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

“The Illusionist Veil” by Ulrica Edvinsson Sundin

Submitted to Contest #207

"The Illusionist's Veil Museum of Curiosities" is an 18th-century home in Stockholm's Old Town, a place steeped in mystery and dark elegance. The opulent foyer awaits visitors beyond the grand entrance, adorned with ornate chandeliers casting a flickering glow. Within, the exhibition captivates with an enchanted music box atop an intricately carved pedestal, playing a haunting melody without anyone touching its handle. The display of curiosities houses oddities like a tiny vial labelled "Elixir of life" that is said to shimmer at night, and ...

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“The Assistant's Revenge” by Lily Autumn West

Submitted to Contest #207

“How do you do it?” “A magician never reveals his secrets,” was all he would say. And then he told bald-faced lies. --- “Ladies and Gentlemen,” Presto’s arms opened wide to encompass every spectator in the theatre. His smile sparkled, and his handlebar moustache shone with glittering wax. Everything was in the details. There were no cheap seats when your audience was composed of keen-eyed elves. Presto Falsbottum rubbed his hands together and launched into a long story, while his stagehands and assistant wheeled two heavy looking b...

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“One Last Trick” by Divine Ajuzie

Submitted to Contest #207

The exhilaration under the red and white striped tent was almost unbearably thick. Each member of the audience leaned forward in an excited trance, their sweaty forwards glistening in the humid enclosure. Mr. Lewinsky was performing yet again, enchanting his viewers with his relentless magic. Stuart, Mr. Lewinsky’s son, stood patiently in the center of the stage, waiting for the last trick that always involved him. Children and elderly alike began to lean over the tarnished metal railing, their anticipatory senses spiraling as Mr. Lewi...

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“The Star of the Show” by Daryn Schvimmer

Submitted to Contest #207

There were rumors that Max Valiant made a deal with the devil for unconditional stardom, because every night of his shows drew people in droves. That in itself wouldn’t be entirely out of the ordinary if Max Valiant was good at what he did. If Max Valiant had the sleightest of hands, or even the suavest of stage personas, then the large crowds at his shows could be entirely excused as people lining up to see a master magician at work. If he were a lovely role model, perhaps, a wholesome presence, then maybe it would explain his popul...

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“Geoffrey Zinken, born magician.” by Kevin Elias Kaye

Submitted to Contest #207

Geoffrey Zinken was born a magician. During baseball practice he would shag balls like the rest of us, but rather than throw them back to the coach he would collect them so he could practice juggling. Once, during an actual game, he caught a fly ball and when he threw it back to the infield we all stood slack jawed as a dove fluttered away. At first the off white bundle traced the arc the ball should have before suddenly spreading its wings and veering toward a windbreak of trees. While we squinted, Geoffrey took a bow. The neighborho...

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“The Cocky Magician” by Mike Montanio

Submitted to Contest #207

The crowd was bustling in the auditorium, all ecstatic to see the Great Magician Larson. Quickly, the fans raced through the building and planted in their velvet covered seats. Backstage a tall figured man in a top hat prepared himself, for he was the Great Magician Larson. His eyes were wide and his hair was slicked back so much, it almost reached his back. When Larson heard the announcer call his name, he fixed his posture and made his way to the stage. When he stepped on, the crowd’s once loud voices turned into a just soft breath...

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“The Revelation, Twice” by Barbara Nosek

Submitted to Contest #207

Barbara J Nosek The Revelation, Squared Something is going to have to change. And drastically. He’d seen firsthand, and more than once, what can happen when the zest for life is fading away. And there is a good chance that’s exactly what’s happening right here. He’d just returned from his 500th performance as Lord Darkley, Master of Mystery. A milestone, for sure. But not one molecule of his being feels like celebrating. Nor can an atom be found cheering the fact that in a few days he’ll be gearing up for Number 501. Still in full dr...

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“And Poof” by Chelsea Houston

Submitted to Contest #207

Caution: This tale contains elements of cancer. This may be a sensitive subject for anyone currently facing or have faced issues with this in the past. 35 years. That’s how long I spent learning and performing as a magician. I started small, performing little box kit tricks. My parents got it for me, not knowing jut how much I would love it. When I would perform the tricks I learned at school, some kids thought it was cool. Others laughed. I didn’t care though. I loved the illusions and surprise it brought to people.When I got bored of my b...

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“The Magician's Freedom” by Kira Kammerer

Submitted to Contest #207

Note: this story contains sensitive subjects such as the mention of illegal substances and death.Blood rushed through his cheeks, the cold biting at James' face. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers, hunched, and looked up at the dingy windows of his home. Dark bundles of clouds rolled overhead, echoing the state of his mind. James fiddled anxiously with the pendant his mother had given him when he was just a child. How had he gotten into this mess?Just a week ago James had been walking down a street, heading to The Warlock's...

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“I Know Your Secret ” by Georgia Blair

Submitted to Contest #207

Rain beaded and trickled down the cold glass of the bistro’s front window, distorting the street and city skyline. Cecilia watched the taillights of cars leaving the theatre district. Her breath fogged the glass while the last fuzzy points of red light bobbed away in the darkness. No one else would come into the bistro tonight. Not in this weather. “I’ll close,” she told the cook, and he nodded, already untying his apron. Thunder rumbled and sheets of rain lashed the front window, rattling the Behind the Scene...

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“Ambrose Astrid, Legit Wizard” by Kyna Eris

Submitted to Contest #207

They say I’m the greatest magician in the world, but I’m not even close. The hum of the audience builds as I sip my fourth Sazerac of the night in the green room. Maybe it’s my fifth. Got to find that sweet spot where the words slip out like butter but I don’t forget my patter completely. Morglog squirms next to me on the white leather couch, throwing back shots of Espolón because he doesn’t have any more shows tonight. Cassidy Nash, flopped on the couch across from us, pirouettes a deck of cards between her hands. If I wasn’t around, eithe...

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“My favorite show.” by Nixa Nurse

Submitted to Contest #207

I arrived. The red and black stripes styling the tent set the already suspenseful mood. I had heard about a new magic show that performed real tricks, not fake ones. I decided to go alone considering there was a warning on the ticket that read, "Viewer discretion advised, this show contains violence, gore and possibly the dismemberment of human body.” Marketing tactics. I assume they wrote that to scare people into coming, they can't get sales otherwise huh. Funny. I found my seat at the front and heard other people sit behind me. We waited ...

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“Vanishing Act” by F. A. Hunt

Submitted to Contest #207

On the three-thousand-four-hundred-and-fifty-third day of Edmund Granger's life as a magician, a scrap of paper fell from his pocket, skittering across the stage with a daring twitch. A gust, perhaps, or a misaligned stride. Nonetheless, an unprecedented act. Since his first day in this otherworldly trade, secrecy had been the adamant core of his success. Under the glare of the stage lights, Edmund froze. His heart pounded in rhythm with the pulsating music, the sound thudding in his ears like an offbeat metronome. He glanced around, hoping ...

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“Magic in Annapolis.” by Tracy Brown

Submitted to Contest #207

Introduction: Hello readers, Mia's here. Fasten your seat belts and allow me to take you into a new world far away from your current location.The Big Move.As a child growing up, I was quite fascinated with the act of magic, especially the "Rabbit Out Of The Hat Trick" So as soon as I turned sixteen, I moved in with my Aunt and her husband in Annapolis, a beautiful city in Maryland. In the words of my Aunt, ''Annapolis is a city full of, magic, unconditional love, surprises, and the kindest people'' After three weeks of being in Annapoli...

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“Nathan's Birthday Bash” by Mackenzie Morris

Submitted to Contest #207

Not the best day for a birthday party. It was cloudy, mostly, and humid. There had been on and off showers throughout the morning but it was dry then. Well, mostly dry. A blond haired woman stood at the refreshment table wiping up a juice spill. “Here, let me help you with that,” a dark haired woman came over and said. She grabbed a trash can and brought it over. “Are the kids all settled down now?” she asked. They both looked over to the children sitting in a circle. “Yeah, you could say that. If they got off their phones for a second...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 31 stories

“The Illusionist Veil” by Ulrica Edvinsson Sundin

“The Assistant's Revenge” by Lily Autumn West

“One Last Trick” by Divine Ajuzie

“The Star of the Show” by Daryn Schvimmer

“Geoffrey Zinken, born magician.” by Kevin Elias Kaye

“The Cocky Magician” by Mike Montanio

“The Revelation, Twice” by Barbara Nosek

“And Poof” by Chelsea Houston

“The Magician's Freedom” by Kira Kammerer

“I Know Your Secret ” by Georgia Blair

“Ambrose Astrid, Legit Wizard” by Kyna Eris

“My favorite show.” by Nixa Nurse

“Vanishing Act” by F. A. Hunt

“Magic in Annapolis.” by Tracy Brown

“Nathan's Birthday Bash” by Mackenzie Morris

🌟 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

234

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: