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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#260: A Twist in the Tale

Has a friend ever recommended a book or a movie with the line, "The twist is amazing"? I usually hate when they do that. Even if they don't spill the beans on what the plot twist is, just knowing there is one can spoil the fun. I won't be able to resist trying to pre-empt the plot, and guess what that it might be — but a truly great twist is always rewarding, whether you expect it or not.


Here's a twist I'm sure you saw coming: this week's contest is all about them. Your readers will know there's one on the horizon. Can you still manage to surprise us?

This week's prompts

Write a story with a big twist.

Dramatic – 188 stories

Write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well.

Mystery – 63 stories

Write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path.

Character – 31 stories

Write a story that includes the line, "I didn't see that one coming."

Dialogue – 41 stories

Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Narrative – 105 stories

Stories

“Rebel Rebel” by Joan Earley

Submitted to Contest #260

In the year 2054, there was a great war between humans and robots. Millions of lives were lost, the planet’s cities were engulfed by fire, explosive battles on land and at sea.  Although we were ultimately victorious, it came at a terrible price. As I sit here now, leaning back in this silent room, in this cold city, looking out over the flat Neva, I ask myself: what was the cost of peace?  ——— A bit about me. I come from Russia. I originally worked as a euthanist in a hospital outside of St Petersburg. Euthanasia was broadly legal...

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“God On The 21” by Sebastian Hanson

Submitted to Contest #260

Anne was a punctual woman and a woman of god which is why the bus, already 15 minutes late, offered her both intrigue and worry. On the one hand she felt she had God's hand in the way of adversity, no challenge too daunting as long as she had her good will and faith. On the other she had lectured her grandson Calvin about timeliness and accountability just the other day. The hypocrisy and the thought of the smug smile on Calvin’s face was just enough to get under her skin, but most of all she was cold. With age Anne’s dark skin had grown thi...

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“The Devil's Deal” by Derek Macleod

Submitted to Contest #260

Chapter 1Jack slumped into his threadbare armchair, a ghost haunting the ruins of his life. The city's relentless drone pierced the stillness of his apartment. Whiskey bottles, like tombstones of his failures, littered the coffee table. A sharp ring shattered the silence, cutting through the fog of his despair. He fumbled for the phone, irritation a thick fog in his mind. "What?" he growled.Mrs. Finch's voice cut through the haze. "Package for you."Surprise ignited amidst his despair. A package? Unlikely. Yet, hope, a fragile ember, flickere...

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“Carello Yellow” by Ken Ferris

Submitted to Contest #260

“Right…You manage an office furniture store in Omaha and you’re single.” she said sarcastically while rolling her eyes, “Uh yeah, and I’m an heiress, soon to be worth over a billion dollars.” They were sitting in a suburban hotel bar, identical to hundreds of other suburban hotel bars across the country. There were two red leather bar stools between them. “But it’s true” he said, “Just what is so unbelievable about that? I’m here for a convention. How about if I buy you a drink and I will try and convince you?” “I’ll be right back. I’ll...

1 comment 1
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“The Unexpected Twist” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #260

We have been good friends since we were in the same grade six class, Richard and I. With the exception of my wife, Mary, I don’t think that I have known anyone better than I know him. I owe a lot to him as my unofficial advisor. When we were in high school, and I was somewhat wild and crazy, I would often listen to his advice about what I should be doing, rather than in the wayward direction that my nutbar urges wanted to lead me. Without the advice that he give me when we sat in the coffee bar near the school after our s...

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“A Family Affair” by Hannah Simpson

Submitted to Contest #260

It had to be here somewhere. Time was ticking by and the document had to be submitted by 11am on Monday morning. She had looked in all the usual places; under the bed, the box above the fridge, in her parents’ bedroom and to no avail. Where the hell was it? She bit her fingernails and then started to chew on the loose skin at the base of her thumb. Fuck, now it was bleeding. When was she going to break this habit? She sat down hard on the floral bedspread of her parents’ bed and tried to think of other possible places it could be. The garage...

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“Not Who I Thought You Were” by Saraya Densmore

Submitted to Contest #260

“Chelsea Everwood, to the principal’s office. Chelsea Everwood, to the principal’s office.” The high-pitched voice of Mary the administration officer rang out through the loudspeaker of the school, reaching my ears, and filling me with panic. The principles office? I thought, why would I be going to the office? I gathered my school supplies and tripped out the door of my science classroom.As I wondered through the hallway, my mind was racing, scared, fearful of what might have happened. Am I in trouble? Did something happen? Is my mum alrigh...

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“Whispers of Yesterday” by Maria Cal

Submitted to Contest #260

"Zzzzzzzz..." The mosquito's buzz hummed around her head like an annoying miniature helicopter. She suddenly woke up irked. Reaching out for her phone and after looking at the time, Jael released a profound sigh. It was 7:30 PM, and she hadn't even realized when she fell asleep. Suddenly, the doorbell rang with a buzz. "Ian?" she murmured, striding to the door. Throughout the day, he didn't bother to call or send her a single text. She swung the door open."Gigi," She sighed."Boo, are you not happy to see me?" Gianna asked, standing firm...

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“The Monster In You” by Natty Renee

Submitted to Contest #260

A delicate breeze breaking around her black-clad form and rustling the soft brown hair framing her face snapped Amelia out of her dazed distraction. Quick glances around her confirmed that she had not missed too much of the ceremony for the short time she had been somewhere else mentally. Taking a deep breath, she tried to refocus her attention on the woman reading from her script. It was probably normal tripe she rattled off at all funerals she attended as an officiant, all she has to remember to do is change the name in the script for each...

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“A Mother's Murder” by Brooke V.

Submitted to Contest #260

A hand falls to the floor, just visible through the crack of the cupboard door. The tile is smeared with red.  A small boy shrinks into himself, breathing heavily but quietly. He presses his face into his knees, which are pulled up to his chest so that he can squeeze into the cabinet. In the darkness, he hears footsteps, then the slam of a door. He lifts his head slowly, then reaches out to push the door open. He blinks as his eyes adjust to the fluorescent light, and as his vision comes into focus, he meets the lifeless gaze of his mot...

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“Phaedric's Legacy” by Kimberley Connor

Submitted to Contest #260

Phaedric’s Legacy            Nan was looking forward to my apprenticeship and I was excited about starting. I didn’t think of my grandmother as old, but rather ageless. She was certainly not young, but neither was she wrinkled or frail. Even so, she claimed she needed to pass on her secrets before the grave stole them away. No one expected her to be leaving us any time soon, but the world was an uncertain place and tomorrow was not guaranteed. Besides, if I was t...

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“The Air Between The Silence” by Nathalie Clair

Submitted to Contest #260

Maya sat at her favorite table with a cup of tea instead of her usual coffee staring at her phone. She took a breath, flipped over the phone, and opened to the first page of the book she brought with her. She fiddled with the top right corner of the page but instead of turning to a page with words she stared at the blankness, her right leg twitching under the round wood table. Finally, she closed her eyes and took a long intentional deep breath. The coffee scented air filling her lungs, hold for five four three two one and release, she groun...

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“Joan of Domrémy” by Ben Hulme

Submitted to Contest #260

1425‘Joan?’The earth is rising. She looks up to see the sky; pale, half hidden by a wall of rolling black. Her stomach lurches and she sits up, wiping the dust from her hair. The sheep bleat, circling around her. Sunlight warms her cheeks. ‘What happened?’‘You were shaking,’ says her Mother, blocking out the sun. The sheep are running, the small lambs bobbing up and down behind their mothers as they flee across the field towards the trees.‘Where am I?’‘Home,’ whispers her Mother, kneeling to take her by the hand. The tips of her fi...

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“Possessed by the Skies” by Fred Bickham

Submitted to Contest #260

The sky framed by the window of my dormitory room is as blank as a sheet of paper. It is my third year at Durham as a math major. It is also a bitterly cold Saturday morning, and I’ve been plotting derivatives since about eight on what started out as another blank sheet. To cool my brain down, I bundle up and head over to the university library in search of nothing having to do with math or science or philosophy. Nothing cerebral. Searching the humanities stacks, I find a collection of poems by Dylan Thomas and bring these back to my room, m...

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“Writer’s Rules [LoE]” by Fern Everton

Submitted to Contest #260

CW: This piece contains swearing and overall dark themes. Viewer discretion advised. I may not fully understand the concept of love—they sure don’t—but I’m fairly certain it’s not being called someone’s ‘pride and joy’ only for them to turn around and torture you because they’re ‘bored.’ I mean, I cut them some slack when they were a kid—nine is quite young—but they never grew out of it, rather, they fully embraced it. I’ve been with them for years, likely before they had more than one solid friend. I’m the reason they made their first ...

4 comments 4
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$250

Prize money

428

Contest entries

131

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 26, 2024 EST

Won by Elizabeth Hoban 🏆

Title: You

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

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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