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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

“Church Meetings” by J.L. Schuhle

Submitted to Contest #55

I step outside into the seemingly abandoned streets and pause just outside the door. The sun has been hidden behind a dark and heavy curtain of clouds for most of the day but has finally seceded behind the tall buildings in the city’s skyline. Through the spaces between the walls and pulled shades I can see the other motel occupants going about their routines of watching television, arguing and eating take out. I pull my mask out from my pocket, place the elastic bands around my ears and open my umbrella against the falling rain. It’s been s...

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“The Children of the Black Lotus (Or was it The Temple?) ” by D.N Pendragon

Submitted to Contest #55

Craig shifted nervously upon his makeshift throne; five plastic chairs stacked atop each other draped in a dusty black tablecloth. He tugged anxiously at his maroon robes, as he waited for his congregation to arrive for the gathering of the “Children of the Black Lotus”.Everything was just as he envisioned it: the windows were blacked out, plastic skulls from the Halloween store were placed haphazardly around the room with dripping candles emerging from their hollowed tops, ominous Gregorian chants echoed from an old tape deck in the corner ...

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“What Lies Inside” by Merissa Harde

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” She stood beside her grandfather in his and her grandmother’s attic, past old broken toys and hidden behind old jackets and coats no one wore, sat a wooden chest in the corner of the room. By the amount of dust it was clear it had been there for decades, but she had never seen it before. She noticed it as she cleaned out the room with her grandfather, while her mother and father undertook the basement. She tried to move it to see if there were photos inside. It had been a month since her grandmother passed. Her gran...

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“The Sip of Life” by Aysha Sohail

Submitted to Contest #55

Alice traced her finger along the dusty shelves of the Denwood Manor library. She inhaled deeply and grabbed the key dangling around her neck. She loved the smell of old books, but it was time for her to say goodbye. Her last day as an apprentice to Carter Denwood. She was glad, but a part of her would miss this old place. It felt like home. “You’re here early. Already going without a goodbye, Miss Alice?” Carter spoke from the front door. Alice jumped, but soon moved into Carter’s view. “Yeah, I’m sorry I should get going. I have a flight...

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“Keeping Secrets” by Lisa Massimilla

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?”I rolled my eyes, not bothering to look at my sister as I searched the TV for something interesting to watch. “Better than you since since you’re going to tell me one."Sarah plopped down next to me on the couch. “Well if you’re going to be like that then maybe I won’t tell you.“You can’t not tell me a secret after saying you’re going to tell me a secret!" I said, looking at her. "That’s mean.”“Fine I'll tell you but you can’t tell anyone. Janet will kill me if she knew I blabbed after promising I wouldn’t.“I’m your bi...

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“Double Life” by Anika G

Submitted to Contest #55

Thud. White Echo, the superheroine of Arizona, landed on the ground hard. She stood up triumphantly, folding in her shining white bat wings with a snap. The police led away her (temporarily) beaten arch-nemesis. She had been fighting Stinger for two years now, and she had gotten him put in jail more times than she could count. He always managed to escape and wreak havoc far too soon, though. She knew that before long, he would escape again and she would have to start making excuses for frequent absences at school once more. “Thank you again ...

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“The Actress and Her Makeup Artist” by A. Arima

Submitted to Contest #55

The ageing actress looked at herself in the mirror. She made a small smile. A smile that meant ‘no regrets’. Today was going to be her last day of shooting. It was a decision that was not forced upon her. Despite getting some very interesting roles suiting her age she knew she had enough of it. She wanted to act till she didn’t get bored. Now she was beginning to. Time to hang up my lovely stilettos, she said to herself. She sat in her vanity van, waiting for her makeup artist to come. It was also going to be his last day at work. A decision...

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“Last Secret to Tell” by Mary Brown

Submitted to Contest #55

The wind was crisp, with a sharp and bitter chill, which was a good indication that autumn would be colder than anticipated. Clint Menya struggled with his gunmetal gray trenchcoat, fighting the wind so he could button his coat against the intrusive chill. He unintentionally shivered as the wind's icy fingers found the back of his neck and sent shivers down his spine. He uttered a string of obscenities as he trudged through the puddles and slippery mud, left my this afternoon's freak thunderstorm. He paused in his steps and cast a brief, lon...

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““- Don’t Worry About That, Just Go.”” by Jayde Trilo

Submitted to Contest #55

Warning: This one gets a bit gory. “Can you keep a secret?” “Why would you ask me that right now?” “Mate, I just need to know; can you keep a secret?” “We are locked in an actual dungeon, in a possibly legitimately haunted house, listening to cultists chanting away in Latin, and that is all you have to say to me?” “Look, Jai, don’t take this the wrong way mate, but you have a pretty terrible track record of keeping your mouth shut.” “What?” “Well, you ruined Devon’s surprise party. And you told Rei about Andy’s crush on her. It worries me...

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“He was mine once” by Chloe Clayden

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret, petal?” he asks with ragged breath. “Of course. What is it, Grandad?” I tighten the grip on his hand. It’s frail. So frail I’m scared I might break him. With gargantuan effort, he turns his head towards the window, and as he lets out a shaky breath, his eyelids rest carefully over his exhausted eyes. His hand twitches into mine, but he doesn’t say anything. Is he asleep? Is he still with me? Thing is, I know. Deep inside, I feel it. This is the last time I’m going to see him, and I’m not ready. I know he’s t...

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“IN ON A SECRET” by Salome Enofe

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Bradford asked Riggs as his clenched his fingers. Riggs was stuffing his face in a Cheese Souffle, he tilted his head in response to the question as he sat across Bradford. “C'mon Brad, we've been best friends since College. You me and Rhonda, if you're gonna tell me a secret, it won't be the first.” “Yeah! But this is different, it's my biggest secret and you can't tell Rhonda.” Riggs looked at him in surprise, “But Rhonda is your wife and our best friend, we don't keep secrets from ourselves.” “You can't tell any o...

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“quien es el amor de mi vide?” by Zammie I

Submitted to Contest #55

Isabella saw Xiomara was walking down the aisle in her elegant wedding dress that brought out her curved hips. She made the English dress look exquisitely royal and she was longing for the touch of his mouth on her lips as the priest said to her do you take Marcus Gonzalez to be your one and only husband. “Aaaah” Isabella screamed before realizing all to suddenly it had been a dream but still the very thought of Marcus marrying Xiomara, her high school rival, sickened her to the stomach but then if she wanted to be with him why ha...

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“Marriage?” by Cony Ruiz

Submitted to Contest #55

Karlha was just months away from her big day. Jorge had finally proposed, and she was ecstatic. Her mom was reluctant to help her with her wedding planning. Mother knows best, or does she? Mom had always seen Jorge lose his temper and take it out on Karlha. For some reason he was the bad guy. He would beat her so bad to the point where she was already known by everyone at the trauma department. There is no way mom would be on board. The wedding was going to be something small and simple. Mainly because she was nineteen and he was seventeen. ...

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“Jessica” by Damien Roberts

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Jessica whispered. Her breath tickled Harrison’s and warmed his cheek. He lost his place on the page that trembled in his hand. “Harry?” She said. “Yes,” his voice was stiff. He fought the desire to look at her, he didn't want her to see how red he was. "Can you keep a secret?" She whispered. "Oh. Yes. I meant, yes I can keep a secret." Harry felt a little excitement rising. He'd dreamt of Jessica whispering in his ear. The school library wasn't his place of choice, but he could easily forget where he was w...

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“Sadie and Sunlight” by Gabi Cranga

Submitted to Contest #55

Write something. Pause. Damn, I could use some coffee. Breathe. Think. Something clever. Something creative. Real. Gripping. Get their attention in as few words possible. ….….Recluse transforms world from the safety of his home. Boring, uninviting. Try again. It can’t be this hard.….….The man behind th...

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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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