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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

“Tell Me, What Was It Like To Die?” by Hailey Monnie

Submitted to Contest #42

Tell me, what it was like to die?What the hell are you talking about?Oh, you don’t remember?Remember what?Your death.I died…? I’m dead?Well, where do you think you are?It looks like a black hole. This is death?This is death. I can’t believe I am dead.Now, what was it like to die?Who are you? An angel? A demon?You don’t recognize me? I’m your baby sister. I died at the age of two. Got hit by a car.Yes, I remember that day. You were the cutest little thing ever with your squishy cheeks, brown eyes, and brown pigtails. Mom wouldn’t leave h...

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“Rouge” by Cinnamon Pilcher

Submitted to Contest #42

The End Of Middle SchoolType: Trailer.Alice and her friends are cleaning out their lockers and their stuff. Because school's gonna close for the summer. Alice is wondering that she and Rebecca are going to do summer stuff together, they've been friends ever since elementary school.Alice: You ready for the summer?Rebecca: Yep. And guess who's coming to our school to perform?Alice: Who?Rebecca: Here's a hint. Fancy hair, mysterious eyes, height of 163, good old clean voice, and she's the senior. And, she also goes to high school.Alice: Who is ...

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“Frivolity Of Evil” by Rahil Howlader

Submitted to Contest #42

In the "Frivolity of Evil" article, Theodore Dalrymple's main point of argument was that social, economic, and ideological pressures result in the likelihood for someone to make bad decisions later on in his or her life and become unhappy. The author declares that "a man's evil is not entirely to be measured by its practical consequences." This means that someone, more specifically here, a criminal, cannot simply pay the price or debt of a crime, simply by fulfilling their sentence in prison. This article was very well written, going into th...

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“A Path Not Meant To Cross” by Gabi Tajzlerova

Submitted to Contest #42

It was no secret or mystery that their friendship had to end. One step towards a path unmeant to be crossed can ruin a perfectly beautiful journey of exploration. The problem with humanity is, as a whole, there is no such thing as "enough". There must always be something new to have, to find, to own, to discover. That includes how far a relationship between two people will go for the sake of friendship. What line can be crossed? If there is a line, should that be the sign to stop?Most people called her Toni. A once lively, enthusiastic girl ...

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“What Lies Beneath” by Katie Eash

Submitted to Contest #42

Meg Andersen straps her leather gun belt onto her thin but curvy waist. She pulls a fitted heather gray blazer over her white T-shirt and jeans. For the final touch, she pins her detectives badge over her lapel.She looks into the floor length mirror, tilted downwards so she can see her outfit but not her face. A surge of pride runs through her as she takes in her image. This pride is enough fuel to make her raise her head high, grab her keys and begin her day with a sense of self-confidence she doesn't usually possess.Meg loves her job ...

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“A Witness of the Past” by Lauren Clayton

Submitted to Contest #42

Museums are boring. Maybe it’s the monotonous quietude clinging to the air, or the tedious trudging of tourists desperate to set eyes upon old bits of pottery, but there’s no doubt about it- Museums are boring. My sister Lizzy doesn’t share the sentiment. It fathoms me how I could share blood with someone who considers parading up and down poorly lit corridors as something fun to do, but we’re yet to unearth any adoption papers with her name on, so she must be my legitimate sibling.I watch her bespectacled face marvel at the...

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“Purgatory” by Adrian Garcia

Submitted to Contest #42

The trash can lid closes with a thud. The man walks the eight steps to the reclining chair and lets out a groan when he hits the chair a little too hard. Coughs three times into his fist from the impact.That's when Shadow decides it's the perfect time to come and sit down at his feet. The man and the black cat make eye contact. It's broken when Shadow mews."But I just sat down." The man whines. He only gets another mewl in response. He knows that she's only doing this to ask for food. There's a huff and the grumpy man starts searching f...

