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!

#263: Heroes and Villains

If you’re an avid cinemagoer, you’ve probably seen trailers or posters for the recently released superhero comedy film Deadpool & Wolverine. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing two beloved characters set aside their differences to save the world — and potentially start an unlikely friendship along the way.

Inspired by Deadpool & Wolverine, this week's prompts center around protagonists and antagonists. Create a new kind of hero or villain, parody a character who already exists, or go totally off script and interpret the prompts in a creative, unexpected way… the choice is yours!

This week's prompts

Write a story from the antagonist’s point of view.

Character – 84 stories

Start or end your story with a hero losing their powers.

Character – 41 stories

Write about two mortal enemies who must work together.

Character – 29 stories

Center your story around someone facing their biggest fear or enemy.

Character – 71 stories

Write the origin story of a notorious villain.

Character – 89 stories

Stories

“A Perfect Date ” by Jennifer Greenwood

Submitted to Contest #263

A Perfect Date Raul lays out his short-sleeved salmon shirt on the ironing board. He pulls it to the edge so that he can get the shoulder properly pressed. As he does this, he wonders about the choice of location for his date. He has chosen an old, traditional bar that serves fried fish and beer. It is always bustling and he thought it would be a good bar to ask those awkward getting-to-know-you type questions whilst also noisy enough for any awkward silences to be filled. He goes through his list of preparations in his head. He has al...

Read story

“The Greatest Foe” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #263

I saw a therapist once. It was more than once. The attraction was elemental. We both kidded ourselves that there was more there than there really was. Something beyond the sating of physical desire. Maybe there was, but neither of us explored that aspect of what was on offer. We liked the thought of each other and what was on display was intoxicating. The taste of her lingers on in my memory. Her words however…She didn’t exactly open up. We’d both been open in our own way. Had to be in order for what we had to be so dizzying and mind alterin...

Read story

“Private Fears in Public Places” by E. H. Main

Submitted to Contest #263

Chapter 1 - “If I Tremble” I am afraid of so many things. First, there's the Dark. I feel like that one is pretty common, so no need to explain right? We are all a little scared of what could be lurking out there. Second, Mirrors. That's probably a little weird, but I don't like to look at myself in them and every time I do, it's a personal jump scare. Third, this one is weirdly specific, but I physically cannot look into mirrors in the dark. Thanks to that lovely Bloody Mary game. Fourth is similar, but windows in the dark freak me out....

Read story

“The Door” by Paul Hellyer

Submitted to Contest #263

Joseph clumsily pushed open the door to his apartment after noisily fiddling with his keys, his arms laden with shopping bags. From outside the hum of traffic and cars seeped through the walls, and he could hear his next-door neighbour shouting at his kids. After closing the front door, he shuffled into the kitchen and put his shopping bags on the counter. His job – forklift driving – had been stressful this day. He had gone back and forth around the warehouse, frantically shifting pallets around trying to bring some kind of o...

Read story

“Hebron” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #263

Content warning: A death, some bloodCicadas droned and flies buzzed in the stillness and heat. Caleb stared at the young man lying facedown on the ground. The sun gleamed on the terrible bloody dent in Shobab’s head, and on the dark metal of the ax head lying loose on the ground. The wooden handle it belonged to felt light and empty in his hands, like his own head. “Run, Caleb!” The voices of the other young men broke into the profound silence of his mind. “Run, now!” Someone shoved him from behind, and Caleb stumbled for...

Read story

“"Broken Heart of Red"” by Stephvon Dames

Submitted to Contest #263

While revenge might provide a temporary sense of satisfaction, it often leads to feelings of bitterness and emptiness. You may be unable to heal emotionally if you are focused on negative emotions. You may end up compounding your grief instead of alleviating it by seeking revenge.One who understands this idea well is Marco Prince, a baby left at the hitman guild Dragon Tail and taken in to be raised. Despite being trained in a world of vengeance and violence, Marco learned that true healing comes from forgiveness and moving forward. His stor...

Read story

“A Tattered Flag” by N Martin

Submitted to Contest #263

The black-and-white footage flickered, casting a ghostly light over the dimly lit shack. Resistance fighters huddled around the makeshift television desk, their faces etched with weariness and resolve. The grainy images of the dense Bornean jungles and the devastation wrought by the Malaysian military filled the screen.“In the dense rainforests of Northern Borneo, conflict is brewing. Discontent with the new Malaysian government’s religious policies has sparked violent uprisings in the region of Sabah. What began as a few isolated prote...

Read story

“Mere Woman” by Lonnie Russo

Submitted to Contest #263

The placid waters, glistening with grit, lay sullied only by mud, not yet reddened by blood one day to spill. She trod through them, disturbing the surface with well-balanced footfalls. A mother long-gone had once called her Godgyfu—her gift, her gift of God—a god that himself had treated them with fury alone, more harshly than even these wilds’ most unforgiving days. Today, at least, was not such a day. The slumbering fens heaved around her, tranquil with the humid breath of life. A shallow inhale, a swallowing of the damp air in the s...

Read story

“The Villain's Hero” by Liz Reda

Submitted to Contest #263

Trigger warnings for physical violence, and implied sexual assault.A supervillain knows that there are a few necessary steps to robbing a bank. Figuring out your target, plan of attack, and escape route are all vital to getting out with the money, without getting arrested. A smart supervillain knows that their hero is a vital part of that plan working correctly.Glitch is and always will be the worlds greatest bank robber. She knows how much to steal, how to launder it, and how not to get caught. But, most importantly, she knows to play ...

Read story

“My Family's Murder” by Tessa Hanna

Submitted to Contest #263

The click of the door opening is unexpected. A lady walks in. She reminds me of Amelia. She’s young and has a smile that oozes positivity yet confidence. I’m probably her first case since she hasn't been jaded to the world yet. Dr. Scott was the only one they ever sent in here, so I don’t know why they're trying a new one now. It’s been three years already. She sits in the chair across from my bed, all nice and cozy. I don’t move, keeping my knees tight against my chest. “Hello, Sandy,” she begins, her voice warm. She...

Read story

“BREAKING NEWS: Local Nuisance Sends In Annoying "Manifesto"” by Lily Barnes

Submitted to Contest #263

I don’t really appreciate my title of super villain. The first time someone called me that was in a newspaper article after I accidently released a group of penguins from the Central Park Zoo. I genuinely meant no harm! I wanted to see if they would follow me around like little minions. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s the penguins themselves. They’re evil little creatures. I did not instruct them to attack those groups of elementary schoolers; they did that on their own volition. Unfortunately for me, a passerby snapped a picture of me laug...

Read story

“The Architect in the Shadows” by Cheryl Martin

Submitted to Contest #263

The city of Morwenna sprawled beneath a twilight sky, its buildings huddled together like conspirators beneath a cloak of perpetual dusk. Somewhere amidst the labyrinth of alleyways and towering structures, Marcellus Draegan watched over his domain. His heart pulsed with an energy that few could understand, a relentless drive that had pushed him to where he was now: the most feared and respected man in the underworld. He had been called many things—monster, tyrant, villain—but those words were whispered by the weak, the unworthy. To Marcell...

Read story

“Live and Let Live” by Jeff Raderstrong

Submitted to Contest #263

It was Sparrow that first told Wolf about the pigs. Most days, Wolf could count on Sparrow waiting for him after he woke from one of his snoozes. She always had something to say, usually some inane story about infighting between chickadees, or a rundown of the different tree branches she had explored that afternoon. Occasionally, she’d help Wolf out with a deer sighting. Deer were of no consequence to Sparrow. She thought deer were worthless - running around, to and fro, chewing and pooping. No good for conversation, because they were ...

Read story

“A wolf in sheep's clothing” by James Little

Submitted to Contest #263

Diana had woken up, and started her morning routine, push-ups and sit-ups, before hitting the shower, from the running water she heard her husband: “Putting on your coffee, and maximum calories for kids, are you sure, they need that many carbs?”“Sure, I am, I checked their schedule, they need the energy” she yelled back.“And I was planning to make pancakes, but not gonna argue with scientific knowledge”,” he joked. She found the family life tedious, but it had some perks.“So, are you finally going to put Bill in the spotlight? You’ve been co...

Read story

“Catcat: Regular Cat” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #263

I’m just a young, gray tabby, so I don’t know a lot about humans, but it sure seems like my neighbor, Batman, has a lot of enemies. I’ve watched them come and go over the year, some more interesting than others. A clown, a bird, a couple gaudy business guys, and a handful of tightly dressed ladies. I have some favorites, but that’s neither here nor there. What really struck me was how much effort these fellas and ladies were putting into taking Batman out. Yet with ...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

314

Contest entries

109

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 16, 2024 EST

Won by Eliza Entwistle 🏆

Title: Petrified

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 ⭢