Sonja Nehalenniasdóttir is finally free. After a daring escape from servitude and a sharp rise to first mate of the North Sea's most notorious pirate crew, she's survived punishing storms, several double crosses, and even diffused a mutiny against the cunning Captain Strijk, to whom is she is unwaveringly loyal and utterly indebted. But when Jan van der Zee, her former master, begins hunting her, she's faced with a new challenge. A sea-spanning game is on, and freedom, revenge on Van der Zee, and a pardon for Captain Strijk are all at play. Yet Sonja knows she is going to need more than her grit and the skill of her ship mates to survive Van der Zee a second time-it's just a matter of knowing what she can risk to cover the cost of her freedom. Copyright © 2025 Elle Chaika Open Novella Contest VIII (2025) | Prompt No. 110

The fire has chosen Ayaka, a mine slave with nothing to lose. Now hunted by the shogunate's deadliest warriors, Ayaka must master her devastating new powers before they consume her. She has only twenty days until the fire burns out - burning her away with it. ONC2025 Prompts: 131. »This girl is on fire.« 110. 20 days of freedom.

🏆Round1 Winner 🏆 Veyr Thalric was born beneath a blood moon, his fate inked in the past and bound to a future he cannot escape. The son of the slain Wolf, he has spent his life hidden in the shadows, waiting for the moment he can claim vengeance against the one who stole everything from him-Rowan Ashwood, the legendary hunter who wears his father's pelt like a crown. But vengeance is never so simple. The deeper Veyr treads into the hunt, the more the forest whispers warnings of paths that cannot be undone. A deck of fate waits to be drawn, its cards promising revelations he may not be ready to face. And when love enters the fray in the form of Amerie Rosarot, a woman with fire in her heart and tragedy in her veins, Veyr is forced to confront the question that haunts all doomed hunters: When you challenge the magic of the world, can you truly finish what you started-no matter the cost? In this tale of blood, betrayal, and destiny, the line between monster and man blurs. And in the end, the real question is not who will survive...but what will be left of them when the hunt is over.

The Open Novella Contest is back for 2025! Join a society of writers and take on the challenge to create a timeless 20,000+ word novella in 12 weeks! Your epic quest begins February 1st, 2025 - so mark your calendars with this date!

A soldier being eaten alive by the curse that ravages at the front. A writer who serves as the perfect mouthpiece for the cause of war. A hundred truths silenced. Cyrice Marzanne, a bright young journalist and war correspondent, prizes the word as her strongest weapon against enemies, and to wield it, she risked her life amidst battle more than once. That is, until Kristan Vrost, a battered veteran, arrives at her doorstep at midnight and presents her with a story about a weapon turning the bodies and minds of soldiers to rot that cannot possibly be true. Of all people, he wants her to spread the news of this disease. Only that Cyrice's typewriter won't allow them to be written, and starts to raise questions about what else is being silenced. Could all the lies in the books banned and burned for decades have been no lies at all? Starting a dangerous pursuit to find the truth, Cyrice has to ask herself how much power her words hold if they are not fully her own. For fans of Violet Evergarden, Divine Rivals, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Studio Ghibli's Holw's Moving Castle an onc entry following prompts 31, 95, and 65 Cover by Chaoskuss

Whether it's your first time or your sixth time, writing a novella in 12 weeks isn't easy. As a 2021 ONC Winner and two-time Honorable Mention (2023/2024), I totally understand. After years of participation and reflection, I have lots of advice to share on how I did it. Inside this guide, you can find everything from insider tips to craft chats to contest commentary. So grab a cup, get your notebook, and settle in: it's time to start writing! Copyright © 2022 Elle Chaika

Are you wondering what prompts we've used in past ONCs? You can find them in this book as we gathered all the prompts used in the past installments. You may use these prompts as inspiration for any story you want to write - no credits necessary! Have fun!

A woman seeking vengeance A detective chasing truth Death and secrets of the past following their every step 1920s, Prague Milana has lost her home twice. The first time, when she was forced by her husband to leave St. Petersburg. The second, when the last shards of fragile affection between them died in their exile. Slowly suffocated by his obsession to become a grand author, his extremist associates, and his abuse, no day passes without thoughts of escape. Finally, the chance is presented to her. But in a horrible way: When Milana's best friend and lover, Jasna, is found murdered, she learns the one investigating is none other than Matěj Graf-nothing more than a faint memory of secret notes exchanged through a copy of "Anna Karenina" until one day ago. But now, he is back in her life, and Milana might hold the key to the only case he cannot solve. And other than their favorite novel's heroine, Milana is determined to break free alive. A once novella about crime and forbidden love, in which 'Anna Karenina' meets 'Babylon Berlin', following prompts 87, 118 and 57

𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆─𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕? In the heart of Rome, Jaden Moore's business trip unfolds unexpectedly when he encounters Riley Greenwell, a company rival whose presence ignites a spark of competition. At a music conference, their complicated pasts ignite new feelings. Jaden grapples with the idea that love could demand a cost. Meanwhile, Riley's stressed out by his family duties and wants to get away. Could Jaden be the one to bring him back from the brink? As their arguments become more heated, the tension between the two men intensifies, forcing them to face the true cost of their ambitions. Will they take a risk for a shot at romance, or will their dreams drive them apart? ~ ONC 2025 Prompt #132 ~ Perfect for fans of The Thing About Harry ~ ✧ 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ✧ 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 ✧ 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 ✧ Rated Mature for foul language, scenes of a sexual nature, sexual activity between adults, and mature themes. Reader Discretion Advised. Cover edited by author Copyright © 2025 Lily Mitchell This story is exclusive to W A T T P A D under username @OnceUponALily