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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

“Persuasion” by Dr. Stephen A Salaka

Submitted to Contest #248

The reek of charred wood still clung to Zoryana Volk's armor. It was the dragon's scent – she knew it – a rancid promise of fire and teeth. Each stride into the forest wasn't a march but the pull of a tightened noose. Yet, with every step, anticipation thrummed beneath her fury. She longed for the fight, craved the righteous clash of steel against scale. Yarilo village was a fading ember behind her. Even their wails echoed with a strange hollowness, as if the forest had begun to swallow them even before she hunted the true culprit. Rumors ra...

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“Persuasion” by Margarita Escobar

Submitted to Contest #248

PERSUASION As a dark and menacing storm unfolded, the rain splattered the windows and sounded heavy. The wind roared. My big old house up the hill seemed to shake, anticipating the squall. Lightning flashes came through the frayed curtains of my office and reflected on my bare walls. The light of my desk lamp flickered. These are the nights when my demons lurk around my brain relentlessly. I removed my glasses and rubbed my eyes. I was the only doctor in this small town. Being away from larger places, I had to deal with all kinds of sicknes...

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“Paradise Lost” by Lisa Pais

Submitted to Contest #248

Paradise LostBy Lisa Pais“Unfortunately, there is no mistake,” she said, closing the file. Her tone was gentle, soothing and she placed the black folio with the embossed gold monogram to the side of the desk with the appropriate degree of solemnity required for such an occasion.“It can’t be,” said Frank. He sat back, dropping his head into his hands.“I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.” A box resembling a cigar humidor had been sitting unattended on the desk. The woman reached for it now, opened it and withdrew a small silve...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Kenneth Penn

Submitted to Contest #248

A deafening cheer erupts from the crowd outside Danny’s hotel window in New York City’s Time Square. The sky darkens as a giant, electric-blue ball begins to descend, a harbinger of the New Year’s arrival. Danny’s heart races, his nausea amplified by the rising tide of voices counting down in perfect sync. “Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven-” Less than a minute left now. What will it be? His humanity, or soul? Three strange beings wait patiently in the room with him. They aren’t human. They don’t look like the aliens he’s seen in movies -...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Danielle A

Submitted to Contest #248

"Just relax." I did that in January, February, and March, but maybe April will be different. I can't be this broken that I can't relax, right? April is gonna be it. Relaxing. Ommmmmmmmmmmmmm. "Have you tried getting drunk? Going on vacation? Drunk on vacation?" Well, it wasn't April as well, so May will be a combo month - relaxing, drinking, and a vacay. With these three checked, I can't not be pregnant at the end of this month, right? But how drunk is too drunk or not drunk enough? Never mind, I'll do both: two glasses of wine and two bottl...

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“Desperate Remedies ” by Tirzah Young-Miles

Submitted to Contest #248

Nobody knows how close I’ve come to ending it all. Each day that I exist feels like I’m dying a slow and painful death. I beg to be released but she won’t loosen her grip. I pull the ropes in attempt to free myself, but this action only cinches them tighter. With relentless exhaustion that no amount of sleep can alleviate, my body goes slack. I collapse in a heap, incapacitated. I feel sick, though I’m not, at least not physically. Everything aches. I’m exhausted. Broken. Inherently and catastrophically broken.I try to remind myself tha...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Alfie Mills

Submitted to Contest #248

March 8th, 2023 - My Final PostSleep evades me, my mouth a dry desert of sores that burn with each breath. The mere thought of food induces violent waves of nausea, and I have resorted to shaving my own head in desperation. This is the last night I will spend on this earth, according to their twisted plans. But I refuse to succumb. No, this won't be my final night on this doomed planet if my plan succeeds.It's been four months since I was diagnosed with the worst kind of cancer. They tell me my only chance is chemotherapy, but I know the tru...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Steven Nimocks

Submitted to Contest #248

Chapter 1The alarm clock's speakers shattered the blissful peace by blasting the chorus of Highway to Hell. Noah Vale needed the shock to wake up at 4:30 A.M. He stood up and stretched. For the last 10 years, it signaled another mundane day for Noah at Omni-Forge Industries. His wife of 15 years still laid there as the weather forecast began."Lauren, get up or I'll be late," he said, finding her still in bed when he finished his morning routine."C'mon, I got ten minutes left." He gathered his things to leave. Lauren got up and made breakfast...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Erika Sams

Submitted to Contest #248

Desperate RemediesBy Erika Sams After a week on a meditation retreat in the middle of nowhere Josephine had decided the Zen life was bullshit. Behind the smiles and high-pitched whispers of welcome was a rage barely contained with deep breathing and overdosing on lavender tea. Fuck, that tea was delicious though. Either way, she knew all these lost souls were one misfortune away from snapping. How was she so sure? Because the yoga instructor was dead in her trunk. In Josephine’s defense, she was feeling much better! The smell of lavender fro...

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“The Wind in the Willows” by Jim Wilkerson

Submitted to Contest #248

“I don’t have much time to chat,” said Ricky Welch, sighing a bit tiredly as he sat down. “I gotta get back to work by one o’clock, and you know how getting Caroline to her volleyball practice at the Y makes dinner all rush-rush every Tuesday. Still, I can always find some time for you, sweetest wife in the world.” “Oh, yes, you are so. You are the sweetest wife in the world, baby. Sweetest mommy, too. Caroline told me last night she wants to look just like you when she grows up. I told her that...

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“Wind in the Willows” by K1tty Williams

Submitted to Contest #248

Rania is running, and she’s running hard. Her legs ache, and her stomach keeps twisting, but she doesn’t stop. She has to make it to the willows. Long, wavy blonde hair runs behind her, blowing furiously in the wind of her speed. The dirt is cold and hard beneath her feet, twigs sleeping in the dirt occasionally scratching at her legs. She’s surprised that she hasn’t gotten her hair tangled into any of the low hanging trees and branches.. Rania’s a gasping mess, her green eyes sparkled with determination. She just has to find the willo...

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“The Wind in the Willows” by Nancy Wright

Submitted to Contest #248

I can’t help but study the dirt beneath my mother’s fingernails as the blood slowly trickles out of her arm and into the smooth wooden bowl in my hands. I ate dandelion greens out of this bowl only a few hours ago. My knife–our knife–rests on the kitchen table next to her hip, its blade glistening in the full moon’s light. I realize this probably already sounds like some witchy-tale set in New England in the 1600’s, rather than an event taking place in a time of CT scans, smartphones and fake news. That’s because we don’t exist. At l...

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“the wind in the willows” by Eddie McKenzie

Submitted to Contest #248

The willow trees whistled and groaned with the existential exhaustion of lost and wandering damned souls seeking unachievable salvation amongst the shadowy corners of the earth. Shadows that stretched just that little bit too long in the growing gloom, swayed and danced a little too erratically as a swirl of bitter wind stirred up the leaves that had begun to rot into nothingness on the forest floor. All was too silent, the quiet of the grave reaching its spectral hands up to clasp at the living, even the occasional cry of a night bird seeme...

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“The Wind in the Willows” by Dominque Feloss

Submitted to Contest #248

I carry the heart of the woman who electrified the world around me. Each time it feels heavier, like a weight dangling from my wrists. The tension yanks, separating me from her with each pull, a godforsaken reminder that she isn’t standing beside me. But she’s here. She sings with the birds who gently rouse me awake. She hoots with the owls who lull me to sleep. She rustles like the wind skating through the windchimes in the trees. When I call her name, she whispers to me. Help.I hear her voice every time I meet someone with the same name. M...

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“I Listened and Heard” by Arlene Placer

Submitted to Contest #248

Contains Gay Material. It is not necessary for any of you to make an effort to pitch to me or share any anecdotes about the many wonderful moments you have had in any of these joints.There is no need for any of you to do either of those things.I am not going to do this!I am not going to give in to pressure to do something that I have no desire to do.Despite everyone encouraging, pushing, and giving me gentle nudges and shoves.Not me!No siree!No intention of being a laughingstock!To add insult to injury, the thing that you are asking of me do...

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$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!

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