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

“Desperate Remedies” by Thomas Wetzel

Submitted to Contest #248

When the birds all started dying, that’s when it began. Of course we didn’t know that at the time, but looking back now it’s easy to see that was the first sign. We just didn’t know what we were looking at. What it meant. I remember getting the phone call on a Sunday morning when I was at home, sleeping in late.“Hey Jordan, have you been outside yet today? Just wondering if you are seeing what I’m seeing here. This is…pretty disturbing.”After a brief conversation I hung up the phone, put on my sneakers and went out for a jog. It was hard to ...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Persuasion” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #248

In the opulence of a bygone age when the soft plucking of a guitar reverberated through aristocratic drawing rooms, Miss Tucker found herself at a turning point in her life. In her chest, like the delicate strings of that instrument, beat a tango of competing longings. On the one hand, the canvas called out to her—a haven where her creative spirit could run free like a river of color. The burden of her love longing weighed heavily on her, casting a shadow on her aspirations.Concealed within her tattered diary was a chamber that Miss Tucker h...

10 comments 10
Read story

“A Tale of Two Cities” by Andre Noll

Submitted to Contest #248

It was the best of times, I woke up to the sound of birds singing. Instinctively, I looked out the window, which I routinely left open to wake up with the sunrise and the chirping of birds. However, it was the worst of times, I was no longer in Phalopia, my homeland, where real birds frequented my window, but in Hibernum, where I had been living for over 10 years. The sound of the birds was artificial, coming from speakers embedded in the ceiling, which I couldn’t turn off. At least I could choose which alarm I wanted, and the sound of the b...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Sambas and Birdsongs: A Tale of Two Cities” by Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #248

João Santos, Music Journal, April 1, 2024, Rio de Janeiro They say once you lose your groove, you never get it back. But they are always wrong. I climbed on the mossy rock in the heart of Tijuca Forest and closed my eyes, letting the sounds resonate. The rustling of the breeze, birds chirping, and a waterfall's distant roar vibrated the earth beneath my feet. This was the place my Mom, Beatriz Santos, had taken me before she passed away. Growing up, we camped in this secret spot and explored the Rainforest together. Mom taught me t...

12 comments 12
Read story

“Persuasion” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #248

My boyfriend of five years and I broke up. Laurence and Verity, the fabulous two-some who had stuck it out, finally split.We initially believed we were meant to be. Opposites attract, but we set ourselves up for World War 3. Laurence was my type; handsome and confident, never a hair out of place. Male perfection. Never will I be taken in again.The minor things drove me crazy. The way to squeeze a toothpaste tube is from the end and replace the lid. He screwed it, alright - twisted to death with the top half off and toothpaste oozing out.&nbs...

29 comments 29
Read story

“A Tale of Two Cities” by McKade Kerr

Submitted to Contest #248

I looked across the battlefield at the opposing army. They weren’t big, but then again, neither were we. They came from the city of Walnut, a land of dark wood and even darker intentions. It was no surprise to see them on the battlefield again. Our two cities had an eternal feud, always clashing, always competing. Maybe one day we’d sort things out and make an alliance, but today was certainly not that day. Today, we fought. To the right I saw my friend Leonard take the first charge forward. Like me, he was one of the foot soldiers on the fr...

18 comments 18
Read story

“Persuasion ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #248

Kensey McQueen’s body was found floating in a marsh between Eagle River and Chugiak on October 2, 1977 just before the first freeze of the season.  Working as a patrol officer for the Anchorage Police Department, I heard about the fate of this poor eighteen year-old who had just graduated from Chugiak High School, Class of 1977.  There were those who saw this cold case as an accident along the road connecting the two communities.  Back then things were pretty desolate.  Eagle River had one stop sign and Chugiak didn’t hav...

