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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

“The Metal Box In The Closet!” by P. Jean

Submitted to Contest #55

(Write a story about an old family secret surfacing generations later) The Parker family knew there were things you just didn’t talk about,  ever.   It was because their father made it clear by totally shutting down, refusing to answer any sort of questions about what was hidden in the metal box he kept on the topmost shelf in his closet. We all knew it contained a secret but of what nature? There were fewer and fewer folks still alive who may have known first hand any of the details and they were of a generation that ...

6 comments 6
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“Can you keep a Secret?” by John Del Rio

Submitted to Contest #55

Can you keep a secret? I suspect that you have to be able to do that based on your chosen profession I mean. So I have been hearing voices for as long as I can remember. And that’s not the secret part. It’s one of the first things I told you when we met at your birthday party. And yes I know it’s strange to meet your therapist at their birthday party; but I was seeing your cousin at the time and they brought me along. It was your cousin who recommended that I start seeing you in a professional manner. One of my first ...

15 comments 15
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“Nightingale” by Holland Hall

Submitted to Contest #55

David drummed his fingers on the table impatiently. Evelyn was late for what seemed like the millionth time, and he already knew he would have to cut the date short. “A bottle of Pinot Noir,” he said when the waiter came around again, “and another basket of bread.” He twisted a piece of crust in his fingers as though it owed him money. “Hurry up,” he whispered under his breath. Almost as if on cue, Evelyn floated through the door. David raised his hand to wave her over. “Hey, babe,” she leaned down to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Hey--”...

5 comments 5
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“The Mansion’s Shadow” by Qazi Zufar Jamal

Submitted to Contest #55

Roy wanted to give Bethany the best surprise of her life as he was trying to propose for marriageRoy used to live in London and was working with a big financial corporation managing a hedge fund. He was from a very wealthy royal family of Scotland, “the Nortons”. His family was very well respected and there were a lot of stories whispered in hush tones about their past. They even had a mansion in Scotland. His whole family was residing in Edinburgh.He met bethany in London. bethany was working in starbucks. Roy used to visit Starbucks a lot ...

4 comments 4
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“D.o N.ot A.sk” by Vanessa Kilmer

Submitted to Contest #55

I didn't look like anyone in my family. From an early age, at least from five on, I asked my parents if I was adopted. They always said no, but I never felt like one of them. Even when they showed me pictures of dead relatives with the same hair color, a similar chin, or shorter-than-the-rest height.  When the family tree websites offered DNA tests, I ordered several right away. I gave them to my family for Christmas.  My parents refused to take them and forbid the rest of us to participate. "We're not going to be part of som...

13 comments 13
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“Secrets, Secrets” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #55

Paul shuffled his feet nervously. He did not want to tell his girlfriend this, but he loved her and there could be no secrets between them. He took a deep breath and asked the woman sitting on the couch with fearful interest in her big brown eyes, “Can you keep a secret?”        Marie let out a breath that she had been holding in for almost a minute, “Of course, hun,” she replied to him.        “Now, I love you and there’s nothing else I want in this world more than you, b...

0 comments 0
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“The Taste of Perfection” by Mary Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #55

I was from a poor family. I have siblings I have one brother and one sister. I'm the second child of Billy and Anna MacBride. My name is Margaux MacBride. I'm 26 years old. My parents can't afford to supports our daily allowance. My sister she is the eldest her name is Margarette 28 years old and the youngest is Maddox 20 years old. My parents are both vendors at the market. I know to myself that I have a talent. My best friend his name is James he invites me to sing on the street. Because we need to earn money. We used our talent. My teache...

2 comments 2
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“Extensions” by Sjan Evardsson

Submitted to Contest #55

“The Librarian” wore a dour expression on her lined face. Her grey eyes glared above the half-moon glasses resting on the bridge of her nose. A blush of pink rose with her ire in her porcelain cheeks. “What do you mean, another extension?” Samuel shifted nervously from one foot to the other, careful to look anywhere but into those piercing eyes. His short stature, thin frame, and smooth, dun skin belied his true age, but fixing his deep brown eyes to her gaze still made him feel like a child. “There’s… extenuating circumstances,” he offered...

5 comments 5
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“The Sacred Keepers Of The Light Brigade” by Cindy Bennett

Submitted to Contest #55

I never felt like I belonged anywhere. I even felt alienated from my own family. My parents never did anything to make me feel this way. It was all me. With loving intentions, Michael and Mirella Paterson (my folks), tried sending me to various types of psychologists to help me to figure out where these thoughts and feelings were coming from. Of course therapy didn't work on me. I don’t know why it would when I didn't know what was wrong with me to begin with! I looked into alternate therapies ranging from the downright weird to so bizarre t...

41 comments 41
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“The Eagles” by Daisy Torres

Submitted to Contest #55

Something good was in the air. Walter didn't know what it was, but he sensed it as he crept out from behind a brick walled house, his feet walking the lines of sun-cast shadows along the base of his home. He felt a thrill of excitement within his chest as he scampered across the neighbor's yard and into Jimmy Hayworth's tree house. His friends were having their weekly meeting that summer day, when the golden waves of sunlight brushed over the trees and homes and glinted off of cars and bikes, and Samuel did not want to miss out on it. ...

4 comments 4
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“Love Triangle” by Magaji Emmanuel

Submitted to Contest #55

Going through hell on earth, Peter reached out to Rita, who is one of his close female friends. Their friendship started way back in elementary school. Peter pushed so many times trying to make their relationship stronger than just been 'just friends'. But Rita despite being extremely sexually attracted to him, played down all his move saying. 'He is like a brother she never had'. She more off wanted them to be friends with benefit, but he opted out.   On arriving Peter's apartment, Rita took off her shirt leaving only her inn...

2 comments 2
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“Heart of Gold” by Jᴇʀᴇᴍʏ Rᴏᴢᴇɴ ✍

Submitted to Contest #55

“If you follow the western bank of the southern branch of the eastern tributary of Garvin’s river, you will find an overgrown path leading north,” the old man, his hat drawn tightly down over his eyes so that his face was mostly in shadow. He took a pull on his cigarette, the cherry glowing bright orange and his wrinkled lips caressed the filter, trembling. “And?” I asked. The old man, I never did get his name, blew a plume of smoke into my face and smiled. It drew his face open like a skin curtain and through is crooked, yellowed teeth,...

2 comments 2
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“Who's looking over whose shoulder?” by Len Mooring

Submitted to Contest #55

Who’s looking over whose shoulder? “Listen up, everybody, this is between ourselves. The ignoramuses down there think they are operating an unknown clandestine outfit, but the stupid pricks are as transparent as a glass of vodka. I’m letting you in on this to show you how the best-laid plans of mice and the other thingy can go awry.  “They’ve spent the last two years preparing, but for some reason thought they were invulnerable to someone literally looking over their shoulders. But we can learn from them. Have you ever seen such...

6 comments 6
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“The Eternal Flame” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #55

           Six-year-old, Sally Schaffer had awakened suddenly from a deep sleep at her grandparent’s home. She was certain that she had heard the scream of a woman.            Sally sat up and wiped her tired eyes with the palms of her hands and listened intently for any other noises. It was a cool summer night, and Sally enjoyed the crisp air while she slept, so her window had been left open; just enough to hear a commotion outside....

3 comments 3
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“Night Fall” by Kylie Wallis

Submitted to Contest #55

"So, Elizabeth, may I ask you a simple question?" "Sure." "Can you keep a secret?" There were fewer people around more able to do so than Elizabeth Crawford. She was fiercely loyal to those she cared for. If a friend, relative, or even a complete stranger, told her something in confidence, nobody would hear her breathe a word of it. Elizabeth had been privy to many secrets, but one in particular would prove to be more important to keep quiet about than anything else she had heard over the years. Let us begin with the story leading up to thi...

3 comments 3
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$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!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

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