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

“Sweet Little Billy-Jo” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #66

“Where is my angel?” “Here I am daddy.” “Now, what are these police officers doing to you?” “Nothing, they are just asking me questions.” “Where is your mum?” “She is in there,” Billie-Jo points across the corridor. “She won’t be long, sir,” a policewoman said. “What happened?” “There was a nasty accident. Your daughter, uh, witnessed it. We need to ask her a few questions.” “Are you okay, princess?” Jack asked his smiling daughter. His darling daughter was thinking back, she was replaying the scene in her mind. “How can I dance with a boy i...

Read story

“Six Separate Sins” by Jim Snyder

Submitted to Contest #66

“I’ve gathered the six of us here tonight because one of us has not been telling the truth. Tonight, it all comes out, or one of us dies.” I heard the protestations of everyone sitting on the rocks around me, but I was more interested in the moon. Still hanging low in the sky, three-quarters full, yet able to cast an eerie glow over the desert I found myself in. The many varied shapes of cacti, arms stretching skyward, pointy needles ready to pierce the unsuspecting all looked like strangely comical observers to the awkward predicament we ...

Read story

“The cow on the adventure” by Noah Morrow

Submitted to Contest #66

Early in 2017, I was touring Mexico enjoying everything a person could enjoy on a trip, having fun snorkeling and swimming. I had just finished going to the Akumal Monkey Sanctuary and was heading back to my hotel. On the way there, I passed by a barbed wire fence with a lot of land and 1 single cow off in the distance. I didn't think much about it but as I came closer, I heard someone say “Excuse me, I wonder if I might ask a favor”. I looked at the cow and screamed and thought how is this ugly yet floppy eared cow talking to me? ...

Read story

“Finally My Dream Came True” by Humyra Anjum Maliha

Submitted to Contest #66

Only one day left for the day that I have been waiting for so many years. My dream is about to come true. I neither can expect nor can belief my own heart. Mad indeed. Everything have just happened so fast that I'm unable to feel my soul.It was only five year before when I was going to face that horrible accident. I was laying in the bed in the hospital and was just thinking about the days, all the time with him. The first day with him was the most memorable day of my life when I met him for the first time. I was only ten then. I didn't know...

Read story

“NEVER GIVE UP ” by ESTHER Mwape

Submitted to Contest #66

My name is Mary I am 27 years old, and in 2 months time I will be graduating from university of Zambia, with a masters degree in accounts!! God I can't even imagine this,it has always been my dream to be an accountant one day and this dream of mine is soon going to be a reality in 2 months time.But over the past 5 years have come to realise that life is a journey full of struggles, full of problems full of challenges and full of ups and downs, such that if you are not strong enough you can give up on your dreams.I believe in life we all have...

Read story

“Dreaming in Blueberries” by Noel Thomas

Submitted to Contest #66

Dreaming in Blueberries What is a dream? Maybe it is something wrapped up and tied around something you can recite like a piece of poetry or a song. Maybe it is writing a book that changes the world. Or maybe it is becoming a famous movie star and seeing your name at the top of the opening credits. Maybe it is having your pretty face shining with a smile and gazing down on everyone from a billboard. Maybe it is finally holding a soft baby in your arms. Maybe it walking across the stage to claim a degree. Maybe it doesn’t sound all th...

Read story

“Lost in Space” by Emilie Stokes

Submitted to Contest #66

The moon sits in the sky and watches all the little ants fail at living their lives. She sits by herself, beautiful and strong. But, does she crave the attention of others. Does she yearn and scream for someone to talk to her? Does the moon ever get lonely orbiting in space? --- What do you do when your heart is too big for your hands? Do you desperately take on the impossible? Or, do you give up and realize that you could never accomplish everything? What do you do when your dreams are higher than the Empire State building? "W...

Read story

“Attitude Determines Outcome” by Monica Chaddick

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Grandma told Ben when he began complaining that he wasn't going to win. Grandma, Ben and Linda were playing a new game that Grandma had bought for them. As this was a new game to all of them, Grandma had the rule book out and had had to remind Ben several times about a rule that he kept breaking. Ben was not the greatest sport in the first place. He too...

Read story

“Battlefield ” by Lesli Williams

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat! “ Floyd deflected my sword and swiped it from my sweaty palms. He then kicked my legs from under me and I flopped onto my back and laid there, panting with my eyes closed. The sour air of the swamp withheld itself from reaching my lungs and my poor heart was on the verge of springing from my chest. I basked in misery as the cold grime of the damp, forest floor soaked into the dirty shirt which I was forced to wear. “Get up, girl! “ I was kicked in the side; hard. But still, ...

Read story

“Over the Edge” by Hannah B

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,” Caleb said, eyeing the practically suicidal move Liam made in the hearts game. Nearby, the dying fire cracked and popped, orange embers sparkling, then fading away. The smell of wood burning surrounded the campsite. “What’re you on about? Of course it counts,” Liam picked up the Queen of Spades he had just put down and slapped it on the table with greater...

Read story

“Hansi” by Kavita Rawat

Submitted to Contest #66

"I will go and have a look in the field. I think I had forgot to remove the stone," Sarpanch says. "Now, it is raining heavily. The lightining is occuring. Let it be," his wife says as the lightning strikes. "The crops will be of no use till morning. I will come back in a hour." Sarpanch reach his field. The big rock was blocking the way of water. He rush toward it. The weight was too heavy for his age. He try one more time. The rock landed on his feet. He cries, the blood from his feet make the water blood red. He fell into the field,...

Read story

“World does not operate in solo mode!” by Jayashree Sadagopan

Submitted to Contest #66

** Does the world operate in a way we all think and act only for ourselves always, or the opposite is true many times? The anti-hero Balu finds out in this story about video-games, after he tried to cheat his way to victory when the game was on mid-way. ** An hour since 'War with Azoora' had commenced! To Balu, it had given complete satisfaction over acing the first 4 levels, the levels where the warrior player's astuteness is kept in check via unidentifiable quicksands, flying dragons and the risk of getting roasted from the fire emi...

Read story

“No Longer Pure of Heart” by Gary Crist

Submitted to Contest #66

No Longer Pure of Heart Anna Lang was focused on revenge. At age 25, she had recovered physically from the brutality inflicted upon her by her mentor, Benjamin Ripley, under the guise of celebrating her win of the Women’s Open, five years ago, at Meridian Golf Club near Indianapolis. But Anna had not recovered emotionally. She would not until she witnessed Ripley’s lifeless body. Only then would she able to move on. &...

Read story

“Bloodied Grins ” by Hungara Gamelia

Submitted to Contest #66

Kathrine scrambled over the barricades slamming her back against the wall. She swung her sniper rifle up, gazing through through the scope for barely a second before pulling the trigger. The bullet slammed into her opponent, moments before he would have thrown his own knife to slit her throat. She stayed there for a handful of heartbeats, catching her breath as she listened to the sounds going on around her. She peeked over the edge of her the barricade out into the rest of the arena. Figures fought everywhere she could see, long brai...

Read story

“A change for the better.” by Evlirown Rod

Submitted to Contest #66

The ticking of the clock gave away the seconds that passed, though it felt more like an eternity. Nervous fingers fidgeted with the sleeves they were contained in until a small Rubiks cube was slid across the table. The eyes that were previously darting all over the place suddenly stilled at the object. A shaky breath was exhaled before a hand reached towards the cube, immerging into the patterns to make it whole again."Take your time to think about what you wanted to say, we're not in a hurry," said a soft voice, breaking the silence. ...

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 ⭢