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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

“Despite What You Think” by Bela Verduzco

Submitted to Contest #44

"And you're sure you have everything?"The sharp winter wind whistled and slapped my face as I watched Tom load his last bag into the back of a taxi. His black hair fluttered along in the direction of the wind, his cheeks flushed from the cold. I rubbed my hands together as he stepped away from the car and walked over to me and nodded. "Yes, I do! Quit worrying about me already!"He sent me a glare, but I knew there was no anger behind it. He dug through his coat pockets until he supplied himself with a pack of cigarettes and a silver lighter....

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“FORGIVE AND FORGET” by Priyanshi Saxena Saxena

Submitted to Contest #44

Some goodbye helps people to come close. Will they come back?This story is about a father (Samid) and his son (Ref). They were poor and live in a small house made of woods and trees. They were close when Ref was a kid. His father work all day and when he reaches home he used to play and enjoy with his son. Whenever he leaves home Ref used to see off his father with a kiss.One day in the morning Samid was preparing munchies and Ref was sitting on the door seeing outside. Ref asked his father will i never go to school, I also want to study.Sam...

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“I shall join Abuela too.” by Sayyidha Misk

Submitted to Contest #44

"Abuela?" I wrapped an arm around her waist and hugged her.She didn't hug me back. Her arms lay stiff at her sides. What's wrong with her? I thought.Is she alright?"Say goodbye, Emma." Mommy whispered in my ear. Her breath making me shiver. Everything about this place gave me the creeps. But I didn't want to say goodbye to Abuela. I didnt want her to go.Yet I hugged her hard."Where is she going, mommy?" I pressed my cheek against Abuela's stomach. "Why is she leaving us?" I nuzzled my face and breathed in the sweet scent of Abuela....

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“When One Hunts Dragons” by Robyn Jipp

Submitted to Contest #44

The dawn had barely begun to paint the sky a golden hue when Sparrow mounted her white mare Destiny with her longbow and arrows slung across her back and her sword hanging at her hip. She wore no armor, for she had discovered from previous experience that it weighed her down and prevented her from moving swiftly enough to deliver the killing blow.Her father reached up to clasp her hand briefly in his."I wish you would not go, Sparrow.""You say the same every time I leave, Papa. You know that I must go." She touched the leather cord around he...

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“Charlatan” by Swastika Nayak

Submitted to Contest #44

A deep incantation of silence lingered around the room which was painted from head to toe in white. An opened window stood agile against the bricks of these walls, allowing vivacious sunlight to flood inside in ample. There were various chairs and sofas all around the room- each adorned with a cushion or two who seemed perfectly clean. Next to the sofa sat a table with a bunch of papers, notebooks and pens: hidden gracefully behind a large vase filled with roses of the brightest red. There was a mirror shinning blatantly next to the window w...

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“Surprise Me” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #44

“Goodbye, Dear,” he said, placing a kiss on my cheek. Really? I knew he was only leaving for a week, but a kiss on the cheek? He didn’t even want me to walk him to the gate, not that I cared anymore. I forced a smile and nodded to him. “Have a good trip, Sweetheart,” I said cheerfully. He nodded to me and opened the car door, closing it gently behind him. He grabbed his luggage from the back and waved to me before heading off. I waited until he was out of sight before I started up the car. After all, I had to get ready for my big week too.&n...

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“No time for goodbyes” by Severine Desrosiers

Submitted to Contest #44

I got my suitcase zipped up and ready. Precious, my best friend, stopped by one last time to give me a very long hug goodbye. I dragged my suitcase downstairs and dad told me to be careful; it was super heavy, but I didn’t care, I would not be carrying it around, boys would help me I assumed. He starting putting my things in the car before calling me over to give me $500 in cash. ‘Good luck out there kiddo; I’m sorry it came to this.’ He said with sad eyes. I had never seen him like this before, I guess there was a first time for everyt...

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“Goodbyes are no fun” by Chinemerem Ike-Okonkwo

Submitted to Contest #44

"So, this is finally happening," I said wistfully, plunking down on the bed, "home sweet home is expecting me."Heaving dramatically, Giovanni started, "No more you sitting behind me in class, boring holes at the back of my head with your eyes.""What the...""Or me sitting in front looking at you from my glasses or my phone screen." He continued."Who stares at the back of your head in class? Get over yourself Gio.""I have evidence you know.""Of course you do. Get out.""I'm in my house.""I mean out of my head." "Oh, now you admit I'm in yo...

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“See You in September” by Maggie Writes

Submitted to Contest #44

“See you in September.” Toby waved strolling down the aisle of the bus and hopping down the steps. He waved again from his driveway. Clarissa smiled and waved back. It had been the perfect last day of school after a difficult grade two year. Clarissa had had two operations. She spent more time in hospital and less time in school. When she was well enough to go back to school, she had completely missed lessons on cursive writing. She was able to catch up on most of her other work but continued to print while her classmates wrote in cursive. H...

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“The Mothership” by Emma Kelleher

Submitted to Contest #44

“Goodbye, Calliope.”“No, don’t leave me here,” a brown-haired girl says, tears streaming down her cheeks solemnly. “I have to go,” the man says. He walks away, not looking back at the crying girl on the ground. As he walks into the distance, he pixelates into thin air in a teleportation-like manner. The girl looks around with puffy eyes, observing her surroundings. She pulls her hair up with shaking hands, a tic she adapted to when she gets anxious.Large trees surround her, and a dark green color invades her eyes. A dark night brings a ...

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“A Beginning's End” by Gabriela Fitzgerald

Submitted to Contest #44

I once heard a quote by a Roman philosopher that has always stuck with me. “Every new beginning comes from another beginning's end.” I never knew what that meant until today. The last eight hours have been a crazy ride of emotions and the beginning of a new journey. A new me. I’ve never been good at goodbyes and here I am standing in a waiting area of the airport in Miami, Florida making my second of the day. Somehow this one, harder than the last. “I guess this is it,” I say, feeling myself get slightly choked up. What is wrong with you? Pu...

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“Shackled Life” by Sabrina T

Submitted to Contest #44

It wasn’t a feeling I was used to, unbelievable sharp pain, mixed with a white-hot burning sensation, glancing down where my hand rested on my abdomen, red began to form between my fingers. Voices were shouting all around me, yet none of them were clear enough to make out actual words. A heavyweight rose upon my eyes, slowly drooping to a shut, I felt someone shake me, causing my eyes to shoot open, but it didn’t last long. Fighting against the urge to close them, it was a losing battle, eventually, everything went still, sound bending into ...

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“Sight” by Sam Affarano

Submitted to Contest #44

“This isn’t working!” Tommy slammed his fist onto the floor, coddling it immediately after as he hit a rock. Tears oozing from his eyes, “It just won’t work,” he seethed and climbed back onto his feet, turned around and pounded towards the back door, running into the wooden stair railing. There he paused, quivering before using the railing as a guide to lead him up through the back door. At least he managed to thrust it shut with a satisfying thud. Tila yearned to follow him, her heart ached for his struggles,...

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“The Beginning of the End” by Mandy Stanley

Submitted to Contest #44

My sister’s words echoed in my ears as I drove to work: “I’m no longer responding to chemo.” I had gotten ready for work and got a text from Jolene: On our way home. Don’t leave yet. I knew she had some information for me from the doctors. Jolene and Mom had left early that November morning for an appointment in Pittsburgh with the oncology team and then chemotherapy. The half-hour trip always seemed to be longer on the way back. Especially with a nauseous passenger beside you. It was far too early...

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“Take It From The Top ” by Michelle McCarthy

Submitted to Contest #44

She stared blankly, all the while taking in the murmurs of conversation and peripheral blur of bodies moving quietly about. Time in this place was regimented and ever present, yet time for her was of no consequence. She worried little of one minute to the next. There were no blurs looming near, aware of the fluorescent lights humming above, the coffee pot crackling and hissing, a woman cawing rules...trying to include her. She desired no inclusion. She desired the absence of her state of hyper-awareness, a need to dull all senses for a momen...

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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!

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