any adequate shelter or provis...

Read story

“The problem” by Rebecca Maric

Submitted to Contest #248

But the problem lay no so much in the problem itself,he felt about his depression,it was that he was therefore depressing towards himself and all those around him.Sulking and raving about every corner of the rooms,sucking the life out of every happy moment ,projecting an aura of negative energy in a kind of feng -shui as as he continues to sulk and rave in the corners of his rooms.His friends tried to include as best they could,but this made him more depressed ,because they were the ones making the effort to drag this morbid behaviour sour l...

Read story

“Desperate remedies” by Bob L

Submitted to Contest #248

Desperate Remedies Summer was just around the corner, and this late spring Sunday started off magnificently. Warm, sunny, and a gentle easterly breeze wafting out over the calm, Indian ocean. However, to a trained eye, a closer look at the red sky foretold of bad weather on the way. There was an old saying, "red sky in the morning, sailors warning, red sky at night, sailors delight."Back in the 1970s, Rob’...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies ” by ER Castaneda

Submitted to Contest #248

TW: eating disorder; mental health A mixture of black, white, brown, and yellow foods combined with bile and red blood comes out of my mouth as I forcefully vomit, pushing my two fingers deeper down my throat. I grin as I see the package of Oreos I ate come back up, the half pack of bread with cheese and ham, and Lay potato chips. The food lands in the toilet bowl with a sickening plop, and as soon as my stomach feels empty, I flush the toilet and watch my shame swirl away. I pace the room, willing myself to stop thinking of food the ...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies” by Mymy Khan

Submitted to Contest #248

In the dimly lit apartment, where shadows lurked in the corners, and the flickering light cast eerie shapes on the walls, she wandered aimlessly, lost in the labyrinth of her own mind. Her spectral figure moved like a ghost, haunting the space she inhabited, as the beguiling ballet of shadows ensnared her thoughts and distorted her grip on reality. Haunted by the conviction that unseen eyes watched her every move, judging the frailty of her mortal body, she found herself trapped in a relentless cycle of self-doubt and despair. Getting dresse...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies” by H.e. Ross

Submitted to Contest #248

It lay across my chest like a moist log and I knew it was just Carman’s arm but it seemed to push down on me as I inhaled and it made me gag. I sat up quickly as the bile rose in my throat, singeing the sides, forming bitter spots in my mouth. It was coming up and I could not breathe. My eyes searched shadows with moonlight hard against walls and still curtains. Her eyes were wide and staring, mouth moving words distant; not understandable. A little air, then a little more, then it closed off again. Alive, I thought with that air. I screamed...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies” by Paker Fine

Submitted to Contest #248

“And what of the blood?” the boy heard an old man ask his father.“Black,” his father responded.Pate had only known one other boy that had been cursed. He hadn’t known him for long.“He lost a tooth today and the bleeding…it just won’t stop. I’ve changed the rags a few times, each time as bloody as the last.”The old man bent lower over the boy and used his fingers to pry the boy’s eyes wide. The boy felt the old man’s cold fingers on his face. They felt good after sweating for countless hours. It was an odd sensation to be hot and cold at the ...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies” by Allen McMeans

Submitted to Contest #248

"Please! Don't hurt her, she's my only child!" A woman screamed to the mobsters holding her daughter by the arm. “Just shut up and let me think," the man replied. Meanwhile the second man with them dialed up the boss."Hello? You guys called me again? What's up this time, no wait lemme guess you two fucked up again.” A man in nighttime robes said annoyed. His face slowly changed however from a frown to a look of utter horror as he realized the unimaginable. Someone had seen something they weren’t meant to.“Hello.. Uh.. hello, boss are you sti...

Read story

“InfluX” by Damien Roberts

Submitted to Contest #248

This was it. Derren had found the perfect remedy. Infusion Vector 341. No, he thought, this isn't attempt 341, this is success number 1. It needs its own name, like Booster or Velocity or InfluX. Yes, InfluX, that sounds right. It felt modern. He could see influencers holding the bright green packaging to their filtered face at the start of one of those absurd unpacking videos. Get the right donor and, with InfluX, you won't need a filter. You see, InfluX on its own did absolutely nothing. Maybe you could use it as an expensive saline soluti...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies/Bonsai ” by Greta Holt

Submitted to Contest #248

Greta HoltWd. Count 1,460 Desperate Remedies/Bonsai Boss Matthews was going to tell the higher-ups that Charles lacked passion. The company’s structure relied heavily on evaluations. Each employee had to come up with a plan for working on his ‘opportunities,’ which damn well meant his weak points. A few weeks ago, Charles found his evaluation on his desk under a paperweight. Boss Matthews knew how to deliver reports. It read: ‘Strengths: answers communication with punctuality; clear and decisive with clients.’ ‘Somewhat detached.’&nbs...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies” by Cade Barnett

Submitted to Contest #248

CONTENT WARNING: Suicide, Mental Health The crisp night air nipped at her skin as she settled at the base of a large tree. Thunder rumbled in the distance, underlining the menacing nature of the task before her. She quivered with excitement. Finally, finally, it was over. A lifetime of abuse and suffering. A parade of worthless men who had fooled her into submission. A five year relationship with a loving partner that she was too afraid to end. She drew her breath, steadied her head against the trunk, and raised the gun to her t...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies, Lucky Day” by Karolyn Kearney

Submitted to Contest #248

Amanda looked up from the counter of the coffee shop. She blinked. Was it possible? Had he found where she worked and came to see her? Mustering a bright smile, she said, “Hey, welcome to Java Bean, Jake. It’s been a while. What can I get you?” He gave a quick glance up from his phone. “Do I know you? Give me a large iced coffee.” “Sure.” A frown crossed her face. “You don’t re...

Read story

“Desperate Remedies - Garlic Girl” by Kaoli Chona

Submitted to Contest #248

The changing seasons in Zambia always signaled the return of my three sisters from the Diaspora, each arrival was a delightful reunion filled with laughter and love. "Sera, we're coming back home for summer!" their voices echoed through the mobile phone, their excitement clear even through the crackling connection. And so, with flights booked for 11th August, 13th August and 15th August, I prepared for their arrival as a seasoned hostess.Cleaning became my anthem as I danced through the house, rearranging furniture and stocking up on toiletr...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

261

Contest entries

97

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 03, 2024 EST

Won by Honey Homecroft 🏆

Title: Paradise Lost

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 ⭢