Opennovellacontest2022 Stories

Timballisto struggles with the scattered pieces of Martin's memory the best he can, telling Martin the past doesn't matter. Yet, in saying so he doesn't know how much the past does matter, particularly when illness befalls those helping to build Redwall, which will eventually become a safe haven for many. Polleekeen always knew, though, what lay in store for Martin. Disclaimer - I don't own Redwall. This is written for ONC 2022, but the prompt I picked for this was prompt was number seventy, "His eyes were cold and lifeless as he stared at me. 'You have no idea who I am, do you?'."

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

Lila Unwinter is not a very talented witch; she mostly has a lot of ambition, determination, and enough spite to last her a few hundred years. How else was she supposed to survive the past sixteen years, after she lost both her best friend and her family over something she can barely even remember now? They're not dead, of course, but for all that they care about her, she might as well be. But then her magic decides to send her home for lunch break one day, and she not only finds out about a curse that's taken hold of her way back when she was only six years old, but also reconnects with her childhood friend (who's considerably less alive now). A series of events unfolds that may well redefine Lila's perception of both love and magic itself. Featuring: way too many ghosts, the town at the Edge of the world, knife and sword-wielding girls, sapphic childhood-friends-to-lovers, ghost kitties, weird magic and magical creatures, and a certain three-headed dog. ________________ an entry for the open novella contest 2022

As Scott Foster turns 21, strange things start occurring around him. It first starts a few days following his birthday as he casually waits his turn at a drive-thru during Halloween. A scream can be heard. His order is taken. Sirens wail. The police have arrived. A murder took place in this small town of Youthville! "Poor victim," is all Scott thinks, and he wishes the deceased all the best in the afterlife. But this is only the start of his problems. Two more deaths occur, and Scott is always there to witness it. On Christmas and New Year's Eve, he is always there. What's more bizarre is the whispers: he hears them blaming him for the deaths. These whispers seem to come from nowhere and everywhere. In the end, they get the better of him. It's time to find out what happened to those dead people. Follow Scott on his journey to find out the truth about himself, what happened and who was to be blamed for those deaths. *** [ONC 2022] Prompt 71: People are dying in your town and for some reason, there are whispers you are the reason behind these deaths. Cover by @calistacyq Images are chosen by @BoredSeung

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.

When a young woman goes missing without a trace, the police write it off as another missing persons case. But her mother is not convinced... After the fallout from a corruption scandal forces the disbanding of her old unit, Elise Wu is transferred across the country to Corviston. She is paired with the grumpy, withdrawn Simon Brown, who she had worked with previously. Simon quickly becomes convinced that the mother is right in her instinct. A trail of clues leads to an unlikely path...

Noor has only one goal: to not be caught! As restraint against illegal books in the state grows,it causes even more illegal books to flourish and the Emir orders anyone suspicious to be arrested. As she publishes under her pen name, she also exchanges letters with another poet. Enamoured by each other, they think they hold all the love in the world for each other. Unfortunately for them, Fate loves to play. After one explosive encounter unravels a series of trusted betrayals, heart-wrenching games, and a pack full of hidden identities, can each of them find their Paradise? [ ONC 2022 Historical Fiction Entry] [Prompt: What good can come from being tangled with a Duke, especially when you're a commoner without noble status.]

In 2023, Scientist Daniel Rudolph told the WHO Board of Directors that he may have discovered a cure to the Coronavirus. He is tasked with carrying out all necessary lab tests to ensure the 'cure' is safe for world consumption. Emilia Larsson, Regional Infection Prevention Coordinator with the CDC, is assigned to work with Doctor Rudolph on his cure and to ensure that all his procedures are WHO approved. It is a dream for her to work with her new team and when she meets the test subject, Alexander Maxwell or 'subject zero' as everyone calls him, she starts to fall in love with him. As Emilia fights to stop the program which she deems to have been carried out unethically, they make a new discovery. The cure works. But there is a cost.

**A Snow White Dark Fairytale Retelling** - - - - - - - - - - - Marion Price wished something exciting would happen during the long, hot, sluggish summer vacation spent at her grandmother's house. Instead, she is tasked with cleaning out her grandmother's musty old attic full of junk. But when Marion stumbles upon the antique mirror with a liquid surface, she finds herself plunged into a cold, cruel world known as The Hushing. With ash-laden fields and shadowy forests of black apple trees, Marion quickly learns nothing living can survive this place for long. The wraiths who govern this realm hunt her for the warm soul harbored within her body. And the only way to stay alive is through the protection of Lady Ingrid. But Lady Ingrid is just like everything else in this kingdom - a dark and twisted thing. She wields her power with an unforgiving hand and destroys anyone who dares to defy her. It's only a matter of time before Lady Ingrid turns against Marion. And when Marion no longer has the Lady's favor to shield her, she faces a grim execution. Can she find her way back through the mirror to return home before it's too late? Or will she be stuck in The Hushing forever? *** 5.11.2022: #1 in Gothic Romance

Jenna struggles to balance her parents' impending divorce with her terrifying and seemingly unallowed feelings for the new girl at school. ~*~ After her dad moves out of the house, Jennavieve Nass refuses to accept the possibility of her parents divorcing and blames her mom for not even making an attempt to make things go back to the way they were. Attempting to distract herself from all of it, Jenna falls into music more than she ever has before, coming to rely on her carefully curated playlists to get her through each day. It's all fine - Jenna has her music, and the animals at the animal shelter she volunteers at, and, to an extent, school (because of her friends and her on-and-off boyfriend of two years). And she also has her dad, even though he may not be living with her anymore. Then Aislinn Garcia moves into town. Aislinn, a girl who is pretty and smart and friendly, a girl who carries a camera everywhere and takes pictures of practically everything, and a girl who makes Jenna's heart race in a way she desperately tries to ignore. Suddenly, everything Jenna thought she knew about herself - and her parents - gets upended in a dizzying spiral until she's left floundering for a foothold in a cliff that's constantly transforming, changing shape before she can even begin to understand it. To Jenna, the solution is simple: Ignore everything she doesn't want to deal with (which turns out to be a lot of things). But that, as she's quick to find out, proves harder than she'd originally thought. --- [ trigger warnings: homophobia, both internal and displayed by side characters ] All Rights Reserved © 2022 ( Cover credit goes to @Lueur_laVespine )

Chartreuse ® ~ A Universal Solution* *if used as directed In an alternate dimension similar to our own, the mobile city of Neo-York is held hostage by its oppressive warden, a mysterious woman known only as "Big Sister." Little is known about Big Sister, but her rule is absolute, secured by synthetic military forces and advanced citywide surveillance. Those who oppose her are vaporized, their existence wiped from history. Neo-York citizen Nova Herdeem has had enough of living in fear. At great personal risk, she procures the assistance of the Negotiators: a trio of unlikely allies comprised of a samurai, a vampire, and a cyborg. Armed with their collective skill sets and Nova's knowledge, the Negotiators agree to end the tyranny of Big Sister. As they proceed in their reconnaissance, the Negotiators discover that there is far more to Big Sister than a power-hungry dictator, and the omnipresent and multifaceted product line known as "Chartreuse" may be the very key to her rule. || George Orwell meets Philip K. Dick meets classic literary and film characters in potentially the weirdest most tongue-in-cheek book on Wattpad. This novella is written for ONC 2022, and I'm pleased to say, made the LONGLIST!! || HIGHEST RANKINGS ~ #1 George Orwell #4 cosmetic #6 ONC 2022 #48 Android

What good can come from being tangled with a prince,especially when you're a commoner without a noble status.

Humans are afraid of ghosts?But what if ghosts are afraid of humans?

For as long as Skyler McDonald can remember, she can't remember much. She'll remember the big things. Her old address, the name of her elementary school, her favorite teacher, and the friends she held dear while she lived there but for the most part, Skyler lived with hardly any memories at all. After the death of her friend, Zara Bazemore, Skyler and Hiro find themselves moved to Ohio, where they continue to live the rest of their high school lives. Sticky notes, note pads, constant alerts, and reminders make up Skyler's life until all she can see are the appointments she doesn't remember, the details that slip past her, and the memories she doesn't have. It felt like pages and chapters of her life were gone, lost in the void to never return. And then she met the cat. Chloe that followed her home was now leading her to the abandoned house at the end of the road. The walls were peelings, the windows cracked and suddenly, Skyler is spiraling down a path she never would have expected. Memories long forgotten are appearing for seconds, slipping through her fingers only moments later. The voices in her head became that much more real. The trauma of Zara's death and others that she didn't even recall ever having before coming back full force. Skyler's life is in shambles. She never expected a cat could reveal the truth of her childhood. But Chloe revealed a secret about her past that Skyler had been denied up until now. It's time to rearrange her identity. (Copyright 2022 by Ursula Inc. All rights reserved. Full disclosure. This book is written with care and to the best of research and facts that are relevant currently. Am looking for a sensitivity reader in order to make this more accurate. Characters are written with care and research. Published for the Open Novella Contest 2022 under prompt 91.)

When spring cleaning season hits the Richardson household, sixteen-year-old maid Jane Wexler is less than impressed to find out she's been tasked with cleaning the attic. Upon discovering Lady Catherine Richardson's journal hidden in the chimney breast, Jane's ordinary life is transformed into one filled with mystery and intrigue as she works to uncover why the journal had been hidden. With so many twists and turns in the tale, Jane realises that not everything in the Richardson's seemingly perfect life is as it seems. Based on prompt 48: 'While clearing out the chimney, you notice a loose brick. When you pull it out, you discover something unexpected.' (C)Spruce_Goose

Entered into the Open Novella Contest 2022 | This version of the book was posted solely for the ONC. A final, even more, polished version will be coming soon to Amazon! All feedback on story pacing, character development, and the overall plot is most appreciated. | ©2022 E. S. Elias All Rights Reserved. Published to Wattpad 02.01.2022 Cover: Esther Hadassah @DesignsbyEH (I used Canva and Dream by Wombo) The Lark's Pearl (A Standalone Romantic Fantasy) | ✔ Ariabella is a young woman who receives the gift of pearls from a bird of mysterious, playful nature: a Lark. How does this sweet, little bird come by these pearls and what will Ariabella do when she finds out why this bird chose her? This wholesome, romantic fantasy, can be enjoyed completely on its own without fear of a cliffhanger, HEA guaranteed. #13 (Top 20!) in #ONC2022 03.13.2022 - #10 03.14.2022 #1 in #YAlit 02.09.2022 #10 in #cleanromance 02.13.2022 - #4 02.22.22 (Top 100!) #25 in #opennovellacontest2022 - 02.22.2022 #5 in #Romantasy 02.25.2022 | #1 03.13.2024

When one door closes, another window opens. Meet Jang Miyeon and Park Siwoo, two strangers who meet after experiencing devastating life-changing events. Life can change in a split second, but different people adapt to changes differently. When her boyfriend of four years suddenly proposes a breakup, Miyeon's daily routines change drastically. To get over him and fill the vacancy in her heart, she decides to fulfil the bucket list they planned together alone. In another part of the city, under the same sky, Siwoo receives news that his girlfriend of seven years has lost her life in a tragic traffic accident. Things go south from this moment on, and it feels like the world is against him. With the encouragement of his family, he decides to fulfil their bucket list to honour her life. As the two meet while trying to heal from the pain of loss, they decide to help each other fulfil their bucket lists. Amid their grief, perhaps they can form the light at the end of each other's tunnel. *** [Open Novella Contest 2022] Prompt #74: After a bad breakup, you decide to fulfil the bucket list that you had planned with your ex-partner alone. On halfway through fulfilling your bucket list, you meet a person who is going through the exact same situation and you decide to help this person out. Ideated: 1 February 2022 Started: 26 February 2022 Completed: Ongoing

Details on the 2022 NONC Open Novella Festival can be found here!