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

“This” by Bonnie McD

Submitted to Contest #42

I parked his car in the driveway and turned off the ignition. “I’m sorry I ruined your date.” He looked across the car at me, eyes glistening, the contrition barely visible through his drunken haze. “It’s okay. I think it was better off ending, anyway.” We sat in silence for a while. I thought of a million things to say and nothing all at once. “Do you want to come inside?” I paused for the briefest moment, imaging how the scene might play out. “No, I don’t think that’s a smart idea.” It was barely a whisper, and it said ...

Read story

“The Downfall of a Company” by Faith Chrayon

Submitted to Contest #42

TRANSCRIPTION: MAY 22, 2020, 1:00-2:00pmVENUE: Medical City HospitalBOBBY: Okay, so I know what you’re thinking.How did I, the head architect of Philippinae Castellum Tower, ended up in a hospital because my own building collapsed in front of me?Well, it started three months ago, when the pandemic forced us to stop operations. We were 60 percent done with the building, but there were still a lot of changes and improvements we can make. So I tried to convince the people giving us the budget to use the money in a way that would make it more ef...

Read story

“THE 82nd” by Cynthia Tresner

Submitted to Contest #42

THE 82ndOne day Azzy was going on a trip with her family and she was going to Texas where her mother lives. Azzy only sees her mother every 4 years right before school starts. She only has 2 weeks to spend with her and the rest of her family. Her parents got divorced and moved away so she is living with a nanny named Allie. “Hey Allie, can I wear my school clothes today? I want to look good in front of my parents” said Azzy. “sure sweetie you can but don't play in the mud with them and bring a pair some other clothes that are not school-rela...

Read story

“Second Hand” by Rita Ghosh

Submitted to Contest #42

It all started in July 1998 in a quiet neighborhood of San Bernardino California where I, Jim Brown lived with my parents Judy and Timothy Brown. Most of the neighbors were out for a vacation to Europe, India, China, and one of those exotic places. My dad was a lawyer, and mom worked in a hospital as a nurse. They both were very busy and never had time for me. I had no friends either. I was a lanky and pale thin guy with glasses at the age of 9. It's my luck I don't have an allergy of old dusty books. My only friends were Roald Dahl, Enid Bl...

Read story

“Secrets Emerge ” by Alison Lawrence

Submitted to Contest #42

I knew a girl who used to be the ‘school’s snow queen’, who appeared to be cold as ice, but in reality, she had a pure heart. Louise was a free spirit, smart young girl. her long golden-brown hair were like a smooth brown honey. Her large blue frosty eyes stand out of a round face. Louise had a strong athletic build which enhanced her ability to compete successfully in swimming competition. Louise was born and raised in one of the richest towns of Paris, Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche. Louise’s family owned one of the most famous fash...

Read story

“The Broken Window” by Basil Boi

Submitted to Contest #42

It started with one of the stormiest nights the Briggs family had ever since. Hammering rain and icy winds, thunder, and lighting rattling their measly cottage. Travis Briggs, the eldest of the Briggs children, was shaking. He was a bully and hot-headed, but thunder made him scared straight. Milly, the second eldest, was delighted! She loved storms and often dreams of becoming a meteorologist. She was looking out the window, smiling wildly. Then there was Junior, the youngest. He sat on the ground, not fazed at all the commotion of his famil...

Read story

“I'll Take Either! ” by Sheryl Reddy

Submitted to Contest #42

So today is a new day and I decided I was going to do whatever made me happy for now. And right now it was running outside and letting the Sun beat down on me, most people I see on television are usually dancing in the rain. Me not me I dance in the sunlight the beauty of a sunny day is unbeatable in my eyes. I love the sunshine and the warmth it brings to my skin and mind. You know what they say, they say everyone needs vitamin d in their life. It is something I always agreed with. As I sit in my favorite chair looking out the window, sippi...

Read story

“Reading a Butterfly” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #42

Andriel sighed as she looked out on the crowd outside the tent. Her black cloak weighed heavy on her shoulders today.“No one will come in if you behave like that!” the admonishment came from behind her.Andriel turned and beheld the old woman who had been her constant companion the past three years. The woman looked about 50, but she knew Elora to be at least 120! She had yet to start learning the spells that would keep her from withering in old age.“Not needed for you yet!” the woman had insisted every time Andriel asked to be taught t...

Read story

“The Phone Call” by Marie Bernardin

Submitted to Contest #42

The phone rang in the story I’m reading, but then, it rings again, in my house. I get up from my chair in the sunny breakfast nook and walk toward the cabinet where the phone sits, and it rings once again. “No! It can't ring.” I think as my hand hesitates above the phone. I hesitate a bit more, almost afraid of this inanimate object, and again, it rings but the ring is followed by a click, and I think, “Yes, four rings and it'll go to the answering machine”….the answering machine I sold 6 months ago at a garage sale when I cut off the land l...

Read story

“It Only Takes One Saturday” by J. Marc

Submitted to Contest #42

It was an ordinary Saturday morning. Mrs. Salvacion woke up at 7 o’clock, immediately put her apron and pony tailed her hair as she prepared for her family’s meal. She was concentrating at her kitchen timer as it ticked to its last few seconds, making sure everything’s perfect.5…4…3…2…“Chicken’s Ready!” she shouted to her family that seemed to be having their own world. She waited few seconds for an answer but none came. Probably her husband, Michael, was still watching the TV or playing video games again while their twins, Jess and Jessica,...

Read story

“Jim of New York” by Elle Holmes

Submitted to Contest #42

Hypatia sat between two colonnades of the Serapeum listening to her father address his class. The smell of passing chariots mixed with the gentle wafts of salt blowing off the sea. The scent of home comforted her almost as much as the sound of her father’s lessons.As her father Theon reached the crescendo of his lecture, a glint of light caught the corner of Hypatia’s eye. She turned to catch its source, but there was nothing that should’ve caused such a flash. She rose and slipped between colonnades to investigate further. A swaying piece o...

Read story

“I love you by Madison Moser” by Madison Moser

Submitted to Contest #42

We, as human beings, are constantly hungry. We are starving and desperate for the thing that fills us up and makes everything more bearable. It makes tragedy a little more tragic and hunger a little more passionate. What we would give to forever sink into the arms of our mothers and be cradled like the rest just doesn’t matter. Our egos need to be carried in a pocket or coddled in a spoon. They are the eggshells we choose to walk on and destroy. No matter how hard we try, walking on eggshells, or even running at that, cannot be done on empt...

Read story

“Mama Moon” by Georgia Brown

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #42

Mama said I have the moon under my skin. That the day I was born she could see the moonbeams dance, soft and silver, under my chest and belly. They spread into my arms and legs, split into my fingertips and toes. Mama said it was a sign of good things to come. I used to stay up all night talking at the moon, my second mother. She’d cradle me in waves of silver light, and whisper things in my ear. She’d send lightning bugs to my window, and crickets to my backdoor. She told me to paint my windowsill blue so bad spirits couldn’t cross, a...

Read story

“Nilsson's Mate” by Julia Gibson

Submitted to Contest #42

“Fur Elise is just a song that Ludwig wrote. Fur Elise is really long. Play every note! Ow ow ow, ow owww…” Ten-year-old Greg held the last note until the dog began to howl. “Greg! That’s not practicing. Quit torturing Ludie and play it nice like you will in recital.” Greg’s mother, who was also his piano teacher, was busy in the kitchen. Ludwig, an ancient basset hound, had been asleep under the piano and when he stopped playing, Ludie plodded into the kitchen to beg a treat. Greg looked out the brownstone window to watch a man sitting on t...

Read story

“"Wall of Fire"” by Dorothy Bonvillain

Submitted to Contest #42

I’ll never forget the day I stepped off the plane in Saudi Arabia - a young military wife, with two sons in tow, ages 8 & 9. We’d been traveling about 26 hours from Texas (to visit family) to NY; then NY to Saudi Arabia. We were there to accompany our Soldier on a two-year assignment to the Kingdom. Let me set the stage: It was 1980 in the midst of the Iran Hostage Crisis. Tension dominated world news. Iranians had stormed the American Embassy in Tehran where they held 60 American hostages for 444 days. My only knowledge of th...

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 ⭢