Set your story before dawn. Your character has woken up early for a particular reason.

Posted in Fiction on Nov 10, 2023

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?

✍️ 94 stories

“Albert” by Jorgen Madsen

Submitted to Contest #224

Albert jerked his eyes open. Something was vibrating. He sat up. He lifted his blankets and didn't see anything. He looked at the bedside stand. Nothing. He opened the drawer. Light pierced his eyes. He squinted and picked up a foreign object. He moved his thumb to the side of the device and pressed down as if his muscles knew exactly what to do. The vibrating stopped. Words flashed on the screen. “Today is grandma's birthday! Tell her happy birthday! Ps: your favorite granddaughter” “Today is Bethany's birthday? How could I have f...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Information. ” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #224

It was before dawn, as normal. "Foggy morning again," Sister Heloise nodded at Sister Cecily. Autumn had crept in to Old Blithering, , Back of Beyond. Now the days were starting foggy, the sunshine would emerge, the nights were drawing in. Curtains were closed early, lamps were turned on, the convent sisters had their usual debate about when to turn on the heater. Russet leaves were piling up across the front lawn, weeds were flourishing. "A gardener's tasks are never done." Sister Heloise commented. "Sunny days are good for gardening. It i...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Early Morning Run” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #224

Krssshhhh“-olf sighting. Police are advising residents not to leave pets and small children outside unatten—”clickGraham turned the alarm off and stood in the dark, eyes drooping at the numbers on his alarm clock. 5:00He’d been trying to get up and go for a run all week, but it was too easy to roll over and reset the alarm for the usual six-thirty. But last night, he had moved the clock from his bedside table to the dresser across the room. This morning, he was going to go for a run, dammit.He kissed Heather’s forehead and pulled the bl...

3 comments 3

Read story

“WANTED” by Debbie Curtin

Submitted to Contest #224

The notice stated: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. Wages $25 per week. Apply: Pony Express Stables, St. Joseph, Missouri These were the midnight words that kept me from getting a blink of some shut eye. I was 16 years old, new to the task and it was sometimes not easy to gather my wits to realize that I said 'Yes' . But the challenge was ahead of me as I signed the loyalty oath and pledged to do my part as a mail delivery rider for the Pony Express. I only h...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Before Dawn” by Jacqari Hill

Submitted to Contest #224

The darkness was thick, almost tangible, as he slowly opened his eyes. His heart raced with anticipation, and he could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He knew what he had to do, and he couldn't wait for the sun to rise. Slowly, he sat up, taking care not to wake his wife or children. They slept soundly, their soft breaths the only sound in the room. He slipped out of bed, his movements quiet and precise. He dressed in the dark, pulling on his old, worn clothes. He grabbed his hat and coat, checking the pockets for the last ti...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Pitch Black” by Nicole Williams

Submitted to Contest #224

What was that? I thought, as I was startled out of a deep sleep. The room was pitch black. I couldn’t see a thing. For a few seconds, I wasn’t sure where I was. Then my eyes adjusted to the dark. I was in my living room on the couch. I must’ve fallen asleep watching tv. But why was it dark? Pitch black to be exact. That was weird. Right? If I fell asleep watching tv, why wasn’t it still on? What about the lights? I never turn all the lights off. I could see into the kitchen from where I was. The illuminated time on the microwave wasn’t illu...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Shadow Work” by H J

Submitted to Contest #224

Shadow Work His smell is the only reason I’m still lying here. The warm musky scent of his skin is strangely comforting to me. He’s not a cologne kind of guy, on his best days he smells of soap and whatever he cooked that day. I close my eyes and just take it in, inhaling deeply exhaling slowly. I’m lying, his smell is not the only reason I’m still in bed with him. The real reason is that I’m weak. I’m afraid of the pain of losing him, even though I know he’s been lost to me for a while now. He snores slightly, not long drawn out roars...

2 comments 2

Read story

“The Hummer” by Lynne Boyd

Submitted to Contest #224

I can’t sleep. Never can sleep past five in the morning. The sun wasn’t even awake yet, but I was. I slowly swung my legs over the side of the bed, feeling every year, stiff as a board. Slowly. That’s how everything has to be done now. No fast moves, even if my brain says stand up, that’s no guarantee my legs would be performing as instructed. Slowly standing up, bracing myself on the bedside table, making sure dizziness doesn’t overcome me and throws me off balance. Now for the first time I picture my brain and body as a big office, fi...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Seafoam” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #224

The ship is skimming over the still sea like a soaring albatross. It reminds the mute girl of the stillness deep beneath the water, all the way down at the bottom. She knows what that stillness is like because once she was of the sea. That changed—she does not know exactly how long ago. Several moon changings ago, perhaps. However long ago it was, she has not forgotten the rhythms of the sea. It held her within its depths, once upon a time. Once upon a time. What lovely words. They are words that begin the stories told to children. S...

5 comments 5

Read story

“Karma” by Liz Elletson

Submitted to Contest #224

Sally lurched forward from bed and tried to catch her breath. Her hands were in a prayer position while she clutched the satin top sheet between them. She scanned the dark room until fragments of light were visible through the bedroom blinds. Her heartbeat returned to a normal pace once she saw her husband sleeping soundly next to her. “It was only a dream,” she said to herself, as her head hit the pillow. “It was only a dream.”She turned to look at the alarm clock on the nightstand next to her. “Three-thirty-two,” she said quietly and ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Up With The Chickens” by Hannah Andrews

Submitted to Contest #224

Eliza woke well before sunrise, at first dreaming of, then humming along to an oldie but goodie from her favorite songbird. Karen Carpenter’s contralto cooed through “We’ve Only Just Begun.” It lulled Eliza out, then in, then back out of dreamland. She rubbed her eyes and smiled for the she she’d used to be. It had been everyone’s wedding song back then, though it had always seemed theirs alone. Still half asleep until the final stanza, she sighed, sat up, and clicked off the clock alarm. Its digital display read 5:25, the earliest hour she’...

1 comment 1

Read story

“A Shared Moon ” by Jasmine Williams

Submitted to Contest #224

”Buzzzzz”, the familiar sound comes from the cell phone on the night stand for what seems like the tenth time. I roll over quickly trying to silence the phone through my squinted sleepy eyes. “Mommy!” I hear the ever so excited voice that I have heard in half hour intervals all night long. I look at the time on my phone, 3:03 am. I decide I might as well get up this time, I am not getting much sleep anyways. My daughter, Natalee is so excited, which is why she has not gotten much sleep tonight either. As I get up, the patient curl...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Dire Strait” by Lee Ewing

Submitted to Contest #224

Lee Ewing &nbs...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Pinyon Jay” by Edd Baker

Submitted to Contest #224

CW: Very brief swearing.The sun hadn't even risen when Richard awoke Jean, the raging star still hidden beyond the firmament under the black of the void."Up up, kiddo", Richard said, his midwestern accent visible through the monotone gruff. "Emma apparently saw a sighting or something a few clicks north of here, but she's not sure. I doubt it's anything, but we're heading out that direction either way, so we might as well check it out.”Jean tried to mask her excitement as she tripped over herself getting dressed, assaulting Richard with a sl...

2 comments 2

Read story

“To the Tavern ” by Zoe Vincent

Submitted to Contest #224

There was still a telephone booth on the corner of Antony Street. Down the road from Welling Drive, a sharp right at the faded stop sign, straight until the second left. This was the corner of Antony Street. The booth was blue, its paint peeling, revealing metal beneath. Rust lined the word “Telephone” at the top of the booth. That’s what Tom Hudson had said - in Leo’s tattered copy of Tales from the Tavern. He said the payphone would ring each year on the twenty-second of February at dawn, with another tale from the tavern.&nb...

0 comments 0

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two people living together who have opposing sleep cycles, and only cross paths at dawn and dusk.

Character – 49 stories

Start your story with someone saying “I can’t sleep.”

Dramatic – 87 stories

Write a story about someone pulling an all nighter.

Fiction – 35 stories

Write about someone who can’t sleep due to jet lag, and decides to set out and explore their new city at night instead.

Adventure – 20 stories

Contest #224

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Night Owls and Early Birds

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

135

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Nov 17, 2023 EST

Won by Mallory Jones 🏆

Title: Goldfish

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

Set your story before dawn. Your character has woken up early for a particular reason.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 94 stories

“Albert” by Jorgen Madsen

“Information. ” by Julie Grenness

“Early Morning Run” by C. Charles

“WANTED” by Debbie Curtin

“Before Dawn” by Jacqari Hill

“Pitch Black” by Nicole Williams

“Shadow Work” by H J

“The Hummer” by Lynne Boyd

“Seafoam” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

“Karma” by Liz Elletson

“Up With The Chickens” by Hannah Andrews

“A Shared Moon ” by Jasmine Williams

“Dire Strait” by Lee Ewing

“Pinyon Jay” by Edd Baker

“To the Tavern ” by Zoe Vincent

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two people living together who have opposing sleep cycles, and only cross paths at dawn and dusk.

Start your story with someone saying “I can’t sleep.”

Write a story about someone pulling an all nighter.

Write about someone who can’t sleep due to jet lag, and decides to set out and explore their new city at night instead.

Contest #224

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

135

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: