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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

“Paradise Lost” by Mel Kennedy

Submitted to Contest #248

The sun - a red sun, it turns the sand the colour of blood. Red, the colour of blood. Blood, the warm liquid that ran down her hands and arms the day the raiders came. A blood soaked world. She doesn’t like the colour red. She walks steadily down an old highway, eyes shielded by a worn out baseball cap. Her hands are covered with solid leather gloves, a long, torn jacket protecting her body despite the unbearable heat. Her clothes have seen better days. How many people have worn them before her? Judging by the claw marks, a fair ...

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“Desperate Measures” by Christine LW

Submitted to Contest #248

Oscar was Oscar, no one could change him? once he decided on a method of doing something. Stuborn as a mule? Over the years others had come to accept him for who he had become.The word came to mind methodical as a boy his books lined up in a straight line on a shelf above his bed. His treasured telescope upon his neat writing desk. Where he studied insects how they bred and multipled. Watching every movement through the telescope. Was this the sign of a murder or eccentric youth.So many hours in his room, not like other boys. No pranks or mi...

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“Desperate Remedies ” by Melissa Coleman

Submitted to Contest #248

"The King will return from his surveillance of the land in two days, Elwood," Magician Topoli reminded him sternly as he rose from his seat to move behind the table laden with brewing potions. Wisps of smoke coalesced into ephemeral clouds, gradually darkening as they inundated their liquid into a waiting beaker."The Queen's condition is dire, and the entire Kingdom was relying on you this morning," Topoli's tone was heavy with disappointment. "We needed a cure, and now, thanks to your mishap, her plight has worsened. Time is of the essence,...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Justin Hughes

Submitted to Contest #248

‘Speak no untruths in the presence of a gleemynx,’ Arlo’s mother used to warn him, growing up in the Oakseed Vines.How could he have known, though? A gleemynx isn’t always easy to spot. They look remarkably similar to any normal person. Until, of course, you notice their crooked legs, webbed fingers, and pale green skin. Arlo hadn’t been paying attention when he stepped into the Alchemic Spire. He was looking for information regarding a bounty on an elfen grifter who had been terrorising Oakseed’s peaceful streets. A rookie mistake. You must...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Kristal Eckhardt

Submitted to Contest #248

Desperate RemediesJack heard the sharp report of a rifle and smiled. By God, if Soak wasn’t going to get a buck this time. “Hey, Soak!” Jack yelled, “Didja get one?” No answer. Must be out of earshot, Jack thought. An involuntary chuckle rose to his lips. Maybe the stupid shit shot his foot off. The chuckle became an audible laugh. Wouldn’t that serve that bragger right for mouthin’ off about the ten-pointer he got last year? Damn straight it would. Just because Jack himself shot a button-buc...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Nino Laquidara

Submitted to Contest #248

God paced back and forth in His office. The time was drawing nearer. He’d been dreading this meeting. But as His children said: desperate times call for desperate…wait, how did it end again? Desperate remedies? That didn’t sound right. Well, that was the saying now. He was God after all. Anyone who disagreed would be greeted with a lightning bolt to the face.God paused to stare out His window. He admired the landscape sprawled out before Him. Mountains bursting with flowers. Buildings dipped in gold. Puppies everywhere. His perfection made m...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Alexandra Caulway

Submitted to Contest #248

The only thing I needed to get him to do was enter the castle. “It shouldn’t be hard,” my mother told me, sitting before her round vanity mirror, the edges laced with carved roses — no thorns, buds only, but the petals were sharp. I knew that from when I was a child and ran my finger along the flowers, in awe of their delicacy, only to feel a sharpness and find it bright with blood.“Every woman in our family before you has done it. The hardest part, my darling, will not be getting him to come in—it will be making sure the one you let in is t...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Robert Cook

Submitted to Contest #248

Desperate Remedies "Beep! Beep! Beep!" I awake to a familiar sound and a familiar sight. A messy room lit up with the light from sunrise and a fucking ANNOYING alarm that won't shut up. "Beep! Beep!" "click" I turn it off and look at the time...shit im going to be late! I immediately got up, got dressed in a button up shirt, denim jeans and sneakers then bolted out the door as fast as my feet could carry me. I ran to my car...SHIIIIIIIIT! I forgot my fucking keys...are you kidding me? I ran back to my apartment and ...

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“Desperate Remedies” by Terra Wertz

Submitted to Contest #248

Tonight, the stars dance for us, waltzing in and out of the cloud cover, bowing, twirling, singing as I approach our spot. My heart flutters. This is it. “Happy anniversary, Babe. Tonight, I’m going to get it just right.”Though more clouds obscure the lights than I’d prefer, this won’t wreck the occasion. I will not allow it. The universe is on our side tonight.“Mother Nature is a caretaker; she will provide. We are her children–me and you.”I chant this script aloud a total of eleven times because that’s our number and part of the ...

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“The Wind in the Willows” by Reid K Trice

Submitted to Contest #248

Spring has set in here in our small rural home town, “Way down Upon the Suwannee River”. Jingles in my mind when I drive over our one bridge connecting so many people to the town were all working and thriving in. Every year around this time, Our main natural resource floods. The dark water rises higher and higher every week, making the towns folk have to get on their golf carts and drive to the local park that features our beautiful and mysterious river. They have to barricade the roads because the water is just too deep and we hav...

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“Through the Willow” by Jennifer Littlefield

Submitted to Contest #248

Sometimes the corner of Fern and Greenfield, the one with the old weeping willow tree, was lonely. I mean, I loved being a sixth-grade patrol, strapping on that neon orange belt over one shoulder and around my waist. It proclaimed my maturity to the rest of the student body of Bendle Elementary. It was lonely because only a few walkers came in my direction, and I didn’t have a partner like most of the other patrols. One kid the teachers chose got in trouble for smoking after school. Thank goodness. I knew that kid. He made all ki...

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“The Wind in the Willows” by Jeff Macloud

Submitted to Contest #248

Jeremiah Willow’s head hit something sharp and hard. “Oww!” He shouted, as his fingertips found a half-inch long wound and matted sticky hair. Combined with the vinegary stench of the coop, he thought for a moment he might be sick. But there wasn’t as much blood as he feared, which calmed his heartbeat and brought him back to his senses. His son, Isaiah, had replaced the chicken coop roofing last month, but the sixteen-year-old had his mind on baseball and PlayStation, not safety. The boy had not bent the nails. His daughter, Mary...

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“The Wind in the Willows (of Night and Stars)” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #248

The night sky was darkest black velvet, sprinkled with the glittering of stars held together by milky threads. In the centre of this night sky she hung, full and a luminous silvery-blue. He stood there, waiting under their favourite tree – a willow.His skin was bronzed, his figure tall and light yet muscular. He wore clothes of dappled greens and browns like a rich, forest loam and a gentle breeze seemed to roll around him, caressing him lovingly, gently waving his long, earthy brown hair. But it was his eyes that were the most captivating. ...

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“Wind in the Willows” by Paul Simpkin

Submitted to Contest #248

“Happy 7th birthday, darling.” Mum and dad sang happy birthday. I joined in. There was a big cake in the middle of the table with 7 candles on it. I had to blow out the candles, which I managed at the second attempt. Then they handed over my present. It didn’t look like a football. It looked like a book. I ripped off the paper and it was a book. “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame. At the time I was a bit disappointed but I grew to love the book. I had been enjoying the TV series so my parents thought that I would enjoy reading the ...

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“The Wind in the Willows” by Cici Jang

Submitted to Contest #248

Once upon a time, there was a woman named Rose. Rose was extremely beautiful and kind. She was known for her sparkly blue eyes and gorgeous smile. Many people called her Persephone, the goddess of spring because of her natural beauty and spring-like features. As beautiful as Rose was, she was never interested in boys, until she met a man named Caspian. Caspian was a merchant who was betrothed to another woman named Violet. Violet was the opposite of Rose. She was also known for her beauty but she had the heart of the devil. She had...

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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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