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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

“The Year With No Child ” by Rina Mo

Submitted to Contest #42

Just in case the parasites were crawling around the hospital, she held her legs up to her chest on top of the chair and made sure she had a clear view of the floor. It was said that they were too small to notice, but she tried to locate them anyway; it disturbed her to imagine a small bug eating its way through her. Maybe it had already happened—she didn’t know, but she wanted to make sure. Her period hadn’t come for two months now and that was the only obvious sign that the parasite manifested. Almost all of her friends had it, but no...

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“Free Will” by S S

Submitted to Contest #42

When he was younger, my wings carried me to wherever the wind pointed. He was too young to understand me then: he struggled with the concept of choices.I was always perched high above the floor, dumb and unknowing as he was. There was a day when I watched children play in the living room. The clutter of plates and drifting scents excited me. I shouted, but no one bothers me. I’m merely another sound they would hear when the house is unbearably quiet or when they’re trying to focus.The boy of the house turns around. He looks beyond me, to whe...

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“A fateful day” by Celeste Kuun

Submitted to Contest #42

The man stepped onto the plane. He was sweating, not profusely, but small beads of sweat were noticeable on his upper lip and forehead.The flight attendant took his flight ticket, inspected it, looked up, and smiled at him in an artificially saccharine way. Just like she was trained to do.“Welcome on board Flight 305,” she said, gesturing to the back of the plane. He nodded a terse thank you and moved to his seat. The flight attendant was already busy greeting the next passenger in the same rehearsed way. He had asked for a window seat,...

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“Who’s the Real Baby Daddy of Hellboy?” by Blane Britt

Submitted to Contest #42

I met and immediately bonded with Skullduggery (aka Melvin Brown) its obvious how he got that nickname because he was underhanded and he always maliciously acted upon minor things with unscrupulous behavior and trickery. Basically he was a no good human being and he knew it at an early age. Skullduggery is originally a Scots work from the early 18th Century meaning lewd behavior. Skullduggery is merely a corruption of that and the meaning altered to include living life in a dastardly, sneaky, dishonest, low, sly or devious ways. According to...

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“The Nameless” by Mandy Carp

Submitted to Contest #42

I was 26 when my feral mother gave birth to me in an alley. I hit the ground, bloodied and bruised, and scrambled away from her as fast as I could. Her putrid smell clung to my clothing, and one of her wiry gray hairs was in my mouth. I spat it out and inhaled deeply, ready to scream. She spun toward me and uttered words in a language I couldn’t understand while her clawed fingers traced symbols through the air, then turned palm up in my direction. I could neither move nor breathe. “Shhhhh. Hush, hush, sweet girl.” She leaned in an...

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“IN THE END” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #42

The city of Madras is in the south of India and had been developed during British rule. It has its population of Anglo-Indians and I was one among them – a male. I was born there to a middle class family. I asked my dad about mother and was told she had passed away shortly after I was born. It was my father who raised me. He put me to school and after I had finished, gave me the option of taking up work or studying further. I chose to become my father’s apprentice in the small workshop he owned servicing automobiles. I had picked up the skil...

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“Old Secrets” by Sharon McGregor

Submitted to Contest #42

I have been keeping secrets since I was six years old. My first secret was when the teacher at our one-room country school came to board with us. Teachers used to board with our neighbors across the road but when Mrs. Watkins became ill, Momma and Daddy thought it would be a good way to make some extra money. So, Miss Trent came to stay with us. I was just starting Grade Two and at first I thought Miss Trent was ...

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“The Secrets of Love” by Emily Ku

Submitted to Contest #42

Jan 18, 2023Dear Diary, This is the place where I will let my heart out and write my true feelings. And my diary, of course. I love music, too. “This is who I’m meant to be! This is me! Look out cause here I come!” That is from The Greatest Showman. Anyways, I’m in my freshman year in high school right now. I love music as I said, art, sports, and most of all, my crush, Ryder Simmons. He is the sexiest, cutest, sportiest, and most popular guy in Raven Hood High. Also, he is a Junior that isn’t very intellectual, if you know what I mean...

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“Gray Blood and Smoke ” by Omar Elsheikh

Submitted to Contest #42

The man stares blankly at the cut up body at his feet, he drags his heavy gaze to the clock hung on the timber log wall. It reads 2:37 AM, he's been sitting there for almost two hours. The plastic sheets that coat the floor and walls crinkle and rustle as he pushes off of his lonely wooden chair, the only piece of furnish standing in the cabin, he steps over the wasted flesh and drops the blood stained cleaver that hung from his equally bloody hands, it sticks to the floor with a quick thump. He walks to the small bathroom beside t...

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“The Bus” by Charlotte Rosario

Submitted to Contest #42

A baby cries a sad, somber shriek of pain. I think of baby Timothy and how his slender throat would tremble and erupt into his delicate laughter when I would pinch his little nose. I think of Mama and her thin fingers as she would stroke my hair as I cried myself to sleep. We would lie there in the dark, surrounded by nothing, and yet everything. The bus lurches forward. My head thrashes awake and I feel the pain from all the years of living under Mama’s roof with her snake-like whip trickle down my aching spine. I can’t, I c...

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“Fading Away” by Taylor Robertson

Submitted to Contest #42

I watched as the ship was hit by another cannonball of glitter. “Not pink!” Felicity cried. “Pink is gross!”“We can get them back.” I argued, a plan coming to mind. “With this.”I held up the teddy bear of doom and Felicity gasped in horror. “Ellie, we couldn’t!” she insisted. “Mommy told us that getting even isn’t nice.”“Yeah but mommy’s ship wasn’t covered in pink glitter. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” I argued.Felicity smiled. “You’re right. Let’s get em. It’s only fair.”The closet door burst open and we turned to s...

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“Love, Volume 1” by Sharon Drapeau

Submitted to Contest #42

Two kids rush into a comic book store just ahead of an older man. They start touching toys and picking up comics. There are shelves lining the walls full of the latest comics from big and independent publishers. Trade paperbacks line the back wall. In the center of the store, there are pinball and arcade machines and racks full of toys and memorabilia. "Don't touch, kiddos,” the pudgy older man says as he enters just after the kids.. "Grandpa," the little girl says. "Is this a toy store?" "It'a book store, stupid," her brother sa...

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“The Hate Triangle” by Cal Emery

Submitted to Contest #42

We sit cross legged on the ground, on the soft, worn carpet. Zina looks up at the sky, palms turned upwards. Millie looks over at Zina, wringing her hands, anxiously, waiting. I lie down, hands behind my head, eyes closed. I smooth back my unruly curly hair. Beth calls up to us from the courtroom. I bite my lip and stand up cautiously, deliberate to take as long as I can without seeming uncooperative. The others do the same. Millie pretends to check her watch, Zina pretends to be looking for something. We take a deep breath, walk down the lo...

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“Searching” by Ginger L.

Submitted to Contest #42

I have a secret.As for some secrets, they stay hidden away inside their boxes, burying themselves in the depths of your heart. The key that opens the box hides itself very thoroughly in some inaccessible place in your head, promising to never reveal itself.But my secret proves to be much different. It haunts me, slowly creeping out of its shadowy hiding spot, threatening to release itself every day of my life. &n...

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“Vacant Secret” by Eleena Inam

Submitted to Contest #42

“Wakey wakey darlin’”“Momma…” Eri’s voice drifted off as she fell asleep again.This time Momma yanked the blanket away. It was still blindingly dark outside and there was no reason to wake the sweet soul up at this hour. Except that Momma was feeling a little panicky and looked at the door every few seconds. The door remained still until… the door shuddered as if someone was trying to force open it.“Hunn-Hunny,” Momma stuttered, “Please, you have to wake up right now”When Eri didn’t show any response, Momma lifted her in her arms and proceed...

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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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