#44: Just the Beginning
Two weeks ago, our theme was story endings. This week, we're circling back to the starting line and focusing on story beginnings.
From Zora Neale Hurston's "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board." To Jane Austen's "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." And George Orwell's "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." Memorable lines stick with us because they're what propel us into the world of the story in the first place.
For more inspiration, check out our tips for crafting intriguing opening lines, and then dive into our beginning-themed prompts below!
“⭐️ Shortlisted
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“This week's prompts
Write a story that starts with two characters saying goodbye.
Character
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256 stories
Write a story that starts with a life-changing event.
Novel
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180 stories
Write a story that starts with someone returning from a trip.
Character
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113 stories
Write a story that starts with a character-revealing something unusual about themselves.
Character
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143 stories
Write a story that starts by establishing its setting in a different time period — without explicitly stating what that period is.
Historical Fiction
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115 stories
Stories
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“Final Word” by Emily Nghiem
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“Shadows at Dawn ” by Mira Caplan
“Eric” by Vrishni Maharaj
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“Luminaria” by Zilla Babbitt
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“Reclaiming Ava ” by Yoomi Ari
“Nowhere” by Amiable Sorceress
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“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!
