Onc2026 Stories

The Open Novella Contest is back for 2026! Join fellow storytellers and plant the seed of a tale that will blossom into a 20,000+ word novella within 12 weeks! Your epic quest begins February 1st, 2026, so mark your calendars with this date!

Under the cherry blossoms sits a nimble girl, her face sullen, and her eyes caved in. She was sitting by a gravestone, staring longingly towards where her mother was laid to rest. Guilt, regret and melancholy was all she could feel. Had she known her mother would pass away, she wouldn't have left her in hopes to pursue her dream as a light novel writer. Inspired by her mother's creativity and imagination, she also wanted to walk down the path her mother went. However, her visit to her mother's grave at the first sign of spring soon turned out to be an ordeal when a cherry blossom flower piqued her interest. One touch and she was now in a world where magical creatures walked on land. But, her role as the daughter of the greatest witch follows more troubles and challenges than she had ever anticipated. ------------ An open novella contest entry Main prompt: #2 Other prompts: #11

A dedicated space for ONC 2026 writers and readers to connect, support, and celebrate creativity. Discover stories, find your favorite authors, and help make this year unforgettable.

A counterfeit claim against a legendary wine ignites a high-stakes investigation in which a neurodivergent restaurateur and a forensic wine analyst must navigate forgery, deception, and their own unexpected connection to save a century-old legacy. Luc, owner of London's prestigious Le Rêve restaurant, faces a devastating crisis when a valued patron declares a prized vintage a fake. To protect his family's century-old reputation, he enlists Izzy, a brilliant but socially unconventional forensic wine analyst, eager to prove her mettle. Their shared autism initially creates an unexpected but undeniable spark of attraction, challenging their focus. But as they delve deeper into the complex world of wine fraud, they suspect a widespread conspiracy that threatens to destroy Le Rêve. Together, they must harness their unique abilities to expose the truth, safeguard the restaurant's legacy, and navigate their intensifying relationship, even as they battle their own internal worlds.

After her office burns down a successful editor is forced to share a workspace with the most irritating man alive and a different kind of fire ignites between them. **** Chielozonam 'Elo' Williams is thriving. Not only does she have the job of her dreams she's about to make Acquiring Editor of PerfectRomance, the publishing imprint she's been working at for the past five years which would definitely prove to her judgmental father once and for all that he was wrong about her wasting her life away at a dead end job but she's also determined to enjoy the prime years of her youth. Endless fun and casual romps in the sheets are the name of the game. That is until the unthinkable happens. After Elo's building catches fire and burns down she has no choice but to share an office with the one person that makes her blood boil: Connor Price. Archenemies since their days at college Connor makes getting under her skin an art form with his world famous scathing remarks and condescending attitude. When they're forced to work together to acquire a potentially lucrative manuscript, they discover that some fires burn hotter than others. An ONC 2026 story inspired by prompt 40. You and your greatest enemy are struck by a curse that binds your lives together. The only way to survive is to share a kiss, but you would both rather face death than each other.

What happens when Death falls in love with the paramour he is gifted? Cursed to kill everyone he touches, beastly Lord Damien Casteel lives in anger and loneliness. During a rare game of poker, he wins the final hand against a petty criminal named Luca. The prize is a pouch of twelve precious gemstones. But Luca is determined to get the stones back, no matter what. Breaking into Damien's mansion to exchange the real gems for fakes, he is captured and threatened with death. Begging for his life, he strikes a deal: his freedom in exchange for his adopted son, Jemeson, who will serve the lord as his paramour for twelve days; one day for each stone. Although he is reluctant to let anyone into his life, Damien is desperate for companionship and finally agrees. What he does not expect is to fall for the tormented young man. Warning for: spicy situations, alcohol, some swearing, blood, abuse, and typical Christine darkness. There's no graphic sa, torture, gore, or animal abuse.

Trouble boils over the caldron for witch necromancer Camilla Oakheart when she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Ghosts have always been drawn to her, ever since she was a young girl, and she can't help it when a spirit attaches itself to her, begging she helps find who killed her. Then mix in some newfound feelings for a beautiful vampire she could not even consider twice about. It's sure to be a magical mess. Beautiful cover created by @Lasophie79

Hailey wakes from a forced shutdown to find her boss dead at her feet and twenty-four hours missing from her memory. The evidence is clean, the tech is confident, and everything points to her. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the murder makes too much sense. But not for long. 90. You receive a video message from someone you hate, recorded five hours after their confirmed death.

- A slow-burn romantasy with fae courts, false identities, and dangerous choices - "I was taken from my world to replace a girl who was already dead. They dressed me in white, gave me her name, and promised me safety if I stayed silent. I was meant to be a bride. A symbol. A lie. But the prince I was promised to doesn't see me the way he should. And the man who brought me here is watching, waiting for me to break. I am not the girl they think I am. And if the truth comes out, it will destroy us all." #fantasy #fae #fairies #romance #slowburn #enemiestolovers #royalty #forcedmarriage #fakeidentity #darkfantasy #forbiddenlove Note: This story is taking part in the Open Novella Contest 2026 #ONC #OpenNovellaContest

Sophie loves cosy games, especially Stardew Valley. But when she is suddenly sucked into the world of the game, it turns out living on a farm is different from what she imagined. Cultivating the land is arduous work; the animals smell, and what is worse, the role of the beloved farmer is already taken. If Sophie wants to return to her world, she will face a series of challenges. But she's a gamer, and she beat the game several times already, so it can't be too hard. After all, she knows everything about the Pelican Town, its people, and the mechanics. It's just a game. What could go wrong? *** ONC 2026 Prompt 8: 8. You wake up inside Stardew Valley with no idea how you got there and no guarantee you'll ever get back home.

Eveleen Montclair has always despised Gilbert Crow, her sworn enemy and the heir to the Crow family. Their feud is older than either of them, bound to a curse that has shaped their bloodlines for generations and carved itself into the foundations of the city they rule. From childhood, Eveleen was taught a single, sacred truth: a Montclair can never love a Crow. To do so would mean the end of everything. The curse binds Eveleen's life to Gilbert's in ways neither can escape-pain and fear shared, distance unbearable, death impossible without taking the other with it. The only force capable of loosening the bond is an act forbidden above all others: forgiveness, sealed with a kiss. As the city begins to fracture under the weight of a curse as old as its stones, Eveleen must choose between preserving a world sustained by hatred or risking its destruction by loving the one person she was never meant to touch.

Barnabas Whitmore thought his discovery of summoning coordinates to a new world would bring him academic clout and fame. Instead, a drunken portal battle brings him an extra-dimensional human, an unstable portal that refuses to close, and a government agency asking too many questions. Prompt 62: They say every door has its own key. Except for one, a key said to open them all. Warnings: Profanity, alcohol use, dark humor

Se suponía que sería el mejor día de sus vidas. Vestido blanco, invitados llorando de felicidad, promesas de amor eterno; pero cuando el primer grito interrumpe los votos, nadie entiende qué está pasando, hasta que la sangre salpica el altar. El brote se extiende en minutos. El caos los separa. Ella huye creyendo que él murió. Él sobrevive pensando que ella fue mordida. Meses después, en un mundo lleno de infectados y humanos más peligrosos que los monstruos... ambos siguen vivos. Y harían cualquier cosa por reencontrarse.

- ​"When the world goes offline, the universe turns off the lights." - ​"One lonely girl, one grumpy star, and a quest to find the world's lost warmth." - ​"The stars aren't just falling; they're quitting." ​📖 Story Summary (Official Blurb) ​In the neon-drenched city of Athoke, people have forgotten how to look up. Wrapped in the cold, blue glow of their screens and lost in virtual worlds, the citizens have traded real human warmth for digital echoes. But for seventeen-year-old Elara, the silence of the city is deafening. She is the only one who can hear the stars-and right now, they are screaming for help. ​As the constellations vanish one by one, the universe begins to go dark. No one notices until a literal piece of the sky crashes into the woods outside the city. Expecting a majestic celestial being, Elara instead finds Sirius-a once-brilliant star now reduced to a small, flickering, and incredibly grumpy ball of solar flares. ​Sirius is cynical, arrogant, and convinced that humanity is a lost cause. However, he is fading fast, and only Elara's "ancient" brand of human kindness can keep his spark alive. Together with a ragtag crew-a gluttonous squirrel, a sentient broken smartphone, a blue jay that speaks in echoes, and a clumsy bumblebee-they must embark on an adventure to reignite the world's connection. ​From the hollow server farms of the city to the forgotten corners of the natural world, Elara and Sirius must confront Nox, a shadow born from the world's collective loneliness. In a race against the final eclipse, Elara must prove that one small heart is enough to light up the entire galaxy. Open novella challenge 2026 Prompt 69

Have you ever been in a situation where you've changed everything, and now you fear bearing the responsibility alone, wondering how you'll handle the consequences, and terrified of what people might say about you? This is about Aurora, a poor girl who brought dreams to a dreamless world? One dream🌙 Two souls🫂 A world waking up to love♥️ Aurora becomes the first and her visions connect her to Miquel, a man who has never felt anything🫰 Together, they awaken love, hope, and a world that has been asleep for centuries🌹 NOTE: THIS STORY IS TAKING PART IN THE OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2026 #ONCPH2026 #prompts71

Vincent is having an amazing morning. The most popular guy in the office has given him a high-five, a pretty girl has offered him a coffee, and he's been invited to join the frisbee team. It's almost like they've confused him with someone else. Someone popular. Someone fun. Someone about to bring Vincent's life to a shuddering halt. My entry for ONC2026 based on this writing prompt: 77. Everyone in town remembers you differently, as if everyone has lived a different version of your life.

Elijah Matthews was dating Adrian Skyler; that was well known, and everything seemed perfect. But one day at the carnival, it is revealed that Elijah will love two people-one will save him and the other will destroy him. Elijah eventually finds the new boy, Silas, the most perfect boy ever seen, and they begin to like each other. But as more and more signs point to the fact that Silas will eventually destroy him, Adrian starts getting more hot-tempered and secretive. But when the time comes, will Elijah be able to know which one to choose? This story is a part of the Open Novella Contest 2026 and is based on prompt #115. This story has a character from a culture that I do not know much about. If I have written their accent wrong, accidentally made the character too stereotypical, or anything else, please write to me in the comments immediately and it will be fixed as soon as I can!

2026 Leighyeann A. Mies All rights reserved An entry for the Open Novella Contest 2026 (prompts #49 and #57) After another poor figure with guys, party girl Ham Seoyeon decided it's time to try a different approach: to pursue someone who's the total opposite to her. Someone who prefers staying as far from the limelight as possible. Soon Duho is the perfect "target" for her: polite, charming and with a mysterious allure. He's amiable with almost everyone on campus. Seoyeon may think asking him out might not be as hard as she believes. There's a little problem, though. He can barely stand her...

Elena Whitmore believes in love. The soulmates kind. The handwritten-letters kind. The kind that deserves a grand gesture, even when it's a terrible idea. So when she's invited to her childhood best friend's wedding -the boy she never quite stopped loving- Elena spirals. Armed with a questionable confession letter and her late grandmother's suspiciously poetic diary, Elena follows the signs and stops a wedding. The wrong wedding. Now she's stuck fixing the chaos she caused with Adrien Cole-the groom she's always hated-and chasing a runaway bride before everything falls apart. A romantic comedy about bad ideas, sisterly supervision, supernatural advice, and the inconvenient timing of love. _____________________________ Today was supposed to be simple. Drink champagne. Eat cake. Get married. Instead, Adrien Cole is dealing with a runaway bride-and the girl who ruined everything because she couldn't check the calendar twice.

When a strange message popped up on Iris's phone, she didn't expect a link to a game that would change her life forever. Trapped in a neon-lit world with no exit button, she finds herself surrounded by other players, people she has never met before, all of whom seem just as lonely and lost as she is. But this game isn't like any other she's played before. There is no score, and there are no winners. Instead, the system gives them quiet, deeply personal quests that force them to talk, trust, and confront the things they've been running from. The more they open up, the closer they get to logging out, because the game's true purpose was never for entertainment, but to save them. The only problem was that Iris had already made up her mind about being alive. Prompt: 60. You download a new app that promises to cure your boredom, and it delivers far more than you ever expected.