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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

“Grandma's Hair Stick” by Mia Twysted

Submitted to Contest #55

"Can you keep a secret?" Amber whispered to her step-sister. "Of course," Beth said, "I'm a good secret keeper." "Okay." Amber rose signaling for Beth to stay seated. Peering out the windows, she pulled the curtains shut then leaned out into the hall. Noting the coast was clear, she silently closed the door then returned to the round carpet in the middle of their room. Crossing her legs, Amber sat back down in front of Beth taking a big breath. "This use to belong to my grandmother," Amber pulled a long silver hair stick from h...

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“War's Over” by Yondee Pacot

Submitted to Contest #55

Snip. "I just want answers." Snip. "I don't think they're mine to give." Snip. "I understand." Snip. "Unless... can you keep a secret?" Snip. Chunks of hair fell on the bathroom floor as I shake my head. Facing the mirror, I grabbed my glasses that sat on the sink and looked at the girl with the haphazard hair, scissors on one hand, with bangs that scream murder. I looked at my pale, cracked lips and remembered how badly I need water, especially after yesterday. I sighed, seeing at how uneven left and right sides of my hair...

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“The Diamond” by Jenn M

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Jenny’s ponytail swung back and forth as she passed out strawberry coolers around the circle.“It’s the ultimate drinking game; wa-ay more interesting than truth or dare. Everyone writes down a secret and puts it in this box...”As soon as I heard those words, I wasn’t in Jenny’s house anymore, I was transported to the basement of the house I grew up in. I wiped my palms on my skirt and swallowed, looking around the dark room that seemed to swallow things whole. I hated it down here. “Can you keep a secret?”“D-dad...

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“GOT A SECRET CAN YOU KEEP IT” by Margaret Pace

Submitted to Contest #55

"Can you Keep a Secret?" a little boy asked his mother. She replied, "yes." His first mode of action resulted in a quick pacing of back and forth. "Are you sure?" he asked his mother again. "Of course child, you can tell me anything." The mother responded. "I don't like aunt and uncle; they are vindictive; they try to train me to call them mom and dad and I know they are not my parents." said the boy. "You are right!" said the mother; "I will always care for you!" she added. Finally, a superhero policewoman showed up at the mother's door, sh...

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“CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?” by Mimi Mazzarella

Submitted to Contest #55

CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? “Can you keep a secret?” blurts out Liz the instant Gabby's father answers his cellphone.“I’ve no time for games, Elizabeth,” Joe mumbles, rising from the sofa in the living room. “Just spill it.”“Our baby brother’s in JAIL…again.”Even from the kitchen, Gabrielle, can hear her father exhale sharply. "No big surprise," he snaps. "What’d the moron do now?”“Petty theft. He stole a case of tequila from Free Spirits Market along with $150.”Joe rakes his hand through his graying hair. “You mean to tell me,” he...

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“A secret” by Jasmine Tamang

Submitted to Contest #55

Can you keep a secret?OK... you obviously don't know me. You don't know who I am, where I am from or why am I telling you my secret or what am I even going to share to you since basically we're strangers but that's my point.Nobody will be willing to hear me out if I'm not a stranger to them. I can at least tell my secrets to a stranger who hasn't even seen me. Seen my identity...First of all,hey. I am SSN as in SSN 32 but SSN. You haven't seen me but that's good. I won't tell you how I look like because that'll probably scare you. I mean not...

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“Shhh I'm dead” by Ricky Mae Sutphen

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Clara asked while smiling crazily. Ben nodded hesitantly. He is afraid of her. Clara’s face became serious and deadly. She took a few steps towards Ben slowly, which made the latter feel fear. “But a secret can be kept by two people if the other one is dead.” She whispered to him and crawled her hand to caress his hair. Ben is shivering from her touch. “If the other one is dead.” She repeated then choked Ben, which shocked him. Ben is struggling to remove her hand around his neck, but she is stro...

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“The Green Glade” by Charlotte Geddes

Submitted to Contest #55

THERE WAS NO BRONZE BELL above the door anymore. It had been removed three weeks prior to Will Delgado beginning his contract at a musty old bookstore housed in a former church off Inverness’s high street. From what little ramblings he’d caught since arriving, the bell was some three hundred years old, and had been whisked off to a specialist for repair. Nothing more could be gleamed about this bell, and so he buried his curiosity and tossed away the key. His first three months idled away uneventfully, but were nonetheless strenuous as he cl...

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“The road trip of hell.” by Hannah Duff

Submitted to Contest #55

“Hurry up, come on Maeve seriously we don’t have enough time, we need to get away from here before he comes”, “Sophia, SOPHIA! Slow down what happened?” cried Maeve running after her distressed and clearly panicked best friend. “Can you please tell me what’s going on and why you are in this abandoned area at this time of night!” That morning both Sophia and Maeve had been up early, washed, dressed and packed ready for their annual road trip. “SOPH!” Maeve yelled with a toothbrush hanging out of her mouth and a worn razor in her hand, press...

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“Our little secret ” by Emily Pilarowski

Submitted to Contest #55

"Can you keep a secret?" He asked all of the sudden, startled and nodded my head not knowing what to say. Then he proceeds to say "Are you sure Emily this is a serious life or death situation so I ask you again can you keep a secret?" "And I'm serious too Ryder just tell me I'm promise you'll feel better after you tell me I can see it's beating you up not telling me," It's true my boyfriend has never kept a secret from me before. I could tell it was serious though because my boyfriend was always so relaxed and laid back now he looks dea...

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“Fox Eyes” by Audrey Park

Submitted to Contest #55

He smiled as the stack of chips got passed to him. The other player left the table, defeated. It was normal to him, however, he’s never lost a card game. “Luke, man, how do you do it?” His best friend, Aaron, asked as he hung his arm around him. “I’m surprised you’ve never had a birthday party at a casino before!” “You know I couldn’t. I just turned 22 today.” He responded smirking. He tossed his blonde hair back as he straightened his simple outfit. The all black look with the leather jacket, shirt, and jeans contrasted with his bri...

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“Hunted by a Murderer” by Layne Ensey

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret,” those five simple words changed Daniel’s life forever, despite the fact that it was his best friend asking this question, he still wasn’t quite sure that he could keep this dark secret that his friend was about to divulge, but nonetheless he inquired the secret, promising to keep a secret that would change the course of his life and his very soul, “What’s up man,” he asked still not quite sure about whether or not he could indeed keep this odd secret that his friend was being ver...

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“The Game” by Ani Lazarova

Submitted to Contest #55

“ Can you keep a secret? “, this is the current trending app that has stocked up all the youngsters over the world. The game, launched by David Rilwood, is the one that has also been installed the most in 24 hours – 125 million people downloaded it in just one single day. ''This is what the Sunday report here in California is currently. So let me explain to you how this works real quick – you install an app with a green and blue icon and with the words “ Can you keep a secret? “ written on it. You enroll by filing a docu...

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“The Specter of my heart” by Shannel Grant

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret”, our conversation was going so well, “Yeah sure, go ahead”, “Lois I don't like that word “Sure”. Isaiah was peculiar, always telling me what he did not like, I guess that is a good thing. He is tall, his eyes are enchanting, because it holds every meaning to his words. His skin is Golden , his dark long curls are always hopping about, his hands are soft, inviting, I always want to hold them. “Ok , yes I can keep a secret”, he smiled, his smile was so softening, it made me feel warm inside. “ Can we enjoy each ot...

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“A Myriad of Paradoxes ” by Hel Knightly

Submitted to Contest #55

The monitor made a loud marring sound as a heartbeat ceased to beat and a life ceased to exist as a mother sobbed uncontrollably over her child's lifeless body. The father seemed unphased as he continued to stare blankly down at his phone. Somber nurses clambered around the main desk trying to recollect themselves. Moments later the father was seen hastily exiting the room and making his way towards the front entrance. A nurse proceeded to pull the sheet up over the young man's face respectfully. Across the hall another somber family was cli...

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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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