Start your story with a major news event breaking — one that will change the world forever.

Posted in Dystopian on Nov 1, 2022

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✍️ 156 stories

“The End of Our World” by Mandy McCool

Submitted to Contest #80

Emergency sirens were thirteen minutes too late to warn us of our fate. Our sky twisted into a swirl of gray clouds with a blood red sunset, thunder and cracks of explosions indistinguishable in the distance. Even the air that surrounded us peaked with electricity as I pulled my sister’s hand, feet pounded the earth eager to grab each step. It was the tiny details that seemed so memorable: the smell of smoke, the sweat of Isabelle’s small hand fighting against our grip, the burning air in my lungs, and the nausea that forced me to finally st...

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“The Extinction of Materiality” by James Holgate

Submitted to Contest #80

Today was yet another day filled with the monotony that is life. Awakening to the everlasting cawing of the crows outside his house, Wyatt arose from his elongated slumber to the stabbing light reflecting inwards from his window, immediately going over to shut the blinds, avoiding contact with the outside world at all costs, due to the distinct lack of anything it had given him throughout his depressing monologue of life for 24 years. Expecting nothing but despondency, he began his daily doomscrolling through the news, upon performing this r...

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“Battleground Earth” by Victoria Lucas

Submitted to Contest #80

With two minutes left in the round I was smashing through what had to have been my best game of ‘Battleground Earth’ yet when the breaking news bulletin flashed across the headset in a seizure inducing kaleidoscope of insanity. Ripping the VR goggles from my face I did everything I could to prevent myself from ralphing up Kraft dinner all over my mom’s brand new braided rug. It really tied the room together. Finally regaining my balance I slammed on the teleset and watched as the horror brandished across the screen. Fire rained down from the...

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“Cosmic Winter” by Joseph Shaw

Submitted to Contest #80

Johnny’s twelve-year-old legs bicycled, rustled, shot him out through the open screen door onto the porch. “They’re going to shoot a nuclear bomb at it!” he called, bare feet creaking the wooden floorboards, dislodging their cool dust. Johnny’s parents, reclined gently in lawn chairs, kept their backs turned to him, as though they had not heard. They were stony-faced, watching the sky cave in. “We’re lucky, you know,” said Father, talking to no one in particular, words dispersing, particles lost in air. “There’s half a chance they’ll v...

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“Escaping Dreams” by Magdalene Lam

Submitted to Contest #80

Escaping dream (Part 1) Ring ring ring, the lunch bell rings. People flood the corridors and rush out into the main area. The two best friends got together. Eliza who is seventeen years old and Tom who is sixteen. Eliza was popular and sporty. Tom was funny and dorky. Strange as it was, they were best friends. They were sitting in the main area, leaves were swishing over their heads and the sun sparkled brightly. Everything was peaceful and serene. They were chatting happily. Suddenly, Eliza spotted something sparkling trail in the...

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“Overthrown” by M C

Submitted to Contest #80

Overthrown By Maci Currey I hear the loud beeping sound and see the horrifying red bar sliding across the screen. The horrible beeping sound, the sound of destruction, the sound that haunts me in my nightmares. It reads the word “Breaking” in big bold letters that will never leave your head. A newsperson pops up on the screen, they have a bland expression and voice to match. We gather around to watch, me my mother, my father, and four brothers. “The government is being overthrown, please stay inside, be careful. There have already been man...

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“The Event” by Tracey Carvill

Submitted to Contest #80

One day, all over the world, a strange phenomenon was reported by the press. Children were all drawing the same strange, unsettling image, over and over again - a smiling face, done all in black scribbles that suggested a gleaming smile and bright eyes in a face made of shadow. The pictures were unsettling, not just because of what they portrayed, but because all over the world, in every country and culture, children who were old enough to hold a crayon up to pre-teens were all drawing, stroke for stroke, exactly the same thing. Then, as nig...

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“Tomorrow” by Sara Johnson

Submitted to Contest #80

Gut reaching, heart dropping crash. It could be heard for miles. Smoke filled the air, turning it black. Vision was cut to only one foot in front of us. But the smell, the smell is something I could never forget nor get out of my nose. That day will forever be with me. *Ring Ring* "Hello, Yes sir okay. Yes sir, I understand okay good bye.. Honey, I'm sorry but we gonna have to reschedule dinner. I have to work a double tonight. I'm sorry honey, I'll make it up. As the sun be begun to creep up into the sky, t...

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“Surge, Resistance” by Ben K

Submitted to Contest #80

Part four of an ongoing series, read the comments for more information.“Is it on?”“Yeah, we’re live in five, four, three…” Henry says holding the camera steady, he waves his fingers, two. One and points at the Linda.”Straightening her jacket and patting dirt from her blouse. Linda clears her throat and speaks into the microphone held in her left hand. “This is the emergency response news team coming to you live at Centurion prison. Just moments ago, a massive burst of energy came from some strange devices placed in the ground by Quake. Neith...

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“Light at the End of the Tunnel” by Yashshree Kasare

Submitted to Contest #80

I remember mom waking me up early in the morning in a hurry. She seemed in panic and stress. Both my parents happened to be scientists and ecologists. I could see the stress on my parents face as I woke up, though I didn’t understand why. I got dressed and saw my dad in the living room watching the news. It said that a new deadly virus had started spreading by rainfall, killing everyone who got in touch with it and people were seeking refugee. My parents knew that this day was going to arrive. They consoled me and my younger brother and hugg...

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“Don't Go Out In The Rain!” by Colin Devonshire

Submitted to Contest #80

“To end today’s ‘World News Report’, we have some sad news of our own. Experienced journalist Robert Perkins has died at his home tonight, after reporting on the storms in the Lake District. His wife informed us of the devastating news an hour ago, we have nothing extra to add at this time. We are all sorry to announce the passing of a well-respected reporter and a good friend to many.” The news-desk broadcaster was at a loss of words. They signalled her to carry on with the report, “Please bear with me, there are more shocking reports co...

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“NOVEMBER 22, 1963-A DAY OF TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH” by Mary Kurpiewski

Submitted to Contest #80

1963-A DAY OF TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH November 22, 1963--everyone who was alive, remembers that day with heartache. Everyone who wasn’t has read about it in history books as one of the darkest days our country has ever experienced. There have been movies made, books written and TV documentaries about this day. It will be etched in my memory as one of the worst days of my life and, ironically, one of the best. My twenty-three year old husband, Ron, and I, who had just turned twenty, were sitting at a table in a hospital cafeteria in the Nor...

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“ Breaking News Not For the Weak” by David Dicaire

Submitted to Contest #80

Breaking News Not For the Weak Patty Morland sat at the anchor desk with the map of the world behind her. There was a red dot at the centre of attention. The hot button was Detroit, Michigan. “It has been completely confirmed that aliens have landed on earth. I repeat aliens have landed on earth. This is not a hoax. I repeat, this is not a hoax. They have landed in Detroit, Michigan.” She turned around and looked at the map and shook her head. “The National Guard have been dispatched and we have sent a rep...

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“This Day In History.” by CM Lucas

Submitted to Contest #80

Fragments of ceramic and hot coffee fly every which way as a collective gasp echoed through the living room. Roxanne stands in silence with her husband’s hand tightly clenched within hers. Her eyes wide; her mouth agape as she and her husband Terry watch the oblong monolith slowly enter the atmosphere and hover ominously above The White House. “T-this can't be real, ” said Terry, running trembling fingers through his hair. “Shhh, Babe. I can't hear what they're saying, ” shouts Roxanne as her eyes refuse to blink. Terry turns the volume up ...

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“That's a wrap!” by Madisson James

Submitted to Contest #80

“This is it World. It’s the P-O-L-Y news of the century! You heard me right. Tonight, Wired News Network brings you the exclusive first interview from Melissa and Nan- the genius twin sisters. It’s absolutely amazing their new creation? Can I call it a creation? Well it’s their new invention and folks listen when I say IT WILL SAVE THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT..I MEAN IT WILL-SAVE-THE-WORLD. But don’t take my word for it. Get it right here on Wired News Prime Time 7’O clock. See you there.” Melissa clicked the replay button on the remote contr...

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Start your story with a major news event breaking — one that will change the world forever.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 156 stories

“The End of Our World” by Mandy McCool

“The Extinction of Materiality” by James Holgate

“Battleground Earth” by Victoria Lucas

“Cosmic Winter” by Joseph Shaw

“Escaping Dreams” by Magdalene Lam

“Overthrown” by M C

“The Event” by Tracey Carvill

“Tomorrow” by Sara Johnson

“Surge, Resistance” by Ben K

“Light at the End of the Tunnel” by Yashshree Kasare

“Don't Go Out In The Rain!” by Colin Devonshire

“NOVEMBER 22, 1963-A DAY OF TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH” by Mary Kurpiewski

“ Breaking News Not For the Weak” by David Dicaire

“This Day In History.” by CM Lucas

“That's a wrap!” by Madisson James

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who never planned to make history but is now about to deliver a speech in front of millions.

Write about a child witnessing a major historical event.

Start your story with someone entering a museum, and end it with them settling down to join a sit-in.

Write about an elderly character who was part of a historic movement years ago.

Contest #80

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

672

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: