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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 Living Room” by Anisha Yagnik

Submitted to Contest #55

“Today’s not a good day,” Mom said guardedly when Meena asked if she could have her friend over to the house. Vidhya, Meena’s older sister, clenched her teeth, knowing that their mother was right. It broke Vidhya’s heart when Meena didn’t catch on right away. “Why?” Meena whined. “I finished my homework!” “I know, honey,” Mom’s voice was tired. “Just...not today, okay?” Vidhya looked at her little sister pointedly, and tried to convey sentences with her eyes. The younger girl remained oblivious, sure that she was being served some injustice....

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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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“Moon Meetings” by Felicity Edwards

Submitted to Contest #55

Irene Papadopoulos lived with her mother in a chic apartment in Mayfair. After her dad died, they thought it best to sell the beautiful big house and garden and move into the city. They had rebuilt their lives and were content. Until Mrs P, a solicitor, met Kenneth Ladler. He met her through work and they began seeing each other. Things took a different direction when Kenneth decided they should merge their homes and move into a bigger apartment. Irene was happy for her mum, but Kenneth caused her to rethink when he decided she should go to ...

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“For Want Of” by Jimmy Irons

Submitted to Contest #55

“Help me look for it,” John Fitzsimmons leaned forward on his desk. His rotund form made it challenging to get up, so he remained firmly planted in his chair, feverishly shuffling papers and folders around on his desk.“Yes, sir,” came the high pitched squeak of his assistant, Janice. A brunette wearing a frumpy brown dress strolled into his office, glasses sitting askew on her crooked nose. “When did you see it last?”“It was right here!” his meaty fist pounding the desk. “I know the cursed thing didn’t just get up and walk away. The admiralt...

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“Happy birthday” by Jesper Jee

Submitted to Contest #55

”Hi buddy. And happy birthday! Don't worry about the fact that I'm sitting in the grass, this is your day and we can do what we want. It's just the two of us and that is all that matters. I know that it's been a long time since I came to visit you. I know that. And I'm sorry. You see…your mother and I have…we've had some problems and…it was better for her if I stayed away for a while. It shouldn't have affected you and our time together. I feel bad about that. Truth be told; I was scared - even dads get scared sometimes.” ”It is a ...

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“The guild of the dead ” by Samria David

Submitted to Contest #55

Trigger warning: suicide Am I supposed to be watching this? I don’t know if it’s normal for dead people to watch themselves, dead, like this. I have no clue because obviously, I am dead for the very first and last time. It’s funny how I thought that I will be at peace when I finally get rid of all the burdens my life on earth had to offer me, but I guess it’s certainly not the case. I took my life about an hour ago, and here I am looking at my dead body just as they show in movies- My wrists slit open, the bed all soaked in blood, and...

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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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“PURPLE HATBAND DAY” by Andrew Grell

Submitted to Contest #55

“Do we have to go? We’re helping to organize a protest. Isn’t that more important than bistec and sopa bouracha?” Sonia Abrego, thirty-seven minutes older than her twin, Daniel, took the lead in this domestic protest. “Family is more important. Heritage is more important. One day a year we all get together and be Panamanian. Is that too much of a sacrifice for you,” Hilda, their abuela asked. “Nancy, don’t you instill any pride in your children? Our families were part of the most important construction proj...

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“Otherworldly Secret” by Darth Clozey

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?”Shawn blinked. He had been quietly eating his lunch when out of nowhere this girl he had never seen before came up and spoke to him. “Uhh….sure?”“Great.” She smiled, showing perfect, white teeth. Leaning forward, she whispered, “I’ll tell you someday.” With a nod and another smile, she turned and was gone. Shawn stared after her, still shocked. He had never had random, beautiful girls come up and talk to him before. Why had she done that?Someone tapped his shoulder. “Shawn, wake up,” said a familiar voice.&n...

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“Indian Summer” by Stephanie Kaye

Submitted to Contest #55

Autumn, that in-between. Where winter’s icy breath is walled off by a strange warmth that felt like skin. I loved being in between things. A strange place, I know. Whereas most of the people I knew liked it one way or the other, that palpable certainty, like salve on a wound — I lived my life in a deliberate state of not-knowing. I was amorphous and gray, a jellyfish. Perhaps that is why my family was so shocked when I got married. Who could blame them, though? Growing up I was always between boyfriends, and there is a swath of time in whi...

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“Formula 444” by Amy DeMatt

Submitted to Contest #55

"Can you keep a secret?" We were walking back to the dorms from Chem. The day was bright and beautiful, with stripes cut into the lush, green grass from where it had been freshly mowed. I hated conversations like this. I didn't want to be saddled with a secret. They always seemed to be either burdensome, because the information given was grave, or, more likely, something perfectly mundane. In the case of the latter, I always had to hide how pathetic I thought that it was that the information given would be interpreted as dramatic. I d...

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“It's Now an Open Secret*” by Abigail Slimzy

Submitted to Contest #55

The family of Abalanze of Umuneze clan in Osisioma kingdom has been known for special powers possessed by every male child born into the family. The weird thing is, they are born crippled and either deaf or blind or born with one eye. This physical challenge never deter them not to be strong and ironically, they were seen as the strongest in the land irrespective of their physical challenges. From the first generation, it was so and as time went on, it became a concern for the people to know the secret behind their gifted powers. Abalanze is...

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“The Last Ogress of Cheshire” by Courtney Haynes

Submitted to Contest #55

The mood of the kingdom was merry. From the lowly knave down below to the noble knight standing guard at the front of the castle. This merriment carried itself all the way up to the chambers of Duke Warwick Wintone lounging peacefully in bed.But peace, as is the case, must always find cessation. Warwick's peace, on this day, would be shattered by a knock on the door.“What is it!” barked the Duke to the wooden obstruction.The Duke’s page squeezed his tiny little head through the door and answered, “There is a stranger here to see you, my lord...

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“The Journal” by Michelle Latinovich

Submitted to Contest #55

Jo Whitman shook her head back and forth as she stared solemnly at Amy. She stood up in utter shock and quietly asked herself, "Why?" Jo could not verbally tell her to stop talking, so instead she looked at her sister with pleading eyes, hoping Amy would just look her way long enough for her to know she was treading on thin ice. Why did she feel like she had to tell the details of this secret now when they had successfully kept it away from public ears for so long?This was Jo’s story to tell IF she ever decided she wanted everyone to kn...

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“Heavenly Hero” by Kate Winchester

Submitted to Contest #55

Owen didn’t have a halo or wings when he was in human form, but that didn’t make him any less angelic. His last assignment had been tough. A young child had been reunited with her heavenly Father. Owen never knew the outcome ahead of time; however, with guidance, he knew how to navigate whatever situation befell him. Nathalie entered Our Lady of Victory. The cathedral ceiling was extraordinary along with the grand organ on the side of the altar. Its tall brass pipes adorned the walls. The sun illuminated the ...

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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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