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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

“Living” by Moji Sola

Submitted to Contest #55

Darby doesn’t know it yet, but she’s about to meet the love of her life. *** She couldn’t contain her excitement. She was here! She was finally here! After entering for the Paris Prize 3 times, and she had never even got shortlisted once, Darby was determined to make this one count. And along with her determination, luck was probably on her side too, they do say fourth time’s the charm. Actually, they didn’t. But she was saying it! I’m going to make you proud Dad, you’ll see. She promised silently, rubbing the Eiffel tower pendant lying bet...

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“The secret of the Past.” by Gie Garcia

Submitted to Contest #55

Hi.I'm Momo. I'm 18 years old and I don't have my parents anymore and you might wonder why I'm dragging my huge luggage with me. Well, my story starts back in the city I previously lived in. My parents past away because of a car accident back in when I was still a child so my grandmother on my mother's side was the one who took custody of me. But just a few days ago my grandmother died because of a heart attack. I was super sad since grandma was my mom, dad, sister, and my best friend. She raised me with all the love and care that she could ...

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“If” by Katrina Lee

Submitted to Contest #55

“Is this seat taken?” He asks, hand on the sliding door. Her eyes, framed by long eyelashes, raised, and inquisitive gaze lands on the boy. She shakes her head, auburn tendrils bouncing, as if excited to show off their newfound colors crowned by the slanted sun, penetrating the train windowpanes. The torturous gold on her hair transfixes the boy; his mind is momentarily overwhelmed by imagined memories, imbued wit...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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“The Grapevine” by Ashley Frerichs

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” I can feel my eyes bulging in my sockets as I await Dora’s reply. I know she’ll say yes. She always says yes. And I always tell her, even though I know the girl can’t keep a secret to save her life. But I can’t resist impressing her, even if it’s only for a moment. “Of course.” She coaxes me by leaning in. Her head is tilted in an adorable, curious way. Like a puppy who hears a whistle for the first time. I never tel...

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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...

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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....

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“Understanding Dawned Late” by Christina Hall

Submitted to Contest #55

Note: This can be enjoyed on its own, but some of the characters will be better understood if you read She Had to Ask, submission date of July 14, 2020. ******* Captain William Anderson sat in the dim light of the dingy Oxtail Tavern nursing his noon-time ale with a scowl on his weathered face. The long sticky tavern table was empty save him and his Second Mate Frank Davies. He hoped this meeting would net them the additional crew they needed. Captain Anderson was pissed that he had to adjust his trade route and annoye...

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“You Won’t Believe What I Saw” by David Dicaire

Submitted to Contest #55

You Won’t Believe What I Saw “Can you keep a secret?” Hailey Johnson looked at Brad Stephens and smiled. He shrugged his shoulders. She had noticed that he had started to fill out a little more in the past year. “I guess so. What is it this time?” The two were walking home together from school like they did every day and had since they were in kindergarten. They were next door neighbours and good friends. At twelve years old, they shared secrets. Of course, at that age the secrets weren’t that deep or complica...

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“The Mark of the Devil” by Cory Pines

Submitted to Contest #55

"And you promise that you'll end it, right?" the man asked as he anxiously tapped his foot on the floor. "You get what you pay for," I replied as I picked up the statue of gold coins, "But I can assure you that the prince will be dead within the week." That seemed to calm him down a little. I had no idea why he wanted the prince dead, but it wasn't my job to ask, and frankly, I didn't really care. "Perfect," he replied. Without another word, I gathered up the money and a few of my knives that I'd left on the table and walked out of...

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“Subtext (for lack of a more creative title)” by ❤️✒️𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝓔. 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓵𝓮📝❤️

Submitted to Contest #55

“Did you do it?” He sounded agitated. Agitated being the understatement of the century. “Define it,” I said. I’m not stupid- I had the highest standardized test score in the school once. Granted, that was in third grade and I guessed the majority of the answers, but still. There has to be an underlying point somewhere. He slapped the metal table with his hands. (Metal table? How weird is that? Who even owns a metal table? Obviously Polk City interrogation, but who else? I might have to complain about that sometime. If I get o...

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“Necromafia” by Ari .

Submitted to Contest #55

Moral’s captains appraised her in cold silence as she leaned into her velvet armchair. Her bodyguard, a curly-haired ghoul with skin the color of spoiled milk, let out a low growl when a captain a presumed to sit next to her. Raising her bony hands in mock surrender, the caporegime of the Lasera family walked to the end of the meeting table. She collapsed into a revolving chair, spinning herself lazily. Moral’s mascara-ringed eye － a shiny lock of black hair hid the other－ flicked to the caporegime. “We’ll begin whenever...

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“Being Green” by Evan Rocker

Submitted to Contest #55

My roommate Allie nodded nervously. “Do you need me to fake barf again?” Her eyes darted back and forth. “I’ve been practicing so I can also fake choke.” I shook my head. “No.” I paused. “Yes---Wait maybe. I really wish Miss Tolson would stop sending me to my room for conduct unbecoming a young lady and resident of The Crawford Home for Children and Youth.” I cupped my hand and whispered in Allie’s ear. “All I’m going to say is that was the last time I will try to run-away. Tomorrow I will succeed.” ...

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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!

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