Write a story about a magician who never reveals their secrets — until now.

Posted in Character on Jul 14, 2023

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✍️ 31 stories

“Last Flight of the Magnificent Pratt” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #207

When Walter Pratt saw the red envelope in his mailbox, he knew he had finally won. After forty miserable years, he had struck a fatal blow against the New East Carborough Society of Magicians, Illusionists, and Practitioners.His first clue was when their lawyers stopped calling. Well, he disconnected his phone, but that was beside the point. His second clue was when Harold came by with a “final warning”. Harold, in his five-figure suit and dollar store smile.“Please, Wally, reconsider. Whatever your beef with the Society is, there’s a proper...

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“Asmo” by Michael Martin

Submitted to Contest #207

“Yeah, get her a blanket or something; she’s probably just fiending. Thanks, Kerry.” John pulled the door shut behind him and stepped into the windowless interrogation room. He strode to the only three pieces of furniture in the otherwise barren room, a metal table and two chairs, and sat across from Asmo.“Well, Mr. David Asmodeus, I just had a very interesting conversation with a former assistant of yours.” “Oh, really?” Asmo’s cherubic face, which had grown a five o’clock shadow since arriving the day before, remained u...

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“The Limelight” by Katharine Widdows

Submitted to Contest #207

Trigger warning - deathYork, England, 1928The drumroll started at exactly 9.50pm, the background lights dimmed, and a spotlight pinpointed Alice’s sparkling red tunic. She balanced on a shining platform at one end of a tightrope, fifteen feet above stage left. The audience fell into silence for the final act. Theo McAlister stepped forward out of the wings stage right. The trademark sequins on the lapels of his black tailcoat caught the low lights in a shimmer. A second spotlight focused on him. He removed his top hat and took a deep bow.The...

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“Lucrezia and Lazarus.” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #207

Yes, it was a good scene and time for nostalgia. Nouvelle Lucrezia sat and scribbled, reminiscing about another time, when the past was a different era. "Once upon a time," she wrote, " I got married in a cloud of white optimism. Looking back, I can say there was a magician at work. I shall let you now all reflect on that little mage, Cupid. He is a blind drunk." She paused, then kept writing. "Never mind, little women. You too can survive survivor baggage, and raise your expectations in life. This beautiful world of ours can really be des...

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“The Fakir” by Zeeshan Mahmud

Submitted to Contest #207

In the latter part of the 17th century India, there lived a fakir well-versed in black magic who was purported to resurrect the dead. He gained some prominence although eyewitness accounts and testimony of his feat were sparse and scanty. It is presupposed he hailed from an ancient syncretic faith of Hinduism, Sufism, and Islam. Although Quran forbade the performance of black magic, there has been history of the occult in Islam, none other than the famous book Shams al-Ma'arif being the most well-known among them.Legend once had i...

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“May as Well Hang for a Sheep” by Angela Ginsburg

Submitted to Contest #207

Let’s just get this out of the way from the start: I am not a witch. I was doing a legitimate master’s in medicinal botany when the war flared up and my lab was destroyed. I don’t practice black magic. Magic is not real, no matter what the modesty enforcers say to keep women in line. I let my clients think it’s magic because science is the men’s realm they’re trying to circumvent, and because I’m only allowed to operate because the modesty force thinks I peddle wives tales and expired tylenol. To them it’s just tea leaves and hope, a wa...

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“PREPARE TO BE AMAZED” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #207

Petre Vandomeir gazed out a cheap hotel window overlooking street lights and illuminated gas station signs, customary nightlights in a small town. “I’m not sure what to tell you, Poe.”Poe had been busy cleaning his face with rabbit paws, circular motions, swiping one long ear at a time, licking, preening, thorough; old habits that die hard.Petre turned a padded chair to face the window.“Poe, come.”The whiter-than-snow bunny stopped mid-stroke and flounced, the way rabbits do, over to Petre's chair, then nestled into the cradle of Petre’...

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“The Magician’s Healing Secret” by Andy Lemos

Submitted to Contest #207

The Magician’s Healing Secret By AJ Lemos “Hello and welcome to you all,” the man said, as he welcomed a group of 10 of us VIPs to the entrance to what we believed was the backstage area. “My name is Gabriel Houdani, and my team and I are delighted to have you join us on a VIP, all access tour of our backstage area, a special viewing of some of the equipment we use, a VIP-only card trick how-to session, as well as a 30-minute Q & A time with me,” the magician enthusiastically said to his small but attentive crowd of fans. “I ce...

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“A Magician's Secret” by Thomas Holland

Submitted to Contest #207

“You can finish the week; then you’re out.” Words failed Marula as he stared at his last paycheck being held out to him by Ricky, the stocky manager of the Rio hotel in Las Vegas. Marula’s shows had been selling more tickets of late, and the audience always gave an enthusiastic round of applause at the curtain call of his magic show. In Marula’s mind, he was closer than ever to his big break. That was, until now. “What, are you hard of hearing? Get it together Marula. It’s not personal, it’s Vegas. You had a good run.” Marula took the chec...

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“The Magician” by Naomi P

Submitted to Contest #207

March 17th Blackrock Penitentiary for Magic Users “Any last words?” asks the officer, roughly pushing Aster Ralin toward the guillotine. Aster nods and begins to speak. *** My name is Aster Ralin. I am twenty-two years old. I am going to die. I know you’re confused. How could I, the man who made countless people smile with his parlor tricks, be killed by the guillotine? All will be revealed. Listen well. What you are about to hear will change ...

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“The Songless Hummingbird ” by Elyse Lockthorn

Submitted to Contest #207

Every town he performed tricks in all had one thing in common, a vast amount of crows. No matter if he was so far North in the cold, or so deep into the desert, they followed. I had sketched the creatures many times, and I assume they were more than just mere birds. Each of them had a distinct feature, from scars across their faces, multi-colored eyes, to chips in their beaks, and blindness. The most common were the disfigured ones. The man they call Mister Locklear had something deeper going on, and I was dreadfully curious. My heart w...

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“The Great Bardot” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #207

The magician, simply known as The Great Bardot, has been in show business for thirty years. He started as a child by learning all the common tricks of magic. Disappearing coins and foam balls squeezed between your fingers suddenly appear as if from nowhere into full-size balls in your hand. And, of course, a plethora of card tricks. Bardot entered many amateur talent shows and traveled with a troupe across Europe. As his talent improved, people started...

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“Gideon Pent Tells All” by Ellie Davis

Submitted to Contest #207

“Extraordinary morning, everyone! I’m Rita Frank with News Four You! Along with me are my co-hosts Randy, Wren, and Ruby. On today’s episode, we have an extra-magical guest, who needs no introduction, but we’ll give him one anyway! Here’s Gideon Pent, the world-famous magician! After his show in Paris seven years ago, he shocked everyone by suddenly retiring and shying away from the spotlight. Trust me, folks, you won’t want to miss this show!” Rita calls, which is my cue to go onstage. The blinding lights ruin the illusion of the set...

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“The Magician's Legacy” by Jordan Lowery

Submitted to Contest #207

As I sit here, holding a deck of his cards in my hand, I can't help but reflect on the magic that once permeated our lives. It all began with William, my husband, an enigmatic man with a knack for captivating hearts with the flick of his wrist.I find myself transported back 11 years, reminiscing about The Black Hole, a bar where our enchanting encounter unfolded. Nestled in a dimly lit corner, my favorite wooden booth offered the perfect vantage point for people-watching—a cherished pastime during my college years. The air carried the warm, ...

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“It’s like magic” by Nina Barkat

Submitted to Contest #207

‘Pick a card, any card!’ the magician said, offering the volunteer an option out of thirteen cards. The elderly lady seemed to ponder—not noticing the subtle marks on each card. The spotlight highlighting the pearls of sweat appearing on her forehead.‘I pick this one,’ she said softly. The charming man took the chosen card and shuffled it back into the deck. The audience watched in awe as the magician effortlessly executed the cascade of riffle shuffles, a symphony of randomness. Each card passed his skillful fingers as his eyes remained loc...

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Write a story about a magician who never reveals their secrets — until now.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 31 stories

“Last Flight of the Magnificent Pratt” by Michał Przywara

“Asmo” by Michael Martin

“The Limelight” by Katharine Widdows

“Lucrezia and Lazarus.” by Julie Grenness

“The Fakir” by Zeeshan Mahmud

“May as Well Hang for a Sheep” by Angela Ginsburg

“PREPARE TO BE AMAZED” by Susan Catucci

“The Magician’s Healing Secret” by Andy Lemos

“A Magician's Secret” by Thomas Holland

“The Magician” by Naomi P

“The Songless Hummingbird ” by Elyse Lockthorn

“The Great Bardot” by Ralph Aldrich

“Gideon Pent Tells All” by Ellie Davis

“The Magician's Legacy” by Jordan Lowery

“It’s like magic” by Nina Barkat

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story on a film or TV set, starting with someone calling “Cut!”

Write about a person who constantly has to put on a persona (e.g. at work, in their relationships, etc.) who can finally drop the facade.

A journalist has been granted permission to visit the premises of a lab carrying out top-secret work. They could never have anticipated what they’d find…

Set your story in the kitchen of a bustling restaurant.

Contest #207

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

235

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: