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!

#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

“The Duke's Unexpected Alliance” by Susanne Kirven

Submitted to Contest #260

1811 A.D. London, England Tossing the calling card in his hand on his desk Barrington Monck made a face. After giving his butler permission to show their guest to the library, he murmured “I didn’t see that one coming.” to an otherwise empty room. Rising to his feet, he heard the faint whisper of kid slippers gliding across marble as he awaited his uninvited guest. Not just uninvited, but unexpected, if not exactly unknown. He had been formally introduced to Lady Clarisse during her first season. He’d even danced with her several times...

Read story

“A Seven year Switch” by Brian Bywater

Submitted to Contest #260

A SEVEN YEAR SWITCHDAY ONE“You are right. The trivia night at the local school was where we met.” “Mr Delaney, what matters is what happened after that.”“None of it is relative. I didn’t make her go away.”“Continual denial is wasting our time. Rebecca did not ‘just go away’. Her clothes, beauty creams and make-up are still in your home. Added to those items we have noted her car is in the garage. Another item we see as significant Mr Delaney is her bank accounts have not been used since you say ‘She just went away’. You do see the...

Read story

“The Wonderful Victims episode one” by G S Martin

Submitted to Contest #260

crude language blatant stupidity1984 We grieve as the 'New Wave' recedes into history, leaving behind nothing but pools of brackish memories. Meanwhile, the wretched 'Big Hair' band grows in pomposity like quaffed dust bunnies. Gone are the 'Police' and 'Cars.' Hello 'Ratt' and 'Poison.' ...

Read story

“Beneath the Hood” by Kimberly Talisse

Submitted to Contest #260

The cold wind slices through my knit sweater like a knife, chilling me down to my very bones. The small, barren bush that sits in front of me is a useless shield for blocking out the wind. I crouch down, my knees raw and scraped from having fallen against the old stone ruins of the temple behind me. My hand rests on the coarse dirt to keep me from falling over. The aching muscles in my back and legs protest sitting in this position for as long as I have, but I fight the urge to stand. Not when moving is the very thing that can get me killed....

Read story

“The Waiting Room” by Neha Magesh

Submitted to Contest #260

When I was twenty years young, trying to keep my eyes open in a dusty state college classroom, a loud-mouthed girl turned around in her desk and asked me for a pencil. She had a deep cupid’s bow and wild, curly hair, and I knew I’d never get over her. I was an awkward kid. I had long clumsy limbs, wore starchy button-up shirts to class every day, owned all twenty-six volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and had lived two decades without kissing a girl. I would have been deluded to think this radiant girl wanted anything more than the...

Read story

“The Ol' Switcheroo” by Adella Dratianos

Submitted to Contest #260

It was ridiculous. My partner Derrick and I made one of the most outrageous bets in our dating history. In one of our silly arguments, he spat out playfully, “I bet you couldn’t live one day in my shoes, Ariana Sister!” I giggled. “That could never happen, and you know it.” I teased him with a smile. “Never underestimate the power of the mind.” He replied with a scheming twinkle in his eye as he strode to the Common Room. I thought nothing of it, and simply shook it off. That night, I thought nothing would happe...

Read story

“Divinton's retribution” by Pres T

Submitted to Contest #260

The sunset clouds are not just reserved for dusk time. The skies are bathed in a deep yellow hue, that disproportanetly skews the landscape into a hellscape like no other. Coughing and wheezing of the old and new can be heard within earshot. No physician can truly know the long-term repercussions of living in this environment. By the time a body meets the coroner, they select one cause of death to list on the certificate anyway. This is Divinton, a city that once had many of the positive superlatives you can find in the dictionary. But...

Read story

“The Water” by Brandy Perry

Submitted to Contest #260

As I sit here at the kitchen table allowing the sun that has crept in through the window to warmly embrace my skin while offering the security for which I yearn, I cannot shake the urge to want to reveal what has been on my mind since last night. What I experienced was nothing like what I had ever experienced before. I am confused as to whether the bizarre adventure was scary enough to be a nightmare or just an unsettling occurrence beyond reality. Would anyone even believe something so weird came from my mind? I questioned myself. Th...

Read story

“Dream Twist” by Bill Cusano

Submitted to Contest #260

It's one thing when your main character stops listening to you. Every author experiences that moment when their creation transforms from a marionette to a real boy, and now you are stuck feeding him, teaching him how to wipe himself, and putting money aside for college. But no one ever told me the upstart would invade my dreams and visit other characters while I sleep. Tell me that has happened to you, and I will stop taking NyQuil PM and just try to enjoy it.I will admit I was grateful the first time he came up with a plot or...

Read story

“According to him” by Yvette Okeke

Submitted to Contest #260

“Woooh that’s my song right there”! I scream as Orianthi’s “according to him” blasts over the car cd player. It’s been about half an hour since I left Sam at the Paragon Hotel just outside of Orange County and I can still smell the scent of him all over me. “According to him I’m funny irresistible everything he ever wanted...” I sing along feeling euphoric as the wind blows through my goddess braids, thanks to the open top vintage Mercedes sports convertible I drive down this familiar route to Queens New York pretty often. Is it even ironic ...

Read story

“I don't remember” by Irving Soto

Submitted to Contest #260

-Ladies and gentlemen. -Announced the handsome host from his plush chair-. Hold on to your seat as tightly as you can because today we have a very special guest. Please welcome the six-time winner of the noble prize for literature. Give me a magnificent round of applause for Mr. Luis Ramirez! -The roar of the crowd shook the studio walls- Tell me, Mr. Ramirez, do you know why you are here today? -Sure. You don’t have to ask me. We’re here for me to tell you about how I wrote my masterpiece! The story that catapulted me to fame and that no o...

Read story

“The Shooter” by Katharine Schmidt

Submitted to Contest #260

The electricity was thick in the humid air. Another severe storm warning was in effect—the third in less than two months. Who would have known it was supposed to be summer and the sun was supposed to be out? The wind and rain were getting old fast, but something about this storm seemed a little different, and this time, it caught my attention. The forecasters called it the big one and made wild predictions about power outages, extreme flooding, and hurricane-force winds. I rolled my eyes at the little white letter...

Read story

“A Fantastic Dream” by W.T. Partin

Submitted to Contest #260

The A/C hummed softly above me as I leaned back into my office chair. My pocket vibrated once again, likely another text from Janet. I didn’t dare to pull my phone out. Darren had already written me up once this week for phone usage, and I wouldn’t be caught out again. Hopefully it wasn’t something urgent, or something to do with the kids. I felt like Janet would be calling if something truly terrible had happened. She was probably just sending me the grocery list for tonight’s pickup. Janet was finally going to make her famous Southtoast Ch...

Read story

“ATLANTIS” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #260

Atlantis the most beautiful, the most spectacular of the island chain known as the Poseidon Bay Islands. Known for its splendid architecture, it's majestic people and lavish food. Atlantis is a wonder for all who come. Atlantis, the biggest among the islands stand alone as the favorite of Poseidon. The other two islands can't compare. To the people of Atlantis myself included, our home stands alone as the most powerful island nation in the known world. We, Atlantean's are easily recognizable with our bronze skin, deep sea green eyes and long...

Read story

“Familiar” by Patrick Perkins

Submitted to Contest #260

“Familiar” Julien sat in his back yard. The book seemed magnetized, as he brought it to his stomach, it pushed away as if there were two magnets with opposing polarities. He thought it was weird. He felt the push against his stomach as he kept lowering the book. He wasn’t sure why this was happening, was there a magnet in the book? Was the magnet in his stomach? Then he thought “There must be two magnets. One is in my st...

Read story

Load more stories

$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!

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 ⭢