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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

“Sanctuary ” by Jason Licitra

Submitted to Contest #55

Outside the walls of the church the chorus of battle had finally silenced. Two men sat within the once proud structure, which now lay broken and battered from the unrelenting bombings. To each of them it seemed as though the sounds of chaos that rang outside would never end. One sat against the pews, clutching a wound on his bandaged knee while the other remained standing, his gaze focused on the stained glass windows that still laid unbroken. “Do you hear that Charlie? Looks like they’ve finally given it up.” He turned to look at his...

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“Undercover” by Ebony Rose

Submitted to Contest #55

"Loosen up." Chole giggles, grabbing two cups of some beverage. Probably alcohol. "Sure whatever." Jenelle rolls her eyes. She grabs a cup from Chole then scans the room. Most everyone was drunk or at least drinking. This was a college party after all. Jenelle takes a sip of her drink and then scrunches her nose up, "what was that?" Chole and her boyfriend Sam laugh. "That was my specialty, " Sam boasts, downing his own cup. "Sam baby do you want to see if we can find an empty room?" Sam grins and the Chole adds, "Jenny go meet since people,...

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“Cloud Club” by Artemis Q.

Submitted to Contest #55

The message--which was hatefully typed by Mr. Fox, carried by Dr. Silver down three flights of stairs, approved by Orchid as she scrambled to hide the top secret folder with the symbol of a key against the sun, carried by Dr. Silver down another two flights of stairs, sent down a clear plastic tube in a parachute, flown by a carrier pigeon one mile, dropped in a mail truck, and finally hand-delivered to Clay--was a simple two-word note: “Election day.” After all this time spreading his campaign slogan, “Clay is the way,” and parading through...

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“there not vampires are they ” by Alexandria Pierce

Submitted to Contest #55

One day I decided I’d like an office to write in. I decided to go down to the basement. I walked in on a rabbit hooked up to an I.V draining the rabbit of blood. I decided to turn on the lamp just in case my eyes were deceiving me. I stared at the rabbit. I decided to wander around and I found a brewery for wine and shelves and shelves of wine. Today I texted lilybeth to come over for a family dinner and told mom and dad that lilybeth was coming over. It was family dinner and I bluntly said since when are you two vampires. For a while they r...

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“the secret of the rosewood box” by Isla Gibson

Submitted to Contest #55

If Caitlin had not been home from school that Thursday , her life would have been completely different. She would have gone to the dismal private school she attended , gone to college, got a job, settled down, and never known the secret of The Rosewood Box.But, she was home that Thursday, and you shall see what happened because of it.Caitlin awoke to the crashing of hail. She bolted upright. she glanced at the clock. 10:00?!? She was supposed to be there two hours ago! She got dressed so fast her shirt got turned inside out. She ran down the...

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“The Ring” by LuAnn Williamson

Submitted to Contest #55

The Ring by LuAnn Williamson I have never liked shopping. I blame it on a defective double X chromosome. Trying on clothes is a chore. My best friend once took me to the mall, asked to see my keys and refused to give them back until I bought something for myself. I still have the skirt. So a trip to the grocery store is not an exercise in joy and sunshine. Since the pandemic, I’ve gone as early in the morning as I can to avoid people. Only I’ve stopped seeing them as humans and only look on them as possible ...

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“Keeping It in the Family” by Siobhan Stone

Submitted to Contest #55

"2383…2383…” the elderly man who ran the storage facility murmured quietly to himself as he led me up two flights of stairs and down three long corridors before we came to the right door. He unlocked it for me and left me to it with a small condolent smile. The steel door rolled up smoothly and, flicking the light on, I sighed wearily at the contents. The six-foot by six-foot room was packed to the gills with brown metal filing cabinets and white banker’s boxes stuffed with manila folders. Against the back wall ...

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“The Unclosed Windows of the Past” by Sanctus Akuma

Submitted to Contest #55

Darius walked down the stairs of his hostel in a noticeable disturbed mood at about 8 am Saturday morning. ‘Good morning Darius,” his course mate Sylvester greeted him. “Going out to begin the weekend but why in such a mood, what’s up guy?” “Hey Silver, morning?” replied Darius. “Let me show you something man, come on in,” beckoning Sylvester and they walked back into Darius’ room. “Hi man, hear is a photograph of my late great grandfather and his two brothers in a tobacco garden,” said Darius, giving the photo to Sylvester. “Hey guy. What a...

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“Ancestral Legend” by Divya Dileep

Submitted to Contest #55

It is generally hard for people to wake up early morning, me on the other hand, I am a morning person. I like to wake up around the time I can feel the sun peeking through my windows as if to remind me that it is a new day with new possibilities. If I had known what today will bring with its light, I would have never woken up. As a custom since my childhood my granddad sits beside me every day just when I am about to wake up. Today he greets me by saying “Good morning Anvesha. Happy 17th birthday darling. Are you ready to start your college...

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“Ripples of Life” by Sandy Buxton

Submitted to Contest #55

The monitors beeped and whirred while Bob and Cindy stared at this unknown doctor. Unlike them, her appearance was starched and perfect. Which only made the words coming out of her mouth more horrifying. They, on the other hand, were living inside a tornado. Understanding where to look for solid ground took a supreme effort. Nothing was happening the way they dreamed for the last months. Bob recovered first. “What are you talking about? If it is one in a million odds, how can Serena be that one?” He...

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“An Old Man's Secret” by Vyom Ashar

Submitted to Contest #55

It was raining that afternoon, it had been since the morning, as a result, the ground outside the farmhouse was wet and muddy, the wind blowing heavily severely crashed into the cornfields giving out a mighty roar. weather reports had stated that the rain would continue on till the morning of the next day but in that rural town this was no shocking news, the citizens had gotten used to the erratic weather along with the isolation and the bad beer made by the only brewery in miles, these were the town's specialties amongst other things. ...

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“The Legacy” by Kieri Zink

Submitted to Contest #55

They have clipped my wings and I can no longer fly. I’m fading away. Much of the time the little strength I have leaves me and I retain only enough energy to lie here. If I am to survive I will need to move. This place is dangerous for me. The wrought-iron fence surrounding our expansive property has proven to be less for keeping others out and more for keeping me in. I am a bird in a cage. Like a pet. “Freyja,” my mother says from the doorway. I can hear the tinge of ...

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“The End of a Generation. ” by Shelby Schwartz

Submitted to Contest #55

A family secret is a hard one to keep. Until it’s time to end the chain. The shovel clinks against small rocks as they continue to dig. Digging a deep enough hole. The light of the moon their only guide to how well they are doing. Dirt flies over their shoulder landing on the ground with a thump. As the hole gets deeper, the pile grows higher. When they feel it’s deep enough, they set down their shovel and climb out of the pit. They dust their hands off their equally dirty pants. In the shallows of the thick woods surrounding them, they grab...

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“The Secret” by Dorene Blaha

Submitted to Contest #55

Angela logged onto her computer and waited for her email inbox to pop up. It was early, just before sunrise and the house was quiet. She was the first one up this morning. She had rolled right out of bed with tousled hair and wearing an old oversized t-shirt as a night gown. She yawned wishing she had slipped on her slippers to warm up her cold feet. She tapped on her mouse waiting impatiently. Her legs shook restlessly under her desk as a shiver traveled up her spine. The house was chilly, making the wait...

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“My Little Secret” by Chelsie Reid

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Five little words that changed Liana’s life. She remembered the day her little sister Raquel showing up one day early in the morning. There were rushed words about how she was sorry and then a knew and unexpected addition was added to her life. She looked down in to the pink and white bassinet. She couldn’t believe one little secret could change their lives. For one her sister was no where to be found. It was almost as if she never existed. She only new her sister was alive because every now and then a mysterious pay...

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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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