#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!
This week's prompts
Write a story that starts with two characters saying goodbye.
Character – 248 stories
Write a story that starts with a life-changing event.
Novel – 175 stories
Write a story that starts with someone returning from a trip.
Character – 111 stories
Write a story that starts with a character-revealing something unusual about themselves.
Character – 142 stories
Write a story that starts by establishing its setting in a different time period — without explicitly stating what that period is.
Historical Fiction – 114 stories
Stories
“Bourbon & Bees” by Praveen Jagwani
Submitted to Contest #44
“Goodbyes when you remember” by A.J Blink
Submitted to Contest #44
“What If I Told You I Was A Cat?” by Jasper Hutchings
Submitted to Contest #44
“Ann's Story ” by Rozi Bhalesha
Submitted to Contest #44
“My brother” by Anushka Binoy
Submitted to Contest #44
“The Way Back” by Terri Harrington
Submitted to Contest #44
“What A Surprise My Ex Girlfriend Got When She Returned from a Trip” by Blane Britt
Submitted to Contest #44
“Black money” by Kavita Rawat
Submitted to Contest #44
“Life Turning Point” by Sheeba Javid
Submitted to Contest #44
“An Unusual Source of a Story of a Goodbye” by Julius Robin Murallon
Submitted to Contest #44
“Prophecy” by Kira Krieger
Submitted to Contest #44
“Soulmates ” by Neomi Shah
Submitted to Contest #44
“Missed Opportunity” by Steve McKenney
Submitted to Contest #44
“The Talking Field” by ℤ ℍ☮️
Submitted to Contest #44
“Uxío” by Kathleen March
Submitted to Contest #44
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.
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