Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

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

“Curiosity and Fear” by Alexa McWhirter

Submitted to Contest #55

There's an eerie feeling lingering in the air tonight. It's most likely because I'm home alone but it's still making me jumpy. I've been feeling this way for awhile, but tonight it's much stronger then it ever has been. My roommate is working and won't be home for awhile. I know that it's just my imagination but I feel like something terrible will happen tonight. Like I'm on a roller coaster and about to dive. The wind is howling and the trees outside my window are shaking violently. I normally like the rain but tonight's storm is unsett...

Read story

“CAN YOU KEEP MY SECRET?” by Chyll A

Submitted to Contest #55

The night was peaceful and quiet as she sat on the worn-out camping chair. She had moved to the countryside to have some time for herself, a rest house she could go to. A small campfire was alive before her, embers flickering in the night. It enchanted her as she took a sip from her wine glass. She had kept the wine in her pantry, letting it age for almost five years from the time she had purchased it. In that moment, she could taste the sweet blend in her mouth, indicating that her patience had paid off. The thought of the wine brought her ...

Read story

“COCO'S SECRETS” by Shrisha Rananaware

Submitted to Contest #55

" Can you keep a secret?” “Excuse me!” Well, it was a reflex. What do you say to a completely strange woman sitting beside you in a plane ride? Plus it was one of those days when I was in a terrible mood. I was avoiding conversation with everyone ever since I boarded the plane and now just when I'm about to take a nap a stranger looks at me and that too with expectant eyes. “I asked whether you can keep a secret for me.” “Well, I heard but again, what?” “Well now that you ask 'what' I have to tell you the whole thing, which by the way is a s...

Read story

“Rollercoaster in 4 acts” by Silvia Szabo

Submitted to Contest #55

‘’Can you keep a secret?’’ he asked me. ‘’Of course.’’ I replied without hesitating just to convince him to tell me. After I heard it I was sure I was never going to tell his secret to anyone else, because no one would believe me. I knew Jacob for almost three years now and I would have never imagined he was hiding something like that. We met on our first day of college and after that day, our relationship was like an emotional rollercoaster. We were both going to study psychology. I chose this because I wanted to help people, he...

Read story

“Can You Keep A Secret?” by Janet Joos

Submitted to Contest #55

Meredith had just closed her office at Peabody and Webster Attorneys at Law, and no sooner had she run out the door only to purse her red lips to let out a shrill whistle as she spotted a member of her clique, Nadine, across the street. Nadine waved, but Meredith mouthed 'Come here.' Nadine glanced at her watch, shook her long brown hair over her shoulder, looked to the right, then to the left before crossing the busy street. Once together, Meredith looked into Nadine’s sparkling green eyes and asked her 'Can you keep a secret? Do you thin...

Read story

“Secret Secret” by Kristina Haag

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret, Emma?” Jason asked me as we were sitting on the tail of his black Chevy pick-up truck. “Haven’t I proved to you before that I can?” I replied. Jason stared at me with his emerald green eyes contemplating the truth of what I’d just said. “Nevermind. Now isn’t the time.” He scoffed. Jason’s moods were like a roller coaster - fast, bumpy, and made me feel a little sic...

Read story

“Family Secrets” by Valerie Preston

Submitted to Contest #55

Family Secrets “Are you joking?” he asked, mouth wide open. “That can’t be true. Who told you? When did you find out? Come on tell me what you know”. Jake shifted about in his leather office chair. He was enjoying being the ‘town crier’ for once, although the thought that it was scandal about someone from his own family was difficult to believe. Usually it was him who was asking the questions from Phil. He liked it better this way. “Jake, you got me to come into town to your office on my one day off for you to tell me about something ...

Read story

“Spy vs. Spy” by Mark Edwards

Submitted to Contest #55

They had been doing this dance for a day now, the first one would ask a seemingly innocent question. The other would give a sarcastic, condescending, or totally insulting answer. Then the first one would smile as if amused and then have his men beat on the man some more or press the little button that would send electric shocks through the bound man’s body, or just hold his head back under the freezing water until the man felt his lungs were going to burst. Then once the bound and beaten man regained his composure, the dance would start agai...

Read story

“SHE DREW THE LINE” by Muyeko Mwenifumbo

Submitted to Contest #55

‘Can you keep a secret?’ She posed the question to me as she toned down her voice. My boss never seemed like the type who would lower her voice for anything or anyone not even herself. Many of us on the plant were of the sentiment that she was just a rich monster. No matter how much we tried to understand her there was always still something missing about her life to help explain her loudness. I must say though that she was quite a genius with her company. Rumor had it that she had started the plant from nothing and had built it up all the...

Read story

““So… Can You Keep a Secret?”” by Mohsen Baqery

Submitted to Contest #55

“can you keep a secret,” she said—while trying to approach me.It was a cold winter afternoon and the town seemed to be slower than ever. Pedestrians were planning each step, making me think what’s so scary about slipping?She was, however, slower than every other living creature. Maybe it was something about her dress—which was obviously too long for a short winter afternoon.“I said can you keep a secret?” she repeated as if it is my last chance to answer.I tried to make eye contact just to make sure she’s talking to me. But eye contacts are ...

Read story

“Battle Lost” by Art U

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” General Laser’s voice crackled over the comm. Comrade Blast replied with his ever bright voice, “Sir, yes Sir!” With that he heard a loud ringing through the comm. It didn’t sound good at all. “General, do you copy?” he asked. There was no response. Only a faint ringing in his earpiece. Then silence, as that ringing also drowned out. “General Laser, do you copy? Come in General, this is Comrade Blast.” Still, nothing. It had to be the worst. Command had been taken down. But how could it be. Blast could not process an...

Read story

“Can you keep a secret?” by Alice Blue

Submitted to Contest #55

First dates are terrifying. Sure, we’ve met a few times before. Crossing paths at the local cafe, finding him in a quiet corner of the library, saying hello and getting his number at what turned out to be a shared favorite bar; all of that is nothing compared to the prospect of an actual date. I unplug my curling iron and sigh, staring at myself in the mirror. I have half an hour to meet him at the ice cream shop. I can’t be late, but I certainly can’t be early. That leaves me with fifteen minutes to sit and stress, undistracted. I ...

Read story

“Neighbors” by Wayne Scheer

Submitted to Contest #55

A few days after I moved to Atlanta about twenty years ago, I came home from my new teaching job at Georgia State to find my grass mowed and a lanky white man in his sixties wearing overalls and a straw hat, trimming my hedges. "What are you doing?" I asked, jumping out of my car. My Chicago cynicism was showing. Why would a white man be mowing the lawn of a single black woman? He took off his straw hat, displaying the remnants of white hair combed straight across his pink scalp, and offered a theatrical bow f...

Read story

“Not on the Same Page” by Lily Hartly

Submitted to Contest #55

It’s been a long day. No. It’s been a long week. Work’s been crazy. I don’t remember when the job I loved so much became so overwhelming. Probably when the rest of my life spun out of control.No. I shouldn’t think that. I’m being overdramatic. This isn’t such a big deal. I’m just tired. I’ve been through a lot worse than this last week. This is just a little obstacle. It’ll be over soon and then everything will go back to the way it was.I try to drill that thought into my head as I fill a pot with water and put it on the stove. I feel a litt...

Read story

“The Married Life” by Maria Callender

Submitted to Contest #55

“I can’t believe you did this,” Emma screams at Liam, trying to control her anger as she looks through the curtains of their house, making sure they weren’t waking up any neighbors with their shouting. “I’m so sorry.” Liam takes a step forward and holds her hands, looking straight inside her green eyes. Water gathers in the bottom lid of his eyes. “I promise this will never happen again. Please don’t leave me alone in a moment like this. I love you.” Emma pushes his hands away and looks at the floor. This is not the first time he brings anot...

Read story

Load more stories

$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!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