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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#280: Talk That Talk

Don’t forget to use the hashtag #ReedsyTalk to share your stories (and potentially get featured on our social accounts)!

As an aspiring author, one story element I constantly struggle with is dialogue. Writing realistic, engaging dialogue is no easy feat — but when done well, it can help readers get to know your characters better, advance your plot, and improve the overall pace of your story.

This week, let’s challenge ourselves by composing stories focused on dialogue. Who knows? You might discover something new about your characters based on what they say (or don’t say)!

This week's prompts

Write a story that solely consists of dialogue. (No dialogue tags, actions, or descriptions. Just pure dialogue!)

Dialogue – 185 stories

Start or end your story with a character asking a question.

Dialogue – 78 stories

Write a story in which two or more people have a conversation — without using any quotation marks.

Dialogue – 36 stories

Center your story around a character who overhears others talking about them.

Dramatic – 37 stories

Write a story that includes someone (or something) saying, “No, don’t!”

Dramatic – 44 stories

Stories

“Talk...just talk ” by David Nutt

Submitted to Contest #280

Talk….just talk Excuse me. Can you please tell me the way to the pet shop? A hundred yards down the road to your left. You're a handsome bird. I know, but thank you. Can you talk? Yes, I can talk, but be quiet. The shop staff don’t know. &nbs...

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“Table for Six” by S. L. Potts

Submitted to Contest #280

“I’ve given this some serious thought.”“The Dinner?”“No.”“What are you talking about then? You can’t just start a conversation like that.”“I am, so I can. Besides, we’ve been here for hours and we’ve been talking.”“But we weren’t talking just now. Never mind, what are you talking about?”“I think I'm gonna go full pirate.”“I’m afraid you’ve lost me.”“Full pirate. I’m gonna blast Ride of the Valkyries from my minivan, paint the hood with a jolly roger, and end every sentence by saying ARRRR…ARRRR.”“Full pirate.”“Uh huh, ARRRR.”“...”“Can I get ...

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“Like a thief in the night” by Felicia Dobson

Submitted to Contest #280

“I’m here.”“The key is under the welcome mat. The alarm is off and Ruben is at the kennel. Should be no issue getting inside.”“Neighbors?”“Out of town”“What time does John arrive home?”“He’s working late then going to the gym. You have time.”“ For your sake, you best be right. I’m not looking to go back in the pen for some petty crime bullshit.”“Just get the file off the computer, easy.”“Easy, then why haven’t you done it yourself.”“You know why.”“Yeah, we know , we know”“Are you in yet?”“Yes.”“The office is down the hall and to the left. Do...

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“Redemption” by Laura Gray

Submitted to Contest #280

Why’d ya do that? I think you know. Humor me. Where do I begin? That week you gave me the silent treatment because I made a joke you didn’t get in front of our friends. Or our first wedding anniversary. You left me at the restaurant because you thought I was flirting with the waiter. Or what about … I came back for you. Sheesh. You make it sound a lot worse than it was. Two hours later! It was so humiliating. I should have left you then. All right, all right. I get it. I was a crap husband. No, Will, Kody Brown is a crap husband to his siste...

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“A Conversation” by Kathrine J. N. Rajalingam

Submitted to Contest #280

‘’Hey! Long time no see.’’‘’Yeah.’’‘’You seem a little glum.''''What do you expect?''‘’A friendly greeting might have been great.’’‘’What do you want?’’‘’Miss me?’’‘’What?’’‘’Do you miss me?’’‘’I ...’’‘’Why are you glancing around?’’‘’Leave me alone.’’‘’Oh! You don’t want to be seen talking to me.’’‘’Does that surprise you?’’‘’How rude.’’‘’You need to go.’’‘’You wanted me, so here I am.’’‘’That’s not true.’’‘’You invited me.’’‘’No!’’‘’You can deny all you want, but that’s the truth.’’‘’I want no trouble.’’‘’I am not here to get you in troubl...

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“Goodnight, sweet prince” by Stephanie Briggs

Submitted to Contest #280

Many nights I lay in bed attempting to capture our memories into a profound narrative in preparation for today. But, I stand up here and realize I’m not prepared. I never was, and was never going to be. How am I to sum up my father’s life in just a few minutes? I cannot, however, here are some fleeting moments I’ve caught and kept. I’d like to ask you all to turn to chapter fifteen, page 174. This book, To Kill a Mockingbird, was my father’s favorite story and he often referred to one scene over again. The little girl, Scout, tries to ...

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“The Christmas Gift” by Oveta Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #280

You are giving your sister-in-law coat hangers? Yes, two sets. What’s wrong with coat hangers? I would not call coat hangers an endearing gift. Who said it was an endearing gift? What has she done to you? I have never heard you say one word about her. Indeed, I don’t know her at all, but Webster doesn’t care much for his sister. Your husband, whom I have always had concerns about, doesn’t like his sister. Why? I’m not sure. From what I can tell, Webster and his sister have never been close. Marie seems like a likable person. Let me get this ...