9 comments 9
Read story

“THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #248

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS He finds it difficult to tear himself away from the window and, even when something draws his attention, the ringing of the landline in the hall or the sound of his cell phone, back he returns, involuntarily, to the French window that looks out onto the vast lawn and the cluster of trees that border the edge of the grass and the beginning of the embankment that stretches down to the river flowing hurriedly past his garden. It was always the same when she went away. The first two days, he would almost revel in his so...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Desperate Remedies” by Kristina Hopper

Submitted to Contest #248

“There is this desperate need to always afflict. To run. To create destruction. To drop proverbial bombs that detonate on arrival. It is an empty feeling. It is what you are calling survival.”               Rachel Wallace shifted in her seat. She held onto the glass of water, in her hands, too tightly but she desperately had a feeling of needing something to hold onto. Her therapist, Cecil, waited patiently for Rachel to regain some semblance of calm. She reached out with ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“A Tale of Two Cities” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #248

The day finally arrived, and it was a glorious one. All the emissaries, leaders, and generals of both Judah and Israel were present to witness this historical moment. Not one dignitary dared to turn down the invitation. Through struggle and strife, David was finally being anointed king of both Judah and Israel. Despite all the odds that were stacked against him, he still came out victorious. If ever he had any doubts about a living God, they were whisked away in the summer breeze. Joy and excitement filled his heart as he admired his wives s...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Paradise Lost--Catty Christians! ” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #248

Monday morning, the routine. Ingrid had driven her four kids to their parochial primary school. Her youngest, Matthew, was settling into his first year in the system. Now Ingrid's future was ahead, confronted by piles of washing, with mountains of meals to cook.Why wasn't she skipping around in her free time, reading a romantic chick lit? Yes, she was realizing again that her devout husband's rhythm method had failed. Ingrid was the first and last to know the end result of those fateful questions. "What's for dinner, Little Mother?" Plus the...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Desperate Remedies” by Hope Linter

Submitted to Contest #248

Kyle pulled back Melanie’s hair that fell limp over her gaunt cheek and tied the food bib on her. She placed her hand on his, her muscles involuntarily jerking; she could no longer hold her eating utensils. He knew how hurt and challenged she felt like this, and when she thought he was out, he heard her raging and it broke his heart.  “I really like the texture of this food,” she said, after he spoon fed her from the bowl of processed dinner.  “And the taste?” he said, ignoring the bitter edge of her sarcasm. “Let me guess, carrots...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Wind In The Willows” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #248

Trigger Warning: non-graphic torture/death--------------------------They say that The Wind tells you things, stories. The stories whispered in the breeze. They say that those who can’t bear to stay away seek it. Even knowing that The Wind wasn’t a solution. There wasn’t a fairy-tale ending for those associated with The Wind. Yet, being away from it was unbearable. So I will tell you the story of a little girl, who tried to seek The Wind.--------------------------In a little town, there was a little for...

14 comments 14
Read story

“Desperate Remedies ” by Emerald Lace

Submitted to Contest #248

Kicking and screaming, he shoved her into the back of his Chevy Bel Air as the storm raged in the distance and his sinister chuckle was drowned out by the rumble of thunder. He strapped her into the back seat like a wild animal before he sped out of the driveway that sat in front of what was supposed to be their dream home. He only had a twinge of guilty conscience when he caught sight of the two tiny tear-streaked faces in his living room window.His wife hadn't stopped her caterwauling the entire drive, so by time they'd made it to the asyl...

1 comment 1
Read story

“A Tale Of Two Cities” by Naya's A Writer

Submitted to Contest #248

I heave a heavy breath as I stare at the walls in front of me, contemplating all of my life's decisions. It was night, the air was chilly as the full moon shone over Auschwitz. Many of the other prisoners were unconscious, sleeping, passed out from exhaustion, or dead. My calloused hands ran over the bricks, as I observed the sounds on the other side. Many guards were there, speaking German in their harsh tones. "Ich wette, Herr Hitler würde uns zu Weihnachten keine Pause gönnen. Dieser hässliche Bastard," said one, and another replied, in a...

4 comments 4
Read story

$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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

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 ⭢

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.