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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

“Fate, sealed in stone” by Igor Tishalovich

Submitted to Contest #42

It was three years… Three years since Ludwig has left his home to protect the most beloved one. Countless dangers, journey that seemingly had no end. Who counted, how many times did he lean towards “Dead end”? What he had to overcome… But it was over. With last prayers said and last gravestone placed, he was finally free. Bailshmidt’s fate now is sealed in stone by him. Pride of his name is now shining like nowhen before. It… Had some effect on Ludwig. Earlier he never even thought about family’s pride and past, that always lurks around. Ba...

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“After Hours” by Danna Hobart

Submitted to Contest #42

The time clock said midnight as I punched out.It has been such a long day. I arrived to work at my first jobbefore eight a.m. It’s the local K-mart. It's close to Christmas, andsince I’m a supervisor, I’ve been putting in long hours. I worked eighta.m. ‘til six p.m., then I got an hour break to eat something and changemy clothes before I had to be at my second job, a grocery store, here inthe same shopping mall, where I work as a cashier. I worked fromseven ‘til midnight. It was non-stop all night. I only got a fifteen-minute break. My body ...

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“Tatoosh” by Clifford Kapono

Submitted to Contest #42

Write a story that ends with one character waiting for the arrival of another.It was near 4 oʻclock and the last bus back to Kona was about to leave Hilo when Kalani Brewster saw his old shipmate Mathew across from the pier bus stop. “Hey Crooked Face”, Brewster yelled at the tanned, tall guy wearing a pair of beat-up slippers dressed in old navy blue surf shorts and a yellow torn JC Pennyʻs crew tank top - who curiously stared back across the pier towards the Hilo city bus stop.“Yea you, Crooked Face”, Brewster yelled again as the laky surf...

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“Waiting with my Heart” by Patrick L-Martin

Submitted to Contest #42

It was a beautiful day in the park, a robin was chirping a beautiful song as it sat on a tree branch. An elderly woman was walking in the park for a morning stroll. Gertrude Cunningham was a woman that was brought up by an aristocratic family that had invested heavily in the preservation of Symphony Park. When Getrude was just a little girl she saw the park open up to the public of Saffron Ridge, a town with a rich history in the musical arts. Getrude remembered seeing the entire town celebrating what they desc...

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“Up or Down” by Adele Potter

Submitted to Contest #42

“You’re early.” Said the Grim Reaper with a hint of surprise. I grit my teeth as I look down at the scene before me. “So a 13 year old girl can’t die in a police chase?” The Grim Reaper grinned his chilling, toothy smile. I shiver and then sigh. “Let’s go.” He says. I find myself chained to Grim Reaper’s scythe. “Where are we going?” I ask. “To the Choosing Place.” Reaper says matter-of-factly. I feel like crying. Does this mean I have to go to Heaven or Hell? I hold back tears. I was considered the “bad girl”, but I still don’t want to go t...

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“Waiting for him” by Rose Finches

Submitted to Contest #42

Stuck in traffic, just great! Could my day get any worse? Some idiot had held up everyone by stopping his car to go to a shop. Can you believe the nerve of some people? Acting like nobody else existed outside themselves. I saw a policewoman going towards him as he left the shop. When she approached him he started shouting at her. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the situation looked heated and the cars were piling up and people were honking their horns impatiently-as if that ever helped to speed things up. I needed to calm my...

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“Fated Assassins” by Yashaa Bajracharya

Submitted to Contest #42

The rain poured down in the dark alley as they cornered the person they were looking for. After this kill, they would be rewarded greatly and manage to push their reputations further higher."Who are you people? What do you want?" the man asked afraid, cowering near the wall. He had one hand on his right arm where Cole Winters had slashed with his long knife. Blood dripped down to his fingers."Was that honestly necessary?" his partner, Aiden Clarke asked, sighing. "That's going to leave a bloody mess.""He was pointing a gun at us, Aiden," Col...

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“The Long Town” by Pooja Gupta

Submitted to Contest #42

It was morning, the 13th of March, 2020. Rishab woke up feeling not so fresh but exited. He was going to India. Not forever! Just for a temporary time. It was Spring Break in his school. He was planning to miss out the rest of his school year. He was going their because of a certain reason. It was Rishab’s Uncle’s wedding. He saw the wet grounds outside his window. It had rained the previous night. But now, the sun gleamed and filled the air with delightfulness. He got dressed and went outside the house. There was a park just behind his home...

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“A Show Of Hidden Issues” by Koi KOAH

Submitted to Contest #42

"No... You Cannot go...?" A hitched male's voice echoed through the empty school's theater. "I'm sorry Christian, but I'm looking for somebody a bit braver. Somebody who faces his fears head-on, instead of running away." Annie spoke up as a response to the off-tone opening line. Her controlled breathing and strong voice carried through the open space towards the empty seats behind Wyatt who was reading from the script without looking at her or at the imagined faces and their eyes that could have been in...

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“The Dying Wait” by Makaylen Muncy

Submitted to Contest #42

Our story begins with a fourteen-year-old father, Nathaniel Cole, and his girlfriend, Charlotte Young. Nathaniel’s son(me) was soon to grow up without parents before that let me introduce myself. My name is Erik Marcus Cole and this is the story of how I finally found out the truth about my life story and what really happened after I was born. I was born on November 11, 2005, in San Francisco, California. From the way I hear it, my mother died weeks after I was born due to an overdose. Although it seemed strange at the time I just accepted i...

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“'Twas the Night Before” by Alexa Thomases

Submitted to Contest #42

Criss-cross applesauce, Elisa sat on the fireplace. Her skirt snagged on the brick as she scooted away from the edge. The cotton stretched taut, letting thin slivers of light peek between the pink threads. Usually, her brother Marco would’ve made a fire in the fireplace by now. Back when she used to sleep curled up on the brick, the embers had kept her warm. She didn’t sleep here anymore. Slept in her bed like a big girl, like Marco said she should. But Marco still made the fire every night. Why, she wasn’t sure. Why not, he would answe...

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“A Ring Of Ashes” by Philip Baker

Submitted to Contest #42

"What are you doing? Stop right now! I ask you to…stooop!" yelled the blonde woman as she curled up in the corner. She was a well-dressed middle-aged lady, dressed in an expensive beige dress, adorned with shiny jewelry and a gleaming necklace covering her naked bust.Man: "Ohh so now you want me away, is it? You want nothing with any of this anymore?" He pulled down the back of her hair as he whispered in her ear, tingling it with tense electricity, as his voice rambled out of his teeth.Woman: "I never wanted any of this" She responded with ...

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“Anticipation” by Dana Shelton

Submitted to Contest #42

Chloe bounded down the stairs and popped her head into the living room where her mother was settled into her ratty, worn recliner, reading the latest thriller by yet another female author dubbed “the next Gillian Flynn!” “Mom, I’m heading out! Taylor’s here.” Evelyn glanced up at her 20 year old daughter, wistfully recalling the time when she had unlined skin and curves in all the right places. “Chloe, no later than 1:00. I mean it, no more hours past curfew. And text me if you go somewhere else.” Chloe rep...

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“Meet Suzy!” by Ruri SHIN

Submitted to Contest #42

“ Just take it out of your mind, Marga.” “ For the millionth time, mom. It’s not in the head. I’m not making things up. She’s real and I can see her.”“ Then take it out of your sight.”That was the deadlock. The reasons for vindicating seemed pretty absurd that I knew it was better off to shut up. Stealthily, I switched off my hearing aids —like I always do in the metaphorically deafening times, and gave up arguing with my mom. It was one of the few moments I was glad for having otitis media —deaf perks, I guess. My ears just couldn’t bear an...

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“a long awaited love” by Gen Robinson

Submitted to Contest #42

They met in high school but never were very close to one another. They shared a class or two, were in some of the same friend groups, and often even sat near each due to alphabetical seating assignments, but they rarely spoke. He had always thought she was somehow different than the other girls their age. She had a quietness about her, despite her affableness and easy-going persona; she did not ask for anyone’s attention - in fact, she tried her best to avoid the spotlight - but she certainly had his. She was friendly enough and had friends ...

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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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