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!

#42: End of Story

Reaching the end of a story is a bittersweet thing. Upon reading the final word of a particularly good piece, you’re often hit with a sort of story-hangover: the ache of wanting to stay in the world of the tale, yet knowing there’s no more story to be read.

A truly excellent ending can mitigate that pain — which is why, as a writer, it’s crucial to nail the end of your own stories! Of course, this can mean different things for different pieces. A great ending might underscore a story's theme, or it might pose more questions than it answers; it all depends on context and execution. For more info, check out our tips for crafting a memorable ending here, and then dive into our ending-themed prompts below!

p.s. — We're hosting a Live Copyediting Workshop! On May 20th, Editors Tracy Gold and Julie Artz will take to YouTube to copyedit passages submitted by writers like you! For a chance to have your writing featured, click this link to register for the event and you'll receive submission instructions by email.

This week's prompts

Write a story that ends with the narrator revealing a secret.

Mystery – 162 stories

Write a story that ends in the past.

Teens – 68 stories

Write a story that ends with a character asking a question.

Narrative – 260 stories

Write a story that ends by circling back to the beginning.

Short Story – 214 stories

Write a story that ends with one character waiting for the arrival of another.

Kids – 199 stories

Stories

“Waiting is just a game life plays ” by Rebecca Lee

Submitted to Contest #42

“I will pick you up in 20 minutes.” The text from my sister, Kim, beeped into the silence of my office, waking me out of my daydream. I shook my head, and picked up the phone sitting next to my keyboard.The thing about Kim and her plans are that her promises of 20 minutes usually meant about 45 minutes to an hour.So, I didn’t immediately get up to change out of my pajamas. Instead, I stared at the blank page staring back at me from my screen.I was supposed to be writing a short story for Reedsy Prompts(c) – they send out writing prompts out ...

Read story

“Diary of a Psychopath” by Helen Molly

Submitted to Contest #42

Entry #1Friday"What a perfect day," I thought as I crawled under my covers to go to sleep. As I closed my eyes, my mind recalled the events of the day. That morning, I got up as usual with my morning coffee and newspaper, ready to start another day. But as I was walking down to the bus station, I saw something that caught my eye. A red coat and purse walked by my side. It was striking, and I found it alluring. I decided to put a mental note to look out for it again for the rest of the day. When I walked into work, my boss dropped a pile of p...

Read story

“Well Met” by Felicity Edwards

Submitted to Contest #42

They had critiqued each other's stories for some time before they moved onto chatting via email. They quickly worked out how to manage this as one was on the west coast of the States and the other in London. The American lady mentioned she was coming to visit the UK and while there planned to attend a conference for women only. May was intrigued and it did not take her long to check it out and also register for the same conference. They agreed to meet up at the venue before the sessions started. Holly felt worried. How would she recogni...

Read story

“Door of Doom” by Kioni Richards

Submitted to Contest #42

Dinah Dugery couldn’t remember why it was important that she sought help from this grungy house but she knew it was absolutely necessary. It’s mystic mystery called out to every fibre in her body as she slowly approached it’s ebony door. A dreary feeling ran through her body with each steady step. But all her life’s lessons could never prepare her for what would become of her once she entered that slummy door.With a deep intake of breath she went to knock on its coarse surfaces but instead it was opened and her breath caught as she gazed at ...

Read story

“Hello, Darling” by Whitney Trang

Submitted to Contest #42

She stared at the man with tears in his eyes. He approached her slowly. “Genna?” He asked in a whisper. She nodded. He took her hands. “Do you know who I am?” She looked into the man’s familiar face. Of course, she knew who he was. They had spent over two decades together. He was Neil, the love of Genna's life. “Hello, darling.”~ ~ ~ “Aren’t you going to wear the earrings?” Neil asked gently. He was getting dressed to play a round of golf with his buddies. A radi...

Read story

“The Wedding Garden” by Rachel MacLean

Submitted to Contest #42

A woman in a red dress stumbled out onto the open lawn. The warm light behind her glowed like a fire and excited voices and jovial music seeped from the castle into the blue summer night. The woman stood for a moment, breathing, enjoying the soft, cool air soothe her hot skin. Her eyes searched wildly for the moon and when she couldn’t find it she glanced behind her, wondering if she should just abandon the night and drink until she was dizzy. Though, she knew what she was feeling now wouldn’t slip away so easily.“Fuck you,” she whisper...

