Onc2023 Stories

ONC 2023 Shortlist Astrid, the Princess of Eurovea, a country existing several centuries in the future, had led a happy and sheltered life in the castle ruled by Regent Arcturus, her uncle. Only on reaching the age of ascension when, according to an ancient tradition, all future queens must face a trial, she realised that there were great gaps in her knowledge of the world around her, her uncle, and even the people she thought she knew well. In a world where love doesn't exist, a young girl who understands old novels better than her reality is sent on a dangerous quest to save her country from creatures who, just like love, were not supposed to be true... Mystery, romance, adventure, and magic combine in this tale, in which a young princess who had grown up surrounded by an impenetrable web of lies, has to find her true identity, and free her kingdom from suffering. A young-adult, dystopian, paranormal fantasy-romance. The wonderful cover created by @WakeWriteWrath

Three women. Three tangled lives orbiting Mars aboard the Phobos Transit Space Station. Val loses her station operation engineer job under false pretenses, Exo-biologist Cassy is blackballed for doing the right thing, and ex-marine Kate suffers a broken heart. Fortunately, Mavis, the owner of the Starlight Tavern and rescuer of lost souls, is there to help, recruiting the women into her Quilters Guild. But when hostile forces invade the station, the stakes become far greater, and the Guild finds themselves embroiled in a multi-world conspiracy. And they are not about to just stand by and let it happen. Redemption comes stitch by stitch. *** Open Novella Contest Round Two Ambassador Pick *** *** Open Novella Contest Winner - Third Place ***

Marie was not prepared to get fired from her job. This was supposed to be her chance at fame and it just went down the drain. Down on her luck she stumbles upon The Rabbit Hole, a small little talent bar. When Marie is offered a job she's skeptical at first, but eventually agrees to the job. But The Rabbit Hole isn't as normal as it appears. A man turns invisible, another starts on fire. And her partner is never seen expect right before they're about to perform. Oh, and there's a man with fire for eyes who's seen right before trouble appears. If Marie wants to do well and become famous she's going to have to learn more about The Rabbit Hole and herself. ~~ An ONC 2023 entry Cover by: @HollisOfRandom

"Excuse me, mister, but why did everything suddenly turn black and white?" A miserable adult who prefers to ignore everything, including their dying father. A concerned neighbor/friend/something more with curious connections. A taxi driver who doesn't bother to ask where the passenger wants to go. And a cat with unclear intentions. Where will this journey lead to, if anywhere? --------------------------------------------------------- • Based on prompt #9 of ONC. • Started: February 2, 2023 • Ended: November 15, 2023

✨On Hiatus✨ ONC 2023 Shortlister {HUNGER GAMES meets EMBER with a dab of 5TH WAVE vibes} From the moment Star drew her first breath, the unending conflict between humankind and extraterrestrial forces had been an inescapable reality. For as long as she could remember, she had called the subterranean depths home, honing her skills in the art of survival within the clutches of the dark. As the relentless war wages on above the earth's surface, Star finds herself ensconced within the underworld labyrinth of three distinct factions, each vying for power and influence. Amidst the ceaseless destruction that threatens to consume everything she has ever known, Star is confronted with a daunting choice: to participate in this Decades games, a ruthless and unforgiving competition that promises absolute dominion for the victor. With resources dwindling and time running out, Star finds herself faced with a harrowing choice. Will she take up the challenge and risk everything to participate in the legendary games? For the victors, the ultimate prize awaits: the power to rule over all. ✨Round One Qualifier in 2023 Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Two Qualifier in 2023 Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Three Longlist in 2023 Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Four Shortlist in 2023 Open Novella Contest✨ #ONC2023 | Prompt 67 | Prompt 6 ‼️ Content/Trigger Warning: Contains gore, violence, some strong language. All rights belong to the author and no reproductions are allowed without the permission of @Renaissance111. Please respect the author's copyright. 😊❤️ 2023 C.S. Marie

[ONC 2023 and Wattys 2024 winner!] Drug dealer Nathan just can't be bothered to care about some of the stranger things in his life. Like the spellbook he found, complete with working magic and all. Okay, fine, maybe he tried one spell, and maybe that ended with his curtains on fire. Lesson learned: leave forces you don't understand alone. Powerful magic or not - for Nathan, this is just another Wednesday. Not everyone shares his opinion. When YouTube sensation Jamie insists on making a video about his discovery and said video goes viral, Nathan finds himself in a spotlight he completely failed to foresee. While he struggles to adjust to his newfound fame, Jamie and her oddly charming eccentricities drag him into a wacky investigation of his magical tome's origins and true nature. Finding answers shouldn't be that hard. But Nathan's criminal associates want his spellbook for themselves. And they'll stop at nothing to get it. ~Book one in the Witchcraft Wednesday Investigations trilogy~

'Death is coming in the Autumn.' That's what Tira tells Verity. But Verity is stuck in her life, and doesn't understand just what's at stake, until it's much too late... A novella written for ONC23. Guidance: mild horror, sex references.

Myths, legends, history all play a part in the origins of the planet. With every different background, different religion there is a God of some sort. And all of this information means absolutely nothing to a five year old. However Teri is a firm believer of sharing is caring as she accidentally awakens a banished Greek God, Elliotes the God of Empty Dreams, by sharing her jellybeans. Now Teri is stuck in the crossfire of a war that should have ended thousands of years ago, the War of Dreams. Could a five year old have the voice of reasons to end a war, or will she be consumed by the nightmares? Using Prompt 73: You are a long-forgotten god. A small kid leaves candy at your shrine, and you awaken. Now, you must do everything to protect your High Priest / Priestess, the kid and their entire kindergarten class, your worshippers.

||WATTY WINNER 2023🌟|| Two strangers pretend to be a couple to win a dumb bet. The wager: they must enrol in couples therapy and fool their counselor. _________ Six non-refundable couples counseling sessions. That's how many Clementine booked for him and his girlfriend to sort out their relationship problems. What he didn't see coming was getting dumped as soon as he informed her of it. Enter Everett, a chaotic, curly-haired boy who barges into Clementine's life. He offers to fake date and attend the counseling sessions with Clementine. Unfortunately, they are both idiots. Did they really believe they could safely fake-date in a Wattpad book and NOT fall in love? ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Might bring to mind: "Heartstopper" but with a ton more baking and fake dating 🌈 🎼🎶 This book has a Spotify playlist with a song for each chapter. To download it you can search me on Spotify @itsmeimthevampire - the playlist name is "Idiots To Lovers." 🏅🏅🏅 Watty Winner 2023. Shortlisted in the Open Novella Contest 2023. Featured on Wattpad profiles: @Lgbtq @FreeTheLgbt @Romance 🏆🏆🏆 #2 lgbt #2 lgbtq 📆 10/5/23 #4 gay 21/5/23 #4 bxb 14/5/23 #5 boyxboy 13/5/23 #1 gayromance 5/5/23 #1 gayshipsareyayships 14/5/23 Written for ONC2023 using prompt 39: On a blind date with a complete mismatch, you're increasingly uncomfortable but too polite to leave. Then an attractive stranger comes over and gives you an out.

After another mission gone wrong, young superhero Phia wakes up with a problem that seems strange, even for people in her line of work. Her burnt fingers are telling her that she's the only person who can rescue her teams leader, the long lost Penelope. While trying not to fall any harder for her roommate, keep up in classes, and stop failing at missions, can Phia also untangle the mystery of her fingers and find Penelope before the Young Empowered People's Program catches wind of her strange new power. *ONC 2023 From the ONC prompt 23) They were not real, everyone told me they were not real, but why are they here? Why are they trying to talk to me? What are the calling me the ONE? Why are they staring at me like that?

There's an urban legend that's been circulating for years about a driver that doesn't take you where you want to go, but where you need to be. One morning before daylight, Cenicienta stepped into his cab! Once inside the taxi, she skims the newspaper and reads about the increased bounty on the bandit plaguing the neighborhood. Wishing to escape her slavish life, the burglar's bounty seems appealing, and she becomes interested in catching him. The cabbie stops in a lonely alley, insisting it's where she is destined to be. She hesitantly disembarks, intending to catch another cab further up the road, which disappears as soon as the cabbie speeds off. Thereupon, Cenicienta stumbles upon a drawing of her six-year-old self with a note hinting at a secret treasure and also chances upon the handsome Robert Warren, who is quite taken with her. Cenicienta begins her search for the bandit at the Magnificent Seven Balls, the place of his intended thievery. At the balls, she meets Robert Warren, whose stepfather, Sir. Henry Moore tries to steer him into the arms of the young Elle Anderson, his deceased best friend's daughter. Robert meanwhile gets caught up in Cenicienta's life. The two grow closer and sparks fly. Cenicienta, in her pursuit to solve the mystery of the midnight bandit plaguing her town's elites, discovers a most sinister plot that wrought a terrible wrong upon someone very dear to her, and which threatens her relationship with Robert. Will she be able to help right the terrible misdeed and save her relationship with Robert, thereby changing her entire life?

The dead objects know how to tell a story. If you know how to ask them... An unfinished novel. A golden medallion. Even an ordinary coin. When she was only a teen, Clara learned that the voices in her head - the ones that tormented her - came from the objects around her. The family curse that was sprung upon her had followed her for years before she learnt how to live with it. But no learning happens without mistakes. Once anonymous threats start arriving to her door, Clara knows her past has finally caught up to her. Now, she must trust her powers and solve a murder that happened ten years ago before it becomes too late. ----- Entered into the Open Novella Contest 2023 ONC Prompts #5 & #15 ©2023 Jana Tulisa Published to Wattpad 1st of Feb, 2023 Draft Ongoing

Albert Caspian is a 23 year-old man with a whole lot of charm and a bucketful of bad luck. It's almost no surprise when he gets shipwrecked on a barren island after an accident. With dwindling hope of an emergency rescue, Al resigns himself to his fate until he is suddenly dragged into the world of seafolk and underwater civilizations. After working as a writer for a nature magazine, he is thrilled to be staring at what he believes to be the ruins of Atlantis. However, the seafolk are not as receptive as he is, and it takes many trials and tribulations to prove his worth and learn the secret of this hidden civilization. With the help of loyal and eager companions, Al sets out to uncover Point Nemo's well-kept mysteries and protect the people he's come to care about.

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

[Bauhinia Legacy Series, Book 4.0] 🏅HONORABLE MENTION IN ONC 2023🏅 Written for the 2023 Open Novella Contest: It's easy to get away with crime in a packed, unruly and newly built city--Cantonesia: The Jewel of the Orient. That's what Amelia Yeung's family has been doing for decades. She's part of Cantonesia's most notorious and elusive mafia family, the Bauhinias. On Amelia's next mission, which involves the Governor of Cantonesia and his family, she makes a dangerous mistake that takes away her freedom. Thus, she is forced to make a deal with two formidable forces. But scandals and secrets await her wherever she goes, and Amelia unearths one that could damage the Governor's reputation. She begins to question the moral integrity of those around her as the situation unfolds. To make matters worse, government agents are on Amelia's trail. She knows if she's captured, it could be the end of the Bauhinias. Now Amelia has to evade the law and help them at the same time. Will Amelia be able to solve her Cantonesia caper? Or will the government get to her first? ****** ONC Prompts used: #15, 33, 75 ****** Accolades: 🥇1st: Best Writing in the Phoenix Mini Awards 🥇1st: Best Epilogue in the Starlight Mini Awards 🥇1st: Action/Adventure in the Serenity Book Awards 🥈2nd: Action/Adventure Genre in The Katana Awards 🥈2nd: Action/Adventure Genre in The Fluorescence Awards 🥈2nd: Best Antagonist in The Philosopher Awards 🥈2nd: Best Antagonist in The Ambrosia Awards 🥈2nd: Best Prologue in the Starlight Mini Awards 🥈2nd: Best Bright Cover in the Best Book Cover Awards 🥉3rd: Hidden Gems Category in The Phoenix Awards 🥉3rd: Action/Science Fiction in The Philosopher Awards 🏅Honorable Mention: Best Protagonist in The Ambrosia Awards 🏅4th in the Wonder Awards: Best Worldbuilding 🏅ONC Round 1 & 2 Qualifier 🏅ONC Longlister & Shortlister 🏅FEATURED on the ONC Ambassador's Pick Reading List 🏅FEATURED on APIFantasy ****** Cover by

Ava Kingsley is basking in her post-senior year summer- until she gets a phone call that sends her universe spinning in a completely new direction. - The disappearance of 22 year old diner waitress Jamie Clark and her son Tyler is a cold case closed 10 years ago, until a phone call dialed to the wrong number causes Ava to be spun up in the secret life of Jamie and the secrets she was keeping from the world in order to save the mother-son duo before their kidnapper grows bored of the game they are playing. - ONC 2023 Longlister ONC 2023 Shortlister - FEATURED on Stories Undiscovered for the Month of April Under 'Be THAT Girl' - cover by the talented @MuniWilliams

Maisie's mother should have known better, buying a house on the cheap to renovate and live in, what with how things were with The Problem. A body in the wall means calling in a reputable Paranormal Agency, something they can't afford. Unless of course it's Lockwood & Co, or perhaps not, given some noticlbe peculiarities of the agency. Disclaimer - I don't own Lockwood & Co. This is written for ONC 2023, for prompt thirty, "You purchase a new home and, during renovations and discover a human skeleton buried within your walls." Takes place after the first season of the show.

Always willing to put herself last, Catalina Juárez has never rocked the boat. But that all changes when her father insists she marry a man she cannot stand to be near. Hopping into a carriage for hire, she spends the last of her money on a ride to nowhere. Because this mysterious carriage has one rule: you go where it takes you. Well, that was a waste of money, because she isn't even to the edge of town before she's unceremoniously dumped off at a train station. With no money to buy a ticket and no time to think of another plan, Catalina pushes through the crowd and onto the train. Marcos Caballero has never met a problem he didn't want to solve. Traveling alone on a ticket meant for him and a woman who didn't want to be with him, he's taken in by the scared, doe-eyed look of the woman in the dining carriage. She's ticketless and alone; he's lonely and has an excess ticket. Stepping in to save her, he claims her as his wife, not really expecting her to play along past the point of danger. But she quickly steps into the role with ease, acting as if they've known each other their whole lives. Somehow, it seems like they might have. But being on the run from troublesome and powerful fathers isn't without its struggles, and Catalina and Marcos are going to have to decide how much they are willing to risk to put love ahead of duty. ~ * ~ * ~ This is one of the five novellas I'll be writing for this year's ONC! You can find the rest (Hang it Up, Christmas at the Cabin, Love Lies & Red Eyes, and I Don't Want to be Queen) on my profile! For this story, I selected prompt 9. "There's an urban legend that's been circulating for years about a taxicab that doesn't take you where you want to go, but where you need to go. One night, you stepped into this cab." Except make it pre-car-era.

After more than thousands of years of hibernation, the infernal god Calu is reawakened - by a child. He resigns himself to a monotone future, until the opportunity for him to get rid of Lach arises. But what Calu doesn't expect is for him to care about his young charge, and when Lach goes missing, Calu is ready to raise hell. Hopefully, before it's too late. Unedited

**ONC2023 Shortlist** Everything is controlled from the top down. You plug into the mainframe, it's your only escape from everyday life. Some of your friends completely exist in the mainframe. One day the call is made to shut it down. How do you save your friends when the government is calling for a complete purge of all AI and augmented humans? Do you sit idly by? What happens if you don't succeed? Prompt #81 In a dystopian world where technology controls every aspect of life, a group of rebels must navigate through a virtual reality landscape to hack into the mainframe and take back control from the oppressive government.