Opennovellacontest Stories

Tristram Wald likes to spend his days daydreaming about all of the magical things that he wishes would transpire in his lowly, humble and mundane existence. As an orphan, he was taken in by his Uncle Giacomo and forced to endure hardship and cruelty, and is eventually put to work in his Uncle's celebrated shoemakers shop. But now Tristram Wald is eighteen years and he has big ideas of his own Tristram wants his own success and fortune. A chance encounter with the beautiful Princess Oriana Aureum cements the idea of escape from his humble beginnings in Tristram's mind. Desperate for riches, so that he will be eligible to marry the princess, Tristram allows himself to be coerced by a mysterious Goblin named Grimalkin who claims he can weave straw into gold. But Tristram will soon find out that putting his trust in a renowned trickster can have sinister consequences. The Gold Weaver of Goblin Wood is a dark fairy-tale, horror.

When a grandmother is declared the Chosen One, she abandons her rocking chair to challenge the Dark Lord who plots to destroy the world. -- Formerly a single mother, now a devoted grandma, Granny Thayer has never left her hometown before, let alone slayed a demon. But she'd better learn fast; she's just been selected as the Chosen One, the only hero who can defeat the nefarious Dark Lord of Devnia and avert a zombie apocalypse. Accompanied by a devastatingly handsome prince, a failed bard, and a werewolf with a dangerous secret, Granny Thayer embarks on a quest full of intrigue and love triangles to save her grandson. This is a collaboration for ONC 2022/2023, written by SophieKestrel and Spelunkadunk. Prompt: "It's always what/who you least expected that blows your mind away."

Hope is as rare as water in a kingdom of sun-scorched sands and ancient walls. Princess Ilaria of Sigyn is poised to secure peace for her desert kingdom through an arranged marriage to Prince Godred, the ruler of a rival land. But when a shadowy assassin nearly takes her life, her plans-and her trust in those around her-crumble like desert dust. Forced into hiding on the distant island of Zospery, she finds herself under the protection of Lord Alaric Voss, a man as cold and unyielding as the sea cliffs that guard his home. Alaric is known as the Devil of the Spire, a relentless warrior with a reputation for cruelty and a heart as closed off as the fortress he commands. Yet, beneath his rigid exterior lies a past scarred by loyalty and loss, and he'll do whatever it takes to keep the princess alive-even if it means standing against the forces that seek to silence her forever. As enemies close in and the line between duty and desire blurs, Ilaria must confront a harsh truth: her greatest danger may not be the assassins lurking in the shadows, but the man who stands beside her, guarding secrets that could shatter everything she's fought to protect. But the more she learns about the unyielding knight, the more she sees glimpses of a depth that calls to her, even as her own resolve hardens into something far less forgiving. In the shifting sands of war and whispered betrayals, two souls clash-one desperate to keep hope alive, the other burdened by a past he cannot escape. And as threats loom from all sides, Ilaria and Alaric will have to decide whether they can truly trust one another... or if the secrets they keep will be the very things that tear them apart. -- COVER BY @-deeisdead- ONC 2024 SHORTLISTER

Jacob's life was supposed to go down a straight path. He had a beautiful fiancee, a well-paying job, a cool house, nice cars. Everything was perfect. But then his ex returned. Usually this wouldn't be a problem, he could just tell her to back off. Simple, right? No. Not when his hand could go through her body. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ONCAfrica 2021 first runner up! Featured on the official AmbassadorsNG account here on Wattpad! #20 in paranormal romance-February 2021 ©AOFunke 2021

Four strangers are trapped in an elevator and forced to reveal details about their most malicious deeds within the hour to prevent a fall to their death. But as secrets are exposed, tension escalates, leading to a reality no one is prepared for. ***** Tasha Pierce receives an anonymous invitation she believes is from her ex-boyfriend hoping to see her in the high-rise building where he resides. But upon ascending in the elevator with three strangers, one of them hits the emergency stop and demands they share details of their most malicious deed within the hour to prevent falling several stories to their death. As secrets are revealed and the hour closes in, who the people are and why they are trapped in a precarious elevator together soon becomes the least of her worries. ***** ONC Prompt 56: You are on a typical awkward elevator ride with a group of other people, and suddenly someone says, "So, I bet you are wondering why I've gathered you here," before hitting the emergency button. ***** | ONC 2023 Round 1 Ambassadors Pick | Copyright©2023 by L.L. Sanders

Ever since Death got trapped in the mortal realm three years ago, nonstop famines, wars, and plagues have ravaged Earth. Shiori, a budding scientist with a love of snakes and a loathing for small talk, doesn't really care. She can deal with the constant pandemics, bombs, and spider/iguana/fruit fly/crocodile plagues, so long as it doesn't involve socializing with strangers -- the thing she hates most in the world. Too bad her new roommate is hot, suave, and super chatty. Even worse, he seems to have decided Shiori is the only one with the power to send Death back to the underworld -- and he'll stop at nothing to make it happen! **First place in The Punk Rock Awards 2022, Paranormal*** **Grand Winner of The Punk Rock Awards 2022**

¤ LONGLISTED IN THE OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2022 ¤ // COMPLETE - stand-alone sequel to featherlight - Chase Collins steps onto a late night train, his last in the city before he moves to a new state with a job promotion. What he doesn't expect, however, is to sit opposite Kyle Rivera: former best friend, football teammate, and Chase's first love. Kyle is the incarnation of everything he thought had been forgotten and left in the past- his high school bravado, his secrets, his forgotten dreams. So he goes to sit down beside him. And they talk. And over the course of that one night, both of them will remember, relive, and most importantly live, as they explore what it means to grow up, to grow apart, to find yourself and to find each other.

☆ONC2025 SHORTLIST☆ Yuna Arhin is the confident cheer captain of Westchester High, but that's merely her top layer. An ambitious girl with a big dream, she knows what she wants and would stop at nothing to get it. Whether in love or in life, it looks like Yuna has it all: the looks, status, doting star quarterback boyfriend, and even the wealthy family. With all plans running smoothly, she faces a sudden obstacle: a quiet, unassuming girl who appears to suffer at the hands of Westchester's elite, Yuna at the helm. Whispers fly. The rumor mill turns. Bonds are tested. The stereotypes are confirmed...or are they? The Westchester whispers try to force Yuna into the box and bring her storybook ending to a screeching halt. But they forgot one thing: Yuna Arhin is more than just her top layer. It's HER story, and she's in control. It's time to break the stereotype. Started: February 07, 2025 Finished: March 13, 2025 Cover help: @NotEvenEstella NOTE: If you are reading this story on any other platform other than Wattpad you are very likely to be at risk of a malware attack. If you wish to read this story in its original, safe, form, please go to @Mochi711 on Wattpad. Thank you. ✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏ ONC2025 Prompt 25: You're not the shy, bookish girl who bumps into the star athlete and wins his heart. No, you're his girlfriend, the blonde, confident cheerleader destined to become the cliché ex. But this time, you're rewriting history and taking control of your story. ✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

As per tradition, a journal for this ONC.

In myths and legends it is spoken of a time when the pagan Gods met and came to an agreement about the destiny not only of mankind, but of the world, also. It was a time when Gods ruled and people followed. When man was manipulated to do the Gods biddings. And unbeknownst to many, empires rose and were wiped out on the whims of deities. That is, until three Gods of mischief met: Lugh, the Tuatha Dé Danann - the Celt God -, Loki, the Trickster - the Norse God - and Veles, the Snake - The Slavic God. Together they created a weapon so powerful that it toppled empires with its strength. It was said that the reign of God ended because the three mischiefs gifted the weapon to a man, a hero no legend dared tell about. It was a myth, of course. For others, that is. But not for Aife Rhiannon. She knew the legends were true. She knew the name of the hero no one talked about Dwale. And the weapon that gave mankind its freedom back. She knew because she was the descendant of Dwale and was cursed to take care of the terrifying weapon that couldn't be destroyed or thrown away. She tried. The stupid thing always came back. One way or another. And as if her life wasn't complicated enough, The Trickster showed up with his accomplice - Eris - to warn her about the approaching meeting of the Gods, where they will test her. Mankind's freedom depended on Aife Rhiannon to win the tests or they would end up enslaved by them.

Faking her death seemed like a solid plan-until the wrong man came looking for her. Delilah Whitmore wasn't about to let her controlling fiance dictate her future. So she vanished, trading champagne and silk for flannel and firewood in the middle of nowhere. It was all going great... until a very broody, very attractive private investigator showed up at her doorstep. Declan Grayson doesn't lose his targets. Ever. But Delilah? She's not like anyone he's ever tracked before. She's stubborn, infuriating, and far too tempting for a man who's supposed to be dragging her back to the life she abandoned. Stuck together in a rainstorm, Declan is forced to question everything-his mission, his morals, and most of all, how much longer he can keep his hands off the woman who was supposed to be just another job. This story is written for The Open Novella Contest 2025 Prompts: 41. It's a canon event, after all. At that moment, she realized she had to end the toxic relationship for good. She disappeared from the country, leaving everything behind to start fresh. For a while, she had relied on him just to survive, but now she knew it was time to break free and reclaim her life. 44. In the middle of a storm, a stranger arrives at your cabin, and you offer them shelter. But the storm's forecast says you'll be stuck for much longer than expected. 134. "You did more for me in six days than he ever did in seven years."

✨First Place + Grand Winner of ONC 2025✨ (thank you!) In the wake of her estranged mother's death, Maricel Ferrer returns to her childhood home to confront the dark secrets she left behind. 🪞 Maricel has spent years trying to forget the house she grew up in - the house where her mother's mental health slowly unraveled. But after receiving unexpected news, she has no choice but to return. The old fears should be gone, just like her childhood "imaginary friend" who liked to appear in her reflection. At first, it's easy to dismiss the strange occurrences: a flicker in the glass, a movement that doesn't quite match hers. But then the reflection smiles when she doesn't. Moves when she's still. Whispers things she doesn't want to hear. By the time Maricel realizes the truth - that the thing in the mirror has been waiting for her return - it's too late. Because now, it wants out. And it wants to take her place. ONC 2025 | Exclusively on Wattpad Prompt 55: What if the person you see in the mirror isn't really you, but something that's been watching you this whole time? Prompt 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns - only this time, they're real. © 2025 Darly Jamison. All Rights Reserved. This work is protected under international copyright laws.

A cunning Pirate's long-lost treasure. A three hundred-year-old curse. A wicked taste of rum. ------ When dangerous paranormal activity threatens her life, teen psychic, Lizzy Summers, decides to quit her job with Boston's Chills N' Thrills Ghost Tour franchise. She starts a new life in the Bay Area with her boyfriend, Dylan Grant, working for an eccentric bar owner. After moving into her dream apartment in Boston's eclectic Fort Point neighborhood, Lizzie soon discovers a young man who lived in the waterfront premises has been murdered. The renovated loft is not only haunted; it holds a deadly secret. Not everything's as it seems as the mayor starts buying up surrounding real estate and bodies begin piling up. Lizzie and her friends must solve the murder and the mystery of Blackbeard's treasure, using an antique bell from her grandmother's attic, before they become the next victims. --- ONC2023 Prompt 30: You purchase a new home and during renovations discover a human skeleton buried within your walls. Prompt 75: You have a family heirloom, it's been passed way long before anyone can remember. You inherited this object and discover its secret. This secret will twist your life and change it forever. [Rated PG13 for language, intimacy.]

"There's no denying it-either I'm hallucinating or Cole Winton is standing on my porch." Jamie is used to putting pen to paper. She's been doing it for years, and has a slew of novels to show for it. For the most part, she's left alone to write which is what she prefers. But this is the first time someone has knocked on her door, insisting they are one of her characters. This is the first time someone demands to know how she knows what she does, declaring it treason. Armed with only her pen, her notebook, and her cat, Inkwell, she finds out just how much of their own lives her characters have taken on outside of her novels. (ONC prompt 99) ONC 2025 Finalist (5th place)

When Elliot and his kid sister go hiking together, he's expecting typical problems like blisters and rain. He's not expecting the deluge of fantastical problems that await him on the second day of his hike. And he's not happy about it.

Whether you're a seasoned storyteller or a first-time writer, our ONC Writing Tips are here to guide you on your journey. Prepare for the ONC with expert advice and inspiration - your legendary story starts here!

Harley had a bright future ahead of her, but that dream died a long time ago. ***** Harley vowed she would never return to the city that broke her heart, but old wounds never stop hurting if you keep poking at them. When the phone rings, the city stops, and she's summoned back, she discovers some doors are better left closed. Those you open might never be locked again. ***** WARM HANDS #0.5 Open Novella Contest 2023 -- prompts 42, 45, & 69 [[OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2023 ROUND 2 WINNER]] © 2023 caterina george // all rights reserved

[ONC2025] | [Ambassador Pick] | [Longlist] Scarlett has it all: the most popular guy in school is her boyfriend, she is slim and pretty, she has enough money to never have to work a day in her life and her classmates look up to her. It's harder work than those jealous bitches realize, but of course she's happy to do that. That's why she's anything but happy when a new girl shows up at school who develops a love-hate relationship with her boyfriend. Caiden pretends not to like the simple, brown-haired girl, but Scarlett has known him longer than today. It doesn't take long before she is pushed aside, after which she has to grit her teeth as Caiden wins Emilia's heart. And it's not only that; even when Scarlett is the main character of this story, other people are steeling the spotlight on hér cover!! It shouldn't be like that, she thinks - she knows! - and that's why the blonde decides to take matters into her own hands. Unfortunately for her, cliché piles on cliché. Will she come out of this story unscathed, even though everything seems to be going wrong? ... Prompt 25: You're not the shy, bookish girl who bumps into the star athlete and wins his heart. No, you're his girlfriend - the blonde, confident cheerleader destined to be the cliché ex. But this time, you're rewriting history and taking control of your story.

WATTYS 2023 SHORTLIST | WATTYS 2023 FANS CHOICE AWARDS NOMINEE Initially looking for nothing more than a feelings-free summer fling before college, reckless Harris McCammon and anxious Seb Krause might have stumbled into more than they bargained for. --------------------------------- When a graduation party takes a risky turn, Harrison McCammon finds himself in the passenger seat of Sebastian Krause's truck. When the two virtual strangers agree to begin a friends with benefits kind of situation, neither expect anything more than maybe a fun situationship before they leave for college. But as their casual entanglement turns into something slightly more, the two of them are forced to push down their real thoughts on this non-relationship. Add in sketchy ex-boyfriends, concerned parents, and a small dash of existential dread, there's no such thing as no strings attached. TW: underaged substance abuse; mentions of/attempted SA; (fade to black/non-explicit) sex; homophobic figures/abandonment; hospitalisation ^that sounds like a lot, wow, i'm sorry, it's ... it's mainly fluff ---ONC Ambassadors Round 2 Pick, 2023---

Violet's life is chaos. When she's not dealing with the chaos at home, she's dealing with the chaos of being bullied at Gotham Academy. More importantly, she wants to disappear so nobody - particularly her crush Dick Grayson - wouldn't notice her. When she is finally able to, she finds her life turned completely upside down. Disclaimer - I don't own The Incredibles, Teen Titans or Young Justice. This story is written for Open Novella 2020. The prompt I choose was number ten, or "the new kid is bullied relentlessly until they discover they actually have a quite unique and unexpected talent". Story is also a spin off of my Beyond the Night fanfic series.