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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

“This Side of the Pacific” by Samuel S.

Submitted to Contest #44

They married on that day in Japan when the ground quaked, the shores drowned, and the nuclear plant exploded. Thankfully, the ceremony was held in Seattle, not Sendai. Still, those in attendance came silently to the shore, to contemplate the ocean, to marvel at how serene it seemed in Washington State, knowing what they did of the situation in Tōhoku. That which happened more than four thousand miles away cast an eeriness and trepidation over the rest of the celebration. How might they sing and dance and drink with fifteen thousand dead over...

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“A Blue Four-Door Sedan” by C.B. Martin

Submitted to Contest #44

“The blue lights flash in my rearview and that was the last time I saw freedom,” I write. The pen I’m using is flexible and causes cramps in my fingers. It’s like trying to write with a Red Vine. Inmates can’t be trusted with sharp objects, but it is better than nothing. God, what I wouldn’t give for a Red Vine!I’m writing slowly to avoid mistakes, but also ignoring the ones I make. I have to think carefully about every line. Crossing out words or sentences uses up more paper and it is a precious commodity. I write from edge to edge, front a...

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“The Better Photographer! ” by Jatinder Vijh

Submitted to Contest #44

This was his maiden visit to Mumbai, many years ago. Mumbai has so much to offer and take and he wanted to capture as many images as he could on his first DSLR. It was decent camera with 70-300mm lens. His school going son was equally fond of it. He checked the battery level. The bars on the indicator were full. The data card was formatted. He slipped an extra battery, the charger as well as two new data cards into the pocket of the camera bag. He had been warned that Mumbai was notorious for pickpocketers. He hid 20...

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“Red Cape” by Yan Wong

Submitted to Contest #44

He thought he was going to die."Brass? Brass? Please!" He heard a feeble desperate call coming from his right, drowning in the loud ringing in his ears. He opened his eyes, slowly, and in a sudden pain surged all over his body. He tasted a scent of blood in his mouth. Red dripped from his aching nose. He turned towards the owner of the voice."Mum?" He said weakly. The woman's eyes were red in tears. Her face was stained with blood and peppered with fresh wounds. "Thank god." She let out a sigh of relief when she heard his voice and started t...

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“Life Moves On” by M D

Submitted to Contest #44

Holding his hand, I watch with tears flowing freely down my face as my first love releases his last breath. At fifteen, most teens are learning how to drive, not preparing to tell their childhood best friend, first kiss, and first everything, goodbye. Hayden has been there for me since the day I was born. Our mothers thought it was amazing to try and pair us up as toddlers, brainstorming of our future. Hayden was a whole year older than me, and they loved that we were close in age. Playdates were easy, and they continued with their matchmaki...

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“An untruth” by Orlando Scalzo

Submitted to Contest #44

Katerina spun the steering wheel as far as she could to the left, terror plastered onto her face. Her view was completely covered with the front-facing view of the truck. Time seemed to move in slow motion as the front of the truck impacted her side of the car, sending a horrible vibration throughout the car and flinging Katerina’s unconscious body into an unnatural position in her seat. The driver of the truck swore and opened his door, only to stumble and fall from the driver’s seat onto the pavement. Two unconscious bodies left to die in ...

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“Snippets in the continuing waves of memories. . . . . .” by Rose Knott

Submitted to Contest #44

As the woman thought back through her life, holding to the standards bestowed on her by her parents, then later forming her own moral compass that she would defend as if it were a badge of honor. As a child, life was many struggles however she didn't recognize them as such.Being in a family of four, counting her older brother, it was if there were many more mouths to feed. Living pay check to pay check was a natural thing for her and a great many of her neighbors and friendsAs her years were passing, one and then another there were piano les...

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“One: Waking Up” by Kyndal S.

Submitted to Contest #44

Foreword This is the first chapter in a story that is much longer than 3,000 words. This concept has been brewing in my head for months, and I felt compelled to write this down after leaving an abusive relationship. It is my hope that the finished manuscript will raise awareness toward the issue. I write a foreword to provide a warning. This excerpt contains strong language and graphic descriptions of violence and domestic abuse. It is intended for mature audiences. That being said, enjoy. I close my eyes, and for a moment, it ...

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“The Rollers ” by Romeo M.

Submitted to Contest #44

My arm!, I think we got to cut it off, “no! don’t be crazy,” my cousin Cheech said, you saw that snake bite me and we can’t go to the hospital, c’mon Cheech, it will be fa….I mean fasss…. “I think the venom is spreading,” well no duh sherlock is what I would say if I didn’t feel like my arms was going to fall off, I mean everybody dies right but even I can’t explain this one. NO one would of thought that my death was caused by a snake right? Not to mention how I got here in the first place. Yo le..le...puff...pu...passs… “Hell no, you aint h...

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“THE MARCH TO FREEDOM” by Russell Waterman

Submitted to Contest #44

The man trapped inside would remain a prisoner until early November, or if his captors became hard-pressed—terminated. The choice was his. The small basement level apartment held the man captive deep inside the Washington Highlands area of D.C. There was no public access to the red-tagged building, so foot traffic was almost nonexistent. Only those with less than righteous thoughts ventured into the neighborhood, and any attempts of drawing their attention to his predicament were met by well-dressed men with guns. The hopper window, located ...

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“Life or Death” by Mackenzie Blair

Submitted to Contest #44

The fog machine blows directly into my face, choking the last bit of oxygen out of my lungs. The roar of the crowd blends with the whirring fan as I step through a curtain of mist, taking my first breath of non-recycled air in over a week. It isn’t as sweet as I remember. There aren’t any real trees in the City, at least none that I’ve seen through the tiny window in the cell where I was kept, but at this point, anything is better than the chemicals they pump into their buildings.By ‘they’, I mean the Producers. They run the City like a soci...

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“the labyrinth we call life” by Jenna Tolls

Submitted to Contest #44

Dad’s terrible singing echoed through the car. “Dad, please stop your lack of tune is detrimental to my ears,” I whined. A deep chuckle made his chest rumble. My lips quirked up, I loved it when he laughed. It made the sides of his eyes crinkle and his face look a decade younger. “Is this how you talk to your father, huh? Huh?” he teased. Dad suddenly lit up, an evil look falling across his face.“No. No. Don’t even--,” before I could finish my protest, his hand had sneaked over to where I sat and started tickling me. I squealed loudly, ...

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“AFTER THE BOMB” by Michael Woods

Submitted to Contest #44

SHORT STORY AFTER THE BOMBBy Michael Woods Edinburgh. 2027. Fraser Finlay was angry with himself as he walked down Hanover Street when it happened, frightening the life out of him. Shafts of sunlight had been reflecting off the spires and pinnacles but that chameleon of Scottish weathers had changed yet again. Looming clouds covered the sun as they sailed across what seemed a seascape, dimming the colours of the rainbow into a sodden pewter grey. The air lay heavy and misty. He frowned as he strode past the tourists, so many of them ambling...

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“Taking on Frankie” by Ebony Frisina

Submitted to Contest #44

I never really saw myself being a mum. That was until motherhood was forced upon me at the blink of an eye when I received the call from the police that afternoon. “Ginny Riley?”“Yes?”“We have Frankie here with us. It looks like her parents have left her and ran for the hills. Your name and number was left in her pocket. It says you’re her aunt, is that correct?” I wasn’t exactly close with my sister. She didn’t make the best choices for herself, but I can’t say I had my life sorted out either. I went on countless first dates but barely any...

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“Here and there” by Kavya Pillai

Submitted to Contest #44

Shriya isn't here. I don't know where she is. But people ask. " Hey, where's Shriya?" The curious eyes, expectant minds and theories about her whereabouts make me choke on my saliva. I check my messages, if she has texted. NoneI check my feed, if she has posted about her whereabouts. None.I Google ' the girl who disappeared from a farewell party.' None of my interest. ***"Would you like some tea?"" Yeah, some tea would be great.""Mind you though, our tea differs."" Let me guess, is it sweet and milky or watery a...

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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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