Opennovellacontest Stories

Ian has always had very vivid dreams that feel like memories. Seeing people she's never met before and even places she has never been to before. Her therapist told her that there are just dreams and not memories. She performances hypnosis to help her shut out her memories. But not all dreams have disappeared. The moment she arrives in a town called "Zoey." Upon her arrival, she continues to be mistaken for Anna. But the question is: Who is Anna?

When you think of vampires, you probably think of Dracula or--shudder--Edward Cullens. You know what I mean: the romanticized, sexy version of a vampire. The one with sparkly skin and a charismatic compulsion. Hot. Sexy. Let's be real here, Gary Oldman really set the bar, right? But what fiction doesn't tell you is that being a vampire is messy and, quite frankly, HARD. It's ugly and lonely, and don't even get me started about tracking down blood. I'm wanted in every province (ever hear of the Bloody Killer? Yeah, that's me. Totally lame serial killer moniker, by the way, RCMP). I didn't have the choice to turn into a vampire, but, boy, did my creator pick the wrong person. Out of control, clumsy, drunk, messy, blah, blah, blah. You get the idea. I know, I should probably see a therapist, huh? Well, my trail of bloodless bodies soon catches up to me when a chance encounter with a hottie in a cafe leaves me with his phone by mistake, and I realize just how f***ed I am. And as I do my best to keep him away (while trying to survive as a vampire), I can't help but fall for the cafe hottie, putting a stake on my life. *** ONC '26 prompts: #56 and #81

Minnie Morgan has it all. A well earned bachelor's degree alongside a full ride to her MFA program, a boyfriend who she's deemed actually tolerable, and her hair finally decided to work with her and not against her. 2017, she's decided, is going to be her year. Then, she's pushed down a well. As if waking up in 2012 wasn't bad enough, a world famous boy band that claims they can see the future have their sights set on her - and more importantly, the promise that she's going to someday break their lead singer's heart, resulting in a song that will top the charts. With a scandal on their shoulders and Minnie unable to enact the future the well-pushing diverted her from, now is a better time than ever to wield that inevitable heartbreak. Until the reluctant Jackson falls in love with her and writes that hit song, she's stuck in the past. Too bad he can't stand her. ... Originally written for Open Novella Contest 2026, prompt #14. Reworked. cover made by pharmakis!

Two teachers. Two rivals. Two hearts. Poppy Newman, an English Literature teacher, has worked at Twin Oaks Academy for the last six years. When she finds out that Logan Matthews, her high-school rival, is going to become her new colleague she can't quite believe it. With his classroom next door, there really is no avoiding him, and when the head teacher announces a competition, in order to get the A-Level students more engaged with their learning, their rivalry is sparked back into life. And with competition comes something unexpected: the students shipping their two English teachers. Will Poppy and Logan see each other beyond the competition, or will they just focus on being number one? *** This story was originally written for the ONC 2026, but this version complete with a new cover has been updated and rewritten for the Wattys 2026.

Celia Jones can talk to the dead, but getting on with them is a different story. She always has at least three spirits following her around, complaining about their relatives, or the inadequacy of their funeral arrangements. The latest is a murdered actress, Maude Domby, but she's less interested in denouncing her killer than in accusing the understudy of stealing her favourite pearls. When the charming but utterly fraudulent medium Stanley Winter holds a séance to contact Maude, Maude insists she and Celia should attend, to see people mourning her 'properly'. But the séance ends up implicating an innocent woman, and now Stanley Winter is banging on Celia's door, begging her to help him find Maude's real killer. Unfortunately, helping Stanley Winter could lead Celia to confront her other power - the one that's both lighter and infinitely darker than talking to the dead. ONC Prompt: 72. A real necromancer sits in on a fake séance.

|ONC 2026| LONG LIST - ROUND 3 AMBASSADOR'S PICK - ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - ROUND ONE ------------------------------------------------------ When Terra is doomed, humanity's final hope is sent into the unknown aboard a vessel meant to carry life beyond extinction. But humanity's future falls to those who were never meant to hold it. Unintentionally trapped aboard the ship, Derrin Muely becomes a silent witness to the unraveling of humanity's last survivors, forced to watch as fear, ambition, and control drive them to destroy one another. Left alone in the vast quiet of space, Derrin turns inward. Through fragments of memory and reflection, he confronts a life spent searching for purpose, measuring his worth, and fearing failure, only to find that meaning may never have been something to discover at all. At the edge of existence, with no one left to see him, Derrin must face a final question: If life has no audience, no legacy, and no greater purpose, what does it mean to keep living?

