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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

“Remember the Times?” by Marcus Spartacus

Submitted to Contest #42

“Remember the Times?” I hope during this eyewitness account I can point a vivd, nostalgic picture of the past. I was born in 1978 so I was a valid participant as the youth of the 80’s and 90’s. We didn’t have the technological advances that exist today beyond television and telephones. In retrospect, I believe it produced a more hands-on culture that doesn’t and probably will never exist again in America.. pop music and stars were a dominant force of influence at the time. There were the likes of Michael Jack...

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“I love you Arlyne” by Tiffany Martindale

Submitted to Contest #42

5:00 p.m. September 25, 1935... “Don’t you have to get back to your job Scar?” Arlyne said, tying my tie. “Well of course, but you do too.” I replied, “We have a big day today. I’ve set up a meeting with Frank Albermarle. He needs me to do him a favor”. Arlyne looked confused, “You do know that he’s part of the Genovese family right? You need to be careful with him”. What does he want from me? I haven’t done a job on my own since I became the leader, how am I supposed to do this, a job for the Genovese family? Why does he w...

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“Overcoming” by Amanda Mnguni

Submitted to Contest #42

OVERCOMING _____________LETHUKUTHULA I felt a painful sting on my cheek and I gasped looking up to my Auntie who was now infront of me looking at me like I'm some kind of a disguised; what am I saying? I'm a total disguised infront of her eyes.Me:"Auntie"That escaped down my throat,I didn't trust my voice at all but I'm glad it managed to come out.Auntie:"You're a Stupid girl! What's happening on that floor in my bedroo...

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“Blind Backbone” by Nitzana Alfaro

Submitted to Contest #42

Making decisions for the present can be very stressful, even more so if it can make or break your entire future. As for Aaron, things started very black and white for him because of his parents making decisions for him. Such as soccer, being put into schools, and even what to wear. He understood at a young age that, that was simply his parents caring for him and he didn't retaliate against what he knew was going to be good for him in the long run. Not until Aaron got older did he start to consider all his options that were s...

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“skin of a wolf” by Malcolm M

Submitted to Contest #42

Trigger warning: This story contains discussions of domestic violence and sexual assault He first goes to therapy when he's twenty six, the quiet mutterings about how much he hated himself before he got raped -- how much more he hated himself after -- growing too loud to remain ignorable, too casual in conversation to avoid that stare that people give him when they heard him mutter it the first time. Once a week, he sits in an overstuffed armchair and spends an hour complaining to a lady with wiry glasses and thinning, grey hair, and her hid...

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“Her Happy Ending ” by Melody Cat

Submitted to Contest #42

“Is he okay?” She approaches the bed and watches the monitor. A thin green line slowly climbs upwards, only to drop down a moment after. They had just moved into their new house. Within hours of setting up the furniture, his head began throbbing. Thinking it was last night’s celebration vodka, he ignored it and continued moving the furniture. On the second trip to the bathroom, he made a self note to avoid drinking again. He wasn’t much of an alcoholic but vodka had never had this big of an effect on him. She had asked him if...

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“'From peaceful moonlight to burning forests'” by Amna Nazir

Submitted to Contest #42

It was that time of the year when happiness and joy could be seen everywhere,the streets of Oxford were decorated with lights,snow was falling and had covered the trees which were decorated using bells,lights and sweets,children were running everywhere around with the excitement of Santa Claus coming,lovers were seen dancing and enjoying to their utmost,and everything seemed perfect at that time! It was Christmas time,a time when all were dressed up the way they wanted,a time when there was no stress of work or academics,a time when all the ...

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“Deceptive Revenge” by Joshua Bennett

Submitted to Contest #42

In the few weeks since he and his wife of four years separated, things had gone downhill for Tom Beyer. His wife's family was trying to ruin his reputation, his job was in jeopardy, he was battling depression, and he wasn't sure if he could find happiness again. He had given her everything, and yet, she had tossed him out like garbage, stomped on his heart as though he didn't exist, and made him feel lower than dirt.She had taken everything with her, including the rare ebony statue his brother bought him while on a trip several years prior. ...

