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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

“What happens in lockdown, stays in lockdown.” by Rachael Nalunga

Submitted to Contest #44

As we sat on the edge of my mattress, only comforted by each other's long expired musks, the sound of breathing and unsaid regret, we both stared into the darkness and thought back on the events of this evening as well as those of the past weeks. For goodness sake he had a girlfriend whereas I had neither that nor boyfriend which could be why it was so easy in the beginning to just give into simple enticements. Well, here we were, at the beginning or end- call it what you may- ...

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“goodbye to all” by Lee Peter

Submitted to Contest #44

Goodbye to ancestor who helped me live happily today. And thought many important stuff in my lifetime. Long time ago me and my sister left south korea and moved into new jersey for 1 year. At there we went school called sicore acacdemic. At the school going back through today I say goodbye sincerely to science teacher called mrs.gozabo. she was old grandmother and very humble and kind teacher who treat me and my sister very specially compare to the others. Like the Disney movie called cindella. When cindella suffer from hard day li...

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“To Love from the Pines to the Oaks” by Dee M

Submitted to Contest #44

Saying goodbye to him left me bitter and bare. The abundance of love that filled my heart when he smiled at me in the morning. I loved his calloused hands that warmed mine on fall nights and the comfort he spread through me.I didn't know how to leave. How do you leave your soulmate? My entire life I was independent and searched for happiness within myself. While my friends cried over boys I cried over myself. I worked so hard to love me that I never needed someone else. To be honest, I never thought I would find someone who let me be me, the...

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“What a friend ” by Charles Ombuya

Submitted to Contest #44

Dylan and Owen reached the train station.“So this is it .” Dylan said.“Yeah this is where we part. ”They hugged.“You take care of yourself you hear? “Dylan let out almost sobbing.“Don’t get soft we me now. I will you too man. ”Owen boarded the train and in a few minutes it departed.Owen sank to his seat. He was so exhausted. He exhaled as his body began relaxing and he started to recollect his thoughts. It had been one hell of day. He still couldn’t believe that they had pulled it off.He suddenly realised that his bag almost slipped. He nerv...

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“5 minutes-To the end” by Vaishnavi Thorve

Submitted to Contest #44

5 Minutes- To the endBreaking out in waters as I try to hold my tears, the intense ache in my chest as if someone was walloping my heart , churning stomach, mind in overdrive; unable to hold the moment passing by and the intense need to clasp on my breathe as I was loosing out of it, everything was accepted when he said " Goodbye, I hope we cross path again ", but none was felt when he waived through the window of the bus he boarded.I was standing there cold as a stone, my fist clenched, looking at him and not feeling even an ounce of e...

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“An Unacknowledged Parting” by Melinda Bunker

Submitted to Contest #44

“Is that all?” Laura asked him, wondering if he’d catch on. She knew this was the last time she’d be seeing him and he wasn’t man enough to say it to her face. That’s what he had said when she wasn’t brave enough to kiss him for the first time, “Is that all?” A puzzled look crossed his face and a moment of silence before he spoke, “Yes, that’s all.” She couldn’t insist on the honesty she deserved without giving him the satisfaction of feeling that she couldn’t let go, so she just said “okay”. They hugged and said their good byes’ before part...

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“Circle of Life” by Lori Svensen

Submitted to Contest #44

Birds twittered in the trees as the soft sound of the ground grated on the metal shovel. The quiet sobs of two children disturbed only as much as the soft breeze blowing through the trees above them, slightly shaded by the gathering clouds.Jennifer wiped a tear from her eyes, more for the heartbreak of her two daughters rather than the loss of a single pet lasa named Fluffy. They hadn’t even had the animal that long, rescued from the local shelter – like most of their pets – maybe something had been wrong with it from the start. Still, it di...

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“Farewell to Ghosts” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #44

The hissing and chugging of the engine made it almost impossible to hear as passengers surged to and from the train. People craned towards each other, lipreading and gesturing. Civilians threaded their way through the groups of soldiers and sailors, some jostling and joking, others weary and silent. Everyone seemed to be clad in shades of grey, blending with the gloomy miasma of steam and smoke, pale faces momentarily illuminated as they passed under the weak lights before disappearing into the chilly dusk. There were joyful reunions and som...

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“The Farewell” by Silver Writer

Submitted to Contest #44

It was the perfect setting for the first of many farewells, scripted from the book of truths itself. The heated glare from the relentless sun was soothed by welcoming gusts of wind. The sky was an expanse of dreams and possibilities, beaming a unique shade of blue. We stood on the side of a road on the outskirts of town, where the trees rose high above our heads and created a protective green canopy over our heads, and the grass was a soft bed for our aching feet. It was the perfect haven for starting a new life. The girl standing in front o...

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“Arianna, My Aphrodite” by David Hobson

Submitted to Contest #44

Tears flowed down her cheeks as she stood on the quay, waving at my disappearing boat. I waved back and blew her a kiss. They say that parting is such sweet sorrow, but I think it is just plain sorrow. Good-bye my own Greek goddess. I will be back. Soon.Eight weeks on an archeological dig on the island of Crete to complete my thesis seemed an ideal way to spend the summer. Far from the madding crowd of home. Far from the months of studying in libraries; the endless rain and the persistent pressure of my Pro...

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“Farewell ” by Clyde Barnes

Submitted to Contest #44

A promise was never broke by Terrance, but that wasn’t the sole reason he agreed to take a taxi down to the bread store and meet Barbra. Behind his exterior was a longing he felt as he glanced out the window while the yellow wagon trailed through a sheet of rain, slapping the pavement without mercy. He couldn’t help but question this single promise that he’s made to say goodbye. The girl who was no longer there had finally vanished from the presence of his daydreams it seems only for a faint moment, and not long after the Hanz family tells h...

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“TOGETHER FOREVER” by Eesha Bhargava

Submitted to Contest #44

TOGETHER FOREVERAahan said, “Good bye, Jai. May you succeed in the mission. Thank you for the most wonderful friendship you have given me.”Jai, meeting the tearful eyes of his friend, said, “Don’t be foolish. Don’t talk like this is our last talk. Good bye and best of luck. Lead your battalion bravely.”Aahan asked, “Will we be together again?”Jai replied, “Always.”The two soldiers shook hands and Aahan pulled Jai into a warm hug.****************Thirty years beforeTwo little boys, Aahan and Jai, were sitting together in Jai’s garden. It was n...

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“Bye” by Paige Saunders

Submitted to Contest #44

When I woke up that morning, I remember all the feelings greeting me, swirling around inside me as I remembered what I would be doing in just less than an hour. Anxiety was a big one. Somewhat fear, but I think that was just for the unknown of what the day held. Despair especially. I hating saying goodbyes.But this time, somehow, it felt more, real? Urgent, almost? The gist is, I had a bad feeling. My best friend was leaving today. I have to meet and see her off, wish her luck and good opportunities and all that. Off to some college in ano...

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“Circus Act” by Madison Best

Submitted to Contest #44

“See you tomorrow Stefan” I shout up to my instructor who is balancing on the high wire at the top of the highest peak in the red and white circus tent. “Until tomorrow Kai” Stefan shouts down to me in his French accent. He flips onto his hands and continues to walk the high wire upside down his silver unitard sparkling in the bright lights. I began training with Stefan just over a month ago, but I have so much more to learn before I’d feel comfortable performing the stunts he does at such a high height. It’s 5 days until the final performan...

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“Dolly” by Khadidja Bouaroua

Submitted to Contest #44

I waved my right hand saying goodbye while my left hand wiped a tear falling from my eye. The scene of goodbye always made me weeping but this time there is something special. Despite the time that I spent with Dolly was short, I felt as I was leaving my child. The first time I met Dolly, he was still in his egg.It was a summer day, I was walking in the forest then I sat under a big tree with a large shadow. Suddenly, my hand touched something straight and hard. I turned away the leaves and the stones to find an egg three times bigger than c...

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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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