Start your story with someone looking out a train window.

Posted in Middle School on Nov 1, 2022

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✍️ 98 stories

“The Missing Piece ” by Emily Phillips

Submitted to Contest #168

As I sit, filled with grief and despair, looking out the window of a train that is no longer moving, I can sense danger all around me. I feel the sudden urge to jump, jump out the window, jump off the train, jump anywhere and see where the wind takes me. Did I always feel this alone. I once had a loving husband, children, and a life that most would be envious of. But now, as I sit looking out of this train, I try to remember the exact moment my life changed. It was a warm afternoon in August, and I was outside waiting for my husband an...

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“The Final Journey” by Susheela Narayanan

Submitted to Contest #168

Reedsy Prompt: Start your story with someone looking out a train windowThe Final Journey Raghavan strode through the compartment of the Vellore to Bangalore train, ticket in hand, looking for his allotted seat. Thankfully, it was by the window. He sat down with a sigh of relief. His escort Ramu, took charge of stowing his small suitcase in the berth above his head.“I will come back and check on you a little later, saami,” he said, folding his hands together. Raghavan nodded, and Ramu went back to his seat in the third class carriage...

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“The Maple Leaf Train” by Ellen Kommel

Submitted to Contest #168

The metal wheels were grinding against the tracks, shaking the cabin as Ava watched the snowcapped landscape race by through the frosty window. The further North the locomotive crept, the less color there was in the world. Within a few hours, she watched as though someone leached all the vibrancy out of the trees, giving way to a monochromatic panorama. There weren’t many people on the train at that time of year. It was a scenic route, and since the scenery had been completely smothered by a bright, white blanket, it was the perfect pla...

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“Serenity” by Jamila Coleman

Submitted to Contest #168

I pained me to even look, but I on the contrary couldn’t help but to. I watched as my family waved their goodbyes to me through the train window that separated us. I can’t even believe that I was once upon a time excited about this, because right now, I was sick to my stomach. Would this be the feeling I’d be waking up to for the next year? Three months ago, my life flipped, changing everything. I had just started college and was trying to get a head start on my future career and studies. Choosing communications as my major, I enroll...

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“The Train” by Janis Cannon-Bowers

Submitted to Contest #168

Marilyn was looking out the window as the train began moving. She dropped back into the seat so hard that it hurt, so badly, in fact, that it momentarily made her forget about the panic attack she was having. “Owww,” she said to the little blond girl sitting next to her. The little girl responded, “Ouchy?” “Yes, darling, ouchy,” she replied. She couldn’t help but smile; it was the first in a long time. But they were finally on the train. She was sure that the train was their only hope of escape. ...

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“Specimen” by Joe Suarez

Submitted to Contest #168

Laura looks out of the train window, not at the scenery, but at the raindrops pelting the window in rhythmic succession. The pitter-patter, like a lullaby. She begins to feel at ease for the first time that night. As she slowly closes her eyes she suddenly jolts herself back to consciousness. 'I can't afford to sleep right now.' she tells herself. She reaches into her coat pocket and retrieves a crumpled piece of paper, she studies it, focusing on it’s contents intently with her sullen eyes. The significance of its message, so dire to her no...

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“window girl” by Mia Love

Submitted to Contest #168

I see her, a girl about my age staring out the window of the crowded, loud and pee stenched new york subway cart. Shes sitting…as still as water and her eyes looked like they were at the end of a staring contest with her own reflection just— about—to crack. She had a mask on but for some reason I felt her pain and began to shed a tear. Because I know that stare. The one that never ends even when you start off looking at the people on the platform to now into the pitch black tunnel and all you see is yourself. Which shocks you a little for so...

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“The Radius Between Us” by Nikki Little

Submitted to Contest #168

Clanging metal woke her from a dreamless sleep. Forcing her eyes open, she saw wood paneled walled and red velvet curtains with gold tassels adorning the window next to her. Snow-capped mountains in the distance steadily marched past. A small dinette table was in front of her, another plush seat facing her, empty. A lamp with a false flickering flame illuminated her space everytime shadows passed her window. The clangs got louder as they entered a tunnel, darkness falling for at least a minute before they entered daylight yet again. ...

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“The Great Train Robbery of 1398” by Cajek Veilwinter

Submitted to Contest #168

Francis looked out the train window. He was in a private First Class car: Fine trimmings along the wall, a chandelier, and full of people dressed up for Christmas Eve dinner. The place smelled like roast turkey and apple pie with whipped cream. Not his idea of a good time, but a ride on this particular train was always a special treat. The train jolted a little as it moved away from the platform as the shades who checked travel documents floated through the aisle. He turned to see if Molly was enjoying herself, but she was lying do...

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“View From a Train” by Kimberly McFetridge

Submitted to Contest #168

For the fifth time this week, Jasmine saw the little girl propped up in her bed looking out the window of Whitebridge County Hospital. This part of the Whisper Valley train line was unique because it loops around in a way to give passengers a discernible view inside some of Whitebridge County Hospital. Not only was Jasmine able to identify the girl’s shoulder-length dark curls and olive skin, very much like her own, she saw the girl wave. Could she see Jasmine smile and wave back at her? ...

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“Murder on the Train” by Teresa Renton

Submitted to Contest #168

Murder on the Train TW Alludes to emotional and physical domestic violence She sat opposite me without a word, her head turned towards the window, her eyes unblinking. Her stony expression almost veiled her fear. I joined her in gazing at the passing landscape, each of us gaining and offering comfort from this shared activity. The rhythmic whoosh of the train continued, oblivious to everything but its mission of heading forward. Trees, fields of irregular geometry, and houses haphazardly scattered about the countryside, all rushed by, bl...

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“The Animal Kingdom” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #168

Beth stared out of the train window, watching the afternoon shadows grow longer with each passing mile. It would be dark soon, but she liked the dark. Beth did her best work when the sun had gone to sleep. Tonight, Beth cut loose. The Sunset Limited served alcohol, and Beth did her best to seriously deplete their supply of tequila and hot tea. A weird combination, granted, but Beth was a big believer in satisfying one’s palate. The bitter tea coupled with the tang of silver tequila comforted her as very little else could, the lone exception ...

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“The Vacation” by Jason Sikora

Submitted to Contest #168

I really shouldn’t have been looking out the window, but this was the first time I ever traveled by train. Two days ago, when we boarded the train, Mom and Dad told me it was a surprise vacation, that we were going somewhere special. They made me put on a blindfold so I couldn’t guess where we were going. The blindfold itched. My sister, Esther, complained about how itchy it was, but Mom said it was important and to keep it on.Every so often I could hear my parents snoring, and that’s when I knew it was safe to pull down the cloth and take a...

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“My Monster” by Tyler Barela

Submitted to Contest #168

My chin rested on my hand as I stared out the train window. I watched the snow-covered fields of Colorado swiftly pass. I glanced up and scanned the mountain range. With the beginning of fall came the conclusion of the coniferous pines. The majestic green had been replaced by a blanket of frost from the base of the mountain to their chilling peaks. I followed the range then as I glanced up, I jerked back away from the window. My eyes bulged as I stared in disbelief. Beyond the mountains waited an unspeakably large creature. I watched the cre...

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“The Strange Case of Madison Baker” by Brett B

Submitted to Contest #168

December 5, 2016The city was alive with the morning commute. From the train window, twenty year old Madison Baker watched as the bold and spirited traffic below plowed through slush covered streets. Everyone jockeying for position in a sea of flickering brake lights. The sun had slept in this morning. Buried beneath the blanket of a cotton-polluted sky, it would keep its warmth and riches to itself today. Madison looked around the crowded subway cab. She noted that the weather in here wasn’t much different––every face was glued to an el...

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Start your story with someone looking out a train window.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 98 stories

“The Missing Piece ” by Emily Phillips

“The Final Journey” by Susheela Narayanan

“The Maple Leaf Train” by Ellen Kommel

“Serenity” by Jamila Coleman

“The Train” by Janis Cannon-Bowers

“Specimen” by Joe Suarez

“window girl” by Mia Love

“The Radius Between Us” by Nikki Little

“The Great Train Robbery of 1398” by Cajek Veilwinter

“View From a Train” by Kimberly McFetridge

“Murder on the Train” by Teresa Renton

“The Animal Kingdom” by Delbert Griffith

“The Vacation” by Jason Sikora

“My Monster” by Tyler Barela

“The Strange Case of Madison Baker” by Brett B

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a character who is moving on, literally or figuratively.

Make a train station an important part of your story.

Write a story about a character who misses a train, for better or worse.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Bon voyage.”

Contest #168

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

105

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: