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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#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

“The First Time I Returned from Japan” by Ronda Everson

Submitted to Contest #44

My friend called us "the fabled seven." We had been in Japan for a semester, a group of students from Oklahoma Christian University. We had been studying at Ibaraki Christian University in Japan together. We had gone through culture shock together. We had studied Japanese together. We had gone site seeing around Japan together. We had lots of Japanese friends, but everything good has to come to an end. We had to go back to America. We were on Japan Airlines a Boeing 747, a huge airplane. The year was 1976, ...

1 comment 1
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“FROM HEAVEN TO HELL!” by P. Jean

Submitted to Contest #44

What an amazing time! He said it over and over again in his mind. He was a mass of glowing emotions. His mild sunburn reminded him of the days on end, paddling in the seemingly endless waters. Open skies, forests, good fishing, and the endless paddling. It was in fact almost a paradise, if you could find a remedy for the biting flies and his early blistered hands it would have been perfect.  Each day was similar and he was sure that was because it would be impossible to improve on any of them. It ...

4 comments 4
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“Leland's bar” by Imogen Bird

Submitted to Contest #44

Oh boy did the government fire a blank when they hired me. The out of touch jackasses at the top never accounted for the wills and capabilities of a man taken advantage of. Mind you, it isn't just me. New York is thick with deception. You'd have to look for many miles to find a man who didn't want a drink, a man who wasn't chasing away his ghosts from the war with whisky or gin.I stalk the streets at night, playing the part, turning over a beer barrel here or there. The big boys don't pry if you are seen to be doing even a little something, ...

3 comments 3
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“Something Unusual ” by Lisa Hollis

Submitted to Contest #44

Something unusual It is Monday, April 29, 2030 The time is 4:30 PM to be technical it is 16:30. At first glance, the building I am about to enter looks like a glorified hotel with every window exactly the same every shape and careful design in its place, every suite identical so there is no mistake, you can guess what any room looks like with 100% accuracy. Don’t let it fool you, it does look nice but it really is far more institutionalized than what meets the eye, upon entering you must swipe in numbers and an automated voice...

5 comments 5
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“- The Quest -” by Ivy Sage Penget

Submitted to Contest #44

“You will be hunted by all, child,” Mama said to me, placing me on the doorstep of a brick building. It gives me the shivers. “Oh, you’re cold.” she throws a velvety green blanket over me. I don’t say anything. My Algae-green cloak is enough to keep me warm, and now I’m nearly suffocating, but I love the smell of Mama; apples and bread, and I’d rather die than be complaint about Mama. “But don’t lose faith. Hope and Trust, and you shall win.” her voice is growing fainter by the second. A cool breeze floats over us, and some of her auburn hai...

7 comments 7
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“An Eye for an Eyes” by D. Alfonso

Submitted to Contest #44

An Eye for an Eye Angelina stepped off the bush plane and was immediately greeted by a cloud of dust. Ah, home sweet home, she thought miserably. “Are you sure this is the place, miss,” the pilot questioned, his voice shaking. Her pilot, she reminded herself but just waved him off. “Yes, Reginald, I’m quite sure this is the place,” she replied and looked at the glowing symbol on her wrist. “Believe me.” “Would you like me to take your bags, miss?” “Really, Reginald. I do believe I can carry one suitcase. I’ll call you when my vacation is ...

2 comments 2
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“Hell Hounds” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #44

           Like the fires of hell, the burning embers raged within the eyes of the beasts.                        Nobody knew what to expect when they had awoken that morning, but now the world faced wrath beyond all belief or understanding. Is this the Apocalypse as predicted in the Holy Bible, or have the hounds of hell been released onto the surface of the planet to ravage eve...

2 comments 2
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“I've Forgot to Tell You ” by Nour Too

Submitted to Contest #44

   “You're a weirdo,” that was what they used to call me back when we were in Shandong, China. Ever since, my little secret became everything I’d desperately want to hide from the world. Not that I was a shy, insecure kiddo, but it was because of my toes.    Peering at my feet, I cringed in embarrassed. It wasn’t unusual for me to have that feeling deep down, yet I tried, always, to conceal it in front of others. Who could ever understand that having four toes instead of the normal five was completely norma...

8 comments 8
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“No quiet Storm” by Madisson James

Submitted to Contest #44

Knowing the nature of humanity does not equate to understanding the actions of man; time in this dilemma is proceeded only by experience and a personal one at that.Parklesis flapped his wings long and hard as we emerged from the wormhole. We had no say in the direction of our punishment but there was no way that I, Jaiden Storm,  would be going anywhere or rather anytime without Parklesis.Parklesis was an aviant Equidae. Born from the ancient family of Perissa, to date, there was maybe a hundred of her kind across the span of time. You ...

0 comments 0
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“Different” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #44

Being in middle school is bad. Being a minotaur in a mostly human middle school is worse. Being a new transfer student, and a minotaur, and transferring to a mostly human middle school is hell on Earth.  It had already been a month since I transferred from the mid-Earth realm to Ohio, and I still hated it. Today was no exception as I felt the sharp sting of an apple hitting the back of my skull. “Hey, Bully! Eat up!” Some boy shouted at me. “My name is Billy,” I muttered weakly. “Whatever you say, Bully!”  The group of boys walked ...

2 comments 2
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“What If...” by Ramyani Bhattacharya

Submitted to Contest #44

IAlia was standing there, at the same spot on the platform, for almost twenty minutes now. Her legs had gone limp but, she could almost not feel it. Her heart was thumping slowly, in non rhythmic beats. The throbbing fit in with the slow music in her ears and the humdrum urgency of the faceless crowd. They couldn't care less about her predicament. The panic was mounting in her heart, at a slow pace so much so that she couldn’t have known when it would beat right out of her chest. Her eyes darted across the platform every few minutes, scannin...

13 comments 13
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“The Parade” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #44

Robert walked along the sidewalk, heading home, such as it was. In one hand was a sack of the potatoes his mother asked him to go buy. With his other hand he shoved his bag of camphor he wore as a necklace down into his shirt. He did this because Maria, who lived in the next block over was heading his way. He was fourteen years old and the smell was awful. It reminded him of the old lady down the street that owned all those cats. But his mother said it would protect him against getting sick. God help him if he argued with her. She had the bo...

0 comments 0
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“Zephyrs of Change” by Caitlyn Ash

Submitted to Contest #44

“Alright, Peter, your turn,” Tom said slowly, distracted by the race car game the three boys were playing.  Peter looked away from the screen and thought for a moment. “Something different about myself, right?” he clarified.  The boy to his right, Bradly, added, “Unusual. Something unusual.”  An idea popped into his head, “Oh! I like to draw. You guys don’t know that about me,”  Tom seemed surprised. “Really?” he asked. “I should have known you were a softy.”  While Bradly snickered, Peter was offended. “I am not a s...

8 comments 8
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“A Happy Heart” by Ramona Tennison

Submitted to Contest #44

Jill was a dear friend of mine and later when I married her brother, Jim, she became my sister-in-law.Jill told me about a time in her life that was very difficult and I have never forgotten it nor has anyone else, especially her family.She was a young mother with five children ranging from newborn and the other four ages 7, 8, 9, 10. She was recently divorced, in a new town where she didn't know anyone and living in a small house. Her child support payments never came on time or not at all and because of her recent move, Jill did not have a...

4 comments 4
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“Forever Together” by Grace Jarvis

Submitted to Contest #44

My vision was blurred as I looked around the small room. I could make out three figures, two of which were sobbing.“I’m so sorry, but your daughter doesn’t have much longer to live. The cancer is untreatable and has moved to her lungs,” the doctor whispered with a solemn tone.I knew they were talking about me. I tried to say that I would be okay, but I was too weak to do anything. I couldn’t even cry. Footsteps inched towards my side. My vision focused on my mother’s face. She gently caressed my cheek.“Mom,” I barely mumbled.Her lips curved ...

14 comments 14
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$50

Prize money

790

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 05, 2020 EST

Won by D. Holmes 🏆

Title: A Gamble

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!

Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

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Prompts | Many Hands | 2024-09

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