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“The Mission” by Cheryl Good

Submitted to Contest #280

Well? So? How was it? Was it all you thought it would be and more, hmmmm?Ahhh. Yeah, well, let me just say, ummm, it was nothing I could ever imagine. It was, it was, uhh…I don’t think there’s a word for what it was.Really? Hahahaha…Details, please. Don’t do that thing you do. Just get to the point. I need to know what I missed. Hah! - I didn’t last more than a couple of years myself so there’s not much I remember and not sure if I am ready to try again.Yeah, well. That was my goal, to not have to return. After the first few years I tried to...

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“Of Moths and Fireflies” by Dominique Thomason

Submitted to Contest #280

"Hiya hey.""Heya hi.""Can I ask you something, kinda off topic?""You always do.""Yeah, well, sometimes silence needs a noise.""Does it now?""Every once in a while, maybe. Silence may have a soul too, waiting for something or someone on or from the other side.""What do you mean, exactly?""Do you ever feel like you're carrying around something that you can't see? You may not exactly feel it either, but you can tell it's there, watching, waiting.""Like a ghost?""Kind of, but it's not scary -- more like... constant. Unshakeable. Like it's always...

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“Do not touch” by Cosmas Broek

Submitted to Contest #280

“Why can’t I see?”“Because it is dark.”“Who are you? Where am I?”“It is dark, so I don’t know where we are.”“What happened? Why are we here?”“Dude, just shut the fuck up. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know were we are and I don’t want to talk to you guys.”“Wait, there are more than the two of us?”“The endless darkness here is only filled with the dread of the end of our existence.”“Oh great! Now the poet starts talking too again!”“What happened? Where are we? Who are you?”“It seems we are caught in the realm of nothingness, somewhere i...

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“Thing” by Sophie Lehnen

Submitted to Contest #280

“Come here, you have got to see this.”“Ew, what is that?”“Beats me, but I kind of want to touch it.”“You're so weird, it looks disgusting. I think I'll stay as far away from this thing as I can.”“Oh come on. Don't be boring.”“I'm not boring, you're just crazy and I'm normal.”“What if we touch it together really fast? I mean, what could possibly happen?”“I could feel gross and hate you forever.”“Okay drama queen. Just do it.”“Fine, but this doesn't mean I'm going to like it.”“Never said you had to.”“Okay, whew, I can do this.”“On the count of...

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“Truce” by Emaley Rose

Submitted to Contest #280

Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting something? No, Sister. Then shut up. I've had enough of the whispering. Yes, Inspector, as I say, they're here with me now. They were the last ones to see her, aye. Half nine, they said. No. Well, you have to understand, Sir, we're quite short-staffed at the moment--we've nearly two hundred children at our facility. That they are, Sir, aye, desperate times. Yes, we'll be expecting you. Yes, of course, Sir, they've all been sent back to their rooms for the time being. Mm-hm. Yes, Sir. Thank you very much for y...

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“Santa's Workshop” by Cindy Miller

Submitted to Contest #280

“Where do you think we’re going, Kitty Marie?” “Puppy Pete, I don’t know. I have been trying to keep my ears and eyes open and see if I can sniff out our destination.” “I sure do hope some nice little girl bought us. You never know these days when parents and kids point and click on a web site. They can’t select which animal they want.” “No, Puppy Pete. I know! I have some cousins in a boutique in Vermont. They s...

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“Bedtime Story” by Chay Renae

Submitted to Contest #280

-Once upon a time, deep in an enchanted forest, there was…*Noooo!-What’s wrong Fletch?*That’s where your story was laast week!-Oh. Okay… Mmmm…. Oh! Once upon a time on a planet in a distant galaxy far, far away…^Not that one either!-Why not Phoebes? I don’t think I’ve ever told you two a story set in space.^Not interested.-Alright then… What about a story that takes place on a farm in the old west?*What kind of farm?-A…^Booooooring!-What kind of story would you like to hear tonight then Phoebes? You seem to have something specific in mind.^P...

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“The existential kink” by Morana Anar

Submitted to Contest #280

“Yo, Jenny?”“Mhm.”“Why do you love to torture yourself?”“The fuck are you on, Carl?”“Think about it, your ex was a piece of shit but deep down you got off on it一”“You want me to slap you or what? Watch your mouth.”“I’m not saying what he did was right,”“Good to see you’re not demented,”“I’m just trying to find a new angle for the situation so you’re not stuck as the victim.”“... and how’s that gonna help?”“You take back the narrative from that asshole. You call power back to yourself.”“And what do I do with that narrative, lie to myself?”“No...

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$250

Prize money

380

Contest entries

138

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 13, 2024 EST

Won by Jay Wayne 🏆

Title: 45 Seconds

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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