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“When will I find happiness?” by Jennifer Jumper

Submitted to Contest #42

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of finding true love and becoming a mommy and living happily ever after. I did become a mommy, but true love is something I did not find in the man I had kids with. Shawn was cute and charming, and at first, a gentleman. We talked for hours after our first meeting and we covered many subjects. He made me laugh and was engaged in what I was saying. Before he kissed me for the first time, he asked if he could. The first red flag was presented the day after our long talk, but I ...

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“The Last Flower” by Chrysanthemum Darling

Submitted to Contest #42

The building is cold. The environment is cold. Everything is cold. I huddle closer, my wings offering a shred of warmth. There still isn’t enough. I flap up pitifully, but can’t see any end to this robot town. There is nothing left for me here. Not now. Emotions became a weakness. Robots became the dominant society. Cold metal, replacing mother nature. We used to be the pride of the town. They called it Hummingbird Village and every year people would come over just to see us. I remember the kids - running about, laughing, under a bright sun....

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“Flight to Nowhere” by DeAnna Smith

Submitted to Contest #42

“We’re almost ready to take off,” my pilot said with a smile. His old, lanky body turned from me and limped back to his cabin. He told me before we left his office it was an old war injury that he got saving the woman he loved in Columbia. I gave him a confused look and pointed at the picture of his wife. She didn’t look Colombian to me. “Not her. She was later. I’m talking of my first real love,” he grabbed the picture off his desk and stared at her with a hint of regre...

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“Sprat Paint” by Typhlosis E

Submitted to Contest #42

The silence had come to life. They could not only hear it, but feel it too. It was outside with them, prowling around, observing. Waiting to pounce, and tear anyone apart who dared to break it. Robin, spray paint can in hand, had become a statue, frozen in place. The nozzle of her can still hovering above the line she had just made. Each muscle in her body had tensed up, and she could physically feel the adrenalin coursing through her body. She struggled to keep her breathing shallow and quiet, her racing heart making that difficult.Out of h...

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“The Box ” by Sparkle Monae

Submitted to Contest #42

Here it was inevitably happening again. Another speak break beginning back home instead of in Miami somewhere. It didn't matter anyways because i missed my no good friends. Thats what every adult in town would try to tell me anyways. I was here to have fun this time, no sitting in the house all day. I just can't do it anymore. I wanted this spring break to be memorable. I got off the plane and took the taxi to silverwaters. Once i arrived i made my way to rockfish where my family awaited me with open arms and so much love. My phone notifi...

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“Lyrics of Life” by Ella Dean

Submitted to Contest #42

It's a bright, sunny day. 75 degrees, colorful wildflowers sprout throughout the park, they are every color imaginable, birds of all kinds sing their cheerful tune, it truly is the perfect day. 16 year old Jae walks through the park, she has not a care in the world. Her earbuds cancel out any thoughts, only the lyrics of classic rock and punk beats are prominent in her mind. Every weekend Jae comes to her favorite smoke spot in the woods of the park. She comes alone. No family, no friends, no one to bother her. This is her time to relax. Her...

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“O, That Way Madness Lies” by Aldrich Sherman

Submitted to Contest #42

I kept every movie ticket. A banded stack of torn-off stubs with faded colors and faint letters. Yellowish tint, $4.00, and I think… July 2009 – 500 Days of Summer. A couple of months after we began dating. You still hid your freckles through heavy make-up and concealer. It wasn't until your first sleepover in September that I got to see the stunning contrast of red spots against your blushing face. Remember? I told you never to hide your perfection from me.Our silver rings are beside the tickets. One inside another. Your fingers perfectly i...

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“Coffee and Confusion” by Celeste Kuun

Submitted to Contest #42

My day sucked less than usual today.These days all my days suck because I started a job I absolutely hate. Who really is passionate about being shouted at because the end-user doesn’t know how to operate a coffee machine properly? Yup, I answer telephones in a call centre, helping people figure out why their coffee machine isn’t making coffee. Usually, the answer is as simple as putting coffee grounds in the hopper.Pointing out the obvious doesn’t really ease the tension between yourself and the caller. They usually then just start shouting ...

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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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