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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

“Welcome to Kanamuro” by Igor Tishalovich

Submitted to Contest #44

“You seriously want to go, dummy?”Two Germans are standing on a train platform. One of them will be leaving soon, to a land far-far away. Again.Ludwig would never really consider another one journey. After his mental breakdown and a whole month full of recovering, this looks like a very bad idea. Sadly, nothing else were coming across his mind. In the end, motherhood couldn’t keep Ludwig sane, because everything here reminded about his family. Well, broken family.“Yeah. I guess, I have no choice. I mean, I do, but… You wouldn’t get it.” — cl...

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“Drowned pain” by Chuks Kalu

Submitted to Contest #44

The hospital bed was warm and cozy; Adele's hand was so cold_her skin pale like powder. She was dying, diagnosed with leukaemia. Her mum was sitting right next to her, holding her hand so tight she wouldn't let go. Avril's eyes were full, but she held her tears like a fortress: she has to be strong for her daughter_only happy faces are allowed. ''Mum, I'm sorry for all those times I made you angry, writing on the wall with my crayon. I am sorry for making you shout at the top of your voice every time I tried to plug in the TV to the ele...

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“Conversations with myself/my mother.” by Helēna Berga

Submitted to Contest #44

Twelve is blue. I love you, my mother says, almost as an afterthought, as she is heading out the door. I have waited 12 years for these words. The savouring feeling comes with a certain kind of bittersweetness, a feeling I had become accustomed to. Begging and scraping for any kind of affection has made me hard. I do not respond. The next years pass in a haze with only glimpses of memories in-between. Thirteen is a numbing sea, all ragged greys, no colour in sight. Hovering through life a few feet above my head, I am the ghost of a...

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“It's never easy to say goodbye ” by Sara Adams

Submitted to Contest #44

Approximately 2 years ago a good friend had been diagnosed with Cancer. It was a terminal Cancer and he was only given a prognosis of 10 months or less to live. Not knowing for certain when his last day here on earth would be, he and I decided we needed to be able to spend, share, make, and enjoy the time together. Because we all know it's not easy to say goodbye. I went to his home daily, brought dinner either homemade or fast food his choice, talked to each other and got to know him more. We laughed, cried, shared many words of advice abou...

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“Beloved” by Edna Chew

Submitted to Contest #44

I sit quietly on the sterile chair, tightening my shawl across my body. The air conditioning here chills my soul. It is always so cold, so unwelcoming. I lean on the hard chair, my eyes tracing my heart lying in front of me.I remembered the first time I met you. It was such a beautiful day. The sky was calm, the wind was flirtatious. I could almost taste spring on my lips. And then you appeared. You came through the bookstore, rang that silly old bell as you opened that entrance door. I laughed internally as I heard your flinch. I leane...

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“Goodbye, Grandma” by Sarah Oakes

Submitted to Contest #44

Goodbye. That’s what I have to say. But the word is stuck in my throat. I know I must say it. It is time to say goodbye. She is gone now, resting in peaceful slumber. She is gone now, all the pain and worries of life washed away like the rain. She is gone now, to be with her dear friend, God. He will keep her safe and happy, in a kingdom of kindness and love and music. Until we meet again. But for now, it is time to say goodbye.That’s what I whisper to myself as the hearse draws up to the chapel. The black car approaches the glass doors slow...

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“The Game” by Kinsey M

Submitted to Contest #44

“Whenever I pictured us saying goodbye to each other, I always assumed one of us would be killing the other, most likely me killing you. So this whole situation has really thrown me for a loop.” Her fingers gingerly rub at the top of her forehead, while avoiding eye contact. Her voice was mocking, sarcastic, and confident, as it always was when they would talk to each other, but her body language gave away how different this situation was. “Killing me is still an option, you’ve...

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“Disloyalty” by Madison Rose

Submitted to Contest #44

While his once warm but now chilling presence faded more into the distance, I could not help but remember all of what we had. It was a humid night on the pier, Sonya was blabbering about her on again off again boyfriend, Maria twirling in the breeze like she was in some old film, and Abby focused on the neon lights brightening the bland night sky. I, however, just tuned everything else out and walked along with him. It was ironic, how we were all together yet in our own worlds. “GUYS GUYS GUYS,” Abby squealed. “Have any of you been listening...

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“The Final Goodbye” by Deborah Jordan

Submitted to Contest #44

My friend Birdie and I were about to do something neither of us expected. We were not only the best of friends, we are each other’s forever family or at least that’s what we thought. My friend Birniecia Jane Chambers aka Birdie is the most kindest, loving and all around wonderful person I have ever met. I am Cat, legal name Catrina Beth Jamison. The thing that made our friendship special was the fact that we both wore glasses, we are both certified nerds and we had the same first letters in our names, C, B, and J, and we both are alone excep...

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“Loony Birds ” by Charli Utley

Submitted to Contest #44

"Goodbye, John," I said."Goodbye, Clarissa." He sighed. The tears in his eyes were falling, as I'm sure they were real. He seemed like he meant it as if he wanted me to say something morally vague and stupid. This isn't that kind of breakup, John. Most people don't kiss in the rain unless it's a photoshoot or you want pneumonia on purpose. Don't think I'm going to kiss you goodbye.What am I supposed to tell our children? What am I supposed to say to his mother? This is going to crush their souls. How would they cope? I mean, maybe Beatrice, ...

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“Just the beginning ” by Allen Winter

Submitted to Contest #44

His mother was hugging him for the tenth time in those last five minutes. She had stopped crying, but she maintained her reluctant attitude towards his departure; although nobody could blame her: her only son was leaving. Despite being a small woman, her arms clung like strong pincers around the boy's back. “Mom, that's enough,” he said gently. “I'll lose the ship.” “Silence.” She replied as a shudder ran through her. “I will not see you in God knows how long, let me hold you just a little more.”...

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“Our Last Saturday” by Dahyana Lizarraga

Submitted to Contest #44

We were the only people at that karaoke bar that last night we sat opposite of each other, him sitting closest to the door this time. He was letting me watch him through our silence. As I sat there more with my thoughts than with him, I could feel through the windows the crowds of people heading opposite the direction we came, bustling through the darkness of the city’s night arm in arm in warmth and cheer.The more I felt the silence the more I realized what I wanted to say.“You should go home first.” I spoke gently. “It’s okay.” And th...

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“"Goodbye to the dead"” by Navya Jain

Submitted to Contest #44

I sat on the beach as the waves lapped at my feet, it felt good. This was so good, I almost didn’t want to leave it, but I had to. I couldn’t live in this place, not just because of college, but her memory would probably haunt me for life. And I couldn’t stay in the same place that I’d met her, where I’d spent those moments that I had so enjoyed.I looked down. Someone clapped me on the shoulder, I didn’t need to look up to tell who it was. I had arranged the meeting after all. James plopped down beside me.“What up, little sister?” He as...

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“The Exploration” by Rishab Gupta

Submitted to Contest #44

‘Goodbye everyone,’ said two boys pointing towards a teacher and some students. It was a fine day as Tobias Livendale and Trevor Oswald walked down the hallways of The University of Toronto. ‘We have to get a good score on this project,’ said Tobias, ‘we are going to take a trip to the United States for our country report.’ They had a country project due three weeks later. Instead of going online and jotting down the words on Google, they had decided to take a trip and visit U...

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“Where the Forest Bites” by Cathrin Lionheart

Submitted to Contest #44

Where the Forest BitesLong, deep scratches were embedded into the wooden door. Flakes had gotten shaved off and were lying on the doormat in a pile. It was not her doing, nor her husband's. The weather wasn't at fault either. 1, 2, 3, 4. 4 pieces, all smacked down beneath her husband's shoe. "You won't be long will you?" asked Mrs. Huxley. He gave her the grin, the you're paranoid grin. Resettling the hat on his head, he walked over to the door and opened it effortlessly. It creaked and whined. "I never am.""No, I suppose you're not."Ben smi...

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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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