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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

“A Magnificent Transformation” by Britt Michielsen

Submitted to Contest #44

“I’m a mermaid”, I say, looking him in the eyes. “A mermaid? As in a mythological creature? As in a girl with a fishtail? As in something that’s not real and doesn’t exist?”, he fires at me. “Yes”, I say back to him. Silence takes over. I look at his face, trying to figure out what he’s thinking right now. “You? A mermaid?”, he says before he bursts out laughing. “That’s a good one. I almost believed you there.” “But Chad, it’s true. I really am a mermaid”, I say, kind of frustrated as I take off my bracelet and wait for a few seconds. Sudde...

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“Murderer?” by Abby Christine

Submitted to Contest #44

I am a murderer. More specifically, a serial killer.Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking. Why am I telling you this? Are you serious? A killer?Well, let me tell my story before you judge me too much.Let’s get the facts straight. My name is Jade Valerie. I am 17 years old and in my senior year of high school. My mother is in an asylum, My father was a murderer and is now dead, and I have no siblings. A have a long, winding background that is absolutely none of your business, and I know that this story is none of your business either.The sto...

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“Jeff, The Menace” by Eesha Irfan

Submitted to Contest #44

JEFFBullet to my head: do I like to play God with the people around me? My answer is: yes, shoot me. I had always been the unusual kind for most people. They said I was too blunt, too straightforward, too rash, and that I didn’t think things through. I’d say all that is a whole lot of hogwash. I do what’s needed to be done. I have no patience for people’s antics and lame excuses. I’ve learned a long time ago that people will always come up with excuses, no matter what the circumstances. So it’s always been up to me to throw them he...

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“Journey” by A A

Submitted to Contest #44

Kria was late today. She had to attend the meeting for innovative approach on recycling of electronic waste this morning at eight. Her workday usually started early and ended by three in the afternoon. Post that she socialized with her friends and spent time on nearby beach or walked in the woods around.It was six in the morning. She will have to rush through her routine. She said her morning payers in her bed. She walked to her bathroom built with ultra-modern amenities based on the principles of bio-mimicry. Bio-mimicry was an inseparable ...

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“A King's Daughter” by D J

Submitted to Contest #44

Steel against steel, my blade swam through the air, as swiftly as the eels in the depths of the famous river. The sounds of metal clashing and the smell of sweat around me stimulated the pumping blood in my veins. I stepped left and then right, dodging the sharp edges of my opponent, counting my movements in preparation for a strike. I feinted one last time – sliding neatly to the left, as my adversary attacked right, and spun around just in time to place the cool, sharp edge of my blade against the back of his hairy neck. He gasped in disap...

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“Isla of the Sea: A Beginning...Part of It” by Kristine Murdock

Submitted to Contest #44

“Isla, look at me.” I obeyed. “Run. Run as fast as you can. Don’t wait for us. If we’re fine we’ll fly the crest from the ship. If not…” my mother’s voice trailed off in desperation. “You know what to do. You gather from the groves, the bushes. Protect the spring and watch for the shellfish.” I nodded, tears coming to my eyes. “Mama… I don’t want you to go.” “I know, darling.” she took my face in her hands. “But you’re brave, beautiful, and resourceful. I know I do not misplace my trust when I leave you and you to take care of your grandfath...

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“The Courtship of Princess Chantal-Luisa” by Angela Morrissey

Submitted to Contest #44

Crown Princess Chantal-Luisa was escorted by her father down the stairs of their palace to the large ballroom with walls of gold and rubies and crystal chandeliers hanging from the bright and brilliant ceiling. Other royalty were in attendance and they bowed and curtsied before the princess and her father King Hans-Georg II before the father and daughter started to waltz in the middle of the room. It was Princess Chantal-Luisa’s coming of age event and everyone was there to see her including potential suitors. The blonde, snow princess was d...

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“All the Lonely People ” by M. Montoya

Submitted to Contest #44

A dense fog hung in the ground, uneasily suspended in the chilly air of the morn. The lampposts cast an eerie yellow glow on the wet streets just before a humble little chapel, which sat on a quiet avenue. The sky was a deep milky blue. At six o’clock precisely, a low bell shook the town with its reverberation, purging the silence and disrupting the toiled, the peaceful, and the meaningless slumbers. Some scarce souls continued their rests, though they were just minutes from rising unwillingly. In a shack of a home, down a lonely road w...

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“why did i only name one character” by Derek Brown

Submitted to Contest #44

Little droplets bounced off, scattering into the air, tossed from the foot falls of her seasoned leather boots. Rain waterslided down her burlap trench coat, clustering around [in] the folds then dripping off, like a slow motion bombing raid. The wind blustered her hat off her head, but she tried to catch it, like a drunk dog after a bone, nearly tripping over her own feet. She was unable to catch it as it took wing and spiralled towards her steadily approaching shadow. Her quickly matting hair trailed behind her, shoulder length in a variet...

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“The End” by Casper McWilliam

Submitted to Contest #44

At the end of the world, I stand with my back to the setting sun and my feet in the ocean, watching the last of the lands wash under the tide as the night creeps in. God isn’t here; they left about an hour ago when the sky had fallen, leaving me to say a last few goodbyes before it’s all over. “Why?” the people had asked me. “Why now?” “The time has come,” was my answer. I find it best to remain neutral in this sort of situation. They cried and wallowed at my feet, begging, pleading, sobbing into my robes, shrieking, “Pl...

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“The Hardest Part of Goodbyes ” by Elsie Read

Submitted to Contest #44

Denvil stood stoic as he watched the sun set. It’s golden colors danced on the ocean waves and glittered like magic. Though the sight was beautiful, his eyes stayed on one fading object in the distance.It was a ship, The Envoys Morning, that caught his attention so thoroughly. It was the ship that held his lover.Torriel Adim was the most important person in Denvils life, and he was forced to say goodbye to her, all because Denvil did not have the social standings that Torriel needed. Instead she found another man to care for her in a way he ...

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“Goodbye” by Natalie Chirico

Submitted to Contest #44

“Goodbye Jay.” A man with jet black hair, green eyes, and stood at 5”11 said to the man who had copper hair brown eyes, and stood at 5”5.“Goodbye Carson.” Jay leaned in and up to kiss Carson. Carson leaned down to welcome their last kiss. As they parted jay looked around and took everything in. They were on a bridge with a rushing river below. Their peers were known to go by the river and sneak a few beers.Carson took jays hand and they jumped into the river together.Carson snuck up to jay and gave him a loving behin...

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“After 15 Years” by Elizabeth Sacks

Submitted to Contest #44

“Goodbye, Justy,” the little boy said to his friend after a hug.“Goodbye, Ashton,” replied the girl. “Try to have fun in California”“I’ll try. But it won’t be as nice as Wyoming.”They both turned away and followed their mothers to their cars. As the vehicles drove off from the park, Ashton and Justina watched through the rear windows the other riding off in the opposite direction, wondering if they would ever see each other again.… 15 years later …“Good morning, Miss Carpa. I brought you your usual coffee and a list of all the appointments t...

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“May We Meet Again” by Kinshell Smith

Submitted to Contest #44

It felt like their life was ending, but it was only just beginning. She wrapped her slender arms around his muscular frame, holding him close like he was the last lifeline to her old life, and she just was not ready to let go. "Last call for International Flight 461 to Paris," the attendants voice broke through the haze, letting Stephanie know the time to let go had finally arrived. "Axel..." she whispered his name and felt the same tremor of desire race through her veins, and up his spine as he tightened his hold on her."Please," That ...

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“One Faithful Friend.” by Arcane Brinson

Submitted to Contest #44

“Goodbye!” Tears were rolling down his cheeks. “Someday again… we must meet…” his voice melted. He had tried hard to stop his tears but looking at his companion’s face, he couldn’t. 'He looks so innocent...' , he thought.His friend didn’t reply, he didn’t even make the slightest sound. But in his eyes, one could see those thousands of unspoken and unheard words, his eyes were able to say more than any real words could ever say. “ Don't leave me, take me with you…”, these were some instances of it.“You have to stay here and I assure you that ...

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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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