Set your story on (or in) a winding river.

Posted in Middle School on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 122 stories

“Drachma Cove” by Moon Mason

Submitted to Contest #98

A catalyst. I remember how the water at the edge of Drachma Cove swirled with my movements. How the lily blossoms brushed against my fingertips as I sat on a rock peeking above the surface. My tail glimmered in the sunlight. The cerulean scales reflecting the glow. I waved it with fluid movements in and out of the tide. My mind was in a million places, and I needed stillness. Though nothing would ever be still because of the stream. The flow of water into the reservoir originates from the prolific pour of our waterfall. Then came the calls. ...

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“Journey to the Unknown Story” by Elena Rouse

Submitted to Contest #98

Everyone has a story. That’s a pretty basic fact about human existence I think everyone would probably agree with.We all have somewhere we came from, people we’ve met, loved ones, or things, or moments that have been swept up into the oblivion of the past. And it’s not just memories you’ve experienced directly that create you. It’s years, maybe even decades, of history. Your history. There have been people and places far and wide interlocking, then dispersing only to interlock with someone new, somewhere else, that have all led to the moment...

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“The River Castle” by DREW LANE

Submitted to Contest #98

Charlie grabbed two large stones from under the maple tree. He rolled them like dices between his fingers and threw them again at Alicia's window."Charlie?"Her mother's face popped out of the first floor window."Sorry Mrs W., I didn't want to wake you up.""Who's that?" her husband grunted from inside the room."Charlie, Mrs R.'s son.""Who?""The teacher's son. Licia's tutor, I told you at least five times he gives her classes on Mondays and Thursdays. ""Licia takes extra classes?"Mrs W. rolled her eyes and pushed her night mask further up her ...

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“The Burial Celebration” by Michael Mackenzie

Submitted to Contest #98

Six empty caskets. Rusted bleachers and rusted chairs on brown grass. White chrysanthemums on a wooden table. Behind the stage, rain pounded the still waters of the river.Malcolm watched from the window. Eyes gray like the river. Hands shaking like a man facing the gallows. He punched a hole through the window. Shards of glass sprinkled into his fist.He climbed into bed. Her foot traveled over to his and she mumbled and he mumbled back. “We have to decide tomorrow,” Malcolm said.“Don’t say it like that. It’s a good thing. One of o...

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“River stones” by Laura Monaghan

Submitted to Contest #98

The River wove like an opalescent snake right through the seams of the world. One side of its banks skimmed the edge of the Earth’s sky whilst the other bordered the beginning of the galaxies beyond. It was along the latter that I spent my days, tending to the fertile soil and polishing the stones scattered along the River’s bed. The afternoon light shone golden here, fracturing like honeycomb as the sun bled through the River and into the Earth’s atmosphere. I ambled along the River’s edge, my feet flirting with the shallow ripples. ...

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“The Square on the River” by Stevie Burges

Submitted to Contest #98

During the early 2000s not long after moving to London from Cardiff, on a rainy, dull Saturday afternoon I sneaked in through the gates of Dolphin Square and found myself in one of the most glorious gardens I had ever seen. I felt sure my friend had made a huge mistake by telling me to get a flat here. This was not for the likes of me - it was - posh. I was convinced if someone saw me in the gardens complete with tourist book in hand I would be marched out of the garden and told not to come back. However, I was persuaded by my frie...

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“Along a Winding Stream” by Narwhal Writer

Submitted to Contest #98

The sound of running water and the crisp breeze brought Marina back to her childhood. She kneeled next to the river, stuck a hand in, and examined its path as far as she could see. Based on its many curves and surface movement, she estimated where the water flowed fastest or slowest. Part of her considered resorting to her backup plan before dismissing the idea. The shallow depth didn’t allow for as much movement as she liked. Plus, she didn’t want to risk a wanderer spotting her. As she studied the river through sight and feel, memories of...

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“The River ” by Grace Kelley

Submitted to Contest #98

My town was next to a river, a winding, never ending river that was wide and deep. We weren't allowed to go near it, some of the people in my town say if we were to go too close we would drown and be in pain. Maybe I should have listened because I did drown, but didn’t die. Would I be sorry for leaving to the river, maybe. I did not die, I had fallen in, I had hit the bottom of the rocky river below, it was deep and cold and the rushing water swept me away, I emerged from the water, I was nowhere near home and my bones felt stiff from the ...

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“The River Mother” by Donavan Barrier

Submitted to Contest #98

Free. Free and flowing. There’s a slight hint of white noise as the clear, cool stuff runs over the stones and pebbles beneath me. It sounds close to the end of a kiss, right when the lips part and the breath between two lovers resumes again. The trees around me shiver in the late afternoon breeze. They speak, too. They tell the others of their beauty as that is the only language nature says. The paddle in my hands swathes out a path to the side of me, gently pushing me along her body. It’s beautiful out here. Always was. &...

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“This River” by Henna Cho

Submitted to Contest #98

This river flows from the mountains. The river that she peered at, from around her mother’s silk skirt, mesmerized, staring at the water that ran, washed over the earth’s curves and edges. She was told to stay away, not even get close, as the muddy banks, even, wanted to hold the river so close that it folded right into its grasp. She would venture on some days, away from the eyes of her parents, watch from afar. The sound soothed her, the sight relaxed her, and on several days she would find herself waking up in her bed after having fallen ...

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“Nora” by Rachael Gunn

Submitted to Contest #98

The water is cold. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to bathe or take a swim. As I row myself gently down the river, I can’t keep some biting drips from cutting into my skin. My fingers are starting to go numb, turning white from how tightly I’m gripping the rod. I sing in a low voice to myself as my pole presses against the riverbed, propelling my raft gently forward. And through the mist There came a shower of Clouds that drifted down The water so clear As fish and grass were calling for Sleep. “Fall asleep.” If you fall into the wat...

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“Winding River” by Tanya Humphreys

Submitted to Contest #98

The man in the faded orange John Deere cap pointed at yet another hill they had to climb. The sun glinted off a small enameled American flag his wife had pinned to the back of his cap. She had felt it gave him more of a good-ole-boy look, some conformity.His partner, who’d started wheezing six or seven hills ago, stopped, doubled over, and cursed. Padre the Bull was amused at how Jerry’s utterances were so unlike his usual rumbling bass voice. He’d have jived his pal, but he himself was pretty winded as well, he needed to...

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“and Sin No More” by Martin Cambridge

Submitted to Contest #98

How beautiful it is up here. I love sitting in the shade of these trees, looking down on the fields and the village, and dangling my feet in this cool stream. Someone once told me that life is like a stream, or a river, and we float along the stream. Sometimes we go fast and see different things or different people, and sometimes we stay in a small pool and see the same things. I used to wonder which is best, for it is good to meet different people, and also it is good to keep old friends and family. Later, w...

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“The Whisper” by Cynthia Langley

Submitted to Contest #98

“What is wrong with you?!!?” Paul yelled angrily at me. Again. I hang my head in shame. The truth is, I don’t know. I don’t know what is wrong with me. I wait for him to tell me. “Every single TIME you just stand there staring off into space!” he continues to bellow. “Don’t you know how to MOVE?!” I curl my shoulders in and try to make myself small. My thoughts are a jumble of disconnected, random words. My mind is full of swirling fog. I always simply freeze as soon as my kayak touches the water. I wonder if actual decisions even exis...

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“Three Companions” by Carol Keefer

Submitted to Contest #98

The river bends and turns in the forest, lush green leaves touching the water, a gentle breeze, as the boat sails effortlessly with three companions aboard—the tranquility of a summer's day.Reggie guides the boat, with the aid of the oars, an easy task except that this time is different. His thoughts drift towards another time, a carefree day spent here, but that was a long ago. Reggie should not have such feelings. He's not a natural person, but an android, with threads connected to a computer for a brain. Still, there is no ...

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Set your story on (or in) a winding river.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 122 stories

“Drachma Cove” by Moon Mason

“Journey to the Unknown Story” by Elena Rouse

“The River Castle” by DREW LANE

“The Burial Celebration” by Michael Mackenzie

“River stones” by Laura Monaghan

“The Square on the River” by Stevie Burges

“Along a Winding Stream” by Narwhal Writer

“The River ” by Grace Kelley

“The River Mother” by Donavan Barrier

“This River” by Henna Cho

“Nora” by Rachael Gunn

“Winding River” by Tanya Humphreys

“and Sin No More” by Martin Cambridge

“The Whisper” by Cynthia Langley

“Three Companions” by Carol Keefer

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a family with a long-standing tradition, whose members all have conflicting origin stories for it.

Start your story with a character having a premonition, but no one believes them.

Write about someone who’s desperately trying to change their luck.

Write a story involving a character who cannot return home.

Contest #98

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

751

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: