Start your story with an ending and work backward toward the beginning.

Posted in Fiction on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 201 stories

“Alfred the Alchemist” by Eva R.

Submitted to Contest #89

Bang. Poof. Whoosh. Smoke was everywhere. In the midst of all the dust and smoke Alfred was sitting on the floor. He was dirty from the explosion and his pointy hat was lying next to him. “I guess that didn’t work. Can’t even remember what I was doing” said Alfred to himself. Years of alchemy practice didn’t seem to work their wonders this time... Alfred was an alchemist by choice - choice of his parents of course. The name had “al” in it hence it was destined for Alfred to become an alchemist. He often daydreamed thinking if only he...

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“The Reason We Got Married” by Tris Kim

Submitted to Contest #89

Warning beforehand. The story contains swearing words and mature scenes. THE REASON WE GOT MARRIED The room was lit with scented candles having tint of lavender aroma all around the house. The door opens and a woman enters with an elite aura around her. “Happy wedding anniversary!!” A man wearing a tuxedo suit wishes and few more people comes with cake and celebrations. Everyone were wishing the main girl of the day. Wishing the main couple of the day. Link and Iris… The 26 years old couple also busines...

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“It could get worse” by Dwavico .

Submitted to Contest #89

People actually want to be alone? I've heard there are humans who prefer to live by themselves. This amazes me. I can understand brief periods of time when you need to be alone but I don't comprehend how you'd want to live a life with no one to talk with and share thoughts and ideas.This is now my life. It wasn't by choice, mind you. Now I'm in my little apartment where I have all the freedom and privacy that I could desire, whether I want it or not. All that's missing is someone to talk too. But it could get worse.Before I moved in here I w...

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“Nightmare” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #89

The school bell rings, indicating it's midday. I ram my books and pen into my satchel and hurry down the brown corridors, keeping to my left as per school rules.I push through the swing doors and hold one open with my foot as the boy behind me grabs the handle. I pick up my pace and move past the chatting hordes of bustling pupils and make my way down the sloping playground to the main road entrance.I walk sideways, looking for a gap between cars so that I can cross the road. Once over, I walk a few paces and run a few all the way home. It t...

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“The Reason We Got Married” by Tris Kim

Submitted to Contest #89

Contains swearing words and scenarios which might be uncomfortable to read. THE REASON WE GOT MARRIED The room was lit with scented candles having tint of lavender aroma all around the house. The door opens and a woman enters with an elite aura around her. “Happy wedding anniversary!!” A man wearing a tuxedo suit wishes and few more people comes with cake and celebrations. Everyone were wishing the main girl of the day. Wishing the main couple of the day. Link and Iris… The 26 years old couple also business part...

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“Broken” by Gie Garcia

Submitted to Contest #89

"I know that you will be lonely if I don't talk to you anymore," Greg said and crouch down to look at the teenage boy who is currently sitting in his hospital bed. He heaved a deep sigh before looking back at him. He roams his eyes around him as he saw the fresh wounds and purple bruises around his face and hands. His feet are both tattered with cuts and scratches. Since when did the existence of this boy become so important to him? He doesn't quite remember but he remembers the first time he met him running on the streets with bruises and c...

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“A Flower's Escape” by Yvette Francaise

Submitted to Contest #89

The wooden wagon jostled down the route away from my parents' cold stark castle. My butler laid next to me in a hidden compartment in the wagon. The wagon jolted to a sudden halt, and I scowled as I hit my head. My dark red hair cushioned the pain, but unfortunately that did not apply to my butler friend. Bright sunlight flooded in as the trap door was opened. A friendly old man with a glint in his blue eyes waved us out. We were surrounded by tall twisted trees with falling blue blossoms. The birds chirped cheerfully as he pulled me ...

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“Every Day at 2 pm” by Evi T

Submitted to Contest #89

[4th March 2007] My phone alarm went off. I opened my eyes and looked towards the porch where I had left it. I didn’t want to turn it off. I just wanted to relish the melody. The melody and all the memories it carried. I turned at the puppy next to me. He was chewing on a plastic toy, oblivious of the past, enjoying the present. I sat up and straightened my back. The scarf around my neck caught his attention. He must have smelled the hyacinths. He left out a little sneeze before going back to his toy. I gently gripped the scarf and brought i...

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“Even the mythical phoenix” by Adelina Stoyanova

Submitted to Contest #89

It has been awhile since I ` ve seen sunlight: it stabbed my eyes with its thousand stings of molten gold, leaving me more parched than ever. The two men by my sides were dragging me with them as they walked. My resistance had melted and my backbone had melted with it. The silhouette of a man in black was swimming before my eyes, getting closer with each second - an unlikely suitor waiting to invite me for a dance, with a burning rose in his hand. My eyes were mesmerised by the violence of light after the numb darkness of my cell. I forced ...

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“ONE LOOK AT HONEY ROAD” by Lerato Moeketsi

Submitted to Contest #89

'Goodbye', she said hastily and hurried out into the passage. As she swiftly ran down the stairs she heard him sobbing. A short pause and then peals of uncontrolled wailing. Suddenly she felt sad as she pictured Amos alone all day, everyday, with no one to talk to. By the time she reached the bottom of the hill she turned back and could still see their house in the distance. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and took one last look at Honey road. I must keep still, she thought.’ Everything will work out just fine, she convinced herself as...

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“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Natalie Park

Submitted to Contest #89

The forest is still. All sounds are muffled by the thick quilt of snow draped upon its floor: the squirrel’s scampering, the sigh of wings, the eagle’s call. The only movement is the wind which dusts the treetops with a silken rustle, darting lithely across each white-touched leaf and brushing past the narrow road. But it soon strays from the path, which glimmers pearly gold beneath the falling dusk; it is free, unrestrained, eternally wandering amongst the stars. The stars! Subtly they shine from behind the prickled branches, unassumin...

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“Bad Company Will Lead You a Stray ” by Mellisa Thompson

Submitted to Contest #89

Bad Company Will Lead You A Stray Once upon a time there was this teenager who love to drink, smoke, rape anyone he see and when he is done he would let his victim go. He would first become your friend and let you trust him to the point where you would tell him everything. Then he would use it against you. Before all that John had a wonderful life and family or so you would have taught. John family is very poor. Jennifer who is John mom never get to ...

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“Cassette” by Al Johnson

Submitted to Contest #89

When you roll back the tape, the best moment is often right after the start, just when you think you’re going to fail. Life is a cycle, the ending is just another beginning. What a cliche! The beginning has lasted two years and it is fruitless, one with an interminable ending. He flicks on the light in the room and absorbs the unfamiliarly nostalgic arrangement of the furniture. A mahogany bookshelf; several chairs imported from France aligned along the oblong table; an ancient cassette player and a stack of cassettes; a miniature statue ...

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“The Other Side of the Glass” by Julia Abelsohn

Submitted to Contest #89

The call comes in the middle of a busy afternoon while he is catching up on some paperwork. Deep in thought, the phone vibrates and makes him jump, knocking it onto the floor. “Hello, hello, Dr. Levine speaking. I’m sorry about that…” “Hello, Dr. Levine, it’s Staff Sergeant Walter McClure speaking. Are you in any way related to a Maya Gordon? She had your number in her wallet. “ Adam feels the room grow cold. “Dr. Levine, are you still there?” “Yes,” answers Adam weakly. He feels like he is deep down i...

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“Lucid Dreams” by Esther Onumonu

Submitted to Contest #89

I was standing in front of the gym, smiling. My hair wasn't packed up in my usual ponytail, instead it was brushed out till it's silver tresses shone under the moonlight. I smoothed out my red gown, running my hands down the length of the dress from my impressive bossom down to my hips. It wasn't a nervous gesture, I was rarely nervous, yet there was something so strange about this moment, it could not be defined.A light breeze blew around me, ruffling the trees, and I realized that I was cold. My breathing felt laboured, and I could feel an...

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Start your story with an ending and work backward toward the beginning.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 201 stories

“Alfred the Alchemist” by Eva R.

“The Reason We Got Married” by Tris Kim

“It could get worse” by Dwavico .

“Nightmare” by Barbara Burgess

“The Reason We Got Married” by Tris Kim

“Broken” by Gie Garcia

“A Flower's Escape” by Yvette Francaise

“Every Day at 2 pm” by Evi T

“Even the mythical phoenix” by Adelina Stoyanova

“ONE LOOK AT HONEY ROAD” by Lerato Moeketsi

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Natalie Park

“Bad Company Will Lead You a Stray ” by Mellisa Thompson

“Cassette” by Al Johnson

“The Other Side of the Glass” by Julia Abelsohn

“Lucid Dreams” by Esther Onumonu

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that spans a month during which everything changes.

Start your story with a character taking a leap of faith.

Write a story where one person is trying to say goodbye but keeps getting interrupted.

Write about someone who is always looking toward the future.

Contest #89

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

719

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: