Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#66: Ready, Set, Go!

It’s almost November, and for many writers around the world that means the start of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. This wild challenge dares you to commit to writing a 50,000-word novel in just 30 days!

It’s an impressive feat, but it’s hardly the only way to exercise your writing muscles. If you like your writing in smaller doses but still want to build up the habit, today I’m going to challenge you to commit to writing a story from one prompt every week in November! (If you already do that, try for two, three, or even all five.)

To get you started, this week we’ll be focusing on stories all about challenging yourself. Whether it’s running a marathon, finally writing that novel, or just making it through a tough personal situation, challenge is what consistently pushes us to grow into our best selves.

And if you are giving novel writing a try, here are a few resources to help you along:

What Is NaNoWriMo? And How to Win in 2020
Join Reedsy’s NaNo Squad (with weekly live write-ins!)
Crafting a Novel Opening (workshop replay)
How to Write a Novel

This week's prompts

Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Novel – 132 stories

Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Short Story – 52 stories

Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Novel – 120 stories

Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Adventure – 145 stories

Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Dramatic – 135 stories

Stories

“Sanctuary, eh?” by A H

Submitted to Contest #66

The yellow lines on the highway sped by in a blur, and we flew through the night, and we felt free. But we weren’t, and we knew it. We were running away from something, and running away was never the path to freedom. I thought about telling John to turn back. I thought about suggesting to stop at the next Rest Area because I really had to piss, but I know he’d just toss me an empty container and sarcastically say: “You’re welcome, dude.” Besides, I’m sure all the Rest Areas were closed. I decided to bypass that conversation with him, so I ju...

Read story

“Opposite of Optimistic” by A O

Submitted to Contest #66

Oh my god, we are here. In the biggest art competition in the United States. I should clarify that we means me, Scyla Jackson and my best friend Maraya Thomas or, as I like to call her, MayMay. We are both artists which is how we became friends. We are best at painting which is why we are walking toward the table saying PLEASE SIGN IN FOR PAINTING CONTEST!!! in colorful letters.We arrive at the table say our first and last names to the lady, she gives us two name tags, one to put on our shirts and one for our bags, and a number, and says tha...

Read story

“Key To Happiness” by Karen Kinley

Submitted to Contest #66

Sheri stepped into the foyer of her house, the front door making a muted click as she pulled it closed. Well, that’s that, she said almost aloud. Thirty years of marriage dissolved with the swipe of a pen. Not that she really could call what they had a marriage. At least not for the last dozen years or so. She dropped her keys in the crystal bowl on the entry table, a wedding gift all those years ago. But now her keys would sit alone in a spot that once overflowed. Not just Len’s keys, but the kids’ too. Each one, in turn, getting their...

Read story

“Meet by the fire.” by Jordan L

Submitted to Contest #66

Day 4062, he counted as he watched the brilliant amber light of the rising sun reach over the expanse of flower filled rolling hills to reach this magnificent manor, the house accepted the warm embrace in a sickeningly peaceful solitude. The sign should be here any day now, he thought, watching the beautiful sight in agony, waiting for the day he will be released from this prison. ‘Thomas!’ the young master squawked from his bedroom behind Thomas. Fuck, he felt himself sucked back into his uncomfortable and embarrassingly flagrant sui...

Read story

“No greater stakes” by Vameerah Darren

Submitted to Contest #66

This year was going to suck. I knew that. I’d known that for years. The trials were beginning, and soon, Keith Harrison would be next in line. Well, Keith Harrison, was me. 18 years old, everyone always told me that I had my whole life ahead of me, my mom just told me that I had time. Time, no one ever really knew how much of it they had left, and for me, time was running out. The trials were held every five years, whoever was 18 on those years, would probably hate their birthday. The Kesians, or “Keys” would round up every single 18...

Read story

“Forever An Assassin” by Austin Miller

Submitted to Contest #66

The alarm pierced through the air, but Jesse Conley was already awake. A decade of regimented living will do that to a man, courtesy of the CIA’s demanding schedule. But Jesse walked away from that life three years ago, and he was wanted because of it. A “criminal” for deserting his country. At least, that’s how the media spun the story. Jesse knew better. The real criminals owned the media, and the media did what they were told. Jesse wasn’t perfect – far from it. The guilt reminded him of that much.But a criminal? No. Jesse was no criminal...

Read story

“0815” by C Alexis McGregor

Submitted to Contest #66

The radio crackles at 0815, a hollow voice alerting officers to attend a firearms complaint at a nearby house. Clicking on the lights and siren, I wheel my unmarked black SUV around, heading at speed to the rural town of 900 souls. Upon arriving, my ears ring with fired shots volleyed from outside the one-level residence towards our vehicles. I crawl below the gunfire to comfort a woman shot by the suspect. My eyes scan her injuries that my first-aid trauma trained brain recognizes as a significant threat to her life. A lull ...

Read story

“The Surf to Safety” by Tiffany 🌻

Submitted to Contest #66

The annual Maverick Shore's surf competition came around at the end of each summer here in Hilo, Hawaii. I was entering to be able to take that prize of $1,000 and the title of Mercury beach champion. The only problem was that I would be competing against Josh Campus, the known pretty boy/bully of our neighbourhood who's been training for years, just like me. When I stepped barefoot into that soft sand, I saw Josh stretching just in front. I glared at his curly blond hair and evil smirk as he stared at the dark ocean. The sea was dar...

Read story

“Only One Winner” by Navneeth N

Submitted to Contest #66

I was tired of the games. There was no other option. I had to shoot him. It would be hard, but I had to.Being scared has always been a habit of mine. It isn’t hard for my hands to become sweaty and the hairs on my neck to stand straight. But today, I have a reason to be scared. My parents and sister are on their deathbeds. They are counting on me. Why shouldn’t I be scared? I ponder this while I wait in my cell, ready to be hoisted up onto the arena like an animal. I have a flashback of elementary school, learning about the an...

Read story

“I Am The Champion” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #66

Octava put on his leather suit of armour and placed his sword in the scabbard on his hip. He stood straight, feet slightly apart, feeling strong before the match. Broad at the shoulders, a muscular body, standing six feet six inches tall.His aides, after helping him with his suit of armour, were putting the final touches to it. Smoothing it down over his back and chest. Checking if the pads were protecting his shoulders correctly. Tightening the belt that pulled in an already slim waist.The smell of greased leather was in the air and the arm...

Read story

“Time of Your Life” by Aisa M

Submitted to Contest #66

I slam my apron on the bar counter and leave as the printer vomits paper after paper of orders: beer, mojito, whiskey, cosmopolitan, tequila shots, and vodka orange. The night is young and the swelling crowd is vivacious. Gerard looks at me as I storm out the counter and head to the stage. He must think I am crazy to leave him as he sweats profusely with the number of drinks he needs to serve. But I really don’t care. I’ve had enough of life compromising my dreams. Sandra and her shiny, wiggly, skimpy dress that makes her look lik...

Read story

“Just Breathe” by Debbie Teague

Submitted to Contest #66

“Wait here until you are called. You can do this; it is what you have been trained for. Go well young warrior.” With those words Master K9 closed the door to the room his apprentice was in to join the elders in the arena. He was not allowed to project any positive thoughts or do anything that could put young David at an advantage. He must succeed or fail of his own accord. More than one life hung in the balance of this upcoming battle though - if his protege David won the battle, peace would reign, if not, darkn...

Read story

“snowy drive” by Shalee Mingus

Submitted to Contest #66

Mason was driving on a country road to his aunt Felicia's house when a blizzard rose up. He suddenly hit an icy patch. “This is all for naught. I am going to pass away in this blizzard and no one will find my body,” he thought worriedly. He was suddenly in a ditch when his life flashed before his eyes and he said in a barely audible whisper, “Jesus, I know I have not been a perfect child and I so often forget what’s important in life. Please forgive me. I have sinned in thought, word, and deed. By what I have done and what I have left u...

Read story

“High Stakes.” by Patricia Green

Submitted to Contest #66

“How the hell did this happen?” I yelled to myself in the dark. Another small “blink-and-you-miss” town flew by the window, with just one house to be seen. I tried to blink away the tiredness in my eyes, realising my husband’s life depended on me staying awake. My eyes felt gritty and sore from staring at the road for four hours, and I had a long way to go. As I drove through the night, I thought back to how this had all started. I didn’t have a lot of friends but the ones I did have were very loyal. The girls went shopping together, t...

Read story

“The Zombie Colosseum” by Yoana Corro

Submitted to Contest #66

Alive another day. Evelynn opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the tiny sliver of bright light that stole through the only crack in the room. The floor she was on was damp, slimy, and disgusting. She sat up quickly, running her hands against the worn jeans she was wearing for--what? --longer than she could say. She looked around the enclosure, her anxiety rising like a tide. The one light bulb in the cage clicked and clacked, the light slowly losing hope and fading. She rubbed her temples, trying to recall how she had gotten here. With...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

584

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 22:59 - Nov 06, 2020 EST

Won by David G. 🏆

Title: Mahalo King Cod Filet

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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