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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 Twist” by Cheeahmahkah Asadu

Submitted to Contest #55

"Can you keep a secret?" I asked him placing his warm palms into mine and softly squeezing his brown skin. "Yes. Anything for you my love," he replied. His eyes were locked into mine unable to move. His lips quivered as he sensed fear. I too was scared. Too scared of what revealing a life long secret might do to our budding love. I bit my lower lip as I brought the document out for him to see. He took the paper from me and ran his eyes through the contents in disbelief. "Oh my God!" He exclaimed as he let the paper fall to the ground. ...

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“Epic Mansion Crawl” by Marian Reiley

Submitted to Contest #55

Manny hated this, he'd been unable to forget that horrible serries of events. "Can you keep a secret?" Manny asked his uncle Vinny. Uncle Vincent 'Vinny' Cordova was his favorite uncle; he was on his mother's side of the family and only fifteen years older than Manny himself. This meant that the two of them were more like friends than normal nephew-uncle pairs."That depends on what the secret is;" Vinny said. "Would you be in trouble or hurt if I dont?" Manny's brow knit together. "I don't think so;" he said. Vinny drew his finger across his...

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“The Lady in the Lake” by T.D.N. Bales

Submitted to Contest #55

Blood rushed to her face, causing the crimson outline of his hand to nearly glow in the moonlight. Tears stung her eyes as she reached up, tracing his fingerprints on her cheek. She had hoped that the last time would be the last time. She breathed heavily, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mind raced and her hands shook. She gazed out over the water, wishing that it could wash away her sins. She stumbled forward, pulling the large bag behind her, and stopped on the shore, letting the waves crash over her feet. She closed her eyes and sta...

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“The Ember in the Night” by Mai Sumner

Submitted to Contest #55

In an old rustic bar, the lights glow dim yellow on the smooth wooden tables. The bartender slides a beer, a Samuel Adams, across the countertop. Slapping down five dollars, Arlo takes a long swig of the drink, draining the bottle halfway. Getting up and walking around, he sees his old friend out of college. “Hey, Atticus?” “Hey, Arlo. Long time no see!” “What are you doing at a bar all alone? Trying to look for some girls?” Arlo says with a wink. “Not much, work has been stressful, and I thought I would grab a beer before heading ...

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“ Plucked Before Her Time” by K Archer

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” May questions, mere moments after hiking up the hill to meet her companion. She sets down the backpack that had been digging into her knotted shoulders for the better part of the hour. She sprawls out, careless, closing her eyes and settling down to breathe for a moment. They enjoy the peace together for a timeless stretch. A breeze ripples through the grass, causing it to tickle May’s skin. She settles onto her elbow, long digits toying with the unbloomed ideas of dandelions sprouting up nearest to her.&nbsp...

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“Dirty Little Secret” by Ken Coomes

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Margot asked. “You can call me the soul of discretion.” “OK, I’ll call you the soul of discretion, Robbie. But can you really keep a secret?” “Do you even know what discretion means, Margot?” “Of course I know what it means, but I’m not sure you do.” “OK, I’ll humor you. How can I be the soul of discretion and not keep a secret?” “Discretion means the power or right to decide or act according to one’s own judgment. So if I told you my secret, and you decided it was important for someone else to know it, y...

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“Beneath the Mask” by Amy Sutch

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Ellie asked, softly, tipping her head toward her friend, even though they were alone at the kitchen table. Alone in the house. “What’s going on?” Julia asked, sensing it was serious. “Of course. “I’ve never seen you like this.” “I don’t know where to start,” Ellie said, turning her cup of tea absently, wrinkling the otherwise perfect tablecloth. Ellie quickly smoothed...

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“Kevin” by Barbara Burgess

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” My sister Sarah asked as she stuck her head around my bedroom door. I looked up from trying to concentrate on my school homework and replied, “Of course, I can,” while thinking, I know you can’t, or you wouldn’t be telling me now. “What’s it about this time? Sarah was always confiding her and anyone else’s secrets in me and then she’d generally spread them all over Facebook, while telling me not to tell anyone!“It’s about Mum.”“What about Mum?”“I think she’s having an affair.”“Don’t be daft. What on earth makes you t...

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“A Secret” by Matthew Turner

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” He asked. Sera nodded her head. “Promise not to tell.” She nodded again. “I’m a snake person.” There was silence and her face scrunched up into confusion. “Like how some people are like cat people, they like cats?” “No,” he said “I am of an ancient and reptilian bloodline.” “’Kay.” She said flatly. Three years. She hadn’t been on a date in three years and this was what she ended up with. Was this fate’s cruel joke for her wasting her twenties? To add insult to injury it was a blind date. A friend of a friend...

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“Sisterly Secrets” by Sylvia Luna

Submitted to Contest #55

“Marcy, I want to tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, do you promise?” the voice, belonging to my sister uttered through the phone. “Hi Matty, what kind of a secret is this?” was my usual answer because it’s not the first time she’s called me with this request. There are three levels of secrets my sister and I share: the most casual of secrets is, okay you can tell a friend that is not connected to the information, but no one in the family; two, tell no one until I’m dead; three and this is the most confidential...

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“A Hundred Dollars Secret” by Mumtaz Charania

Submitted to Contest #55

It happened when my younger brother was following me in a chase for my life … I mean the only chocolate fudge which was left alone in the container in our kitchen’s cabinet. After all, it was completely unjust to keep it unattended for such a long period of time. So, without giving a second thought I ran to break off this injustice while my little bro second me in this act. In this struggle of winning the candy, I banged into the flower vase that wasn’t just an ordinary one but was my granny’s childhood surprise given by her granny on h...

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“THE SECRET OF CASTLE” by Arvind Kashyap

Submitted to Contest #55

THE SECRET OF CASTLE “Can you keep a secret?” He asked me. “Yes.” I nodded. He grinned, “Come with me.” “Where to?” I asked. “Castle.” He said and walked ahead. “No, I will not.” I shouted. He did not look behind. He knew I would follow him. And I did. “Charles, give a second thought. Already two of them had landed in hospital. One of them still has nightmares now that seven months have gone by.” I tried to pursue him not to proceed. He stopped and whispered, “Come, I will unravel the myster...

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“Behind the Sea” by Esther Salami

Submitted to Contest #55

"Can you keep a secret?" Kambili's eyes widened. "Was that why you brought me out here?" "O come on Kambili, I am serious." "What did you do now Zante?" "Will you hear me out or let me go?" Zante snapped, Kambili shrugged. "Well," she stopped to check if there was anyone near. "I am leaving Mantulu tomorrow - to the other side." "You want to go to the other side!" Kambili shouted, Zante rushed to cover his mouth with her palm. "Your voice - you foolish boy, someone might hear you," he pulled her hands off his mouth. "...

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“The secret behind the path of secrets” by Emaine Coronel

Submitted to Contest #55

There are words better left unsaid. There are plenty of unanswered questions that remained lingering pass every generation. There are things that had happened that doesn't need to be shared with everyone, and are only meant to be buried in the hidden shadows of secrets.Secrets, they are meant to be kept. Unawakened in where it is hidden. But sometimes, the temptation plays; the temptation of telling. And it chases away our intent of keeping a secret. A temptation that plays us like an instrument very well.Jasper clenched his hand on the grip...

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“Steal and replace.” by Jordan L

Submitted to Contest #55

The moon rose over the skyscrapers in Podrido city, that was when she woke up, that was when she was to begin her mission. She immediately looked at her holographic wrist interface, expanding and closing the various hovering blue displays, checking if she had received any more instructions or been given any extra information. Nope, I guess everything is going as initially planned, she thought to herself. She then opened her home-hub app and set her speakers that rested on the sill next to her to shuffle music before closing the interface and...

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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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