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

“Tally's” by Britney Supernault

Submitted to Contest #66

"It doesn't count if you're already planning your defeat." He said with a pout as he dropped down to sit on the edge of the cliff, kicking down rocks off the edge as he did so. He was close enough for me to feel the heat coming off his body. I didn't know that someone so cold hearted could give off warmth. "So what if I want to die? Wouldn't it make your life easier? Stop this chasing one another, constantly trying to outdo the other. The good versus the bad. Evil versus, well, me. A story that's existed longer than time itself. Don't you ev...

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“Head held high ” by Seeker C

Submitted to Contest #66

Head held high “It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat”, Donald grunted. I stayed silent. I couldn’t agree with him or disagree with him. We had 24 hours to get this done and I needed him. “I suppose you could be right”, I said. “Could be?” “Is it that hard for you to admit when you’re done for?”, Donald said. I laughed. “Dragged into the arena against my will. Definitely sounds like defeat to me. Should we get a move on - it's half past ten already.” Donald had spent his whole life running circles around ev...

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“Life on the Edge” by Anastazia Rudolph

Submitted to Contest #66

“You know, it doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. From a stranger, no less. “What are you talking about?” I asked. “What ‘doesn’t count’?” A man stood beside me on the bridge. I hadn’t heard him approach; he sort of just appeared. He was handsome, I have to admit that. His three-piece suit looked as though it had been freshly ironed and tailored to perfectly fit his body. He was young and clean-shaven, with dark hair slicked back behind his ears. He looked like some sort of busi...

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“Breaking Limit” by Joseph Godwin

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat, Mike!.” Jody expresses his opinion with so much curiosity. He marvels about Mike’s litigation attempting to quit his career building. Mike, age 30, the firstborn of the family. His Mum and Dad have grown old enough. With 3 siblings under his cater. And the situation isn’t good with them. Life has been more difficult. They are far below the middle man class. Luckily for Mike, he’s able to derive the instincts of breaking through. So that he can stand for his family and give them t...

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“PRISONER OF TIME” by Emmeline Bisiikwa

Submitted to Contest #66

Just before Athena got imprisoned by the pantheon, Michael said to her, 'It doesn't count if you are already planning your defeat. You promised to fight for us. Don't give up now.' She still remembered his words on these lonely days and nights, which bled into each other. She never knew what loneliness was until then; these walls trapped her more than steel and stones. Powerless, prisoner to her wants, needs, and desires. Cursed with the knowledge of what she wanted, but unable to do anything to get it or free herself. Her existence was red...

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“Flame Haired Woman” by Sara Blanch

Submitted to Contest #66

"It doesn't count if you're already planning your defeat...you might as well go back home and accept your future now Charlie." Her unruly amber curls began to smack her roughly in the face as the infamous winds of the mountain region started up once again. The season was ending and if she didn't take this opportunity now...the young woman knew that by the time the next Autumn rolled around she would be married off to some other young man from the farming region, it was just how things were done and had been for hundreds of years. Sighing in ...

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“The Vet's heart” by Alisa Burdick

Submitted to Contest #66

"It doesn't count if you're already planning your defeat." My grandfather would tell me this every time I thought I couldn't do something. He was my major influence in life. My grandparents lived next door to my mom and I. My father, Staff sergeant Kyle Lowry, died defending the country. My mom worked nights so she would be home when I got home from school. "This is stupid, Papa Bear. I can't ride this bike! I'm too small." "Kylie, remember what I tell you? Don't plan your defeat. You've got this." I mastered not only riding a bike, but dr...

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“Escape With Me” by Cassie Poormokhtar

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Anders laughed and picked up his d20. “You shouldn’t metagame anyway. You’re confused, but maybe Nuvo isn’t.” I groaned. “Fine. What are my options then?” Meeting Haley’s friends had turned out to be a real adventure all right. I chewed on my lip, trying to ignore the feeling of eyes on me. He smiled. “All right, so Nuvo is outside of the gat...

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“Chasing Moonbeams” by A H

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,” the persistent voice faintly echoed. It sounded like a foreign language. Could be Yiddish or Gibberish, hell if I knew. I only knew that I felt wet. I tried to wipe the dripping liquid from my brow, but my left arm was.. numb. I couldn’t lift my arm. I concentrated with all my might. I still could not move my arm. I grunted in frustration as my eyes remained closed. I finally managed to decipher the relentless voice, “Ma’am, can you hear me? You’ve been in an accident.” I moan...

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“Helping People” by Kelly Brackett

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” She listened to the words of her best friend with her head down. Elizabeth had just attended yet another interview for yet another job. In this day and age, it was hard to find work, hard to find someone that would accept her with her lack of experience. There seemed to be nothing else she could do but move back home with her parents and give up on trying to live on her own. With a degree in health information, what li...

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“Ready...Set...Go!” by Linda Brodsky

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,” Stella said. She leaned over to peer around the tall guy in the torn t-shirt in line ahead of her and sighed. She hated waiting for anything, and this line was longer than she would have liked. Stella opened her shoulder bag and began searching for the coffee flavored lip balm she purchased the day before. She pulled the tube from her bag and twisted the top off. “You sign on for these things and immediately check out,” she said, poi...

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“Age Wont Defeat Me” by Debra Johnson

Submitted to Contest #66

It doesn’t count if you are already planning your defeat.” Bridget said as Jessica came around the bar with two glasses of wine. “What defeat? No one’s claiming defeat – yet. But there is a possibility.” “Well yea if you think that way,” Bridget started then took a deep breath. “Look, all I’m saying is don’t count yourself out before you even begin. And why are you even comparing yourself to anyone else, Nano is all about the story. Any words you get down are words that you didn’t have when you started. “That is true. And from what eve...

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“A Change of a Lifetime” by Haylee Crouch

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat!” Alec yelled. Maybe the world depended on it, he wouldn’t let her do it.“Come on, Alec, I can’t be selfish. I could save millions, billions even! All for one person’s life. ME! You would want the same.” Maybe she had a point. If the roles were reversed, he would have gone in without a second thought, not caring about anyone else’s thoughts. And once, the roles were reversed, but now… Screw the prophecy. Just some random words spewed out of a random persons mouth. It didn’t change anyt...

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“What About the Others” by Katy Clements

Submitted to Contest #66

Present Day:“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat!” Finn cries angrily.I look at him with somber eyes. He knows me better than anyone, and he can tell that I am at the end of my rope. I shake my head and turn away.“Marlow knock it off, you’re scaring me.” He pleads. I can see how much this is hurting him. The pain is written all over his face.“Whats the point Finn? This is it, there’s no more for me. I have to go.”5 months AgoI can’t believe it has actually come to this. They said on the news that we had years to prepare, ...

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“Breathe” by Natalie Vicari

Submitted to Contest #66

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,” he mutters under his breath sarcastically. Rolling her eyes, Matilda doesn’t bother lifting her head from the papers she is pursuing. “You need to quit watching soap operas, Theo. You’re getting too melodramatic for my tastes of late.” She pauses and closes her eyes for a moment, feeling the tell-tale tightness in her neck indicative of an incoming migraine. She can’t tell if it’s Theo’s nagging, or the topic of conver...

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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

“Tally's” by Britney Supernault

“Head held high ” by Seeker C

“Life on the Edge” by Anastazia Rudolph

“Breaking Limit” by Joseph Godwin

“PRISONER OF TIME” by Emmeline Bisiikwa

“Flame Haired Woman” by Sara Blanch

“The Vet's heart” by Alisa Burdick

“Escape With Me” by Cassie Poormokhtar

“Chasing Moonbeams” by A H

“Helping People” by Kelly Brackett

“Ready...Set...Go!” by Linda Brodsky

“Age Wont Defeat Me” by Debra Johnson

“A Change of a Lifetime” by Haylee Crouch

“What About the Others” by Katy Clements

“Breathe” by Natalie Vicari

🌟 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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