Opennovellacontest2025 Stories

Selena wakes up in what feels like a dream-falling in love at first sight with a charming stranger at the bar. But the fantasy shatters when she starts her new job and finds out he's not just Adam, the man who stole her breath, but also her new boss. And worse-her target. As a special agent with no memory of her past, Selena, known only as Zulu of the Codes, has one mission: infiltrate Rockwood Industries and eliminate its young CEO if necessary. But with forbidden emotions clouding her judgment and the ghosts of her past closing in, she faces an impossible choice. One thing, however, has never changed-Code Zulu never fails. *** Entered into the ONC (Open Novella Contest) 2025 under the Prompt 27 *You're a spy assigned to infiltrate a mafia billionaire's life, but there's one big problem: you still suffer from amnesia from your last mission. How will you manage to complete your mission without blowing your cover?

ONC2025 Round 2 Ambassador Pick 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞-𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧'𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧, 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝. Unicorns are sacred in the kingdom of Unara, their magic a gift only bestowed upon the worthy-or stolen through death. Someone is hunting them, and if the killings continue, their magic will fall into the wrong hands. Determined to uncover the truth, Oskar sets out to find the culprit. But the deeper he digs, the darker the secrets he unearths--secrets that could shake the very foundation of the kingdom. A standalone fantasy adventure, The Unicorn's Blessing follows Prince Oskar before the events of The Girl with Scars, revealing the choices that shaped the man he would become. Entered into the Open Novella Contest 2025 | @OpenNovellaContest - Rules & Guidelines: https://www.wattpad.com/story/387452246 **Main Prompt** 12. While hiking through a forest, you stumble upon a unicorn's horn. **Secondary Prompt** 130. Protect this with your life. ©2025 E. S. Elias All Rights Reserved. Book Created & Published to Wattpad: 02.01.2025 Book Marked as Completed: 04.08.2025 Cover: Me @DesignsbyEH I used Canva.com | Cover is temporary and subject to several changes. Word Count: 26,234 / 20,000 Goals: Round 1 ✔ | 2,000 words ✔ | Round 1 Winner ✔ Round 2 ✔ | 8,000 words ✔ Round 3 _ | 20,000 words ✔ LONGLIST _ | SHORTLIST _ Honorable Mention? _ | Ambassadors' Pick ✔ Mentioned in Ambassador Newsletter ✔ Rankings: #ONC2025: #21 on 02.02.2025 | #15 on 02.03.2025 | #12 on 03.24.2025 #opennovellacontest2025: #15 on

|Round 2 Winner| |Round 3 Ambassador Pick| |Shortlist| Rhiannon "Banjo" Hart is a professional thief working her last ever job. The Hawk has promised a massive payout if she can steal data from Concorda International and Banjo needs the money to help her Mum get hospital treatment, but she is not sure The Hawk will stick to the adage of "honour amongst thieves". In her escape, she meets an android that adds complication after complication to her already complex life. Banjo needs to outrun the authorities, Concorda's security and The Hawk.

Dom is a worldly man who has managed to carve out a path for himself despite his humble origins: He has traveled throughout the Duchy, studied under the tutelage of monks at one of the finest monasteries, and has also served as a soldier in the Great Alliance War. This résumé should be impressive, were it not for the fact that he hung up his habit as soon as he had the chance, deserted the battlefield, and now wanders from town to town like a fugitive from justice. But, in any case, what are these but irrelevant details? On this occasion, the road has brought him to San Cipriano dei Monti, a small village over which rumors hang about a monster: a vampire of uncertain origin who has been threatening for months to drink the blood of innocent children. Of course, Dom doesn't believe in such nonsense. But when he learns that the local count is offering a substantial reward for capturing and killing the vampire, he does not hesitate to join the hunt. After all, how hard could it be to capture a beast that doesn't exist?

#ONC round 2 award winner 🏆 #Bewitching awards runners up 🏆 What's the worst that could happen when a socially anxious nerd crosses paths with Paramount High's golden boy quarterback in a game of Fear Pong? Spoiler alert: Everything. °*° Clark Alderman has always kept his distance---from parties, from chaos, and especially from Ethan, the effortlessly charming demon quarterback with a habit of turning everything into a spectacle. But after a magical dare at a party gone wrong, Clark finds himself bound to a new weekly routine: being picked up by Ethan every Tuesday. What starts as a reluctant arrangement quickly spirals into something much bigger. A wrecked convertible, a levitating bunny, and a looming school documentary competition throw Clark into the center of attention he never asked for. To fix what's broken, he'll need help---from his friends, from himself, and inconveniently, from Ethan. As tension gives way to trust, Clark must navigate magical mishaps, hidden truths, and emotions he's spent years trying to avoid. But with each passing Tuesday, the line between enemies, allies, and something more begins to blur. #ONC2025 Prompt 2: To be in love with a demon was the last thing on your wishlist. Prompt 110: 20 days of freedom. ©Liam McMarsha 2025 2k - Round one qualifier 🎖️ 8k -Round two qualifier 🎖️ Nano Watt 2025 longlist 🎖️ Most impressive rankings: Novela: No 4 out of 3.5k YAFantasy: No 24 out of 1.39k LGBTQpride: No 401 out of 20.3k Sarcasm: No 163 out of 12.7k Humour: No 447 out of 34.7k Road trip: No 74 out of 9.44k

Dorian expected a fortune. Instead, he inherited a library-one that holds more than just books. When a stolen book vanishes, portals to dangerous worlds start ripping open, unleashing beings from unknown realms. With reality unraveling and creatures slipping through the cracks, Dorian must track down the book before the chaos becomes permanent. But some secrets were meant to stay buried-and someone will do anything to keep them that way. Will he retrieve the book in time, or will his inheritance doom them all?

Prompt 75. You've worn a mysterious ring since childhood, but one day it opens to reveal a tiny creature telling you it's been trapped inside all along and more secrets are on the way. Greta Shrub is about to turn fourteen years of age, but growing up in the home of her heartless Aunt, Mrs Vivora Grogan has not been easy. Enduring loneliness and cruelty, at the hands of her Aunt and her three spoilt cousins, Greta Shrub's stark and unfortunate childhood only acts to strengthen her resolve and her natural independence of spirit. These qualities of character prove especially essential when an unexpected and previously unknown visitor arrives at her door. But what does her sinister Uncle Ulric know about Greta's past and future? And what is his interest in the mysterious Garnet Ring that Greta has worn about her neck since childhood? And what is the Garnet Ring's relationship to the magical but mystifying occurrences that have become a feature of Greta's lonely life? Do these curious incidents have any connection to a high-school named Snapdragon's Academy, that Greta has heard whispers about? Could this society be the key to her escape from her ruthless relations who wish to use Greta's new supernatural powers in their unscrupulous schemes?

LONGLISTED! ONC 2025 A sci-fi thriller with a thread of gay romance. Jiro wanted to be a pilot for as long as he could remember. Flying through the stars, what could be more thrilling? He worked hard for his dream, nothing was going to stop him, not even the debilitating illness which struck him down, just before his eighteenth birthday. He could push through and he did, eventually securing a job, piloting the shuttle from the terminal up to the space station. But then his illness returned and he lost the job. Swallowing the disappointment, he determined to try again. At least he had his twin brother Drew to support him while he recovered. Even if sometimes he thought Drew didn't understand him, he knew his brother loved him. Until...

🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 A misfit witch must find her missing twin before everyone finds out about her heritage and her family's deception. ⋯⋯⋯ Agatha Fairbard is a mystery. Having lived in a mirror dimension all her life, she was an enigma no one can solve other than who always accompanies her―herself. So when her twin goes missing without a word, Agatha must step into the wide unknown with only a borrowed name and face. That is, until a dark force surfaces and demands her power. In a world of betrayal, greed, and conquest, she has to discover her truth before others with vested interest do it for her. From the author of the award-winning novella, 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, comes a story of privilege, wealth, and the divide between the elite and the common. Ideals are a salvation for many, but in the quest for freedom and power, sometimes, they are the first to go. AN INSTALLMENT OF THE LYLLAN UNIVERSITY OF MAGIC AND MISFITS SERIES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [20,000 - 25,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 AMBASSADOR PICK - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 A misfit actress must give a performance of a lifetime before her true identity gets uncovered and her hidden empire crumbles down. ⋯⋯⋯ Alyson Gardner, the misfit daughter of the Ocalira chief, is a master of disguise. It is not easy controlling the largest pleasure district in Hylsa Lyllan behind a curtain, so when a student from university goes missing in her turf, she must do everything she can to clear her ties to it even if it means shedding her masks bit by bit. But with an impatient perpetrator out for her ruin, she must turn to friends and foes alike to star in the greatest performance of her life, one that will shake her empire's foundations down to the last brick. From the author of the award-winning novella, 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, comes a story of privilege, wealth, and the divide between the elite and the common. Ideals are a salvation for many, but in the quest for freedom and power, sometimes, they are the first to go. AN INSTALLMENT OF THE LYLLAN UNIVERSITY OF MAGIC AND MISFITS SERIES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [25,000 - 30,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 AMBASSADOR PICK - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

Mabel's life is falling apart. Between her long-time situationship who wants to be more than friends now, her rapidly deteriorating grades, and a group of friends who've been conveniently excluding her from their plans lately, nothing is going her way, and the pressure keeps building up from all sides. That's when Katie comes along, a brilliant new student who is quickly arranged to be her tutor. She seems like everything Mabel could never be. And yet, she understands her better than anyone ever did before. As the two start spending more time together, and Mabel's life becomes increasingly messier day after day, Katie will add another problem onto Mabel's plate-one that, if not handled properly, could leave a bitter taste in their mouths... and hearts. ~ 🍋 ~ Entry written for Open Novella Contest 2025 Prompts: 126, 118, 134, 69 Genre(s): Contemporary YA Romance PUBLISHED: 2/1/2025 COMPLETED: TBA

When Darlene Hathaway is discharged from the hospital, the first thing she does is go to her dance studio. Sure, she might not be taking ballet classes anymore, but it's better than being alone. The first person she meets there is Hope McKaye, an up-and-coming comic book illustrator, the only student at her high school to graduate at sixteen...and Darlene's childhood best friend, whom she drifted away from in ninth grade. Hope's happy to see her again, and she's even willing to let her stay at her apartment for as long as she needs, despite Darlene's hesitance about letting her back into her life. But her entire life can't be made up of late night walks on the cold beach and following Hope around her various jobs. Darlene has to come to terms with why she's here--why she's freeloading off of someone who used to be so close to her instead of forging her own way in life---in order to move forward.

Kat's mom is a member of a secret society called "The Keepers of the Books", or simply the Society as known by most of its members. This women-led organization operates hidden libraries throughout the country of Zondara where they preserve the remaining books left after being banned for over 400 years. Kat wants to be like her mom, a Writer to continue expanding their libraries. But she might just have to put her dreams on hold when she is transferred across the country to one of the strictest academies in the nation. There she will have to face the loss of her family and learn to live in a boarding school where every move she does must be perfect if she is to educate the future children of the nation. To survive, she will have to make new friends she can only meet with in secret and find a way to balance her duties to her nation with her own wants or face the dire consequences.

Ava and Josh are company rivals, competing with each other relentlessly ever since Ava joined the company. But what started as healthy competition evolved into a relationship where there's nothing but animosity. In a turn of unexpected events, they're forced to work with each other and put their rivalry aside.

Sleeping Beauty with a few twists! Scarlett Bochelle is just fine alone, thank you very much. She is perfectly satisfied with her work as a Zookeeper for large primates and her hobbies. She certainly doesn't need her friend setting her up on a date with a rockstar with public commitment phobia. Little does she know that her friend and her date are hiding secrets that will put her in grave danger even before their first date begins. She will have to choose between her relatively safe but lonely life, and a breathtaking love that will require a leap of faith. #ONC2025 based on prompt 94

[Completed in 2025] The Kingdom of Velmoria is crumbling and on the brink of destruction, and only one person can save the dying Kingdom. Julian, a young man running away from home, stumbles upon a door unlike any other in the heart of an overgrown forest. The door is woven from living briars and thorns, and hums with an ancient energy that draws Julian in. Upon stepping through, his life is changed forever as memories that don't belong to him start flooding his mind, and a power unlike anything he ever felt before starts to fill his veins. But Julian's arrival does more than awaken his mysterious abilities; it also shatters the last of the seals imprisoning an ancient evil, a darkness that threatens to consume Velmoria. With the kingdom weakening, Julian is the only one with the power to stop this darkness. Lost in a world he doesn't fully understand, Julian must learn to harness his new abilities and uncover the truth behind the memories that aren't his. As war looms overhead, Julian must make a choice: embrace the power surging within him and lose himself in the process, or risk dooming the kingdom to an eternal darkness.

After the Kerberos mission failed and pilot error is blamed, thusly blaming Shiro who can't defend himself, Keith wants nothing to do with the Garrison and wants to drop out. The head of the Shirogane family and commander of the Japanese garrison insists on a compromise - that Keith pilot for Ryo when he heads to Mars to perform at a concert. Only-- An event that wasn't pilot error occurs, resulting in them being stranded on an a tropical island on an alien planet with no clue where in the galaxy they are, needing to survive despite the tension between Keith and Ryo regarding -- well, everything. Disclaimer - I don't own Voltron: Legendary Defender. This is written for ONC 2025, prompt 47. "A famous singer and their pilot crash land on a tropical island. With no one else around, survival isn't their only challenge."

K-pop idol Minjae and eccentric home chef Hana meet at a cooking competition, sparking a simmering rivalry that turns into a recipe for romance - and potential disaster for Minjae's career. ___ As the golden voice of the K-pop group Starlight, Minjae has the world at his feet - adoring fans, sold-out concerts, and a life most people only dream of. Behind the glamour, he craves something more: a chance to be himself. To show off his passion for cooking. But the pressure to conform to his family's wishes and continue as an idol means pushing that aside. When the chance to show his passion literally smacks him in the face, Minjae, under an alias, finds himself in uncharted territory, swapping the familiar stage lights for the stovetops of a local culinary competition. When quirky, fiercely talented Hana turns a friendly rivalry into an unexpected connection, Minjae finds himself drawn to her passion and ability to be true to herself; qualities he has long lost. Worse, as the heat of the competition ramps up, Minjae's schedule becomes difficult to keep up with, and he must decide whether his love for cooking is enough to risk shattering his status as an idol. Can Minjae handle this newfound connection while juggling both the cooking competition and his duties as an idol, or will he fall under the pressure of it all? ____ Prompts: 31 and 36 ONLY AVAILABLE ON WATTPAD Cover by TaeTaeGinger

2025 Leighyeann A. Mies All rights reserved An entry for the Open Novella Contest 2025 [COMPLETED ON 30/4/2025] *** Difficult family situations, a dead-end job with an overbearing boss sucking his employees' liveliness, near impossibility to enter a stable relationship. This is why, to Silla Pierce and her friends, being chosen as the winners of the special "20 Days of Freedom" package is an honor. They realize they can do a lot more than they thought they'd do.

Fame, fortune, and millions of followers can disappear as quickly as they come, especially in an era where getting ''cancelled'' is just one viral scandal away. Hollywood's former golden boy, Finnegan Braxton, knows this all too well. Once a beloved teenage heartthrob, he's now branded as a notorious player, arrogant, and a lying cheat. With his career hanging by a thread, his PR team scrambles to salvage his image. Their solution? A reality dating show where Finnegan must prove he's not the heart-breaker the world thinks he is, but a man searching for true love. Everything takes a turn when Finnegan crosses paths with Aurelia Winslow - a recently fired librarian - who is unimpressed by him. After their public altercation goes viral, she's thrown into the contest. For Finnegan, it's a chance to rebuild his reputation. For Aurelia, it's merely a paycheck. Will Finnegan face the truth and reclaim his integrity, or will the spotlight expose him for good? Can he prove he's more than just a tabloid scandal, or will this love experiment be the final nail in his Hollywood coffin? ★| ★ | ★ | ★ |★ | ★ | ★| ★ | ★ | ★ |★ Open Novella Contest - main prompt 31, secondary prompts 126,128 130. © 2025 minsari // all rights reserved