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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✍️ 133 stories

“Sonder” by Amiable Sorceress

“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 ...

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“Forgivness” by Ari Berri

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. ...

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

“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...

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“It Was The Liar Who Won” by Jasey Lovegood

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-”

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

“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 support...

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“The Map Room” by Moon Lion

“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 want...

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

“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 m...

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“Pow!” by Kristin Neubauer

“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...

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“Legend is Michael” by Miguel Balinado

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" fol...

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

“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. “Wh...

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“What COUNTS Too...” by Yellow Lemon

"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.

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“French defense” by Fplldg Wakdwwdg

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. &nbs...

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“The Welcoming Window” by Deborah Mercer

“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 unspeakab...

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“The Duel” by Chris Buono

"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, i...

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“French Accent” by Sam S.

“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...

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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

✍️ 133 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

“French defense” by Fplldg Wakdwwdg

“The Welcoming Window” by Deborah Mercer

“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

590

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Tired of MS Word?

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