Set your story during a total eclipse — either natural, or man-made.

Posted in Fiction on Apr 5, 2024

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✍️ 73 stories

“Blood Rain” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #245

It wasn’t the red aliens that were the problem. It was the voodoo high priests that caused all the mischief. Monkey hands, parrot beaks, and baboon skulls were one thing. But when the blood rains came, all of the usual cons kicked into high gear.The mantis-like, spindly red alien surveyed my vegetables with an air of fascination. He stopped on the okra, holding up a stalk and studying it. He was dressed in ripped whitewashed jeans and a Blink-182 T-shirt. But behind his disguise was a standard silver spandex jumpsuit, like they all wore when...

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“The Light at the Edges” by Trudy Jas

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #245

She has almost gotten used to looking at the eclipse, the dark grey void in front of her. She has almost learned to discern what lays at the edges of the corona, the periphery of her sight."Please don't," Candace begs Wanda, the pink fuzzy shape that is her nurse. "Please no fuss, no singing, no candles. Just let it go, okay?"It has been years, decades really, since she celebrated her birthday. Well, if pressed, she'll admit to occasionally having killed a bottle of wine on that day. In general, though, those days have passed in blessed negl...

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“This Is All Your Fault, Alexander” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #245

Alexander, do you see that? Do you see the way the sun is disappearing right before our very eyes? Do you know why that’s happening, Alexander? It is because you abused yourself. When young princes abuse themselves the way you have, the Lord above sees it, and punishes them by making the sun disappear. You may have thought nobody noticed, but the Lord did, Alexander. The Lord always does. Despite being told that you are a descendant of Kings, and must treat your body with the utmost respect and care, you decided to give into temptation and t...

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“A Planet’s Worth” by Laurie Spellman

Submitted to Contest #245

In the first photograph of Mercury captured by humans, I could see the fear etched on its cracked gray face. The planet's weathered visage held many secrets, its surface marked with millions of deep, enigmatic recesses. Upon closer inspection, a stark white spot emerged—a colossal 50-mile-wide crater the scientists called Debussy. Mercury was peering back at me, an all-seeing eye unveiling its truths. I orbit through the indigo expanse of stars, with only a few planets perceptible to my naked eye. I glimpse Venus, the hottest plan...

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“Moon Union” by Hannah Lynn

Submitted to Contest #245

Gathered together as the sun rose over the water, the crowd of young women clutched their bags nervously. They looked around at each other, some attempted small talk, but most remained pensive.Pearl felt the butterflies in her belly beat their wings as an elder approached her with a dark haired stranger walking in his shadow. “This way,” the suntanned elder extended his arm to the waiting boat, the rower in place, the oars calmly waiting in the water. She tentatively stepped in, assisted by the younger man who sat down on the ...

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“The Brighter the Light, the Deeper the Shadow” by Christina Santoro

Submitted to Contest #245

Thyra surveyed the water around her, diligently waiting for a minnow to reveal itself between the soft glints of reflected sunlight. Her long skirt was knotted around her waist, serving two purposes – keeping it dry and holding in place her bilberry-laden pouch. A faint ripple appeared beside her left foot. Without hesitation, Thyra deftly plucked a small silvery fish from the brook. She had four now, which wasn’t a lot, but with a portion of bread and a handful of berries, it would be sufficient. Cadoc wasn't expected home for another few d...

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“TOTAL ECLIPSE of MY HEART” by Viga Boland

Submitted to Contest #245

**possible sensitive content: sudden, unexpected death of an adult child**Dear Nancy,As I sit here lost in thought on the eve of the total eclipse of the sun, I’m trying to think about something funny or witty about tomorrow’s big event, but nothing is coming to me. There’s just nothing funny on my mind right now.So I turn to poetry instead. I write a catchy line about the sunset cremating the sky over the ocean at Pescadero. I saw that “cremation” decades ago when death was the furthest thing from my much younger mind. And then your email a...

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“Four minutes and half a life” by Laura Camacho Frias

Submitted to Contest #245

Everyone was speaking about it. It was the day when celestial bodies would meet, the light would disappear, and magic would happen: the total eclipse was about to happen, and no one would shut up about it. It would only last four minutes, but I had heard about it for weeks. No matter what channel I set on the television, someone spoke about it: science lovers, adventure junkies, romance seekers, first timers, experienced people... everybody wanted to be there, feel it, be able to say "I was there," but I didn't. I couldn't care less because ...

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“Like Christmas” by Samantha Fenton

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #245

Note: contains sexual and physical violence.LIKE CHRISTMASThe eclipse came and so did my relatives, in a fashion similar to the Fourth of July or Easter. Casseroles, potatoes, pie. Tin foil. It was not like Christmas. I will explain why.My cousin, Melony, came last, and put a greasy bag of gas station JoJos into my hands. Said curtly, “Muffins burnt up.” Shot a withering glance at her new husband, who refused to meet it.“I’ve been craving these anyway. We should get together more often,” I said.“Of course.”This was the stilted talk of those ...

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“How We Forgive is Different for Everybody” by A.R. Eakle

Submitted to Contest #245

Out on 9, as the locals call it, the highway runs parallel to a flat plain that runs the stretch of road over ten miles. Lines of wire fences, not noticeable from the roadway unless you’re looking for them, block off the plots of land every few hundred yards. Every so often a row of power lines cut gently through the fields. The farm-kept bison and horses catch any traveling eye. Cows, destined for slaughter and dairy production, dot several farms with modest houses on them. There are small ponds and marshes off the side of the road from the...

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“Darkness Descended” by Steven Grybko

Submitted to Contest #245

“I see you’ve brought payment. Good, come in,” spoke the woman adorned with a tattered linen hood that draped over her slender shoulders. I entered her eerie shop, a dark place which looked condemned from the outside. I was nervous. Inside I met an eclectic array of odd ornaments, peculiar crafts, and sculptures of deities among other things that unfolded like a twisted tableau from one of my own nightmares. The scent of spices and oils hung heavily in the air, suffusing the atmosphere with an otherwo...

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“The Red Mirror Project” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #245

Elena waited anxiously at the meeting point in front of the Yuantong Temple gate. Standing outdoors on the high plateau that Kunming is situated on, the refreshing coolness of the breeze brought her senses alive. It was a stark contrast to the relentless heat of San Francisco, where stepping outdoors felt like entering an oven. In Kunming, despite it being the middle of July, the temperature was a comfortable 90F. Even more exciting than the cool weather was that Kevin was due any minute. She hadn’t seen Kevin, her ex-boyfriend, since ...

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“Lenny Was Right” by Liane Fazio

Submitted to Contest #245

LENNY WAS RIGHT Max was used to people walking past him without paying him any notice. Eclipse day wouldn’t be any different. The streets were more crowded than usual and Lenny, his best friend who lived one alley over, told him that everyone would probably take off of work to watch the eclipse. “It’s either gonna be a slow day or we’re gonna end up millionaires. Or maybe the world will end,” Lenny told him. &nbs...

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“She Didn't Have The Right Words” by Luca King Greek

Submitted to Contest #245

They were in his favorite restaurant, downtown, in Tribeca.“Let’s do the eclipse”, he said.He seemed very busy, so it came as a surprise to her.“Are you sure?” she said, “it’s such a long trip, to Maine”.“I can carve out time, but I might need to make a few phone calls on the road,” he said.She didn’t mind. His work was important. She would find a place for them to stay.“Are you staying at my apartment tonight?” he said to her, as he handed the waiter his credit card. +++Couples, families, small groups traipsed from cars and picku...

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“The Moon Spoke the Truth” by Kim Olson

Submitted to Contest #245

The moon spoke the truth.The truth set me free.I heard its truthAs I drank my bubbly.My moon viewing glasses,Splashed with fine wine,Saw you quite clearly,Just that one time.The wine loosed my tongue,I delivered a grape crushed blowYou were “The man”,And I failed to stroke your ego.Don’t ‘member what I saidEn vino veritas, I had sass.You the king, the ruler,Maybe I called you an ass.You showed me the truth,With the back of your hand.A mark on your queen,Darkness o’er the land.But in marriage unspoken, The spell it did break.And sober ki...

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Set your story during a total eclipse — either natural, or man-made.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 73 stories

“Blood Rain” by Jonathan Page

“The Light at the Edges” by Trudy Jas

“This Is All Your Fault, Alexander” by Story Time

“A Planet’s Worth” by Laurie Spellman

“Moon Union” by Hannah Lynn

“The Brighter the Light, the Deeper the Shadow” by Christina Santoro

“TOTAL ECLIPSE of MY HEART” by Viga Boland

“Four minutes and half a life” by Laura Camacho Frias

“Like Christmas” by Samantha Fenton

“How We Forgive is Different for Everybody” by A.R. Eakle

“Darkness Descended” by Steven Grybko

“The Red Mirror Project” by Scott Christenson

“Lenny Was Right” by Liane Fazio

“She Didn't Have The Right Words” by Luca King Greek

“The Moon Spoke the Truth” by Kim Olson

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in which a character navigates using the stars.

Imagine an origin myth that somebody might use to explain an eclipse, or some other celestial event.

People have gathered to witness a once-in-a-lifetime natural phenomenon, but what happens next is not what they expected.

Set your story in a world where astrology and the movements of celestial bodies deeply impact the lives of inhabitants.

Contest #245

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

227

Contest entries

91

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: