Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog

Menu

✕
CONNECT
Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships
ABOUT
About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story that starts by establishing its setting in a different time period — without explicitly stating what that period is.

Posted in Historical Fiction on Jul 16, 2021

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.

Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 114 stories

“In The Act” by Chelsy Maughan

Submitted to Contest #44

Dust lifted into the air like a small cyclone, kicked up by the ill hemmed bottom of a young girl’s dress. A young boy ran across the packed road as he chased after a large wooden hoop that he rolled with a stick. The boy narrowly missed a disgruntled horse drawn carriage, a woman gasped loudly in the distance and the boy stopped dead in his tracks.  A woman, his mother, placed her dignified hand around the hoodlum's ear and pulled him along. Her purple dress flounced behind her as she walked, with a shrill voice she lamented the boy. J...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Marching Orders” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #44

Chris and Evelyn are going on the protest march tomorrow. I’ve done my best to persuade them that though I agree with the cause, of course I do, and they know it, I think it’s unwise. I would hate for anything to happen to them, and things do happen. Neither side has clean hands in this equal rights and universal suffrage issue. I agree, with Chris, even though it was put rather crudely and frankly shocked me (am I turning into a prude?) that what you have down below shouldn’t impinge in the slightest on your ri...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Every End is a New Beginning” by Bruno Lowagie

Submitted to Contest #44

Bad winds had blown us off course. We were in waters unknown to mankind. At present, there was no wind to bring us back on track. If anywhere, we were drifting further away from our destination.I noticed that this happened at an increasing speed. That didn't make sense to me and I worried about it. Both the helmsman and the captain were aware of this inexplicable phenomenon, but they asked me not to inform the other members of the crew to avoid unnecessary panic.All things considered, this was an excellent opportunity for me as a scholar —an...

2 comments 2
Read story

“- The Quest -” by Ivy Sage Penget

Submitted to Contest #44

“You will be hunted by all, child,” Mama said to me, placing me on the doorstep of a brick building. It gives me the shivers. “Oh, you’re cold.” she throws a velvety green blanket over me. I don’t say anything. My Algae-green cloak is enough to keep me warm, and now I’m nearly suffocating, but I love the smell of Mama; apples and bread, and I’d rather die than be complaint about Mama. “But don’t lose faith. Hope and Trust, and you shall win.” her voice is growing fainter by the second. A cool breeze floats over us, and some of her auburn hai...

7 comments 7
Read story

“Leland's bar” by Imogen Bird

Submitted to Contest #44

Oh boy did the government fire a blank when they hired me. The out of touch jackasses at the top never accounted for the wills and capabilities of a man taken advantage of. Mind you, it isn't just me. New York is thick with deception. You'd have to look for many miles to find a man who didn't want a drink, a man who wasn't chasing away his ghosts from the war with whisky or gin.I stalk the streets at night, playing the part, turning over a beer barrel here or there. The big boys don't pry if you are seen to be doing even a little something, ...

3 comments 3
Read story

“The Parade” by Michele Duess

Submitted to Contest #44

Robert walked along the sidewalk, heading home, such as it was. In one hand was a sack of the potatoes his mother asked him to go buy. With his other hand he shoved his bag of camphor he wore as a necklace down into his shirt. He did this because Maria, who lived in the next block over was heading his way. He was fourteen years old and the smell was awful. It reminded him of the old lady down the street that owned all those cats. But his mother said it would protect him against getting sick. God help him if he argued with her. She had the bo...

0 comments 0
Read story

“Penny” by Paula Chapman

Submitted to Contest #44

Penny could no longer rely on her tank tops and jeans to cover her growing belly. She could not wear the pretty floral mini-skirts her friends back home wore; her clumsy nature would not allow her to even try low platform heels, much less four-inch ones that some of her favorite pop stars wore.There was a lot she could no longer do. She couldn’t eat ice cream, oddly, she couldn’t sleep, and she couldn’t focus. She could, however, burp and fart loudly. Most importantly, though, she could no longer hold her head high since becoming pregnant. B...

3 comments 3
Read story

“No quiet Storm” by Madisson James

Submitted to Contest #44

Knowing the nature of humanity does not equate to understanding the actions of man; time in this dilemma is proceeded only by experience and a personal one at that.Parklesis flapped his wings long and hard as we emerged from the wormhole. We had no say in the direction of our punishment but there was no way that I, Jaiden Storm,  would be going anywhere or rather anytime without Parklesis.Parklesis was an aviant Equidae. Born from the ancient family of Perissa, to date, there was maybe a hundred of her kind across the span of time. You ...

0 comments 0
Read story

“The Longest and Shortest Hours of Your Life” by Sasha Burton

Submitted to Contest #44

  The Longest and Shorter Hour of your life6:00am: Sun wakes me up at dawn. It’s strong and searing but welcome. I pull myself out of the muddy hole that I’ve carved out into the side of the trench. I find that Sam has fallen asleep on my foot and I have to shake it out before I can put my weight on it. The putty’s have slipped down on my left foot and I have to take them of completely, strip them of mud and dead lice, and rebandage them for inspection at 6:15am.6:00 am: First day of school. My mum examines me, patting do...

2 comments 2
Read story

“A Good Knight” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #44

Allister removed his armor and laid it by his sword. He let out a deep sigh as he gazed around the small hut. They weren't the best accommodations, but they would do for tonight. He shouldn’t be complaining anyway, he was one of the lucky ones. King Harrod of Heraclete had sent many of his best knights off to war with the neighboring kingdom of Droville. It was a suicide mission, very likely to end in slaughter, but the knights marched off dutifully. After all, to sacrifice life and limb for your king is the job of every good knight. Luckily...

1 comment 1
Read story

“ Ninpsy's Story” by Stacie Taylor

Submitted to Contest #44

Ninpsy was tired of having to be a servant to the king. She was bullied constantly by the Princess. She was royal blood what did the princess know of her other than when she helped her into her corsets and lavish gowns. " As if she could understand what it's like to be me, " Ninpsy said under her breath.She walked back to the hut she shared with a cat and a chicken. She felt so alone. The sun was just setting as she walked into the hut.Farcee the cat was laid out on the floor of the hut that was sand. The cat didn't seem to care though.Ninps...

1 comment 1
Read story

“A Change in Time” by Marie Barger

Submitted to Contest #44

We all sit in our chairs, waiting for the time to pass. Minutes feel like hours, everyone is anxious. No one knows why the Queen has sent us to wait in the church.  The guards came to the main square, where most of the children were, and told them the Queen wanted us all to go to the church as soon as possible, telling us that our parents would meet us there. I bend my neck to see Joan next to Malachi. I’m alone on the bench, none of my friends chose to sit next to me, knowing that I’m terrible at comforting them. I tilt my head up to s...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Between Lions and Jackels” by Benjamin McKelvey

Submitted to Contest #44

Written by Benjamin GeorgePeace is a resource that neither gods nor kings can afford. For when our invaders came, speaking a foul language, preaching false gods and destroying in their wake - no gold, that we have taken, could keep them at bay.From the seas and from the land, an army of power like nothing our people had ever seen, came determined to vanquish our souls. The only payment that they would take was the blood in our hearts to stain their swords.But we, the people of a democratic world, would not have the lands of our mothers taken...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Will someone find me?” by Victoria Nuzzi

Submitted to Contest #44

I feel the warm sun on my face as I pass outside of the bakery. The smell of sweet bread in the morning makes it feel like life is worth living even in the darkest times. I long to go in and have a bite but I am too busy. For the first time in my life, I can say that. I shake myself out of the thought of going in and continue on to the café where I am meeting my publisher. The countryside is sunny and few people are around this little town I call home. The blue sky seems to stretch for eternity and though I have been told it doesn’t. I like ...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Lucinda” by Elizabeth Donohue

Submitted to Contest #44

“Love can scorch and soothe, be denied and be delighted in. It can sour; it can blossom. But for everyone, those first electric moments are static and bold. The first touch. A minute caress of a hand in the dark. A wandering gaze that is held a moment too long. Chemistry, my friend, is not always measurable in a beaker.” Professor Green took the proffered glass vial from Hargreaves and suspended it above a low flame. Steam slowly rose in languid, rolling wisps, darking with a vile stench as the thickening liquid bubbled. Within the tube, the...

1 comment 1
Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story that starts with two characters saying goodbye.

Character – 248 stories

Write a story that starts with a life-changing event.

Novel – 175 stories

Write a story that starts with someone returning from a trip.

Character – 111 stories

Write a story that starts with a character-revealing something unusual about themselves.

Character – 142 stories

Contest #44

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Just the Beginning

$50

Prize money

790

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jun 05, 2020 EST

Won by D. Holmes 🏆

Title: A Gamble

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!

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