Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#55: In On a Little Secret

One of The Hobbit's most memorable scenes is when Bilbo encounters Gollum in the Misty Mountains. We know Bilbo has the ring in his pocket, and that Gollum refers to the ring as his "precious." But Gollum doesn't yet realize it's missing, and Bilbo doesn't know who the ring belongs to.

This scene utilizes dramatic irony by providing readers with key information that the characters are unaware of. It creates suspense, tension, and immediately invests readers as we anxiously await the events we know will eventually unfold.

This week's prompts all revolve around the theme of secrets. We encourage you to get creative with how and when you reveal information to characters — and readers!

This week's prompts

Write a story about a meeting of a secret society.

Mystery – 155 stories

Write a story about an old family secret surfacing generations later.

Adults – 141 stories

Write a story that either starts or ends with someone asking, “Can you keep a secret?”

Kids – 421 stories

Write a story involving a conversation that’s packed with subtext; the characters aren’t quite saying what they mean.

Dialogue – 78 stories

Write a story where the readers are in on a secret that the characters are unaware of.

Novel – 101 stories

Stories

“Consequence Equals Regret” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #55

Consequence Equals Regret Suzanne Marsh Her life was ebbing away in the sterile hospice room. I entered the room with her nurse; tears welled in my eyes. She had hospice call me informing me that she requested to see me, since I was her only niece. I had not seen Tante Maria for years; she had joined a cloistered monastery when I was a child. I could not imagine why she would want to speak with me now, but here I was. The nurse left us. I stood near the bed wondering if I should attempt to wake her or sneak back out. She began to stir and ...

Read story

“Dead Secrets Tell No Tales” by Stacey Osvett

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” the small voice seemed to intrude on Sylvia’s reading from nowhere. She put down her digital reader and looked around to see the source of the question. Twisted around in the bus seat ahead of her, a small girl with chestnut hair and large round eyes looked expectantly at Sylvia. Sylvia smiled, but kept her lips tight and flat, hoping to encourage the girl to turn back around and sit quietly. She picked up her reader again and looked down at it, although she couldn’t concentrate with the small child’s gaze boring in...

Read story

“A Secret Society” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #55

A Secret Society “So it is Thursday night again, the night of Thor”. George then did his often exhibited imitation of the Nordic god, acting like the mop that he just picked up with his right hand was a bolt of lightning. Tina laughed lightly as she did every Thursday night when he said and did pretty much the same routine Then Tina replied, “So you and the boys will be going out to the pub tonight as usual, then?” He smiled as she was yet again allowing him to have fun with his friends, not complaining like he suspected that some o...

Read story

“Proof of Life” by Annie James

Submitted to Contest #55

The door closed with a faint click. The morning sun streamed through the window, softly filtered through gauzy pink curtains. The room was decorated with pastel peach, pink, and white furniture. The walls and carpet were a light peach color. The leader raised his head and waited for the footsteps to recede down the hall, then silence. His sharp ears told him that the group had the solitude needed to conduct their meeting. He dragged his chair under the window and jumped on top of it, where the others could see him. They lined up on ...

Read story

“Malware” by Sandra Claros

Submitted to Contest #55

Fine. So see you later, at the meeting – said a kind of man in black , hanging out his phone with slow and methodically movements synchronically performed. That man took his briefcase, and left the office he was working in, at exactly six o’clock in that hot summer afternoon. He took the elevator pressed the button to go upstairs, and stopped exactly in between the eight and ninth floor, using his optical sensors to achieve it. He opened the emergency frame on the ceiling of the machine, and opened a secret compartment, where a ul...

Read story

“Daughters” by Mr Jingo

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Alma whispered this after a half hour in the closet. Margo, her older sister, was battened down in the far back corner, knees held up to her body and nervously folding her pajama pantleg to alleviate tension. Their closet wasn’t big, forcing them to sit amongst dangling clothes and Alma’s collection of cartoon plush toys. “I already know you peed,” Margo said. “Why do you think I moved so far away from you?” “What?!?” Alma replied, almost shouting. “Don’t try to pass the blame on me!” It was past midnight when...

Read story

“Christine” by Lonnie Larson

Submitted to Contest #55

When Christopher was born, Maggie could stop having children as her husband, Bill, finally got the son he wanted. His two big sisters, Kelly and Sally, couldn’t wait until Mom brought home their new baby brother. But one thing the doctors failed to mention was that Christopher was really a Christine. They took their new son home and the girls just loved him immediately. They helped their mother care for him. Kelly was five and Sally was four when baby Christopher was born. They quickly learned how to diaper and feed him. To them, he was th...

Read story

“Unique” by Faith Hunter

Submitted to Contest #55

Meeting 1 “Today is the first meeting of our secret society. You all know why you are here, right?” Everyone nodded. “Anyway, let me see what you guys can do.” Chloe said. “Astrid, show me what you got.” Astrid stepped forward. She put her hands out, and nothing happened. “It’s okay Astrid, just imagine it happening, then do it.” Chloe encouraged. Astrid closed her eyes and put her hands out for a second time, but this time water shot from her hands. “I did it!” she shouted. Once Chloe had taught Astrid the basic...

Read story

“Secret Sunshine!” by P. Jean

Submitted to Contest #55

(Write a story that either starts or ends with someone asking, “Can you keep a secret?”) I will begin by asking you as a group if you can keep a secret? Once spoken, it is typical that a secret ceases to be a secret as each recipient of the secret feels they “must” share it with one best friend or confidant, somehow they feel compelled to whisper your secret to at least one other. And so practically, anything you share with another probably will grow legs and take on a mind of it’s own. There ar...

Read story

“And I am a creator at heart” by Elizabeth Inkim

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” I whisper my question like a prayer into the open arms of the wind. Letting the words hang in the unending silence, I wriggle around in my spot by the window. It is an old, weathered thing, a patch work of glass. Remnants of generations gone by. I do not know what I am waiting for, it’s just me and my notebook. I do not know why I say it or when it even started, but, before I write in my journal, I ask it to keep my secrets. Ridiculous I know, but there is something comforting about it. Recently I have gotten into th...

Read story

“A Room Full of Secrets” by Kate Enoch

Submitted to Contest #55

The soft, pink comforter in Lilly’s room is warm and a nice contrast form the shelves in Harvard’s Toy Shop. This is my first night out of the store and I’m excited for the change of scenery.The day had started like all the other’s in Harvard’s. At about 6:30 the sun’s early rays would stretch through the windows and linger on my shelf. The other stuffed animals and I would fluff our tails and straighten our ears in preparation for the day, each one of us praying that a kid would skip though and pick us off the shelf.I had been sitting there...

Read story

“The Dragon's Lair” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #55

The Dragon's Lair Suzanne Marsh “baffle our foes, stand by the shore; follow they will not dare...” “George, will ye please listen ta reason! Charles Stuart has cost enough Scot lives. I kin assure ye that Blair Castle is being watched verra closely by the English. Ye lost ye title as Duke of Atholl. We have paid our dues to Charles Stuart.” George Murray glared angrily at his younger brother James, who was now the Duke of Atholl. “When this is over then it is over brother until then I will continue to support Charles Stuart.” James s...

Read story

“Pancakes” by Audrey Winter

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” “Of course!”I cursed at myself internally for answering too fast, too eagerly. I glanced up and saw she probably hadn’t noticed. She looked eager herself, her eyes bright and her whole face full of excitement. A waiter stopped at our table with our coffees. Cappuccino for me, flat white for Em. He flashed a friendly smile and asked if we were ready to order. I glanced over at Em and let her take the lead. If she wanted to ask for another minute so that she could tell me whatever was on her mind, she would.&...

Read story

“Aunt Gail” by Lori Colt

Submitted to Contest #55

Harish knew who he was, though they were not friends. The rich guy with the good looks and a bank account vaster than the Grand Canyon. “I want you to design something magnificent for my girlfriend Gail,” the man said with a pretentious air. “I know you two used to work together so I’m confident you will know what she’d like.” “And your budget?” Harish inquired. “Money isn’t a problem; just make a ring that she will love.” And with that, the man left. Harish indeed knew what Gail would love. He knew her very well. Seventeen years p...

Read story

“Garden” by LeighAnne Ferreol

Submitted to Contest #55

Pulling weeds in the middle of the night. Not the most common thing in the world, but what else did I have to do? I sighed softly. How many nights had it been now? It was silent tonight. All I could hear was the chirping of crickets and the faint humming of the back porch light I was using to see. Which is why it was easy to hear the cab pull in front of the house. I heard some faint, slurred mumbling. He'd been drinking again. My loneliness quickly turned to rage. I started to rip the weeds up viciously. How therapeutic. I was actually ...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

896

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 21, 2020 EST

Won by B Easton 🏆

Title: Secrets for the Living

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