Exit Sign: A Theatre of the Mind

RemingtonSloan | contemporary | Complete

Dave sees life as a theatrical performance; he's in the audience, but he didn't buy a ticket. He's not interested in the show, and nothing he can say or do will disrupt the story on the stage. What's to stop him from getting up and leaving? What's to stop him from walking through the door with the exit sign over it? Note: Exit Sign is literary fiction and a psychological drama. It's the first novel I ever wrote. The story is personal, and I'm proud of what's in there. It's been described as Seinfeld meets Sartre and as My Dinner With Andre meets Ralph Bakshi. My goal was to write a story full of sincerity while exploring the heaviness of the human experience. I wanted to write something that helps people wrestle with dread and meaninglessness. Writing Exit Sign certainly helped me figure out a few things in life, so I'm hopeful that it will do the same for a diligent reader. I'll write the sequels one day, but in the meantime I'm focused on my pulpier stories. I wrote Exit Sign for everyone who hates working in a drive through. Just keep going. Keep going forward. You might suffer, but if you love your friends and family along the way, it's worth it. The novel is complete, so there will be regular updates until all of it is posted.

32.62 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 15:40

Marcoceanum

----EMMM---- | historical | Complete

An absent-minded twelve-year-old takes on uncharted waters, changing history along the way. But what does his own history have in store?

7.97 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 11:45

Princess of the Black Death

Thequeenoflove | historical | Complete

A story about the tragic medieval princess, Joan of England. The worst plague to ever devastate the world is unknown in England. As millions of people die, Princess Joan travels to mainland Europe and facing what poor and royal alike must face -- that death is imminent.

24.29 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 11:49

I, Mor-eldal: The Necromancer Thief

Kaoseto | psychological | Complete

As a budding little necromancer, I soon discovered that the world of city people is complicated. When my master kicked me out of the cave, he warned me not to talk about my "dark" magic, because people here don't like the undead. I am not really an undead, I just have a skeleton hand, but it is better to be careful. Anyway, that's not my biggest worry. In the Black Dagger brotherhood, I learn a lot of things, such as illusionist magic, which turns out to be quite handy to survive in this maze of streets: in the Cat Quarter, we have thugs of all kinds that are best avoided. But we also have good people, goodhearted "gwaks", as we say around here. Little did I know that I would soon be caught up in an infamous traffic that would entangle my life even more. With a mix of lighthearted adventure and picaresque, this story narrates the hectic life of a good-spirited street child and his companions in a medieval urban fantasy setting with some nineteenth-century influences. Updates Mondays and Fridays. This is a Creative Commons By work. It is a translation of a trilogy I wrote in Spanish between 2017 and 2018.

187.81 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 12:09

Aegis

Necrontyr525 | sci_fi | Complete

What does one do when they have an indecent ammount of money, the legal ability toleave home and see the universe in all of its grim glory, and the obligation to grow the family's fame and fortune? Why, buy up an ex-Imperial Navy escort ship for a start! Then you can set about carving out your own little chunk of the back end of the Imperium of Man... as soon as you can get it back into working order, of course... and deal with the fact that buying a ship left you just about broke... You get the feeling that, somewhere out there,somthing is laughing at you.Part 1 of the Aegisverse Saga. Second Person is used throughout. If that isn't kosher with you, best to back out now. A Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader fanfictionComplete, with a total of 100 chapters and 309 pages. On the series - This series was first written as a Choose Your own Adventure (CYoA) on the /r/HFY forum. The between chapter votes have been omitted, as they are not part of the story, despite their influence on it. On the the Author's notes - These were included in the original document, and are included here for the purpose of completeness. Spelling, grammatical, and formatting changes have been made in the process of archiving this story and re-formatting it for publication on Royal Road. None of the contents of the story has been substantially affected.Cover by gej302!

49.00 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 12:26

Stories that teach you about life( a collection of short stories)

Workaholics inc | tragedy | Complete

This is a collection of short stories, ranging from slice of life to romance and more (Complete)

1.92 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 12:33

The Storm

Mad Sadie | one_shot | Complete

A guard has a conversation with a storm. A short story.

0.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:38

Recipe for a Thunderstorm

Mad Sadie | one_shot | Complete

A young witch makes a storm. A short.

0.44 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:43

Beatrice Santello

Blue Draggy | tragedy | Complete

An adult imagining of Beatrice Santello's life prior to the events of Night in the Woods. There are no explicit depictions of sex here, though there are obviously adult themes and situations involving it. I wasn't going to post it to Royalroad as I didn't think Fanfiction was okay here - but now I see it is and I am quite convinced it is the best work I've ever done yet, I've got to see what any fans of NitW think about it! The first chapter was originally written as a short vignette and wasn't intended to be continued into a full blown story. It was just intended to be moody and evocative. Even though anyone that has played Night in the Woods has a good idea how this must end, I hope it will still be worth the read. Also, since I've finished writing it, I'm going to post it as one big chapter dump all at once. Cover drawing by GreasyMojo and colored by me (with permission!). I don't think it should be too risque on it's own but I suppose I'll soon find out.

11.25 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:52

The Destroyer

michaelscottearle | action | Complete

After untold centuries of absence, the evil Ancients have returned. Their magic appears unstoppable and their hunger for conquest is insatiable. To protect the country of Nia, Duchess Nadea and Scholar Paug make a desperate journey to find a human legend: A man known to have destroyed these Ancient foes with a powerful army.But legends can lie.When Paug and Nadea revive their hero from sleep, his virtue is far from clear. Is he really their Savior or their Destroyer? Visit my website MichaelScottEarle.com to pick up Destroyer in eBook or Paperback (PST... The Destroyer Book 1 eBook is FREE)

72.19 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:55

The girl Zoey

Kaylaellen92 | contemporary | Complete

Kevin's life changed forever when a mysterious girl named Zoey came knocking at his door. After his wife died, Kevin felt guilty that, as a doctor, he was unable to save her. He left his career and previous life and now liveswith his tiny dog, Ghost, across from the cemetery where he is the groundsman. He never dreamed his life would turn out thisway. Then one day, a mysterious girl knocks on his door. When Zoey comes into his life, he is intrigued when he realizes she has nomemory of her past. Kevin shares his home and eventually his love with this mysterious girl. When he discovers the truth about her,can their relationship survive?

8.21 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:10

Bookworld Online: The Rogue Necromancer

Bokuboy | drama | Complete

Have you ever wanted to play the main character of your favorite book? Now you can! Welcome to Bookworld Online!

58.41 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:15

Shadowed Waters: Book One

NicholasGraves | horror | Complete

It came down in a ball of fire missing the transatlantic cruise. In a search for survivors, crewmembers find a body floating among the debris. But they also find something else. Before they realize the terror they've uncovered, it's already too late. A horror quickly spreads across the ship while its passengers are trapped in the middle of the endless blue.

16.61 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:29

To Be Wanted

kiltsi | horror | Complete

A woman is overtaken by her past actions, slowly leaving one reality for another.

7.56 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:30

They Came From Beneath 6th Avenue

ExecutiveVampire | horror | Complete

When weird things come to town, so does Fernando Alvarez. Something is taking the people of Mountain Home, but no one knows what. Or at least no one knows now. What was supposed to be a joint investigation between Alvarez and the town's police goes awry when the local detective investigating the missing persons goes missing too. It's too convenient, is Alvarez dealing with something that's more than just a blood thirsty monster?

3.80 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:30

Serenity of Reprisal [Completed]

Mellifluous | romance | Complete

The noble thief is known to take from the rich and give to the poor. The thief's tale is known throughout the kingdom of Ronan. However, the thief made a mistake. She stole from the wrong person. With his family now dead, he will seek reprisal. Nevan Prima will make the thief pay whatever the cost. Money, he can easily replace. But for the loss of his family, he will demand retribution.

48.87 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:51

Nothing Beside Remains

WhiteRose-BlueSpace | tragedy | Complete

Time takes everything. Nothing can beat it, nothing can change it, entropy will always take its course but there are always those who try to resist it, to try and immortalise themselves in one way or another. There is never a question of whether they will succeed, but of how many will be dragged down in the attempt and just how long it will take for time to wipe the slate clean. For there is no such thing as immortality. [Joint 4th runner up in the January 2024 RR Community Magazine Contestant "Immortality is a Myth" with also the highest prompt adherence score]

4.47 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 15:05

Severed Branch

kevin_writer2 | contemporary | Complete

Davis Archer was cut off by his family when he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for accidentally killing a friend when he was 13. Five years after his release, he has yet to overcome his past to build relationships and has now received a sudden request from his estranged family to return home. Will the family that once abandoned him welcome him back if it means saving a life? As Davis attempts to navigate where home is for him, those he cares about wrestle with what's more important: who we are or who we were. AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

37.74 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 16:09

The Promise of Yuuko Asahino: Volume 3

OceansInTheSky | contemporary | Complete

Even though it's their first day of high school, Yuuko and Yuya are already late, but things begin to change when Yuya encounters a blonde boy being pummeled to the ground. "Are you okay Luka?" Can the thoughts of two strangers have any affect on a boy who has none for himself-- "You see New Kid, a community is made of like-minded people. Like-minded people work well together, they support each other.....when someone acts out from the group, they destroy the balance." --especially in a case where someone may not want to move at all?

22.12 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 15:27

Saga of Fallen Kings, Book I: The Revenant Prince

AFlawedKing | drama | Complete

The Philosopher King once conquered the known world, his power seemingly unlimited and his armies inexhaustible. Since that time his might has slowly unravelled, and his once steadfast empire has begun to crack, splinter and devour itself. In the isolated Southern Realms, where even magic has abandoned them, none of that matters. For years it has been filled with warring kingdoms, where as many kings die to the blade as to old age, and constant battles tear apart the land. When one such kingdom invades its old enemy, the King and his heir, Prince Caden, are killed. Unable to accept the loss of his family Prince Arian is broken, and when the Philosopher King stretches out his hand in aid, Arian takes it without a second thought. When Caden wakes from death, he's different. His eyes and soul have changed, and he finds a world filled with friends who no longer trust he's even human. Suddenly thrust onto the throne and indebted to the Philosopher King, Caden has no choice but to keep going - he must finish what his father started, and try to survive the machinations of the figure who now owns his fealty. Meanwhile something beyond death stirs for him, desiring nothing more than to drag him back into its embrace. Author's Note: This story used to be known as "A King of his Own", but after some consideration I have decided to rebrand it. The first reason is that I was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the title. The second is that I have come increasingly to view this story as a 'saga' containing multiple 'books' rather than one long, continuous publication, and as I did so I realized that as I was quickly getting to a point in the story where I wanted the first 'book' to end. This doesn't mean I'm going back on the things I said below - they're just going to continue in the next book of the Saga of Fallen Kings. :) Also, be aware that I do plan to edit this at some point. Though I take care to squash out any obvious errors when I proof-read, and do simple edits in that process, at some point I'm almost certainly going to do large edits that might significantly change parts of the story. Old author's notes: This started as a completely random writing session. There was no purpose or direction, but as I kept typing an entire world began to form in my mind that I knew I had to write about. My plan is to turn this story into a veritable medieval fantasy epic that spans an entire world, follows multiple character and storylines, and takes place over many years. The story has quite a grounded, almost 'realistic' start, but many more fantastical elements will be introduced, expanded upon and become central to the narrative. I have ideas for this story that make me genuinely excited and I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy writing it, and join me on what will hopefully become a truly massive fantasy epic. If you do enjoy this story please consider following, rating and leaving a review. I'm also happy to answer any questions or comments you have. (Cover image is an edited version of free stock art found: here.)

58.29 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 15:33