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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

“Alone cause you're not here” by Ariana Marie

Submitted to Contest #42

"And I was like shut it Karen how about I snatch that fake face of yours and shove it down your throat? And she had the audacity to say- Ughh how many times to I have to tell you to stop using your phone while were talking? You're typing there non stop while I talk about my life. C'mon Alish we only got to see each other like two times every three days because of college." Kyla -my bestfriend also my favorite cousin - said as she groaned and took a big bite out of my cake. "Gosh Kyla don't overreact I mean we see each other all the...

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“Inside the Shadows” by Mariana Russell

Submitted to Contest #42

I live in a society where I shouldn’t exist, I’m illegal, and if I’m found I would be killed and my parents would be executed or fined for 100 million dollars, a thousand times less than mom and dad would make in a year. Literally. I live in a small town in a little house with my parents and older sister. Just 17 years ago the government passed a law that made second children illegal. Mother was pregnant with me when the law got passed, so I was forbidden. The government told her to abort me but Ma wouldn’t. She gave birth to me in secret an...

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“Fever Dreams” by Marian Reiley

Submitted to Contest #42

I was ill the day the strange incident happened. From what I was told, my temprature had been one hundred and two degrees Farenheit when my husband, Jarad, made me go get some bed rest. He had been an EMT so I supposed I should listen.For the first ten minutes all I could do was lay in our bed staring at the ceiling fan as it blew chilled air on my face. I must've drifted into a deep sleep, because the next thing I knew, I was standing in my bedroom but something was off.The bed, nightstand and all of our other furniture was where it was whe...

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“Community” by John Meiners, Jr

Submitted to Contest #42

Community by&nbsp...

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“Conversations at Dinner” by Mukandi Siame

Submitted to Contest #42

“Does she know you are here?” She watched him steadily, ready to spot the lie.“Not necessarily.” Ndu replied. He ran his fingers along the rim of his wedding band while his eyes floated around the room. “What does that even mean?” Helen probed.“Well, Salifya knows I am at dinner with a friend – she just doesn’t know that the friend is you.” Ndu finally settled. “Fair enough. That’s if we are friends.” Helen said.“We are. In our own way, we are.” Ndu stated and picked up the menu. His clean, sturdy hands held up the leather bible of...

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“Love is worth the risk” by Jaymie R

Submitted to Contest #42

There is one thing that many people have always told me and it was that love hurts. All of my friends sink into a deep depression when they have a break up and my parents used to tell me how hard it was to get over their first love and everyone after. I get that it can hurt to lose someone like that but what about the part where the relationship was happy, exciting, and blissful? Wasn't it worth it? I've never been in a relationship before so I wouldn't know if love is truly as painful as they say but I guess I'll find out one day."Hey, Beth...

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“Ekpenta” by Ifeatu Okoye

Submitted to Contest #42

Umebundu laid on his bed and wondered about his actions. His mind drifted back to the time he went for the consultation wih the dibia of Ajommuo. He remembered how he sat in the dark room with his head bowed while the dibia performed his rites. The dark room had a damp smell mixed with smoke from the constantly burning incense pot. There were several human and animal skulls hanging on the wall in front of the dibia and some were stained with both sacrificial food and blood. He remembered that what scared him the most was the malicious lookin...

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“My Will o' Wisps” by Meena2605 V

Submitted to Contest #42

Layin' on top of a heap of fresh laundry cloths was maybe my idea of relaxing. To kick back and enjoy life. And oh, not to mention having a whole load of Cheetos packets and cheese nuggets by my side as I sat crooning over the laptop working through my evening course. To be honest, it did not start that way. Work has taken a toll on me lately, gifting me with insomnia and saggy love handles on either side of my back. The late-night snacking was not a very good habit I have inculcated after all. But mostly my work timings kept me up, pushing...

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“The Nighthowler” by Melody Wright

Submitted to Contest #42

PresentIn a graveyard perched on the edge by the church lives the unknown. The unknown was named , ‘The NIGHTHOWLER.’ The Nighthowler was vast. His aged face had dark - deep eyes and bushy furrowed brows . His eyes were like the midnight blanket across the sky , powerful and profound. His razor teeth are covered in soil and russet wood . His eyes are not seen neither his mucronate teeth , but is covered in an overgrown mass of dun and lanceolate leaves . The branches are sharp shards of glass extending to the right then to the left. Gro...

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“Swan Song” by Ernest Russell

Submitted to Contest #42

Swan SongbyErnest RussellBeen a blue moon since a campfire lit up the old ghost town. Mine is the last one I recall. How long ago? No matter, now. It's their second-night camping. Full moon, too. Time to say hello, make some new friends. "Evenin’, stranger, spotted yer fire. Good idea. Helps keep them Tasmanian Devils away. Mind if an old man rests his weary bones a spell? If yer up for it, I'll trade ya. The story of this here town for a cuppa coffee." Accepting the cup, the old man continues. "Bless you, now, as the story goes, a long tim...

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“Cadia Love” by Josie Penny

Submitted to Contest #42

In the little town of Cadia, where everyone was happy and nice. There was the nice and simple Bloom family with their daughter named Nolani Bloom and her best friend Amelia Loughty. There also was the popular and rich family called the Crues. They had a son named Brennan and he grew up to be a rebel and a jock at Cadia High. By the way, Nolani goes there! Just a regular day in high school history class but is it normal? Nolani and Amelia enter the class and take a seat right next to each other while they hear a “pssst” sound coming fro...

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“"IT"” by Sarah Selvam

Submitted to Contest #42

‘It’ was on. Confirmed. All the modalities in place. The mere thought of ‘it’ was heady. ‘It’ brought on a reckless light-headed high. ‘It’ made omnipotence a reality. She had woken up earlier than usual, the thought of ‘it’ consuming her mind and spirit. The early morning cool and freshness were a blessed relief, more so as they were a harbinger of the dusty heated day to come. The sweet bird songs and redness of the flowers in the garden against a backdrop of tender green brought on an unconscious much needed break from obsessing...

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“The beginning ” by Chelsea Peseller

Submitted to Contest #42

The rain coming down fast and strong. I snuck into the broken screen door on the back entrance. I crept alongside the stairwell before disguising myself in the ruffled curtains at the bottom of the staircase. I poked my head out just enough to get a glimpse at what was taking place in the basement of that run down home that evening. A circle of strong, powerful, and confident felines talked quietly amongst themselves. Before I could truly get to cracking this case and putting these no good felines behind the bars and off the streets; my cove...

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“One Mouses Daily Life” by Claire Hopkins

Submitted to Contest #42

Hello. I am Lucky Durittle, and I, as you may have gleaned, am a mouse. I live in the Landlord’s house, who are, by the way, are getting nastier and nastier. They are actually beginning to exterminate us! And we, serving them loyally for years, cleaning up any forgotten food, any lost paper, any unwanted trash. Why, once the mistress was so happy I destroyed a marriage certificate that she burst into tears! But those wonderful days are over. Now is a time of caution and woe, of deadly cheese and fatal peanut butter. However,— that is not wha...

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“The Gloaming” by Heather Laaman

Submitted to Contest #42

Have you never heard of life before The Gloaming? The old man took a seat on the pile of skins and got the dreamy look in his eyes that signaled a coming story. The boy pretended to concentrate on his whittling while he listened.It was in the old days, even before I was the dream of my father. You know when you hold a piece of the Doluxorum right up to your eye? That’s how bright it used to be. Someone could be maybe fifty feet away and you could tell who they were. Day was so bright, and even night held a soft hope that the darkness was not...

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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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