Write about a character who’s always thinking of things they’ll say to people, but who ends up saying very little when they finally get the chance.

Posted in Character on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 219 stories

“Speak No Evil” by Bobby Bone

Submitted to Contest #76

The sound of the alarm clock echoed throughout the room. Antonio did his best to reach over and hit the snooze button but to no avail. The arduous task of sitting up, bending forward and striking the snooze button was necessary so getting up and starting his day was now the plan. It was earlier than normal for Antonio as he usually cut everything close when meeting deadlines. Another miserable day was his first thought as he struggled to get out of bed and head to the bathroom. A disappointing feeling came over Anton...

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“Silently Talking” by Katie Moyes

Submitted to Contest #76

Maribel listened intently to the radio as she finished washing the dishes, “As Superman races to stop the bomb, will he be in time to save Lois? Tune in next week to find out” she sighed, wishing her life was full of supermans and heroes in capes. In her preoccupied state, a dish slipped as she halfheartedly wiped it with a towel. The smash of the porcelain on linoleum brought her back to the present. “Oh, no, no, no, no, no'' She tutted to herself, fearful of what Jim would say about this when he got home. Gingerly, she cleaned up th...

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“Wednesday night.” by A M

Submitted to Contest #76

Content warning: abuse The steady flashing of the police lights are etched into her vision, burning like the after-glow of a sunset through her closed lids. Elena could still feel the bite of the paramedic’s ice pack on her raw skin, could still hear the doubt in the police officer’s question as he asked her if she was sure she felt comfortable sleeping at home. It had been hours since the cops had left. Elena lay in bed, listening to the rhythmic sound of her sons’ breathing as they slept in the makeshift cot on the floor. They...

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“Wordless thoughts” by Farah Naime

Submitted to Contest #76

I wake up with my heart beating fast, I look at my mobile, four am, of course it is. I turn my pillow for it to be colder, but no matter how many times I turn, I cannot fall asleep, I can’t stop thinking about what I have to say to Joanne, tomorrow-no, today I tell her how I feel, after years of being too much of a nervous coward, I’ve set my mind into it; and let’s not start with the dreaded conversation with my parents who have always found such comfort in our geographical closeness, but after the Paris Galler...

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“Smallest minds” by Naudia White (Student)

Submitted to Contest #76

Once, there was a girl named Madison. She was always scared to say how she felt. She always felt sad and frustrated because her mom never listened to her. Ever since her dad died Madison's mom wanted her daughter to live her dream, since she couldn't because her husband died from a gun shot. Madison's dad Bill, was walking from the store and was shot. She would try to tell her mom she didn't want to live her dream. She wanted to live ...

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“The Boy, The Bitch, and The Buzz” by Alisia Hassler

Submitted to Contest #76

“I’m sorry, babe. It’s over.” I feel the blood rush to my cheeks and my hands start to tremble. I’m not embarrassed or sad or whatever petty emotion I’m sure he expects me to feel. I am enraged. My fists curl to stop the shaking, and I start to calculate what I will say to this asshole. This must be your sad attempt at a joke. I think of responding. You are breaking up with me? You, who cheated on me not once, not twice, but nine times with...

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“Speak Up” by Daniel W

Submitted to Contest #76

Ryan watched from the edge of the lunchroom table as the four 7th graders sat down a few seats away from him. He recognized them as the kids in all of his classes: the popular, outgoing, smart, and helpful kids everyone seemed to look up to. The kids who got 100s in Math 3, of all classes. The kids who brought glory to Weddington Middle School through winning math competitions and reading the most books. No one else was on the level of Ava Wong, Rishi Chandra, Kevin Huang, and Amun Kera, otherwise known as The Group. Ryan, who had ju...

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“Caramel” by Chris D

Submitted to Contest #76

All of this running is bad for her diet. It should be her feet running, not her thoughts, speeding through her head that she can only slow with caramels when she opens her mouth to say things that she shouldn't. Sure, she could be stuffing her face with other things, like yet another salad, or even an apple, but her pockets are practically non-existent, and it's not like she is going to start carrying around a purse full of Tupperware, just so she can crack open a dish of boiled potatoes and avoid the question. The clerk at the store frowns ...

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“Time” by Jennifer Hansley

Submitted to Contest #76

“I’m going to do it this time.” I said to myself. Being a writer led to a hermit lifestyle. When I realized I was withdrawing from society, I applied to the local newspaper. It’s a tiny thing, hardly a window in the building. When I was handed an application, I stared at the blank spaces, desiring to represent myself well but having nothing to say. Life was blowing by me while I huddled in a blanket and created worlds which did not exist. I could lie, but I did not do that sort of thing. I could phone in...

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“By the Riverside” by Elizabeth Sayer

Submitted to Contest #76

The dawn bled sure and true into the paling sky that lay above the boy leaning over the calm river. Rains had not yet begun to come in earnest and thus the water of the river was lazy in the dewy morning air. He did not know that I was watching him from my position just behind an old willow that curtained the bank of the river. He never saw me. But I saw him. And I loved him. I have loved him ever since I first laid eyes on him. The boy does not do anything during his visits, simply stares into the water. I must admit that I have n...

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“Emerald Crow” by Charlotte Bedford

Submitted to Contest #76

Trigger warning: stalking, murder I had to say something. It was the politest thing to do. I needed to at least give them words of kindness and sympathy. I had been thinking about them all day. What would I say? How would they react? I wanted to have it all rehearsed before it was executed. I was going into the supermarket when I first thought of an idea, I was leaning down to pick up a corkscrew when it popped into my brilliant mind. The corkscrew had a dazzling emerald encrusted on the gold top. This was a fitting gift. I would present her...

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“WHEN WORDS FAIL” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #76

Shortening his name resulted in his being commonly known as Nero. He was about 45, was dark, but had a smiling face. He was a businessman and was quite prosperous. He had set apart a portion of his profits to be given to charity. Unlike others of his ilk, he did not live a cloistered life. He was available to all. He was concerned about welfare of people. Take for instance the case of his milk delivery man. He had met with an accident while on his way doing his job and was injured. Hearing about it Nero visited his home and helped his wife a...

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“till the day I say” by Ashir Butt

Submitted to Contest #76

“Maybe I should say that you are the only thing that matters” Andrew thought as he brushed his teeth “Or maybe I should say that you are the sunshine of my life and I will go to an eternal darkness without you” As always he was in the deep sea of his seemingly never ending thoughts that always arise with the question what should I say?He was done brushing his teeth so he started walking towards his bed. He feared that this time would be like the time when he had to tell Caroline (his 10th grade girlfriend) that he is gay. He thought that he ...

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“So Much to Say but Such Little Time” by Maggie Brown

Submitted to Contest #76

Bellowing wind blows mercilessly against my window shield in a futile attempt to hold me back; raindrops like bullets plummet down from the heavens above but their desperate cries are drowned out by the adrenalin which pulses through my veins. My heart rate climbs and I can sense the rhythmic pulse through my entire body. Despite my trembling hands I tighten my grip on the wheel as I feel it is the only thing keeping me grounded. Everything before this moment unfolding right before me, now seems irrelevant and the one thing that concerns me ...

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“Jesse's Plight” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #76

Jesse's Plight Howard Seeley It was ten in the morning and Jesse was staring out the classroom window. The sun was out, and he could see the ninth-grade gym class playing soccer. The cheers and shouts were loud enough to pierce through the glass, further distracting him. I wish I were out there with them, he thought. But reality was stronger than fiction. He turned to the biology teacher, Mr. Palmer. In Jesse’s mind, he wasn’t much more than a bore. Mr. Palmer’s droning voice and the gibberish he has written on the blackboard trying to e...

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Write about a character who’s always thinking of things they’ll say to people, but who ends up saying very little when they finally get the chance.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 219 stories

“Speak No Evil” by Bobby Bone

“Silently Talking” by Katie Moyes

“Wednesday night.” by A M

“Wordless thoughts” by Farah Naime

“Smallest minds” by Naudia White (Student)

“The Boy, The Bitch, and The Buzz” by Alisia Hassler

“Speak Up” by Daniel W

“Caramel” by Chris D

“Time” by Jennifer Hansley

“By the Riverside” by Elizabeth Sayer

“Emerald Crow” by Charlotte Bedford

“WHEN WORDS FAIL” by Sivaram Govindaraj

“till the day I say” by Ashir Butt

“So Much to Say but Such Little Time” by Maggie Brown

“Jesse's Plight” by Howard Seeley

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story told exclusively through dialogue.

Write about two people who just can’t seem to understand each other, no matter how clearly they think they’re speaking.

Write about a character who is incapable of telling even the smallest lie or half-truth.

Write a conversation that takes place between two people who refuse to say what they mean.

Contest #76

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

787

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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