Short Stories
Year 10 Published Authors
A group of Year 10 students sent their English work to an organisation called ‘Young Writers’ and many of them have since had their story published. The stories were all Mini SAGAS (Smart Adventurous Gripping Amusing Stories) and were only allowed to be a maximum of 50 words – quite a challenge. Could you write a story with a gripping plot and character and wind it up with a conclusion, all in just fifty words or less?
See what you think!
THE WOMAN
Late one evening a woman was walking home.
She had to pass through the forest.
She heard a clock chime and then a strange howl.
By this time she was really scared.
She heard the howl again and again!
She looked up at what was in front of her …
Paige Bewey
STORY OF ED
There was a man named Ed.
His story is short, but well said.
I’ll tell you the story of Ed, as well as his friend called Fred.
Ed was nicer than Fred.
Fred got jealous of Ed, his anger made him red.
Next day he confronted.
Ed’s now dead.
James Renouf
THE FROG AND THE BEETLE
‘I’m telling you, Lionel, the world’s flat’.
‘No, Barry, the world is a sphere; it’s round.’
‘What would you know? You’re a frog!’
The beetle continued to journey across the lily pad and began munching on a banana.
‘You calling me stupid, Barry?
You’re a beetle who eats bananas!’
Rachel Hantonne
THE RAINBOW
The rainbow popped out today. It boasted of its beauty.
I laughed at it. ‘Unimportant,’ said I.
‘How?’ asked the rainbow.
‘You’re supposed to symbolise hope, hope is not made of vanity. You are not hope and therefore are unimportant.’
The rainbow never boasted again, but there was much hope.
Daisy Hollingsworth
THE GAMBLER
They’re after me and gaining pace. Dead end!
I turn to face my pursuers, three menacing faces stare back.
You know it’s bad news when they turn up at your house!
A little money here, a few gambles there,
never seemed a problem, until now.
I’m a dead man!
Charlotte Spruce
FIERY ATTENTION
It wasn’t as if anyone else got hurt.
I just wanted to be noticed, to be the centre of attention.
When I started it, it was only small,
but it didn’t take long for the flames to surround me.
I was the centre of attention . . . but I wished I wasn’t.
Sophie Robilliard
IT STARTED WITH . . .
Arguing with my mother. The door closed, staircase creaking.
My gentle sigh. ‘Where are you going?’ I shouted.
Keys jangling, the front door slams, car screeching, then silence.
I look out of the window. The street lamps are flickering.
There’s blood on the road.
All is dead – and so is Mother.
Tamlyn Priaulx
THAT’S LIFE
You live, you die, you’re born, grow up, what’s the point?
I grow from child to adult, encountering magnificent things, wondering who I am, journeying through life is difficult.
I can talk, make friends, love others, enjoy myself,
but what’s the point?
Who knows? You live, you die.
Keenan Washbourne
THE GREEN DEATH
Sitting silently, just waiting.
It is the most agonising feeling you’ll every experience.
The tension grew and grew, then it happened.
The door exploded with rage,
rays of green light spurted across the room dazzling your view.
So fast, you’re completely defenceless.
In the blink of an eye, you’re dead.
Adam Piggott
THE GUN
Suddenly there was a loud bang! It was a gun!
I started running. There were others running with me.
I could feel the wind upon my face as I ran for my life.
I heard shouting and screaming from lots of people.
It didn’t matter. It was only a race.
Henry Nel
THE TRUE STORY OF HANSEL AND GRETEL
Hansel and Gretel stood in court charged with the murded of the old witch. ‘We didn’t lock the witch in the oven,’ they pleaded. ‘Besides, she was going to bake us alive.’
In the back of the court stood a familiar figure.
Did no one tell them witches live forever?
Nina Weston
THE INESCAPABLE
‘I’m tired,’ my little sister complained.
‘We must keep walking,’ I replied.
Heart racing, I dragged my sister into the eeriness of the looming forest. Apprehension filled my body, my heart raced.
We fell into a tunnel of darkness, now completely in the hands of the sinister forest.
Heidi Sarre
A FUTILE EVIL
Troy coliseum, 755BC. Jonas’ battle against the intruding sovereign Minotaur. The battle to claim endless glory to his name and the end the war. He stepped out into the blinding sun.
The crowd roared at this new, fearless legend . . .
all glory was lost as his lifeless body hit the ground.
Alex Tracey
HIDE-AND-SEEK
It all started playing hide-and-seek.
‘One, two, three, ready or not, here I come!’
Oh no, she was about to come and find me.
Ah, I know! She won’t find me in here, I thought as I clambered into the cupboard . . . soon to realise I wasn’t alone . . .
Beth Lo0ijenga
THE REDWOOD TREE
I was climbing the redwood tree with my friend, Jonathan.
‘C’mon Billy, put your foot on that branch.’
I put my foot on that small, thin branch. Then it snapped! However, he wasn’t making any attempt to help, just smiling at me falling to my horrific death.
Craig Sharman
THE UN-CIVIL WAR
World War III was breaking out in number 7.
Shrieks and cries ricocheted off the walls.
The argument between Martin and Leonie Setters
had been raging for weeks.
Jade, sheltering in her room, was nevertheless affected
by the flying shrapnel and screams.
Dad in the hallway.
Door slams.
Abandoned.
Suzanna Wilson