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

“The Definition of Human” by Corey Khalil

Submitted to Contest #55

What makes us human? Is it our feelings or love? Dogs can feel and love. Our in depth communication and language? Most animals can communicate in ways sometimes we can’t understand. The way we inherently know right from wrong? Are psychopaths human? What does the word “human” mean? Do we have an apparent purpose past this little sphere of influence? Is there something larger out there than our short lives and meaningless goals? Is “human” a physical attribute, moral standing, or an emotio...

Read story

“Past In The Past” by Aliza Goldstein

Submitted to Contest #55

SARAH! ARE YOU OKAY?" Screamed Kevin from afar. She wasn't okay. "What am I supposed to tell our family?" Tears ran down his face. "Hey kids! Guess what? Mom slipped and died while I was a few feet away, and everyone thinks I killed her, but I didn't. I can't do this, I need you!" Kevin laid there for 15 minutes, and then realized that we couldn't stay there. He had to separate his 5 kids from the rest of his wife's family. He couldn't have them think that he killed his own wife! He went home and took his kids as far away as possible. And he...

Read story

“Dinner Date.” by Chris Wheeler

Submitted to Contest #55

Driving down a dark desolate road at 1 am looking for my next victim while the miles passed by one after another. This ride is taking forever and I am highly considering turning around. I need someone a woman of the night, a hitchhiker, a hobo... someone. My blood thirst is insatiable. I need to slaughter in the same way as a junkie needs a hit. Yet, here I am, unable to secure a nights worth of torture, blood, and guts. I’m just going to have to go home and fantasize about death, that alone is my torture. Not getting my fill makes me bey...

Read story

“Underground Gothlings ” by Margaret Pace

Submitted to Contest #55

The best way we express our uniqueness of individuality, fashion, and expression of art or freedom is through culture. The culture of goths, mostly are retorted as "emo" or "depressed;" however, wearing mainly dark fashion does not always mean that you are a lost soul so to say. Many gothlings gather and listen to music, yet during 'these times' aka pandemic, the world has become more depressed literally, and it sometimes seems as though the small towns are being discriminated against for going "Footloose." Not only are the people being disc...

Read story

“World Domination” by Indi Cronin

Submitted to Contest #55

She was the last to arrive.She paused before the door.She breathed.She straightened her robe and then she entered.The room was dark, the chandelier above the round table where everyone sat being the only light. The one window in the room showed a moonless night. The crystals hanging at various levels from the candelabrum threw the light of the candles around the room in various forms. The light appeared to be dancing as the flames of the candle moved to any disruptions, the glow making the faces of the members of the society appear discolour...

Read story

“Kindness Committee” by Maria V.

Submitted to Contest #55

An old man lies dead in his bed. He is surrounded by balloons, a cake with Happy Birthday Mr. Sanderson written in cursive frosting, several unopened presents, a card wishing him well, and a small business card. The business card was on the bedside table and said “Courtesy of the Kindness Committee” and had a smiley face. The old man’s body was discovered by a home nurse who was making her rounds that morning. While trying to figure out what happened, she called 911 and attempted to resuscitate him. However, she was already too late. The cau...

Read story

“Ms. Uval's American Christmas” by WRL Battle

Submitted to Contest #55

1. The town of Duelton, Ohio fell under a deep and peaceful sleep. Despite it being two days before Christmas, kids swore they heard sleigh bells coming from the giant hills miles away. Christmas lights filled the empty roads with a rainbow of festive colors. Placed in the windows of every store, establishment, and home the electric candles turned the town into a cluster of stars. It was a sight of contentment, and everything was right with the world. If only if it were true. A ravenous, tyrannical beast ruled the town with an iron fist. The...

Read story

“The Persecution of Harra Lorton” by RD Smith

Submitted to Contest #55

Rain dancing around her umbrella to the tune of the evening’s gale-force wind, Pamela began to question if accepting Jolie’s invitation was the right move for her Tuesday night as she entered the darkened meeting space in the dilapidated building. Being new to the town of Warlow, she struggled to make friends in the unnervingly tight-knit community. She moved there for a new job a month prior while knowing nothing about New Hampshire or the other towns that made up the hairline of the country. The cross-country trip was made wi...

Read story

“The Laurent Society” by Ava Dell'Orfano

Submitted to Contest #55

“Thank you, candidates and students,” Mr. Lewis’ voice boomed through the speakers in the auditorium. “Now, please place your ballots in the collection boxes as you exit, and we will have your next student body president by the end of the day!” Despite his attempt at enthusiasm, his excitement convinced nobody. There was no buzz among the students; at least not the kind he was hoping for. The bell rang, and students shuffled towards their next classes, shoving votes into the boxes as they left. The other candidates and I helped Mr. Lewis c...

Read story

“The Scythe of Damascus” by Zaslow Crane

Submitted to Contest #55

Wordcount 1705 The Scythe Of Damascus by Zaslow Crane “The Scythe of Damascus has existed for over 800 years. We work behind the scenes to create a better society; a more peaceful society.” “The Nazis and most of Russian history notwithstanding…?” An impatient sounding voice interrupted. Benurus made an almost prim face, obviously stifling a much more stark and angry sort of response. It was clear that the delegate from the Donns and Dells had at least embarrassed the speaker; more likely dama...

Read story

“M.M.M. for short” by Katie Moyes

Submitted to Contest #55

“All praise the high one” a single voice rang through the rough stone walls. “Praises to the high one” several voices chanted from underneath pointed black hoods. “Alright, alright. Settle down, Jerry, you know we voted to get rid of all this stupid ‘high one’ nonsense last meeting” A single figure in bright scarlet robes with a golden smiling mask stepped onto a podium in the center of the natural theater. “Oh yeah, that’s right, so sorry you’re worship” Jerry waddled his heavy form in front of the base of the podium. “All praise the maj...

Read story

“A WORLD REBORN” by N. Batts

Submitted to Contest #55

“Nah, man. I’m going back for the girl,” I said to Katy and Trevor as we walked out of the East Oak Theater on the sidewalk. Katy sighed and Trevor cheered.“I knew he would say that. It is that extra of knowing him, I tell ya, Katy!” Trevor exclaimed. Trevor smiled and high-fived me.“Well, it’s only one year more than my eight, plus I am his girlfriend. Anyways, I’d be runnin’ out of there,” Katy said softly.“Me too. Say what are you two doing tonight for your birthdays?” Trevor asked, hoping to be invited.“My family has the annual gala...

Read story

“The Ruby Necklace” by Luke Brucker

Submitted to Contest #55

I remember vividly the day that Catherine Newfield died. I had just gotten home from my hellhole of a job and turned on the TV. As I was flipping through programs, I came across a news channel that displayed the words, “Catherine Newfield found dead- Suicide suspected,” accompanied by a picture of her wrinkled, smug face. I had to read the caption a couple of times for it to fully register in my brain. The Newfields were the richest family in America, but nobody knew why. Catherine was, by far, the richest of the Newfields. I hadn’t the slig...

Read story

“The Brotherhood” by Eric Mock

Submitted to Contest #55

Tim fumed as he dusted the dark, dank attic of his family’s two-story home. It was only 1:00 p.m. but you couldn’t tell up here with the lack of windows. The only light for the entire room was a shaky lightbulb hanging from a chain. That left a lot of dark corners and shadows that wreaked havoc with Tim’s vivid imagination. But right now, thankfully, his anger drowned out his fear. “This family sucks,” he muttered. His sister tormented him daily, his mother made him clean here despite telling her many times it scared him; and his fath...

Read story

“Sex education is intense” by Dennis Love Jr

Submitted to Contest #55

Sex education at Pablo Escobar's Cartel housing in Colombia South America I know I'm not the only one who has went through this but I would guess people like me and my experiences in sex this way are very few and far between. While in Colombia South America in the compound Pablo Escobar used to house his drug trade workers as a 3rd grade child I was having sex with a Colombian woman and was almost at the peak of what a 3rd grade boy should have had for one of his first sexual experiences when a cartel killer that had his mind o...

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 ⭢