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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

“Apocalypse ” by Olivia Osen

Submitted to Contest #42

I huddle against the wall with the rest of the town as we feel the vibrations of the explosions coming from above us. I turn my head toward the crowd around me and feel my heart throb. A tear slips down my face, and I’m astonished to find that my usually composed persona is faltering. How did our safe, little town get into the position of facing the end of humanity? I was making a peach upside-down cake in the kitchen of my cozy, traditional home. I whipped the egg whites and was continually fretting about the board members I was going to fa...

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“Eduardo” by The Last Unicorn

Submitted to Contest #42

“How was your afternoon walk, Nana Louisa?” Nurse Abigail asked. “Swell. Swell. Have you received any calls from Eduardo? He promised that he would visit me this week.” Louisa told Nurse Abigail. “I’m afraid not Nana Louisa. Who is this Eduardo that you speak of by the way?” Nurse Abigail asked. Abigail was a new-comer at the Castanea Home for the Aged and Nana Louisa was her first ever p...

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“Beautiful lies and painful truths” by Liana Nehbin

Submitted to Contest #42

Huff...Huff..Evan sprinted through the overly crowded street like a lunatic, and occasionally stopped to fill his exhausted lungs with some air. 'No time to waste,' once again he reminded himself as he continued his journey; his destination was not nearby, he have to make his way to the Arizon Plaza, and no cabs were within sight. His mind was in a tempest of thoughts and his face was displaying various mixed emotions. With forehead breaded with perspiration and eyes full of determination he continued his journey.Rather than the external pai...

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“Arielle” by Sam Kirk

Submitted to Contest #42

Simon entered the train station with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a hand-made sign in the other. In red, big, bold letters, the text spelled out a female name. Arielle. He looked up at the clock above the tunnel leading down to platform number four and then down at his wristwatch. The first one had just struck 4 o’clock while the latter was two minutes ahead. Placing the flowers and sign gently on a nearby bench, Simon adjusted his watch to have it match the big station clock down to the second. He cleared his throat, picked the flow...

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“The lost dimension” by Whitney Boyer

Submitted to Contest #42

Legend tells of a castle that is so big the rooms are basically in countable. Within this legend there is a rumored to be only 1 pair of siblings that can find and live in the castle, for only the pure of heart can enter and remain there. Sydney and Bobby were twins who through no fault of their own, had problems staying on one foster home for very long. See even though the children were adorable strange things always seemed to happen when they were around. The electricity went out, the animals ran away and things disappeared from time to ti...

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“Leaving The Village” by Martin Buckell

Submitted to Contest #42

Regis came from a long line of farmers. He lived in a village where everyone owned a plot of arable land. He had a large house and several fields on which he grew wheat, sunflowers and rapeseed. Behind his house stood a hanger where a workshop was set up. People would come and go and use the machinery and borrow tools or stop off and chat the local gossip. You couldn’t help but like Regis. He was a big cheerful fellow, always with a smile. This close knit community was where he was born. Family were all around. His auntie lived down the lane...

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“And It Goes Like This” by Sprite Akuma

Submitted to Contest #42

Exploring my grandmother’s flower garden is my favorite thing to do. Every day I run down the not-so-steep hill from my house to her house, say hello to my grandfather who is sleeping on the creaky porch swing, then hop into the garden. Grandmother says I have to be careful not to trample the flowers, so I follow the path of pretty painted stepping stones. Each one pictures a different kind of flower; my grandmother says she wishes she had the creative talents to make them. Instead, my mother made them for her. My mother is an artist. My r...

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“The Reunion” by Linda Herskovic

Submitted to Contest #42

She wasn’t much good at cleaning. She could straighten things out, make the place appear neat and tidy, but she lacked the ability to actually scrub out the dirt. Well, she didn’t really lack the ability, she lacked the desire. Plus, she always felt when she did a task to the utmost that it was never good enough anyway so why bother? She was sure to miss something.She dusted off the surfaces she could reach and the periphery of surfaces that she couldn’t and then pulled out her Eureka Mighty Mite canister vacuum cleaner that had only one whe...

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“The Final Interview” by Karen Haggard

Submitted to Contest #42

So, here's my story. I went to college and earned myself a crisp, white, embossed piece of paper with an official stamp and crimpy seal on it that says, "You did it." Got that degree in Public Relations. I didn't let the door hit me in the ass. I flooded the big city with resumes and waited for the offers to come rolling in. And I waited. And waited. And nothing. That's when loser #1 entered my life. Names aren't necessary. A loser is a loser.* * *"Excuse me, are there any vending machines in the vicinity?" I asked. "I'm starving.""No, I'm s...

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“Out of the Darkness” by Andrew B

Submitted to Contest #42

She is in the bathroom with both hands on the edge of the sink. Leaning forward, she stares at her reflection. Numb. Why do people call it a black eye? It’s much more of an eggplant purple with splotches of red and yellow. Like a waning sunset of pain and regret. The faucet dispenses a steady drip drip of water. Undetected. Her gaze moves down to her neck. Similar hues of purple. She slowly picks up her hand and gently glides her fingers across her collar bone. Images flash. Him. Stumbling through ...

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“Life is a Roller Coaster” by Emma Mason

Submitted to Contest #42

Today is the first day of school. I just moved to a new town where I know not a single person. This is my first time moving schools and towns. Never in my life do I think I have ever been more nervous. As I walk in the doors of the school everything seems like a new world. Lately life has only shown me the downs. I would have thought that my mom would get time off to stay home with me after everything we have gone through the past month. The first quarter of school goes by in a blur. Every day I sit at lunch by myself. Nobody has tried to co...

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“Still Waiting ” by Kate Enoch

Submitted to Contest #42

Today is a miserable December afternoon, like it is pretty much every year on my birthday. The air is chilly enough to make your hands numb, but not quite so cold that the rain pelting the porch roof can turn to snow. I’ve been sitting on these wooden stairs since the sun came up this morning, and I haven’t moved since. You might be wondering why I’m wasting my special day sitting on a porch and freezing my face off instead of eating cake and opening presents. Well, it’s kind of a long, story, ...

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“THE CAROUSEL” by P. Jean

Submitted to Contest #42

On a recent trip to the mall, Maggie was happy to see the new carousel feature was in operation. She passed by it three times before finally deciding she was not too old for a ride. Some people may think her stupid for riding with so many younger kids but she didn’t care, she wanted to do it. It did take her three times standing to watch, and then changing her mind, before she actually decided to get in line.Finally in line, Maggie stood transfixed. The colorful animals whirling by, the fun music and...

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“Hallucinations” by Edith B

Submitted to Contest #42

“Please…please stop.” The little boy was a mess. His bruises on his face light up like a neon sign, and his bottom lip quivers. He makes pathetic hiccuping sounds that echo louder in my ears than they should. He looked so helpless, so alone, so…vulnerable. But I know what’s really inside of him. And he’s not going to get away from me this time. I bend down and whisper in his ear, “If only mom and dad were here to stop me this time.” I sink my knife into his chest and he slumps to the floor, his head making a sickening thunk! against th...

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“War Wounds” by Magnet Marsdaughter

Submitted to Contest #42

A young man sat on a park bench, his eyes gray and dismal as the bleak March sky. “Move on,” someone had said. “Start over tomorrow.” But there were some things you couldn’t start over from. When you had completely lost and failed in everything, there came a time for calling it quits. No one could keep wringing themselves out like that. It didn’t work. When you were spent, you were spent. A sad and dramatic philosophy. But there it was.He listlessly watched the children play in the park. There was a whole crowd here today. All over the place...

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$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!

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