Better Left Unwritten (ONC 2025 Entry)
- Reads 106
- Votes 19
- Parts 5
After two decades of success, best-selling mystery author Vivian Caldwell is having a difficult year. Her 50th birthday is rapidly approaching, her last two novels were widely hailed as "disappointing", and she's channeled JD Salinger to plan her social calendar. When Vivian's publisher gives her an ultimatum, she takes refuge in a desert retreat, determined to restore her reputation. Unfortunately, her laptop is cursed and her characters have plans of their own. Her tragic hero wants to be the leading man in a romance novel, her damsel-in-distress is angry about her fate, and the handsome barista at her local coffee shop keeps finding his way into the story.
Truth may be stranger than fiction, but as Vivian struggles to put the pieces of her life and career back together, the fiction spirals out of control. Ultimately, she's forced to rediscover what drew her to craft stories in the first place, and what she's willing to sacrifice in the name of success.
****
Thanks to @carolannewrites for the cover images!
This story is written for the 2025 ONC, and based on the following prompt.
99. Imagine you're a cursed author where every word you write changes reality itself. It's thrilling, until your characters rebel. One complains about his "overly tragic backstory", while another demands endless twists and turns your narrative into pure chaos. Can you finish your story without losing your mind, or your control?
All Rights Reserved
#23
onc2025
Join the largest storytelling communityGet personalized story recommendations, save your favourites to your library, and comment and vote to grow your community.
You may also like
![Finding My Lost Self [to be edited]](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/10555633-256-k433968.jpg)
Finding My Lost Self [to be edited]
She's sarcastic. She was the girl who never cared what people said. She was far from a romantic; She was Oreo obsessed. She used to beat up people in middle school, and still throws her shoes at them in high school. She was weird, a good weird. She was sensitive, but piss her off and you'll be scared. It was just her and the small, easy life she had. That was until everything had gone down the toilet. That was until her senior year had started.. ~♦~ Monsters are just everywhere, Only a few people are trustworthy. Would you be my savior if I'm lost there? 'Cause with all the greed, there's left no mercy. At some point I'll be so hopeless, At some point I'll get that feeling, That feeling when trying's Worthless, Doors are closed, I'm barely breathing. I need the light, I need a guide, I'll do things with all my might, Smiling is hard, life's not so "cute", You scream and yet, the screams are mute, When lies, evil and mistakes take all the love away... When asked how you feel it's always "I'm Okay," All the hope you had, got lost in the darkness, You're heartbroken, you feel so hopeless... Crying in the silence is the best you can. Everything has changed in a blurry time span... Would I be able to find true Love? Would I be able to ever again Trust? Be My Savior, Please Don't Be late... Give me true love... I hope you understand. My name is Samantha Walters, and that's how my story went... But who knows how it would end? - #11 in Humor Copyright © Dark_Starlet. All Rights reserved.Complete
The Perks Of Falling For Your Bestfriend✔
"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." -Pride and Prejudice. -Jane Austen. Allison Waters is a girl as simple as they come, atleast that's what she believed. And to be honest she did enjoy a simple life for the past two years. All she wanted to pass her senior year in peace and be happy in life. What she wasn't expecting was to be back in town with a certain Greek God of a Devil acting more annoying than ever... Calling him tall dark and handsome would be the understatement of the century. He is the arrogant quarterback and one of the most popular guys in shcool. He is as I mention previously the reincarnation of the devil in his actions and a Greek God in the looks department, with startling blue eyes, a sinful body and gorgeous hair, who may at different times define the words Cocky and Adorable. Quite a contrast isn't it? Well that's who he is, or for that matter how we all are... a bit of both. Ashton Fobes is Alli's bestfriend, well Ex-Bestfriend, he is also her arch nemisis, her sworn enemy, but he is also the only one who can make her push her limits and challenge her in ways she never thought possible. Soon they were playing with Cupid's arrows trying to set up the unlikeliest couple imaginable, but what they seemed to have forgotten was Fate's wierd sense of humor and so it turned out while they were playing with Cupid's Arrows, he was aiming them at these two instead. Ps: I have now unpublished most of the chapters. Highest Ranking: 30, 35, 50 in teen fiction. 32, 66 in ChickLit. 46, 47, 78 in humor.Complete
Dark Obsession
Entwined Series Book #2 Dark Obsession Lana Harper; I'd always liked puzzles, especially the human kind. And Asher Bennett? He was the most fascinating one I'd ever come across. From my corner table, I watched him stroll into the café like he owned the place-broad shoulders, lazy smirk, dark hair that looked like it was styled by some god of casual perfection. He oozed charm, throwing a wink at the barista, who turned into a puddle on the spot. Classic Asher. What he didn't know was that I'd already cracked him wide open. His social accounts, his private emails, even his encrypted texts-mine for the taking. For weeks, I'd been one step ahead, piecing together the man behind the swagger. And tonight? Tonight, I was ready to play. "Enjoying the view?" His voice cut through my thoughts. I looked up to find him standing over me, that damn smirk firmly in place. I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Should I be?" He slid into the seat across from me, leaning in like he owned the moment. "You tell me. You've been watching me since I walked in." Bold. But I liked bold. "Maybe I just have a thing for trainwrecks," I said with a sly smile. Asher chuckled, low and amused. "Funny. I have a thing for troublemakers." I leaned forward, matching his energy. "Then you're in the right place." He didn't realize it yet, but this wasn't his game. It was mine. And I always played to win.
Heart over Brain
Hannah meets Max - who broke out of prison. Despite her head telling her he is dangerous, she can't help being attracted to him. - - - ♡ - - - Hannah loves romantasy shows and her cat Elvis. It's a typical Friday night for her, until she runs into Max - the handsome inmate she's been spying on for weeks, now on the run from the police after his escape from prison. Caught up in Max's plans, Hannah's life is turned upside down. She must confront her own issues - self-doubts, her taste for bad boys, and a growing attraction to Max, who doesn't seem to mind her company either. But as they grow closer, Hannah realizes Max isn't a gentle man and almost nothing he says is true. Faced with the harsh reality and the police, Hannah must make a choice. Will she follow her heart or reason? - - - ♡ - - - Note: This story is meant to be a bit funny. Don't take it too serious ;)Complete
My Perfect Life
R-rated, for mature audiences! So, where do I start? My name is Elizabeth. I'm 26 and I'm bored as f*ck. You could think I have a perfect life. My husband is a successful businessman and he makes sure I have everything I ever wanted. But, have you ever had a feeling that's not enough? I wake up every morning feeling my life has no purpose. One day I chose to change everything and I met him...But is he who I want? Is me enough for him? In a world where big boys playing their games I appeared in the middle, searching for happiness. They want to play me? Bring it on! Not so good in description, but you should definitely give this story a try. It's gonna be a funny ride. For mature audience only! Strong language and sex scenes. A lot of graphic material. I don't own any pictures or videos I use in my storyComplete
What Makes a Family
Highest Rank #4 in AFTER DARK COMMUNITY #3 in sugarbaby COMPLETE{Book #2 ILLICIT SERIES} STEP SIBLINGS *can be read as a stand alone* Shy, timid hostess during the day Lana Price learns what it means to truly despise Cupid. The little bastard has shot her right in the ass. During the day she works at a small cafe making mere penny change compared to her night job as a sugar baby called Tatiana. It's not the ideal job, but it pays nearly quadruple the amount any normal day job would. Saving to escape her life with an abusive mother is her only goal, however fate has something quite different in store for poor little Lana. One client in particular, a very dark and handsome young man, has caught her affections. there's just one problem... Mommy dearest has made him her new step brother. EXCERPT: "Don't fucking move. I'm going to pound into your tight little pussy and you're going to lie there and take it. If you move, I stop." That was all the encouragement I needed to sit still. When he saw me smile up at him unmoving, he gave me a sexy as sin chuckle. "Good girl," and then he thrust forward and I saw stars.Complete
Tomorrow's Blues
~"You don't- you don't need me." I stared in shock. This was the first shred of emotion he'd shown since he started avoiding me, and I had no idea how to respond. What was I supposed to say to something like that? So I let myself be honest, and I told him exactly how I felt. "But I do." I almost choked on my words. "I do need you. I can't talk to anybody else. I can't eat. I can't sleep. And I know you know what that's like."~ Liliana is now an orphan. Just 17 years old, she lost her parents in a boating accident and now she must live with her best friend, her best friend's parents and her best friend's brother, Joseph. She struggles through her grief as well as dealing with the mysterious but obnoxious Joseph, and it soon comes to light that he isn't the only one around her keeping secrets. Living under the same roof, tensions arise, and Liliana begins to discover that a perfect family may not be so perfect after all." If you like a good old slowburn, enemies (ish) to lovers, bonding over tragic backstories type beat then this story is for you, I promise :) #1 in #bestfriendsbrother (didn't note the exact date - some time in January 2021) #1 in #dealing with death (11/04/21) amazing cover by @sixty6ix !!Complete
Her Protector #1
*UNDERGOING EDITING* *COMPLETED* HIGHEST RANKING #14 TEEN FICTION/ #5 HUMOUR/ #2 CHICKLIT/ #1 CLICHE "Your skin is so soft." He muttered trailing his lips down my neck. I gulp as his hands grip my small waist. He moved his hands down to my bum and put me so I was straddling his hips. My hands lay on his chest as he kissed my face. "You are mine Audrey only mine." *WARNING* This book was published a few years ago when I was younger. I am very well aware about some parts coming off as cringy and I've debated whether or not on leaving them be. I've decided to leave a few parts there as they were a few years ago so I can always come back and see how much I've improved. Please be considerate on what you comment and enjoy the book. I promise it gets better passing the first 3 to 4 chapters. PG-13 This book is my book. My as in I own it. I'm working hard on this book for it to have a smooth plot and such. If anyone sees this book in other sites please inform me. All Rights Reserved.Complete
She's sarcastic. She was the girl who never cared what people said. She was far from a romantic; She was Oreo obsessed. She used to beat up people in middle school, and still throws her shoes at them in high school. She was weird, a good weird. She was sensitive, but piss her off and you'll be scared. It was just her and the small, easy life she had. That was until everything had gone down the toilet. That was until her senior year had started.. ~♦~ Monsters are just everywhere, Only a few people are trustworthy. Would you be my savior if I'm lost there? 'Cause with all the greed, there's left no mercy. At some point I'll be so hopeless, At some point I'll get that feeling, That feeling when trying's Worthless, Doors are closed, I'm barely breathing. I need the light, I need a guide, I'll do things with all my might, Smiling is hard, life's not so "cute", You scream and yet, the screams are mute, When lies, evil and mistakes take all the love away... When asked how you feel it's always "I'm Okay," All the hope you had, got lost in the darkness, You're heartbroken, you feel so hopeless... Crying in the silence is the best you can. Everything has changed in a blurry time span... Would I be able to find true Love? Would I be able to ever again Trust? Be My Savior, Please Don't Be late... Give me true love... I hope you understand. My name is Samantha Walters, and that's how my story went... But who knows how it would end? - #11 in Humor Copyright © Dark_Starlet. All Rights reserved.
More detailsContent Guidelines