Write a story with a big twist.

Posted in Dramatic on Sep 16, 2024

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 189 stories

“The Walk Home” by Maryanne Carey

Submitted to Contest #260

The Walk Home “Greetings and salutations, faithful reader, allow me to introduce myself. I will begin by saying that most people, and I’m sure you’re one of them, know the story of the very curious earth-goddess Pandora, and how she unleashed all the evils and miseries of the world by opening a forbidden box. I’m part of the story as well. My name is Elpis, which means hope and, at the very least, expectations. I did not escape from the chest, and so I can still speak softly to those who wish to hear. I try to be there as a beam of optimism ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Such a Libra” by Holly Pfeiffer

Submitted to Contest #260

I pinch the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes. “I’m embarrassed. I really am.” “Start from the beginning,” Neelja, my boss, prompts me, eying me over the rims of her glasses. “And, Hansen, it will help if you tell the whole truth this time.” Silicon Valley isn’t known for its comfort. While a major step up from my cubicle, Neelja’s office is just sparse enough to be uninviting, but just dumpy enough to be unimpressive. In the corner, on top of a metal filing cabinet, a tetra fish makes his rounds. His name is Mark, according to the post-it ...

6 comments 6

Read story

“Haunting Eyes” by Christine Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #260

Content warning: Contains topic of grief and personal loss.Can your eyes deceive you? Can a glance send you down the path to madness? Emily passed the bag of beauty products to her client as she left the salon. The sound of the doorbells chiming as the door closed was Emily’s cue to collapse into her seat. What a morning. Taking a deep breath, she dropped her head onto the desk, resting her eyes.A break that didn’t last long as the phone rang in her ear. She picked up the handset and stared at the crowd passing ...

4 comments 4

Read story

“His Life” by Huh? What?

Submitted to Contest #260

I think we were always competitive until the day when we weren’t anymore. It was always chalked up to two cousins seeing who could get the best of the other, but in reality, we never were that close or particularly fond of each other. The times when we did do things together it was because of something our parents arranged or seeing each other at those family functions that no child wants to go to when they could be at home doing anything else. But eventually we all grow up, and we realized that if we focused our competitive n...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Sortie” by Michael Parker

Submitted to Contest #260

SORTIE by &...

5 comments 5

Read story

“Bold Choice of Lipstick” by Dawn Bravata

Submitted to Contest #260

Patricia looked older than she felt. Wrinkles had replaced smooth flesh. White hair instead of brown tresses. She applied the fire engine red lipstick and blotted it with a single square of toilet paper. It was her power color. And you never knew who you might run into even on a mundane errand. Best to be prepared.The cane was in its resting place by the door. A well-intentioned gift from her niece. But she really didn’t need it. It made her feel old. One slip on an icy patch of sidewalk did not mean that she was frail.She turned away f...

5 comments 5

Read story

“The Haunting of BlackRock Hill” by Scott Taylor

Submitted to Contest #260

BlackRock Hill mansion had been the source of ghost stories for years. Lady Vanhorn decided to take her Halloween party up a notch this year. Her excessive self-obsession had no limits, causing even the Broadway crew to grow weary of her constant craving for praise. It seemed the locals were becoming bored and not offering her the praise she thought she deserved. This party must make the tabloids, but how, she wondered. It took several weeks of dedicated production work to create the flawless stunt. A staged death, a potential homicide wit...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Annie and Tara” by Sarah A

Submitted to Contest #260

The dim hospital corridor was long and seemed to have no end. She walked down the halls hopelessness engulfing her. Looking through the hazy windows, she peered into the lost souls along the path. Each patient had a different reason for being there, yet, they all knew they were in the one hospital department that was impossible to leave alive. After what felt like an eternity, she arrived at her destination. Gripping her purse from sliding off her shoulder, she collected her thoughts. She cleared her throat pulling the bright yel...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Scandalous Expulsion of Jason Palmer” by Alex Solomon

Submitted to Contest #260

The Scandalous Expulsion of Jason Palmer Disciplinary Meeting for Jason Palmer with Principle Rebecca Reynolds. Reynolds: Good morning, Jason. Jason: Why am I here?! Reynolds: There's no need to be rude. Jason: Why don't you talk to Jenna? This is all her fault! Reynolds: Jenna is in the hospital ... Jason: Serves her right. Reynolds: That's a terrible thing to say! Jason: Whatever. Reynolds: All of this because of the embarrassment paper? Jason: Yes... Reynolds: Well, before I m...

