Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Posted in Novel on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 132 stories

“Sonder” by Amiable Sorceress

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” The room smells like the incense our family lit when my brother died, old flames licking the frostbitten air. Ling stares at me, her hazel eyes boring into my own as we sit uncomfortably across one another, her words stinging the incense ridden air. “I know.” The night is cold, just like that night, I will be missing in his memory tonight. For a minute, I want to run back to the warmth of home, but the soft glaze of the moon shines on my path ahead. It doesn’t count if you’...

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“Forgivness” by Ari Berri

Submitted to Contest #66

This is the second part of Choices. You don't really need to read it, but yeah, there is another part. Okay, enjoy! “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Damien tells me, probably quoting one of the books he likes. I groan. “I know! But this is not going to work! She hates me!” “Then why’d we come here?” He exclaims, throwing up his hands. I sigh. I’m sitting in the car out of my ex’s house. Damien, my only friend, drove me here. He has short black hair, and rectangle glasses. I sigh again. “I just wanted to come...

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“Indescribable Like or Love? Part 6” by 𝔘𝔤𝔬𝔠𝔥𝔦 𝔑.

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat” That’s the thought that went through my head as I sat there holding her in my arms, contemplating on whether I should go out there in that storm. “What if I died?” “What will happen to Elle if I just leave?” “What if I don’t get it?” “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat” When that thought came along I knew I had to go. … I KNOW, I’m a terrible person! I know it! Elle is gonna be so upset when she wakes up– if she wakes up that is. I am betting that she will not wak...

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“It Was The Liar Who Won” by Jasey Lovegood

Submitted to Contest #66

IT WAS THE LIAR WHO WON“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,” “No, don’t think like that, Robin. We can win this, together,” “We can’t Lear, not this war. Not when the world has crumbled to chaos, not when screams are the only thing you can hear as you hide in the streets, not when people are dying every single second.” “I- Yeah, I know. I just thought… maybe we stood a chance, maybe if we had worked hard enough or maybe-” “Quit it, Lear. You can’t waste your time thinking of the maybe’s. Not when we have a war to win.”It...

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“Topics Addressed Include, in Order: Campaign Decisions, the Virus, and the Chain of Command” by Meggy House

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Marjorie Williams crossed her arms triumphantly and smirked as Ezra Lee vibrated, his muscles tensing, hoping to some higher power that he could resist the urge to smack her. Luckily Ezra knew how to lock his emotions up into a little stronghold box, then smash the box into smithereens and scatter the pieces across the Arctic—not that he supported litteri...

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“The Map Room” by Moon Lion

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Simi said, her arms crossed. I took a controlled inhale, breathing in the anxiety, coffee-infused smell that made up the map room. So many victories had been decided here. "Seriously?" I didn't take my eyes off the map, determined not to let her shake my stance. This was happening whether or not a certain elf wanted it to. "You are giving up, this is the dumbest plan, I have ever heard!" She snapped, moving next to me, her dark eyes drilling into my head. "Weren't you the ...

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“Thirty Years of Writer's Block” by A.Dot Ram

Submitted to Contest #66

“It’s daylight savings this week,” I remind Cyrano. “So really 11pm feels like midnight, and somehow I’m still waking up before the sun.” “There’s always coffee,” Cyrano says. “Yes, true,” I sigh. “And there’s always HoloBack.” I wave my hand and watch the images swirl on my white living room wall. “Yes, I see you’ve been refreshing the interface on average once every ten minutes. Would you like me to block out the app to eliminate the distraction? I could report any major developments.” “No,” I say. “Knowing is not the same as con...

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“Pow!” by Kristin Neubauer

Submitted to Contest #66

“Come on! Harder!” Mayra Alexandra clapped her punch mitts together and squatted to accommodate her tiny opponent. Alicia lifted a fist enclosed in a boxing glove almost as big as her head and tapped the older girl’s mitt. Mayra Alexandra sighed as only a 13-year-old could and stood up. “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,” she told Alicia. “Stand back. Watch me.” The bag shuddered as Mayra Alexandra unleashed a flurry of jabs and crosses on it, long braids whipping around her face, hot pink ...

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“Legend is Michael” by Miguel Balinado

Submitted to Contest #66

The Madison Square Garden arena is filled with roaring fans, cheering for the landslide-favorite team, The New York Knicks.Our team is on the verge of another defeat at the hands of the reigning Eastern Conference champions.My jersey is filled with sweat and all of the sprinting back-and-forth finally taking its toll on my weared-down knees.Suddenly, I saw my wife at the arena stand with a colorfully-designed banner saying, "It doesn't count if you are already planning your defeat" followed by the words, "I LOVE YOU, MY LEGEND".The clock is ...

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“The Murder Games” by ❤️✒️𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝓔. 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓵𝓮📝❤️

Submitted to Contest #66

“So that’s it, then. Plain and simple. I’m just going to lose.” I cross my arms and dare Morana to come back at me with anything less than total agreement. “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning defeat! Besides, you literally just took the fun out of the whole competition!” “But it’s not fun! It promotes violence!” Morana sighed in exasperation. “Why on earth did they send you here?” Here being Tombstone, of course. “I had the best grades in class. ...

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“What COUNTS Too...” by Yellow Lemon

Submitted to Contest #66

"It doesn't count if you're already planning your defeat." Six said, as she rolled her eyes. "For heaven's sake, Six. I'm not planning my defeat!" Zed said, exasperated. He shook the knife in his hand dramatically, and then swished it down on the bright orange carrots on the chopping board. Six, who couldn't take it any longer, snatched the knife from Zed's hand, pushed aside the board, and said sternly. "Zed. You'll win. Hard-work pays off, and you've wasted much of my ingredients than I have ever used in my life to make this one recipe." ...

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“The Welcoming Window” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Well, that’s the kind of thing I’m used to hearing from my cousin Loretta. Cousins by birth, friends by choice, as she is wont to say. I don’t contradict her. It would be cruel. Like kicking a particularly ebullient puppy. But the fact remains that though puppies are, of course, adorable, it is their purpose in life, and kicking one would be an unspeakable act, beyond even me on my grumpiest days, there are still times when you wish they’d just simmer do...

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“French defense” by Fplldg Wakdwwdg

Submitted to Contest #66

Special notes -1. Annoying Chess related mambo-jumbos. 2. It's not historical fiction. The story doesn't follow any real historical incident. The Dukedom of franks and Brittany were created in 736 AD.(But Romans......)Just used those names. So, don't chew the history gum. French defense. “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” "Not at all. I've learned from the ...

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“The Duel” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #66

"It doesn’t count if you are already planning your defeat,” the haggard voice said from beneath the dark hood of the riding cloak. “You know you cannot win, leave while you have the chance.” Just then, a wall of fire erupted around the two figures, separating them from their respective teams. Sonny DeForza knew that there was a skirmish happening outside this wall of flames, but for now, it was just him and the Dark Lord, Gothica. The rest of the ...

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“French Accent” by Sam S.

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” mocked Mandy with a tone of dominance in her proud voice. “We’ll see about that, considering my bestie has true talent unlike you.” Samara said, defending Chloe. “Oh really … ha ha ha! All the worst to you.” Mandy muttered as she walked away with her snobby friends. “Aaaaah. I hate her.” low-screamed Chloe as she threw dirty looks at Mandy. “I can’t let her take my role this time.” “It’s fine, I know you can do it.” said Samara encouragingly. “Oh my goodness, only h...

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Start your story with one character telling another, “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.”

Submissions are closed

✍️ 132 stories

“Sonder” by Amiable Sorceress

“Forgivness” by Ari Berri

“Indescribable Like or Love? Part 6” by 𝔘𝔤𝔬𝔠𝔥𝔦 𝔑.

“It Was The Liar Who Won” by Jasey Lovegood

“Topics Addressed Include, in Order: Campaign Decisions, the Virus, and the Chain of Command” by Meggy House

“The Map Room” by Moon Lion

“Thirty Years of Writer's Block” by A.Dot Ram

“Pow!” by Kristin Neubauer

“Legend is Michael” by Miguel Balinado

“The Murder Games” by ❤️✒️𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝓔. 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓵𝓮📝❤️

“What COUNTS Too...” by Yellow Lemon

“The Welcoming Window” by Deborah Mercer

“French defense” by Fplldg Wakdwwdg

“The Duel” by Chris Buono

“French Accent” by Sam S.

🌟 Similar prompts

Halfway through a fierce competition, your character is given the opportunity to cheat their way to victory: do they take it?

Write about a character who makes a dramatic life change to pursue a goal they’ve secretly always wanted.

Write about a contest with life or death stakes.

Write about a character who’s finally on the verge of achieving their lifelong dream.

Contest #66

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

584

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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