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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

“275 New Text Messages ” by D J

Submitted to Contest #55

-Friday afternoon-Kriya stared at her textbook, reading the tiny lines of writing but understanding nothing. She yawned and blinked a few times. Sitting up straight, she shifted around in the uncomfortable chair, tapping her foot on the carpeted floor.Lifting the book off the table, she brought it closer to her, letting out a loud exhale. She attempted to read the same sentence again, for about the tenth time.The sudden, loud vibration from her phone and the quiet ping that followed made her look up quickly.Oh thank God, she thought, droppin...

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“Henry and Victor” by Calvin Belton

Submitted to Contest #55

Henry always argued that writing endings was supercilious, “-as if any story is one that properly ends. Just stop on a half-decent sentence and people will call you an artistic genius,” he would blither about it for ages anytime Victor brought it up, half-drunk in the crimson heat. Victor suspected it was just because Henry was shit at writing them. Those weren’t their real names of course; real as in social-security, birth certificate, government document names he means. Real in terms o...

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“Guilty and Charged” by Mackenzie Meetz

Submitted to Contest #55

I put my head down on my desk, closed my eyes, and covered my ears. The teacher hadn’t even been gone five minutes, and the entire class of kids had lost their minds. Room 205 was the last classroom in the hallway. Two supply closets separated it from Room 202, Mrs. Davidson’s, and made it nearly impossible to hear what was going on in there. Despite being 1) a bo...

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“Bastard of a Bastard” by Tyler Runde

Submitted to Contest #55

Through the screen door, even from across the street, a mother’s voice could be heard telling her son to, “just get the mail, will you?”The boy came bursting through after the voice, his face all knots of exasperation and what could’ve even been sadness. He’d yelled at his mom again, and he didn’t know why. They had just been having a normal conversation.“How was your day?” she'd asked.“It was alright. Nothing much happened.”But then she brought up the fact that he’d skipped out on the entirety of fifth and sixth period.“Where were you?”And ...

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“Secret Business” by Shaun Calvert

Submitted to Contest #55

A deep brass brazier in a perpetual eruption of flame and smoke casts skittish light through the otherwise abyssal darkness of the chamber. Cloaked figures encircle the flame; their shadows slice the room into segments. The circle is not complete, however, until at last a figure identical to the others sweeps silently into place, then steps forward into the light. Slowly, the figure draws back its hood, revealing a thin smile, cold eyes and an ornate jade and silver mask. “Brothers and sisters,” he begins in deep sinister tone, “Sorry I’m la...

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“JSA” by Anna D.

Submitted to Contest #55

Stopping next to a shop's display window, I stared into the glass. But it wasn't the antique clock I was interested in. It was the reflections.Tall man, early forties, and wearing dark jeans with a dark overcoat. He was busy ordering himself something from the local hotdog stand, but as I watched he kept glancing my way.I could have sworn I had seen the same person outside my apartment when I left.A tail. Looked like a little detour was in order.I continued down the sidewalk. He followed ,hotdog in hand. Hurrying, I turned into a side alley....

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“Birds of a Feather” by Joshellyn Sim

Submitted to Contest #55

He was bound to garner attention like this.The place was gaudy in his opinion, with flashing lights, loud heinous music playing in the future-esque background; as crowds of scantily dressed people thronged onto the dance floor.And Alister was in the middle of it all. Which brings him back to his first point, he was quite different than all of the guest there tonight; far being that while some there wore their dresses with holes and tears as a fashion choice, he wore it with no choice. He had his common attire; a worn raggedy shirt and ripped...

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“Caught in a Web” by Dozzy Nika

Submitted to Contest #55

This taxi driver’s voice reminds me of Esosa. They look alike, too. I’m looking through the window, reminiscing how I met The Brethren and whether they would come to get me, again. I’ll keep to Ojo's order – I wouldn’t talk to anyone about it. I'd rather write it. Since I already knew The Brethren, I hope to see Ojo again. Staying with him is like drinking beer. I also hope he brings me business as promised. He’s still my guy. In Nigeria, when there’s power outage for long, the freezer spoils, the foods get defrosted, one warms th...

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“Fifteen's Not Enough” by Natalia Anglada

Submitted to Contest #55

Trigger warning: suicidal thoughts No matter his intelligence, nobody seemed to appreciate Simon. Even worse, the majority of the student body wasn’t even aware of his existence. Known as the tall guy, which was very understandable when you are 6’7 in a sea of dwarfs. The problem wasn’t his height; it was the fact that he had so many other amazing qualities and nobody seemed to care. In high school, everybody thought he was amazing. He received nothing but praises daily. “That kid is going places,” his History teacher used to s...

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“Blood is Thicker...” by Aaron Scott

Submitted to Contest #55

Trigger warning: self harm A cut, a gash, a graze, a slice, a slit, a wound. A splash, a dribble, a trickle, a drop. There were many ways to say what it was but it didn't matter what it was. All that mattered was his blood was banished from view and that it never, ever touched the ground. It was a rule, no matter the wound, it was to be sealed immediately. It was a strict order he had to follow ever since he could walk with both feet, one that had been embedded into his brain so hard it was an automatic response to come rush...

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“Family Business” by Steve McKenney

Submitted to Contest #55

A few years ago, I was in college working towards degrees in history that would enable me to reach my long-term goal of teaching history at the collegiate level. As with any other degree program, there is a laundry list of required courses but there are also some elective course requirements too. Going into college I had determined that whenever possible, I would take an elective course that held some interest to me or made sense, rather than just taking the easiest class that I could get away with to meet the requirement and get the credits...

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“Delirium ” by Clementine Daisy

Submitted to Contest #55

- It was one of those nights. You know, when you are not sure where blinking has taken you… like time after time? For a fragment of time after my eyes opened, (at such an hour there exists no time-count) I felt reluctant to look over the place around me. You stare at me baffled but you are still patient. My vision is blurry but I can distinguish your great red eyes that almost scare me. This is the investigatory glance of our mother. I decide to keep telling you whatever I remember. Short breath.- I woke up thirsty; it h...

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“The crimson flower ” by Shuari Naidoo

Submitted to Contest #55

Crimson sinks into the musty carpet forming the shape of a drooping flower. The metallic smell of the floor wafts in the air. He feels her head rub against his neck affectionately. Her greasy hair brushes against his cheek. His cheek goes bright red as he fidgets with the weapon in his hand. Figures are spewed in the flower positioned as if they were reaching for someone. He marvels at how what was alive is now in the past."It was for the best," she coos kissing his burning cheek.She is still in her temporary gown. What was neatly ironed is ...

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“The Hollow Man” by Stephen Fetinko

Submitted to Contest #55

"I'm a little confused..." Sophia started, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Well, maybe more than a little. What happened here?" The cool breeze of nighttime air kept her chilled. Amelia chuckled, twirling a butterfly knife between her fingers, dancing a soft glow from what little light there was off of the blade and against a cobblestone floor. "Well... That would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" "I'm not so su—" "Either way, we need to go. Now." Amelia pocketed the knife and grabbed Sophia by the collar of her shirt, practically...

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“Sorority Secret-Part 1” by Nataleigh Sandberg

Submitted to Contest #55

Macy Penni gasped. Holiday Renolds' eyes bulged out of their sockets.. Livie San-Andrews looked as if she was going to explode. January Forest gulped. "So I shouldn't tell him?" The whole room erupted in absolute chaos. "NO!!!!!!!" Everyone but January yelled in unison. "You can't!" Holiday yelled. "You have to!" Livie shrieked. "Let's talk about this." Macy, who was the closest to January of the girls in the sorority, explained. She pulled January to the side, hiding behind the door to Elsa Donnely's room. "I don't think Elsa would approve ...

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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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