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“Sleep Walk” by Mel Mendoza

Submitted to Contest #42

The wind had a slightly different chill this morning. Empty, almost. In every memory I have of walking these streets, I cannot recall a single moment when silence filled the air. Downtown River Walk was an attraction to tourists and a culture for us locals. Only in the early hours of the day would the people ever be scarce, but it was never quiet. You could hear music playing from behind the closed doors of shops as they got ready to open for business; you could hear the clatter of dishes from restaurants that were preparing food for ...

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“Captured Memories” by The Last Unicorn

Submitted to Contest #42

T’was all black and white. People were cheering here and there. People were smiling from ear to ear. It was a glorious day, so it seemed. Everybody was in their respective seats. The crowd roared in amusement as the runners began their leap. Runners were running against one another. They were running at maximum speed. “Look Mum! The one in the red is going to win!” exclaimed one little kid. He got off from his seat when ice cream dripped down from his chin. He made a mess – Oh yes, he did. But the main event was just about to begin. As Nata...

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“To Thine Own Self Be Truth” by Coreen Abbott

Submitted to Contest #42

It was the holidays. I had arrived in Ohio from my home in California in time for my brother’s birthday, which was three days before Christmas. I had done this every year for the past forty years since I’d left Ohio. Our small family of five, including my sister-in-law, were sitting in my parent’s living room with glasses of wine before dinner. We had pulled up chairs to be closer to my parent’s stuffed chairs, roughly forming a circle as we caught-up on our lives. Rarely would our family bring up uncomfortable events from the past or f...

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“Hearts of Glass” by Vivian VanDam

Submitted to Contest #42

Sylvester stared at his reflection for the hundredth time that week. Each day he saw himself disappearing. His skin becoming more and more translucent. His eyes looking more and more bright blue, nearly grey. His lips turning purple. He reached for his wife’s makeup, putting on the foundation so thick that it creased near his eyes, and his laugh lines.He sighed lowering his head. When is this going to end? Sylvester pulled himself away from the mirror and finished getting dressed. Everything around him was crashing, just like that ...

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“What's Worth Saving” by CARLOS MANUEL EUSOYA

Submitted to Contest #42

He unfastened his seat belt and dashed out of the door, surveying a safe route. He saw gusts of fumes exiting from the wrecked engine flurrying through the air. A coconut tree trinket was ensnared by the conflagration. It was leaking everywhere, not with potable water, but combustible propane gas. Worst, a bullet lied still on the ground a meter away from his private vehicle.What happened to my car, happened to the world.Johnson was like any other human. He is rational and blessed with a conscience. He conducts proper etiquette and is person...

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“Brood Mimicry” by Knowlen A Mampuru

Submitted to Contest #42

It has been 90 days since my son came home. It's been 97 days since his mother died. The boy is 10 years old, it's been 90 days since I found out I was a father. I knew a girl once, the boy's mother. She was, well she was different. We grew up a few streets apart. She kept to herself mostly, her entire family did. When she stopped coming to school there were murmurs about her father's ailing mental health. Teenagers are cruel, so most of that was, I guess children being, cruel. I saw her again my 1st year of college in a bar back home during...

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“Ready” by Kavya Pillai

Submitted to Contest #42

I stroll on the golden sands of Tarina. It feels pillow soft to my worn-out feet. Far off in the lush, crystal blue sky a lone falcon glides over the waters. The fading sun kisses the sea intimately and leaves orange remnants of its love in the sapphire blue waves. Spring is near, the season of revival and rejuvenation…the season of parsley-green meadows and of strawberry ice cream…the season of snow-white dandelions and of unripe mangoes. I can taste the pear fresh sweetness in the salty air of the sea. I must go befo...

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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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