1 comment 1

Read story

“You Are What You See ” by Heather Congrove

Submitted to Contest #260

Stud muffin, an absolute stud muffin. George admires himself in the mirror. His big powerful arms, broad and defined. His tall bulky body that resembles his father’s. His long thick beard that hugs his chiseled jawline. He flexes his arms, causing his biceps to pop out further, and then turns his body to see his backside. Pleased with himself, he straightens his hat and descends the stairs of his huge three-story house.At the bottom, he is greeted by Amelia.“Good morning, beautiful.” “Good morning daddy.” He lifts the little girl g...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Plan” by Jeff Raderstrong

Submitted to Contest #260

Waiting in the woods, Eugene thought of Wilson, and smiled. That old prick had been his favorite. Eugene never wished for anyone in particular, but he was so happy when the Plan had caught Wilson. On that night, once it was clear no one was walking away, Eugene went over to the car, ducked down to peek through the shattered driver-side window, and saw Wilson’s eyes staring right back at him. If Wilson hadn’t been dead at that point, he was going to be real soon. Eugene liked to think his face was the last thing that asshole ever saw, but hey...

4 comments 4

Read story

“A 2024 JATAKA TALE” by Antoine Polgar

Submitted to Contest #260

A 2024 Jataka Taleby Antoine J PolgarIn a town in Southern Vermont, a homeless wanderer and sometimes beggar, known only to town residents as Carlos, died suddenly on the bridge over the Saxton River with his faithful dog Prentice beside him. Prentice was usually comfortably ensconced on a pillow in a basket next to Carlos with a water bowl. When Carlos moved around town, Prentice preceded him on a leash attached to a shopping cart borrowed from the local supermarket that contained all of Carlos’ possessions. The bridge over the Saxton River...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Assassin” by William Allfree

Submitted to Contest #260

The Assassin. For the third time, Gregory opened his bag to check his equipment. His touch lingered on the silk cord, thick and ominous as a hangman’s noose, and the duct tape lying beside it. His camera had a fresh roll of film and was ready for action. His fingers caressed the sheath of Betsy—a Hibben Survivor knife with a blade that gleamed with ten inches of deadly promise. He patted his trouser pockets, ensuring the handcuff key rested within their depths. Anticipation made his hands shake as he lifted the cup of coffee to his mouth. H...

3 comments 3

Read story

“And Never To Return” by Gregg Voss

Submitted to Contest #260

Sensitive content: Religio-horror.The plated sterling silver cross glinted in the jaundiced full-moon light that crept through the Venetian blinds. A tornado whirl of Thomas Merton books and a paisley comforter and black-leather slip-ons and a colorful tapestry from Lascaux, along with dozens of other items, commenced with a throaty roar in Monsignor Padraig O’Shea’s grand two-bedroom, one-bath rectory apartment, grand for a priest of notoriety. He was alone, and yet he was not...

3 comments 3

Read story

“Tina's Knitting” by Andre B. Corbin

Submitted to Contest #260

Tina’s eyes popped wide as the door to her room, with a hushed carpet-drag, opened barely enough to let the subdued illumination from the hallway and a figure slip in. The light was quickly gone with the soft muffled snick of the door shutting with the barely heard careful working of the handle being slowly released, but Tina’s visitor was still there – in the room. Lying in her bed, she could hear him breathing slowly and deeply. Just as she was. Both sharing together the air and the anticipated moment, but only one surviving the night.* * ...

2 comments 2

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well.

Mystery – 63 stories

Write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path.

Character – 31 stories

Write a story that includes the line, "I didn't see that one coming."

Dialogue – 41 stories

Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Narrative – 105 stories

Contest #260

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: A Twist in the Tale

$250

Prize money

429

Contest entries

132

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 26, 2024 EST

Won by Elizabeth Hoban 🏆

Title: You

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a story with a big twist.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 189 stories

“The Walk Home” by Maryanne Carey

“Such a Libra” by Holly Pfeiffer

“Haunting Eyes” by Christine Hamilton

“His Life” by Huh? What?

“Sortie” by Michael Parker

“Bold Choice of Lipstick” by Dawn Bravata

“The Haunting of BlackRock Hill” by Scott Taylor

“Annie and Tara” by Sarah A

“The Scandalous Expulsion of Jason Palmer” by Alex Solomon

“You Are What You See ” by Heather Congrove

“The Plan” by Jeff Raderstrong

“A 2024 JATAKA TALE” by Antoine Polgar

“The Assassin” by William Allfree

“And Never To Return” by Gregg Voss

“Tina's Knitting” by Andre B. Corbin

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well.

Write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path.

Write a story that includes the line, "I didn't see that one coming."

Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Contest #260

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

429

Contest entries

132

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: