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

“Elena and Rosie, a story told in reverse chronological order” by Raq M

Submitted to Contest #89

It was dark out. Rosie ran out the screen door that led to her backyard and through the trees lining her neighbor's yard. Elena was scared. What would happen if the adults found out? She knew of course Rosie’s parents wouldn’t give a damn, but if Elena’s parents knew… she didn't even want to think of what they would do. And maybe the neighbors… “Rosie, wait!” Elena yelled, barely stepping onto the porch. “Don’t you think -- ” “Stop asking me questions like that. You know I never think.” This certainly wasn’t true. Rosie was the smartest pers...

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“The Kite Lesson” by David Dicaire

Submitted to Contest #89

Joey arrived home from school and there was a package waiting for him. There was no return address and he looked at it very curiously. “Well, aren’t you going to open it?” His grandmother stared at him. “I am.” He carefully and methodically opened it. Joey closed his eyes and reached inside. “I knew it.” He pulled out the beautiful kite and his smile was something every grandfather would be proud of. II Joey arrived at the park and was very disappointed. Harold wasn’t there. He sat on the ben...

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“Seaside” by Rachael Clark

Submitted to Contest #89

She had never felt the golden touch of the sun or the coarseness of sand beneath her toes. She had never breathed air touched with a hint of salt or felt the breeze against her skin, refreshing yet cold. She had never heard the painful screeching of seagulls or seen a cloudless blue sky. And so, she deduced that she had never experienced much at all. She woke up in the Ocean, struggling for breath. She tore her way towards the surface, not knowing which way was up and which was down. Her directions were muddle...

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“Cocoa: The Reign of Terror ” by Robert Consiglio

Submitted to Contest #89

My mother was speaking to a friend of ours saying something like “thanks for taking Cocoa and good luck with him” when there was an uproar that could be heard for three blocks at least. Cocoa had broken loose and leaped over the very high fence surrounding our friend’s house in a single bound and was tearing straight toward the neighbor’s absolutely massive canine. We both assumed that Cocoa’s fate was A) to be torn to pieces by the neighbor’s dog, B) to become bosom pals with the neighbor’s dog C) to be shot by the neighbour’s sec...

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“Merry Lo” by DREW LANE

Submitted to Contest #89

C/W: mention of suicide Note to the reader: I have written two versions for this story and I'm not sure which one works best. If you can, please read this version and the one in comments (at the end of the story). Please let me know which one you prefer and why - thank you! As always, you'll find the soundtrack in comments. ******** "Merry Lo." "I'm sorry. I don't know her," Will said. "My sister jumped out of the window because of you! And you say you don't know her?" Will locked the door of the po...

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“The Brothers Royal” by H Bolton

Submitted to Contest #89

King Patrick the Great lay on the grass, the blood stain on his green tunic growing. His brother, Prince Alexander of no formal title, was watching the stain when he felt the king’s eyes. “Yes, it’s your baby brother - back from the grave.” When they last saw each other, the king’s hair was a bright yellow, but it was now greyed. Even the prince’s black hair turned salt and pepper. “I’ve always wondered what you thought killed me - outlaws or your assassins?” The king closed his eyes. It took him a minute to open them again. There ...

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“It's the Opposite of What You Think” by Christine Hungerford

Submitted to Contest #89

TW: death, violence, abuse See ya. Altogether now, I thought, as I looked expectedly at the waves, their foamy upper lips curled above the sandy bottom lip of water. I was waiting for applause—something to roar my praises. To me. To the fact that I overcame something huge. I grinned something new upon my face. I had needed real attention. Ever since I was four, I was abandoned. I never talked to my...

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“Let’s work backwards” by T B

Submitted to Contest #89

TW: abuse, violence Amnesia. That’s what I was diagnosed with once I woke up from my 3-month coma. The doctor reassured me that it would take some time for my memories to come back however they didn’t expect me to completely forget who I was as well. When they asked me my name it was so frustrating not being able to answer. It was on the tip of my tongue, yet I just couldn’t remember. The FBI was assigned to look after me because it was them who found me. And weirdly enough there was no trace of me in any database. Now that I was awake, they...

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“A Surprising change of attitude” by Mfon Dick

Submitted to Contest #89

Etim, aren't you joining us? Tom asked almost unmindedly, "No!" Etim answered without adding any more words. "Maybe he isn't feeling really well or he hasn't eaten since morning" Tom thought to himself before taking his eyes off him. Etim was in a weekly meeting with his friends. The group was about fundraising and financial support to her members. In the group, if you are a registered member and you had any event or ceremony, you will inform the group officially with a bottle of wine, and all the members will contribute a particular amount ...

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“Cuba bound” by Dumisan Khumalo

Submitted to Contest #89

By Dumisani khumalo He was in Cuba at the blink of an eye .The cop that sought for him could not find him ,see him ,nor was he certain of his whereabouts so he could get his own revenge .He saw him ten years later, after buying him a beer at a bar and inquiring if he still remembered him .He said no ,and when he told him who he was ,he disappeared once again . The bags the boys found were in a secluded part of a bush and under a bridge. The one who first saw them claimed there maybe a case of baby dumping and cautio...

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“The End” by Milly F

Submitted to Contest #89

Just in case you need to know: This story has some dead in it. You watch as the sun peeks out of the clouds. A smile escapes your lips. Foul witch. “Shut up,” you tell that voice in your head. Flames lick the wood of the mansion that sits on the hill. You try hard not to giggle. The clouds turn a shade of pink. You reach out, holding them in the palm of your hands. You can feel the cotton in your hands, but when you open your hand again, nothing’s there. Sinister snake. You let them say their distasteful words. Hear their cries. A li...

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“A physical experience” by Anne Scherliess

Submitted to Contest #89

beep beep beep beeep beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepThere was just one consistent green line showing on the black screen of the computer. It was over.--------Have you ever tried to be born? It's a frickin nightmare! Pardon my french. It is though, so in case you are toying with the idea, you should really and truly know that there is no other way. To get to live a life on Earth, unfortunately, there isn't. So if you are trying to have a physical experience on Earth, you better be damn sure that it absofrickinlutely has to be Earth. There are so many othe...

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“Flakes of Brutal Reality” by Arshiya S.

Submitted to Contest #89

Looking at the trigger being pulled, my only reflex was to stand in front of him. I could not lose him now or ever. That’s when I felt like being stabbed by a knife straight into my abdomen. Everything just seemed to freeze and fade away. It was only a matter of a few minutes when I found myself lying on a bed passing through a lane to the ER. As I was passing through the blinding lights, my mundane soul seemed to attain a state of peace, and my body was consumed by lust for death’s kiss. The pain was infuriating but demanded to be felt. The...

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“A Love Song for Dolores” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #89

TW: murder, gore, threats of sexual violence Well, I suppose I didn’t have to kill him. And I guess I didn’t have to kill him in such a gruesome way, but what’s a girl like me to do? I had to stop this. This daydreaming about hungry pigs and screams not heard. I had to get on with the mechanics of cleaning up the kill site. I herded the pigs back outside, burned the clothes I was wearing, burned the clothes he was wearing, and cleaned up the blood from the floor, though it wasn’t much. The pigs licked most of it up. They are ...

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“Burning damage” by Giulia S.

Submitted to Contest #89

The flames were dancing in the night sky, lighting up the dark street and releasing an intense smell of burnt wood. The starry sky welcomed them: the stars, perfectly visible until shortly before, were covered by that bright, intense, red color. Joleen, Zoe and Maia were watching the house burning, standing in the middle of the tight country road. «It's over», was whispering Joleen, «it's over». The remnants of the old walls fell at their feet in sparks and immediately went out, even before touching the ground. «What have you done?», asked ...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 201 stories

“Elena and Rosie, a story told in reverse chronological order” by Raq M

“The Kite Lesson” by David Dicaire

“Seaside” by Rachael Clark

“Cocoa: The Reign of Terror ” by Robert Consiglio

“Merry Lo” by DREW LANE

“The Brothers Royal” by H Bolton

“It's the Opposite of What You Think” by Christine Hungerford

“Let’s work backwards” by T B

“A Surprising change of attitude” by Mfon Dick

“Cuba bound” by Dumisan Khumalo

“The End” by Milly F

“A physical experience” by Anne Scherliess

“Flakes of Brutal Reality” by Arshiya S.

“A Love Song for Dolores” by Delbert Griffith

“Burning damage” by Giulia S.

🌟 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: