#289: Between the Lies with S. J. Watson
This week, we're running a takeover in collaboration with multimillion-copy bestselling author S. J. Watson. The winner of this contest will not only be awarded $250 — they’ll also receive a special bonus prize: personal feedback from S. J. Watson himself. Here's what he has to say about his takeover:
Hi! I’m S. J. Watson, internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers Before I Go to Sleep, Second Life, and Final Cut. You can check out my website here and get access to some exclusive new writing from my newsletter, A Life Worth Writing, here.
Although very different, the themes of my books have tended to coalesce around memory, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the world and our place in it. In my debut novel, Before I Go to Sleep, the protagonist loses her ability to make new memories and wakes up every day believing herself to be someone quite different from who she really is. In Second Life, a grieving woman negotiates an online relationship fraught with danger, and in Final Cut, a character discovers her own past is only half the story.
This week, choose one of the five prompts below and explore the nuanced themes of identity and memory…
Special Update: The Results
S.J.'s Watson's top pick for his takeover was "All I Have To Offer Is My Truth" by Dermot Lane. Here's what he had to say about the winning story: "It was difficult to choose an overall winner between the top stories, but I loved the richness of ‘All I Have to Offer Is My Truth.’ Brilliantly written — like the best short stories, it allows the reader a glimpse into a whole new world, and despite the finality of the ending, it left me wanting more. Wonderful.’"
Congratulations to contest winner Dermot Lane and the runners-up, Rebecca Hurst and Orwell King!
This week's prompts
Start your story with the lines: “The room is unfamiliar. I don’t know how I got here.”
Short Story
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109 stories
Write an open-ended story in which your character’s fate is uncertain.
Short Story
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95 stories
Stories
“The Date” by Lily Finch
Submitted to Contest #289
“Messages” by Ghost Writer
Submitted to Contest #289
“Beneath the Walls.” by Kaylee Ellison
Submitted to Contest #289
“My Worry Stone” by Amanda Wisdom
Submitted to Contest #289
“Lady in the Mirror” by Jay Lawson
Submitted to Contest #289
“Can I Have Your Attention Please” by Jan Keifer
Submitted to Contest #289
“Stolen Memories” by Melissa Lee
Submitted to Contest #289
“Capricorn's End” by John Rutherford
Submitted to Contest #289
“Jerk and Twist” by Kay Northbridge
Submitted to Contest #289
“Herb Meets His Maker... Maybe” by Murray Burns
Submitted to Contest #289
“The Depression of Dr. Caligari” by Aidan Romo
Submitted to Contest #289
“14,572 Days” by Corey Richards
Submitted to Contest #289
“RIP Rico” by Lila Evans
Submitted to Contest #289
$250
Prize money
364
Contest entries
155
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Feb 14, 2025 EST
Won by Dermot Lane 🏆
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!