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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

“Firs and Garlands” by Valentina Kaledina

Submitted to Contest #280

-Hi?-“Firs and Garlands” customer support, good afternoon ma’am, Sundeep speaking. How can I help you?-Oh hi! Finally I reached you. Listen, I ordered a Christmas tree for delivery but it hasn’t arrived yet. -When you were expecting it?-It was supposed to arrive two days ago, on the 5th, and today is already the 7th!-Okay, let me take a look. What kind of order was that? -It was a Nordman Fir, aromatic.-I mean was it premium service or budget?-I guess it was premium, we wanted to have no headache, me and my boyfriend, he was orderi...

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“Where's My Donut?” by Fray Crowett

Submitted to Contest #280

“Why is my donut missing John?”“Well, Caroline, I assume someone ate it and since you're asking me, that someone probably isn't you.”“You’re right, I didn’t eat it, someone else ate my donut. Now, tell me the truth, did you eat my donut John?”“No, I didn't eat your donut, I'll admit that I did eat A donut today, but it wasn't your donut. I went and bought myself a donut.”“You don't even normally like donuts that much, why in the world would you go out and buy your own donut?”“Well, I saw your donut-”“And ate it?.” “No. I forgot how much...

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“The tip line” by Pavel Soham

Submitted to Contest #280

Healthmax_Shooter_Helpline. If you are trying to report an active shooting, please hang up and dial 911. If you are reporting seeing a suspect, please say, or press '1'. For anything else, please press, or say, '0'. For the tipline associated with our re...-'1'. Is anybody there?Thank you for calling. Your call is important to us. To report a CEO shooting, press/say 1. For a CTO, press/say 2. For others...-'1'.Thank you for your patience. I am an AI assistant designed to make your reporting process as efficient and wholesome as possible. If ...

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“Kill Your Feelings” by Brendan Trump

Submitted to Contest #280

“Can I get a light when you’re done?” “Yeah, lean over here.” “I kind of can’t believe you still haven’t managed to quit.” “I never actually tried, to be honest. I just talked about wanting to.” “That checks out.” “Shut up. And stay over here, for a minute.” “Just for a minute. You smell nice.” “You smell nice, too. You always had a particular scent to you. I always just assumed it was cologne or deodorant, or something. I’ve never found it anywhere else, though. It must be a you thing.” “Do you still smell it now, through the smoke?” “Oh,...

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“Elowye and Sylvan” by Chris Ashline

Submitted to Contest #280

“Hello there. Where are you traveling to?”“I’m going to Thorindall for guild registration.”“That’s where I’m heading as well. It’s that time when everyone our age needs to register with a guild and determine the path to our destinies. Mind if I walk with you?”“Sure, my name is Elowye. Which guild do you intend to seek an apprenticeship in?”“I’m Sylvan. I’ve been working at the inn developing my skills as a bard, but possibly looking to train as a hunter as well. How about you?”I grew up learning the farming trade wit...

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“Husband and Wife” by Mattea Cone

Submitted to Contest #280

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”“I’m not.”“You’re not?”“No.”“Are you alright?”“I guess.”“You’re not giving me much to work with.”“I don’t know what you want me to tell you.”“Something. Anything.”“I want a divorce.”“Why?”“I just do. It’s not working.”“What about Clara?”“She’s old enough.”“You’re not thinking.”“I told you I wasn’t.”“This isn’t fair.”“Why not?”“I love you. Don’t you love me?”“Yes.”“So, why are you leaving?”“I don-” “Stop it. Stop with whatever you’re about to say.”“You wanted an explanation.”“I just don’t think I’m ready to hear...

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“It's a Deal” by Guinnevere Rose

Submitted to Contest #280

"Come out, come out wherever you are....Hellooooo, dark and powerful magical creatures. Where are you hiding?...I know you're out there. Here I am a young virgin girl, just ready to be eaten or whatever it is you do. I doubt you see a lot of my kind in your world, you might as well take this opportunity-" "Hmph. You think us creatures of darkness are that easy to trap?" "Aha it worked! But where is your voice coming from? Tell me where you're hiding." "Where do you think I'm hiding, little one. I'm a shadow creature. I'm in the shadows." "Co...

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“The Wrong Way Down” by Quindella Dodson

Submitted to Contest #280

“I’m late, I’m very late for an important date!”“Oh, excuse me?!”“Cannot talk now, sorry!”“Wait, please! I was hoping you could tell me where I am exactly.”“Miss, I really cannot. My clock tells me I am late, late for an extremely, extremely important date. And I am not stopping. No way!”“Well slow down a moment so I can keep up.”“Can’t slow down, you keep up!”“My goodness, I’ve never seen a talking rabbit before. Are there others like you here?”“Oh there’s many mysterious, wild creatures and games down here. And I’m on my way out.“My, reall...

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“The Confession Room” by Nicole Ecleo

Submitted to Contest #280

“In the name of the father… and of the son… and of the holy spirit. Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.”“May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow. How long has it been since your last confession?”“It’s been… like… a decade…? I—I can’t even remember.”“At least you have decided to turn back to God. What would you like to ask forgiveness for?”“To start, uhm, I’ve been eating quite a lot. I don’t know if it’s gluttony but like… eh… it’s just my coping mechanism. It’s been doing more harm than good anywa...

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“Conversation with a Haitian Police Detective in 1980” by H.e. Ross

Submitted to Contest #280

The sun was setting. The trees hiding the homes of Port au Prince were half on fire half in deep green. It was hard to see the sea at sunset from the Grand Hotel Oloffson. There was a glare in the haze of dust and ever present simmer. Noise of traffic was there when thought about and not there when not. It was just too hot to complain about the noise so in Haitian fashion it was stuffed casually into its own box of non-consciousness. We were having coffee on the verandah of the Grand Hotel Oloffson in Port au Prince. Toulouse, my friend, was...

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“Life's River” by Siegfried Pueblitz

Submitted to Contest #280

Life's River (For Sigmund) Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end. -William Shakespeare 1. ...

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“Johnny's Demands” by Dastan Blades

Submitted to Contest #280

Jacob returned home with a smile on his face, still satisfied with the feeling of having bullied Matt throughout the day. With his backpack still slung over his shoulder and wearing a tight Calvin Klein t-shirt, he grabbed a bottle of water in the kitchen and headed towards the living room, the walls of which were decorated in dark mahogany and with golden statuettes.In the center was an armchair that could only be described as a throne, with armrests carved in the shape of snakes, their heads facing each other. The backrest, upholstered in ...

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“The Dinner Lady” by Jon Dane

Submitted to Contest #280

Trigger warning: paedophilia How can people not have faces? Of course, every single person has their own recognisable set of features that define their individuality, but Harry could never bring to mind a single one of the half dozen or so middle-aged ladies who cooked and served his daily school lunch. Of course, that was mainly because he never really looked at them. To him, they were just the fuzzily observed people behind the fat hand or the thin hand that doled out the chips.Until Mrs Smith arrived. She seemed to think that being a dinn...

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“Death for Centuries” by Madisyn Murray

Submitted to Contest #280

Seven minutes have gone by and no Livvy. I decided to levitate myself back to the second floor and headed towards the room Archer and Lyra were exploring earlier to see if Livvy has gone inside there. ‘Okay, I think this house either doesn’t like me or is trying to show off their spooky side.’ I thought, using my other hand to make quotations. The red hallway looks like it’s beginning to stretch as I inch my way closer to the room with the hidden bookcase. Each door I open, I can sense Livvy is not present. As I open the sec...

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“Poetry in Motion” by Nancy Allbright

Submitted to Contest #280

Christmas with the family, all mistletoe and wine and a string of Christmas cards going from one end of the mantlepiece to the other.I watch the Christmas tree lights blink at me as if they are as confused as I am. Hell. Christmas hell in Bolton, Bromley Cross to be exact.‘Come on Libby,’ my sister Jessica cajoles. ‘You can’t keep sitting there looking all forlorn. You resemble a little scruffy rag doll that nobody wants to play with. It’s like you have fallen out of a toy box and been trodden on.’I glare at her. If that sounds weird to you ...

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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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