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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

“Secrets of the Art Auction” by Josephine Andersen

Submitted to Contest #55

Secrets of the Art Auction Caroline overheard James saying to the others. “ If you want news to get around faster than anything, faster than the speed of light, faster than a post on Face Book, tell it to Caroline and ask her if she can keep a secret. I suggest we tell Caroline that the Willendorfs are coming on Saturday. “ The group expressed their acknowledgement of this, with undisguised mirth. Edward said laughing, “What a good idea, it will save us a lot of public relations work and advertising.” James agreed, “yes she really ...

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“Me, Myself, and I” by Katelyn Johnson

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” The voice rang around the empty room. It flickered with entertainment, amusement. I could not figure out why it was so thrilled at my presence or why that was the first question this…thing decided to ask me. “I’m sorry, what? Where am I?” I mumbled softly. I could see the breath in front of me as I breath out a shaky breath. It was strange, this dark and empty place, as I did not feel cold at all. &nb...

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“Can You Keep a Secret? ” by Kimberly Bennett

Submitted to Contest #55

Can you keep a secret? I mean, obviously, I can’t, but can you? Are you trustworthy enough? Have you been vetted? What about getting your urine tested? This secret is not for amateurs. It cannot be handed over to just anyone. So, tell me, are you willing to keep a secret regardless of possible consequences? Because I assure you – what I’m about to tell you cannot – absolutely cannot – leave your lips! It is crucial that we remain completely silent at all costs, especially if you do not want the bad man to find you. Because he will. Oh,...

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“Waiting” by Kyler Lopez

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Great Uncle Owen asked, stretching his hand out for help. “Yeah. Of course.” Thomas said, helping his uncle over a fallen tree, a shovel held over his shoulder. “When I was… Well... how old are you again?” “I’m thirty-four Uncle Owen.” “Thirty-four? Yes, thirty-four would be about right. When I was thirty-something, I was with your dad in these very woods. He had turned thirteen, and I bought him his very first pellet gun. An old Sheridan Silver Streak. Now your Aunt Cynthia didn’t want him having it, so we c...

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“Open the Void ” by E S

Submitted to Contest #55

I slip into the classroom, unbeknownst by the other students in my class, Magic 101. Everyone inside wears a plain gray bodysuit that hides the identities of all students. My teacher is the only one who shows her face. She’s a beautiful human-sized fairy with fiery hair and lace wings that flutter as she enters. “We will begin with the art of healing. Anyone want to give it a try?” my teacher, GingerBell, says in a sing-songy voice. No one speaks. “Alright then, how about… hm… 13125. Come up here and show us how it’s done.” S...

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“Secrets” by Stacey Fultz

Submitted to Contest #55

*While being a stand-alone story, this is the conclusion of Jacob’s story. It began in Sundays with Shirley and continued in Biggest Regret. *While intended to be the end, Abi’s story will be explored further in a new story, Abi’s Secret. I jumped out of bed, Lulu, on high alert beside me. I checked the clock, 3:19 AM. Who could be here at this time of night? I lifted Lulu from the bed, setting her on the floor. I knew she would follow me, and I didn’t want her to jump down, risking injury. Whoever it was, was pounding erratically....

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“The Secret Keeper” by Jessica Mills

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” she asks. “Sure, you know I can,” he replies. Silas wonders what it is about secrets. People are always telling him secrets and he is always keeping them safely inside him, feigning surprise when the truth comes to life. He has perfected his game face, practiced it in the mirror for years, to make sure that when the secret information eventually comes to light he can pretend it is also news to him. Often he nods along to the person’s voice to demonstrate he is paying attention and waiting for the moment whe...

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“The Hunting of Dillon Parker ” by Gordon K

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Linda McDonoghue once asked me. I told her I could and I wasn’t lying, I was holding onto a big secret. I never got a chance to tell her but I’ll tell it to you if that’s OK. This is the story of a boy who could see into the future and the past, and he had the ability to pull things through time, all sorts of objects could be summoned. On more than one occasion he would summon a newspaper which seemed to be from a future date and each time the events in that newspaper came to pass. Not just newspapers thou...

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“The Fall of Icarus” by Kyle Strouse

Submitted to Contest #55

A young man and a young woman sat in a bar and stared into their drinks. The lights were dim and seeing as it was late and a weekday most of the regulars had left already, leaving only the couple and a few down-and-outers to fill the silence of the night. The man was sipping a whiskey on the rocks with a quiet restraint, while the woman, seated next to him, was on her sixth twisted tea. A quiet song played in the background, melancholy and low. The woman turned to her lover. “Do you want to keep drinking?” She asked, followed by a long gulp...

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“A Desolate Womb ” by Duckie Carson

Submitted to Contest #55

Charlie rests against the unsteady railing of the hotel’s balcony while his wife, Diane, patrols the sea’s waves from her place on a torn-up sun lounge. Diane’s ankle-length mint skirt surrounds her hips in order for the milky flesh of her legs to bronze, the first three buttons on her cream satin blouse fall unsealed to the side, allowing sunbeams to tap at her collarbones as well as the swells of her breasts. Brown, oversized, square sunglasses are propped on her nose, while French tipped toenails dig into the cushioned chair beneath her, ...

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“Nizam” by Rajesh M

Submitted to Contest #55

This story is my imagination which is inspired by true event Hyderabad, India 1948 Hyderabad was ruled by king Osman Ali Khan with the age of 25. He is a last Nizam of Hyderabad. He admires his father very much; his name is Mahbub Ali Khan. Due to his father’s death he became King of their dynasty so early. His father always thinks and makes decisions which will be useful for the people of their kingdom. Through him that nature came to Osman Ali Khan. &nb...

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“The Wallet ( Can you solve the mystery?)” by Mari Storm

Submitted to Contest #55

-The Wallet- John is a man who has evening fun, stealing. To thieve is an unpredict game. He works with machine learning, what is a frustrating job, machines telling him what is going to happen, he just pushes buttons and input data. The omniscient computer can answer any human, perhaps non-human questions as well. John lives in a big city where the possibility to never be caught increases. John is an average man, shameful jeans, r...

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“Knock Knock...” by Abhishek Todmal

Submitted to Contest #55

The fabled end of the world loomed neigh.A prophecy that had found its bearings through the whispers of millennia gone by, brought to fruition by the ill sowed efforts of man.We had finally outdone ourselves. A mass-scale bludgeoning of Planet Earth that even despite our mother's plea's for mercy, was ignored to fill the pockets of those greedy enough to scrounge on dollars in lieu of a roof over our heads. The National Bureau of Climatology had issued its preliminary warning on the 3rd of April, 2047.Stop, or else we will be stopped, s...

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“A Sister to a Brother” by Subha Mostafiz

Submitted to Contest #55

Chapter: 01 Scenario_01 "Lace, I would be glad if you hurried. I know you are watching that silly web-toon inside your washroom. If you don't wanna pick a fight just come the hell out of the washroom" “Mama, you are great at making me furious " And that’s how my day started today. Sorry people couldn't give you a chill morning vibe. But as always I do have something to make my journal fascinating i.e. something weird again happened to me today. The very strange senior of my college was following me again to my home for the 17th time of the m...

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“Good Fortune” by Brianna Griffin

Submitted to Contest #55

Year 1020 "Give me the stone Eloise!" Her daughter, Lacey shouted. "No!" Eloise said firmly. "It wouldn't be right. Part of you has to know that. Part of you has to know that this is wrong!" She pleaded. Her cloak rustled the brown leaves that covered the ground as she positioned herself into a more steadfast stance. Her staff standing firmly in front of her, ready to counter any challenger. Lacey, the ringleader of the coven's trouble, had been persuaded to the wrong side by a small faction of the coven. Eloise tried to win her back, ...

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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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