Read story

“Heartbreaker” by Halle Schaffer

Submitted to Contest #42

I suppose we all crave to be loved. It’s a human’s greatest weakness, after all, to hope for such lofty, foolish things. Because like all young girls with a porcelain face as both their blessing and curse, my stony heart is its own awful conundrum--craving so desperately for love, yet equally unable to find it. There was the farmer’s boy, who sells me potatoes every morning with a wide-toothed grin. Dopey, like a pig satisfied with a hearty meal, legend has it that he lost a couple brain cells wh...

Read story

“Love & The Oxford Comma” by Christopher G

Submitted to Contest #42

To the most infuriating man in the world,I don’t blame you. Never once have I. Until now. Choosing to abandon me because you are unable to fathom hurting me again is not you---the man I had no choice in loving. I believed you to be one of the most courageous men I’ve ever come across. Yet you betray those beliefs with your actions. Abandoning me will not solve your problems. It only leaves you with more. But you will survive, only survive and nothing more. I don't say this from a stance of narcissism but of the peace we find in one another. ...

Read story

“The prophecy ” by Ivy Moonlit

Submitted to Contest #42

I could have spent years, lifetimes even, looking for the prophecy if it wasn’t for you, I could have wasted an eternity searching for something I had just heard, it might have just been a rumour, and I wouldn’t have stopped searching. You helped me, you don’t know you helped me, but once you did I lost you. You helped me retrive the prophecy, helped me set another goal for me to meet, you helped me grow, and for a while now I have been plotting, planning, trying to piece together the puzzle pieces. Attempting to answer my endless flow of qu...

Read story

“Are You Ready? ” by Joshua Hopper

Submitted to Contest #42

“Are you ready?” Camilla looked at me with soft blue eyes. They were the eyes that could tell a thousand stories and hold a thousand secrets. I tried to hold her gaze, but my eyes kept falling on the cold, unforgiving sidewalk. I stood there as still as a statue as I considered the options before me. I had a decision to make and neither outcome seemed particularly desirable. The wind was cool against my face. Fluorescent lights were splashed across a dark blue sky. My neighborhood was quiet. From the looks of it, I was sure that most e...

Read story

“For Daughters Only” by Ndekwoh Ojen

Submitted to Contest #42

If you are a woman who has attained the ripe age of marriage but still stuck in your father’s house, and living in a society where only married women are considered responsible, you will understand perfectly my exposition. You will be so uncomfortable from the seeming isolation the society has left you in. Even your very own family will join the conspiracy. Your parents will call very often to remind you how old and close to their graves they are. They will compare you to your age mates who are already settled down. When the routine cal...

Read story

“Lights off” by Lea Vida DEL MORO

Submitted to Contest #42

They said that “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” and eyes are the greatest reflection of our lives but in my case it is not. I am natural inborn blind and my family didn’t supported my operation because of poverty back then when i was a child but when i finally succeeded to get a chance to reach my dreams now i have the possibilities of seeking a donor for my operation. &...

1395 comments 1395

Read story

“Made of Fear” by ℤ ℍ☮️

Submitted to Contest #42

DAY 5 - 9:00 AM“Guess what, Luis!” Martin calls from his window, “They found the fingerprints!”The gun rockets onto his neck, the chamber locks and the bullet flies into his veins, a flower of red blooms on his skin.He falls to the ground. As white as a sheet.DAY 4 - 7:00 PM“Luis, can Iet you in on a little secret?”The two men sat around an outdoor table around their swaying backyard campfire, which was filling the air with fiery sparks.“Tell me.” Luis nodded.“I’m Owen Moore, would you believe it.”“Oh.” Luis’s face started to dampen, his hea...

Read story

“Hearts Of Men” by Stefen Sly

Submitted to Contest #42

Danger was part of their lifestyle, cunning its way to the top, it drove through the heart of men, making criticism of them. It was at the heart, mind, and eyes of everyone that lives in Dwand land. People call it a fantasy, others believe it's a sign, some say it's a warning, but most especially it's a pest.Jones was laughing heartlily at his partner who laid on the floor rolling over his stomach, it had been a rough day and he wanted to take a break through the night. He had missed whiskey with rum and drops of bitter, expecting it fo...

Read story

“Four Years Later” by Zakaria Attioui

Submitted to Contest #42

Aurora’s living room welcomed the summer sunshine, providing light and warmth to her apartment. She wore a colorful dress with the same colors of her flowers on her living room windowsill—red, pink and violet. She hummed while walking to her kitchen to fill a large jug of water from the sink. Today will be a great day! A smiled super-glued to her mouth as she skipped across the living room to the window. “Some water for you,” she said, as she provided her impatiens with water. She continued down her line, humming and talking to them—and even...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

903

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 22, 2020 EST

Won by Phoebe Barr 🏆

Title: The Firebird's Answer

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 ⭢