A chaotic cafe owner. A rule-abiding lawyer. A wedding she wasn't supposed to crash. When Haein shows up a day late, thinking it's her ex's, sparks fly with Jungwon, the calm and composed groomsman who might just match her chaos. Messy, hilarious, and full of unexpected romance, some loves are worth bending the rules for. Warning: This story contains strong language and sensual undertones. [SUBMISSION FOR OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2026]

He was sent to rescue her. Not to care. Not to stay. Definitely not to fall. Leonardo Nico Russo, the youngest heir of one of Europe's most feared crime families, has built his life on discipline, precision, and impossible missions. Loose ends don't exist in his world. Until April Holloway. Three years after he pulls her from the horrors of human trafficking, fate brings them together again. But the girl he rescued is no longer the same-and neither is the man who walked away believing some people were never meant to become more than a mission. As April finds herself pulled closer to the enigmatic man who once saved her, she must decide whether loving him is worth embracing the dangerous world that comes with his name. And when the past returns, determined to destroy everything he holds dear, Leo discovers that there are some wars you don't fight for an empire... You fight them for one person. Set against a world of hidden wars, family loyalty, and impossible choices, In His Arms is a story of rescue, resilience, and a love that refuses to surrender. Because sometimes, the person who saves you... doesn't just change your life. They become your home.

Park Jimin had grown up living a rather normal life. He had loving parents, great friends, and enjoyed fun school activities. Now he's living life as a well loved member of the band BTS. On his 21st birthday, he receives a letter. A letter that begins to shatter everything he thought he knew about himself. The more secrets that are revealed, the harder it is to answer the question... Who really 𝘪𝘴 Park Jimin? -- A Jimin Mystery/Thriller TW: Strong Language Angst Open ending - Writing for ONC 2026 Combined prompts: 78. You begin to realize that nothing is quite what it seems. 79. A letter arrives addressed to you, written by someone who shouldn't exist.

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When a strange old woman comes to the village of Little Plimpton, her arrival sparks a conflict that could bring the entire population to the brink of war. And by 'war', read 'a series of petty grievances aired in public'. Humphrey, caught in the middle of the ensuing whirlwind of accusations, threats and mildly aggressive and/or violent actions, must try his utmost to bring Little Plimpton back to some semblance of serenity and, if he has his way, at least quiet. If only so he can read his newspaper in peace. A novella, written for #ONC2022. Based upon Prompt No. 6 and in the General Fiction category. Cover created in Canva, using a Pixabay stock picture.

Malise is given one last chance to prove herself, or else, she'll be kicked out of her coven. And the world isn't safe for a witch on her own. Elvira hates witches and her only goal is to find a cure for her sister's magic. But when she gets put on trial for witchcraft herself, it changes everything she thought she knew. Enemies, and yet, they slowly find themselves bewitched by each other. This is my entry for the Open Novella Contest 2021, using the prompt: "On occasion, an accusation of witchcraft has the power to set one on a wonderful, dangerous path."

Between 1813 and 1819, the great composer, Ludwig van Beethoven almost disappeared from public life. Many stories passed about the reason, but none could ever hope to know the truth. Until now. In 1818, Bernhard Gerber experiences something terrifying and heartbreaking, bringing him in contact with the great man, Beethoven, himself. Though Beethoven proves nothing like the person known all across Europe. Between them, the two men take on the task of ridding the world of the greatest horror ever to walk the Earth and, in the process, perhaps lay to rest both men's greatest tragedies and guilt. A deadly serious story with a character that doesn't know it. And doesn't care. A novella, written for #ONC2022. Based upon Prompt No. 70 and in the 'Creature Feature' category. Cover created in Canva, using an AI generated picture.

A battle trading card company creates the ultimate battle game, and people of all ages flock to play the new, immersive game of monsters and tactics. When Charli finds her new game board and limited edition card set destroyed by bullies, a friend steps in to help her out. Only, he can only give her a beta test version of the battle board and a children's card set. With the inaugural battle competition set to begin, Charli must use her wits to make her weak card set work well enough to enter the competition, but she faces people with more experience, more cards and better battle boards. Can Charli make her way through the stages with only a children's card set and a basic battle board, or will the competition prove too much? An ONC novella, based on Prompt 67: "A trading card game company creates real-life versions of their creatures. What started as fun and games quickly spirals into something far more dangerous."

'He had spent his life chasing a reflection, never noticing the life waiting for him behind his own back.' A mirror. A lighthouse. A curse whispered across generations. Silas Hale dreams of a lighthouse that calls him, and a mirror that whispers his name. Every time he follows it, misfortune follows too. The wind never quiets. The mist never lifts. And the sea ... waits for him to return. Prompt-34. "You have to sail the seven seas to find the lost treasure, but treasure means different things to different people, what treasures will you find at worlds' edge ."

For a small price, a Collector can make you remember things you have never done. In 1815 England, Meera Sterne defies societal expectations to play the dutiful daughter, marry into a rich family, and become the property of a man. Instead, she runs away and trains under the aloof and distant Aurelius Mackleberry, spending her days buying and selling memories. A stranger visits her trainer for a crime from years gone. Aurelius Mackleberry owes a debt with his life -- and his time has run out. Meera must unravel the violent and bloody past behind the wonders of Collecting memories and save the life of a man destroyed by his own magic. For Open Novella Contest 2020.

In a dystopian future, an acidic flood reigns and the only signs of old life lie in the deep. Alex - an outcast with an inquisitive mind and a set of strangely specific skills - must navigate a world where she is shunned from the safety of the domes and stuck in the water. One day, while exploring a set of deep-sea ruins, she is haunted by a mysterious spirit; a spirit that seems to be warning her of something. The problem is, this ancient being doesn't seem to have any memory of its previous life. With a newly-possessed fish at her side, she must now uncover a secret organisation, find out what it means to do and save both humans and spirits from their plans. --- This is my entry for the Open Novella Contest 2026. Prompts used: 93, 86 (I have listed them in the author's note) --- Open Novella Contest 2026 Longlister. #1 oceanpunk #1 explorer #1 deepsea #1 flood #1 climatechange #2 acid --- © 2026 | This is original work. Any references to other persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Please do not adapt in any way without the author's permission.

Adam Mitchell disappeared one rainy night in May, 1996. Twenty five years later, November Falls Police Detective Evelyn Hardy stumbles upon an article about his cold case. It's been long enough, it's time to get Adam Mitchell the justice he deserves. But, with the FBI on scene, the unorthodox involvement of Evelyn's family, and the unacknowledged feelings between Evelyn and her partner finally reaching breaking point, there is one thing that is for certain: Solving the case is going to be the easy part. Part 1 of the November Falls Series. Prompt 67

The frost remembers everything the fire forgot. In the Valley of Aethelgard, warmth is a memory. The Kirin steals it - from the hearths, from the soil, from the veins of anyone unlucky enough to cross its path - and has done so for as long as the elders can recall. Khel-Zhen, Fu-Jiang and last son of a dying general's legacy, has sworn an oath written in blood and grief: hunt the beast, and end it, or die trying. He has buried the man who raised him. He will not bury anyone else. Ren-Mei, healer's apprentice and Khel-Zhen's betrothed, knows something no one else in the valley does - the truth of what the Kirin is, and why it hungers for warmth the way it does. The truth could save Aethelgard. It could also cost Ren-Mei everything she has never let herself want. As the frost creeps closer and the oath draws Khel-Zhen toward a war she knows he cannot win the way he thinks he can, Ren-Mei must decide: does she let him kill the thing that could save them all - or does she break every rule she's ever lived by to save it herself? Some secrets are worth freezing for. ~•~•~•~•~ New Chapters update every Sunday. #

Aerin Kingsley had thought she had seen the last of Westin O'Bryan after graduating high school and moving on from their petty rivalry to bigger and better things. And after four long years of countless all-nighters, developing a serious coffee addiction, and focusing on nothing but getting perfect grades, she has finally landed herself in New York City at her dream internship. But little did she know what was waiting for her on her first day. Westin O'Bryan had put Aerin Kingsley and his hometown in his past after high school and moving on to play college football. But with a twist of fate, and a little help from his charming personality, Westin finds himself doing a complete 180 and making a move to New York for an internship and hopefully some excitement in the big city. Not knowing the kind of excitement he would be getting was more than he bargained for.