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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

“Finding Judy” by 𝔘𝔤𝔬𝔠𝔥𝔦 𝔑.

Submitted to Contest #55

"Can you keep a secret?""I'd gladly keep your secret Judy, write it down for me" my therapist says writing something down. She crosses her legs.I lean back in the long chair. “No you can’t, your paid to receive answers from me you’ll just give it to my parents right after” I say with laughter.“No. I can assure you that everything you say will remain here” she says tapping her pen on her chin.“With you?” I say quickly standing up going to the shelf.“Of course” she responds. I pull my hands against the books not touched for years. I tap on one...

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“A Ping in Time” by Kristin Neubauer

Submitted to Contest #55

On April 27, 2017, an emergency meeting of the Secret Society of Auditory Control came to order. It was a secret meeting that took place in the society’s secret boardroom at the tip top of one of New York City’s 274 skyscrapers. Eleven men and one woman gathered behind a heavy door made of African Blackwood. Only the simple outline of a small gold-plated bell positioned where a door knocker would be gave any indication of the work at hand. All was quiet on one side of that door, but not on the other. The Secret Society of Auditory...

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“The Farmhouse ” by Aarshia Ray

Submitted to Contest #55

When I had received a call from Dora, about the idea of decorating our ancestral home, I was quite excited. But little did I know what we would face there…Our ancestral house… since childhood I had heard of its stories from Mum and Dad. Though Mum says that I had been there when I was little, I don’t have the faintest memory of it. I was quite pleased when I had heard that it was getting renovated, and more, when I came to know about a grand party going to be held after the renovation, with all our relatives—close and distant. But I was quit...

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“Can You Keep A Secret?” by Richa Narula Phukan

Submitted to Contest #55

Convalescing from stomach flu, professional game designer Abhay Kulkarni is confined to his room in his apartment on the 4th floor in Powai, Mumbai. His rear window looks out onto a busy running road and several other apartments right across his society. During an intense heatwave, he gazes out of his window at his neighbours, who keep their windows open to stay cool. He observes a flamboyant dancer he nicknames "Miss Rosy"; a single woman he calls "Miss Flapper"; a composer-guitarist; one of the newlyweds; a middle-aged couple w...

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“back in the pulse” by Masha Kurbatova

Submitted to Contest #55

The world is burning, and of course it’s only my ex-fiance that can save me. His knuckles grip white around the steering wheel. His eyes are a snake’s, focused and unblinking on the road ahead. It’s the first unclogged stretch of highway we’ve encountered, and he’s flying through. It’s bound to get worse the closer we get to Boston. “Can I put some music on?” I ask. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t.” He still hasn’t looked at me. I turn around to grin at his son, a cherub strapped into a car seat too small for his pud...

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“City of Light” by Maya W.

Submitted to Contest #55

The streets of Paris were buzzing. Some called it the City of Light, but Nina wondered why New York City was The City That Never Sleeps instead. Of course, she had never been to New York, or even to America, but Nina knew that if there was ever a more vibrant, colorful city than the one she had just entered, it must be simply marvelous. Between the scents of the vendors and the beautiful language being spoken everywhere, the young girl felt at home instantly. Nina had moved recently from the countryside, which was beautiful in its ow...

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“The Ban-ana Republic 🍌” by Jonathan Blaauw

Submitted to Contest #55

Warning! This is the property of the South African government and has been classified Top Secret. If you do not have the requisite security clearance in accordance with the State Security Act (1978), Section 4, Subsection B, Paragraph 7, Article 13, Line 2, possession of this document is a criminal offense and you will be prosecuted. Unless you have family, friends, or passing acquaintances in the government, of course. Or unless you know who to bribe, blackmail, manipulate… In fact, don’t worry about it. You’re fine. Read on.At the very bot...

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“Lethal Shadows” by Yolanda Wu

Submitted to Contest #55

The night had been foggy with shadows lurking in the corners; spirits among the mist. The streets lamps had all dimmed, extinguishing the only comfort for the night walkers who now had to place their trust in the moon to light the way home. It was like the poster of those vintage horror movies. A cliché ghost town. It was deep in the night when the police found the body of a young boy, sprawled along the bank of a stream, half submerged in the water. There was blood all over his face, and all over a rock beside him. He was naked, delicat...

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“Like Him” by Lindsey W

Submitted to Contest #55

It was a car crash that killed them. My aunt and grandfather. She was driving him back to the nursing home where my grandmother was waiting. I wasn't close with them. We don’t speak to my mother’s family unless there’s a funeral or on select holidays. “I need you to go to the farm and clean up the house to get it ready for sale,” mom says through the phone.“Mom––”“Please, Charlotte, I–I can’t go back there.” She never asks me to do anything for her, which makes saying no to this one request impossible.“The estate lawyer can meet with yo...

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“Whodunit? The Greywood Manor Murderer....” by ♥☪ᙏҽɬσɳყ Ƒɾҽ𝓶σɳԃ☪♥

Submitted to Contest #55

It all happened on a boisterous night in Bransford, Connecticut. Four families had received an invitation to Greywood Manor, a mansion where a string of murders took place and the killer was never found. Knowing this, stupidly, each family allows curiosity to consume them and they all prepare to enter. And because of that mistake, what waits for them will be their biggest surprise yet, - murder….Earlier that night...“Do you think it’s smart to attend this party? Nobody even knows who sent the invites. This sounds like the beginning of murder...

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“My Sister in the Stars” by Scout Tahoe

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” The streetlight flickers. My hopes flicker. “No,” I admit. The stars urge me forward into her arms. I step back; the cold night gives me a scowl. I love you, my sister, I try to say. My tongue scraps against my teeth. Blood pools in my mouth. She grabs my wrists. Her nails dig into my skin. The scene seems to change. The streetlight stays the same, casting shadows. My dreams float around me in clouds of regret. There is a park bench. We sit. The wood pierces my back. J...

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“The Eastern Sun” by Scout Tahoe

Submitted to Contest #55

The final rise of the eastern sun. The tranquil sunrise cast untold shadows across the city. The orange light was reflected in her dark eyes. Long shadows slithered onto her face and made her appear older than she was. Ioni was settled at the local cafe, her nails tapping impatiently against the wooden table. It was now, just before the sun rose fully into the sky, that she called the Golden Hour. Even though people weren’t usually awake at this early hour, there were a few lingerers at the cafe door. She let out a cloud...

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“Singularity” by Ryan Lieb

Submitted to Contest #55

Can you keep a secret?What If I told you that your life depends on it?Mine did, and if you're reading this, that means that I wasn't very good at keeping my secret. But you can do better. You must.You don't need any convincing, do you? Surely by now you've worked out for yourself that you'll never leave this place alive. Surely the existence of this message is proof that the men you're working for have lied to you. And the fact that they didn't tell you someone held this post before you is proof that I am dead.I'm sure the job seemed appeali...

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“Asphodel” by D. Holmes

Submitted to Contest #55

I’m not going to apologize.Delivered I’m not going to apologizeBecause I do believe that I deserved betterGhosting was immature on my partI’ll admit thatBut honestlyI needed to get outI couldn’t handle itI wasn’t strong enough to handle itYou became an obligationAnother piece of my well-beingThat I was supposed to just willingly sacrificeFor your peace of mindPerhaps it was selfishBut you took so much from me thatI didn’t even know who I was without youHow much of me was I supposed to give up?I had no one to turn toNone of our friends knewTh...

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“It's a Be Milked or Be Married World Out There, Babe” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #55

“I just wish Benji would talk to me about it already,” Emily said as she slouched over the coffee shop’s table. “We’ve been dating for six years and he still hasn’t brought up the conversation of marriage once. I’ve tried to bring it up, but he’s too dense…”Mary-Lou set down her cappuccino and stared at Emily dead in the eyes. “Honey, here’s what you gotta do. Stop all this cutesy code-talk. Stop dancing around the topic. Flat out ask Benji: do you think you would ever want to get married? It doesn’t have to be a proposal—just a conversation...

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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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