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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

“A secret for generations” by Rebecca Lee

Submitted to Contest #55

The sky was filled with fierce streaks of red and black – billowing smoke and flames – striking fear into the hearts of those traveling in their cars. Each one wondering what was on fire. It was 1954, a very cold January, in rural central Georgia. The small community of Murphy seemed to be location of the thickening smoke, and a choking haze. Jesse Plover was down the road at a neighbor’s when he walked outside to leave and he noticed the smell and the smoke. He stopped, and looked around, and instantly, Jesse knew – that fire was coming...

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“911 Pizza, How may I Help You?” by Abigail Romick

Submitted to Contest #55

Ringing.Girl: Hello.Operator: 911, what is your emergency?Girl: Yes. I would like to order a pizza.A momentary pause on the operator's end.Operator: (in a confused tone) Excuse me? Can you repeat that?Girl: I would like to order a pizza.Operator: You must be confused. Could you hand the phone over to one of your parents or other guardians?Girl: (in a raised voice) NO! (back to normal voice) It is your job to (emphasis on the following) HELP ME.Operator: (beginning to understand) You're not calling to order a pizza. Are you in danger?Gi...

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“Otherside ” by M Daly

Submitted to Contest #55

“Hey… HEY!” Stephen whispers, and then shouts. “Hey, you, Mike. Yeah you. Come here.” He motions Mike over to join him at his table. Mike obliges, his game of dominos with Jean, or, rather, versus Jean can wait. He’ll finishing kicking her butt in a moment.Mike sits opposite Stephen on the round formica table in one of the five plastic seats that are attached to the table at its stem.“Can you keep a secret?” Stephen whispers, his expression is grave but his eyes are wild.“Um. I’m not sure really. Probably. I think it would depend what it was...

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“Hellish Graduation” by Brandon Johnson

Submitted to Contest #55

Jax gazed at the beautiful gold ring that adorned his left index finger; It made a shimmering sparkle under the hot sun every time he shifted it. Small letters engraved the top of the ring. They read, “Stand Above The Enemy.” Jax never knew what that was supposed to mean, but he didn’t care. He appreciated the beauty of the ring for what it was; he received it from his father after turning 18, just like his father did from Jax’s grandfather and so on. The mystery of the ring didn’t bother him that much, but the fear of adult life ...

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“The Living Funeral Society” by Wake Lloire

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #55

Harold rarely read the newspaper anymore. Not the real, fold out while you have your morning coffee kind. He didn’t have to with news alerts set on his phone to deliver the most recent headline right to his device. Today, though, he had opted to put his phone in his sock drawer. He didn’t know what possessed him. His phone was his constant companion, and rarely ever even in his pocket these days. He was a news addict. He could guess the way the story would be written by the headline alone. He had begun to think of the opinion columnists a...

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“The Voice” by Harken Void

Submitted to Contest #55

“Tell me what’s been bothering you, Hubert.” Hubert took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. The clock ticked so loudly in the room, ticking down the time of his freedom as well as imprisonment with relentless persistence. “Okay, here goes.” He shifted position on top of the blankets. “I’m afraid I’m losing control over my life, doc.” “What makes you think that?” the psychiatrist asked, his voice calm and even. “Well, all the decisions that I make… they don’t seem like they are mine, you know? As if somebody else makes them for me, and I’m jus...

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“The Queen of Hearts” by 𝕊𝕦𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕚 🤍

Submitted to Contest #55

“It’s three in the morning. Why are you up?” my mother said in a tired voice.“I’ve got homework! If you’d helped me when I asked you to, maybe I’d be sleeping right now!” I shot back. I know, it’s wrong to speak to my mother like that. But she’s been so distant lately. I guess I can’t blame her. A few months ago, my parents got a divorce, and my mom hasn’t been the same since then. My dad hasn’t even called to see how I’m doing. He’s probably living in some fancy apartment somewhere in New York, partying every day. But that’s not the on...

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“Bloody Secret” by Brandi Yetzer

Submitted to Contest #55

Vibrant, red-stained lips consume Mayzie’s attention. They smack together before they’re moistened by the invasion of a wet tongue, leaving a trail on chapped lips. She can’t look away. It isn’t polite, she knows. Alex always told her she didn’t know how to behave appropriately in front of company. She stares too long, talks too softly, has no humor or personality.However, Alex isn’t here right now to fixate on Mayzie’s faults, so she longingly lingers on this woman’s features. Blush cheeks, pink glitter shimmering under eyelashes that are d...

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“Double Agent” by Jorja Orne

Submitted to Contest #55

It was a quiet evening in Accueil, France. The people were peacefully falling asleep in their homes. The street ruffians were running about as usual. Some shop’s were leaning towards their closing hour, while the high-level town member’s prepared for quite the eventful evening. “Sheriff Camus?” The receptionist said. “What is it?” She replied. “You told me to remind you that you had a meeting tonight at 7pm, at Mayor Abero’s home. Something about future gas leak prevention??” Camus had a slight sm...

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“Pasghetti ” by Sayani Sarkar

Submitted to Contest #55

Randall is sitting on the counter waiting for everyone to leave. He glances around to confirm he has left no task undone which could be brought up at the last moment and deter him. As the clock strikes four-thirty and the last person leaves the establishment, he picks up his backpack, cross-checks the items in it, and steps out. He scrutinizes his surroundings to make sure nobody sees him. Pulling out his bicycle, he rides away, occasionally checking his rear-view mirror in case he’s followed.Jonathan is in the middle of a fight. The other p...

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“How to Run a Secret Society” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #55

Great! You have finally admitted that you want to do this. The most important thing to do first is to remember that you have good reasons for starting your own society. These reasons will come out as you develop your own society and try to add members to the group. You should first keep all of the information on what you want from your society in a notebook. Not just any notebook. Maybe one of the notebooks that you are addicted to buying every time you pass through the local mall and stop at the dollar st...

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“The Guardian” by Al Johnson

Submitted to Contest #55

“Can you keep a secret?” Old Klay said through the phone feebly. He was dying, I was pretty sure. Right away I knew he had something important and urgent to tell me. The way he whispered it as if someone might overhear him. But of course, he made it clear that he had a secret to entrust to me. I would surely have hung up on him if he weren't my only friend in the past twenty years, Such a congenial companion especially when we went hunting. I would do everything within my capability for him, really. But there was no way I was going to keep ...

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“Stalemate” by Jessica C

Submitted to Contest #55

He calls for the last time on a Sunday night in late September. His voice is soft and slurred, and before he asks I tell him that I’m not coming this time. But we both know it’s a lie. So I pull myself together as I have done many, many times before, and I drive through a chilly rain to our old spot. He’s already in our booth; ghostly, half asleep and tapping his lucky blue lighter against the Formica. “This is the last time,” I say as I slide across from him. “We’ll see.” His smile is still my undoing. ...

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“Creature In the Woods” by Jessie Nice

Submitted to Contest #55

Little fingers trembling, Kyra slowly reached in front of her face to brush the wet bracken aside, parting the underbrush to reveal the scene in front of her. Her heart racing, she peered through the small gap, and as she did so, her eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat. Her mouth popped open in disbelief as she stared.It wasn’t what she was expecting. It wasn’t what she was expecting at all.Her small size coming in handy, she shifted slightly, silently as she could to get a better view, and she dared to pull the bracken back a l...

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“What's coming? ” by Moon Lion

Submitted to Contest #55

I leaned forward eagerly, watching the rain soaked male lead edge towards the girl, his lips- I frowned slightly, distracted from the ridiculous movie by even more ridiculous sounds. After a brief struggle to locate the remote, I switched off the show, shaken out of the romance by a strange set of noises. I frowned again, wondering if I'd actually heard something, or my inherited paranoia had finally caused me to snap. No, there it was again. I looked up at the ceiling and swore in annoyance. My little sister and her stupid friend, probab...

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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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