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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

“The Wrath of La Vipera Nera” by Jessie Kyler

Submitted to Contest #280

Content warning: Themes of kidnapping, physical violence, emotional distress, and gun violence.The Wrath of La Vipera Nera By Jessie Kyler “How long has it been?” Ale’s mouth was dry, but sweat dampened his lips. “47 minutes,” a voice replied. Closing his eyes, Ale drew in as much breath as his lungs would allow, then let it out in a deep sigh. 47 minutes. It felt like hours. There was no clock on the wall, no sunlight in the windows, no way for him to gauge how long he’d been captive; he would just have to keep asking.&n...

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“Crash #ReedsyTalk” by Jessi Andrews-Davison

Submitted to Contest #280

Trigger warning: This short story speaks of chronic illness and depression. It is deeply personal and fiction based on my life. Autonomic dysfunction: A condition which affects your body’s ability to maintain its automatic functions including, but not limited to, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, digestion, breathing, and tear and sweat production.Crash“Do you know where you are Mrs. Lynn?”The lights were bright in my vision. I could barely make out the room around me, but I knew that smell. “Smells like a hospital.”“Do you remem...

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“Pina Coladas” by Stephanie Rapo

Submitted to Contest #280

Does he think I’m asleep? I lay next to him in bed, back turned to him, breathing steady, fully aware of the distance between us. The way he turns the newspaper pages that he’s reading is so loud. Sleep for me would be impossible while he’s awake. He is always louder than he thinks he is. He definitely thinks I’m sleeping. He put down the paper on top of the bed covers and slides out ...

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“Eye of the Horse” by Konrad Nau

Submitted to Contest #280

Warning: This story contains a graphic highway death under questionable circumstances “Oh my god!!” shrieked the women sitting in the airport van third and fourth row bench seats as the frigid air rushed in. “Noooo!” I yelled, now alone and motionless in the second row. I never saw a guy die before, but I wasn’t totally surprised by what happened. “The door just opened and out he went!” sobbed one of the gals in the rear of the van. His body slammed onto the pavement of Pena Boulevard at 70 mph then was splattered by the US...

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“Crossing” by James Barrett

Submitted to Contest #280

Why is Church Street filled with police cars and flashing lights?My name is Kathleen Kelly. My age is eighty-seven. I was born in Belfast, but I’m presently in Dublin, Ireland. I am standing on the corner of Church and North King, holding a reusable bag of groceries from Morton's. The bag is mostly empty. Octogenarians like me only have a smidgen of disposable income to spend on sustenance. I’m next to the old Jameson distillery. Jameson. One of the things God gave to mankind to help deal with this endless suffering called life. Sex is a clo...

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“Adelphius Befouled” by Gabriel Brogden

Submitted to Contest #280

Adelphius BefouledBernie Gabriel Brogden*Trigger Warning: Contains elements of sexual violence, physical abuse, harassment of LGBTQ individuals, derogatory language, and underage prostitution“Are you taking or giving? ...Come on man, this doesn’t have to be an all day affair. Taking? Giving? ...That’s a hundred … Okay, then turn around, act like you’ve done this before. Now you want to be bashful? … Shoot, there goes my beeper. Got to make this quick … shhhhhhhhhh, somebody, anybody, the police might hear you. And I ain’t trying to get locke...

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“Chasing the Fairytale” by Eberechi Oti

Submitted to Contest #280

"Do you believe in fairy tales?" Charlotte’s mother had asked her once, when she was just four—innocent, wide-eyed, and unaware of the complexities of the world. She sat at her mother’s feet, her small body tucked into the rich folds of her auburn gown, her head nestled against the woman’s knees, as if the fabric of her mother’s love could shield her from anything outside their little world. Charlotte had looked up at her, her eyes wide and bright, gleaming with the wonder only a child could know. Her mind still spun with the words of the fa...

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“Why am I here?” by Zarah Quinn

Submitted to Contest #280

I jumped in puddles, danced in the rain, was swept up by streams and enveloped in others screams and yet after everything I still wished to be loved. No matter how lonely I was. No matter how much I hurt. My vision went blurry. I held my head in my hands when I looked up I saw people retreating, and my hands, my hands had blood on them. It felt like I was falling. But, I couldn’t. I had to get home. My left foot slid on the ground, I threw it infront of me, steady, slow. I took my right foot and landed it in another puddle. The murky water s...

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“Stolen” by John Meyers

Submitted to Contest #280

“How are you going to get your Nova back?” Stacy asked.“I’m going to steal it from the police.” Justin said. “What? That’s crazy! You can’t do that!”“Look, it’s your fault it got impounded in the first place. I told you to take it easy and don’t do anything stupid. You were doing sixty in a thirty-five! If you weren’t speeding, they wouldn’t of pulled you over.” Justin turned his attention back to the road and guided the Firebird back into the lane. He concentrated on the road ahead. He was warm in his leather jacket, jeans, and boots. Stacy...

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“The Back of the Van” by Ben LeBlanc

Submitted to Contest #280

“Are we here?” Mary looked at the face in the rearview mirror with expectant eyes.“Well, we about to be. This is the new city, remember? I told you that’s where we going.”“Right, I just didn’t think it would be so…”“Small?”“Well, yes.” “Hmm.” As Mary peered through the windshield the city was still just a faint smudge on the gray horizon. They had driven across miles of desert to get here, and now that they were here Mary felt her pulse quicken. She wiped her hand across her forehead and then ran it across her mouth and siphon...

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“Listening to Pets” by Katherine Walker

Submitted to Contest #280

Yippee, it’s time to play Ugh! This belly is so bouncy I like jumping on here. Wow, look at that big fat toe move when I bounce. Shh Mama is sleeping. Hey come over here and look out this window. Let me grab this first. Leave my tail alone. Not your tail, this toe. It is wiggling and calling to me. Oh look there is a deer in the yard. We should let the neighborhood know. I said leave my tail alone. But the toe disappeared. Good morning neighborhood. We have a visitor here today. Here comes Beau, he’ll make sure the de...

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“Woof” by Elena Balaguer

Submitted to Contest #280

Woof —Hey Dougy, I’m home! Missed me today? I got back as soon as I could, buddy. —Hmmpphh… You’ve got some nerve, it’s way later than usual and I’m starving! I licked my paws into oblivion. I was worried sick, thinking that today was the day you wouldn’t come home. —Calm down, buddy. Quit jumping on me, you’ll ruin my only decent trousers. —I’m doing some serious tail-wagging here for you. Dude, I’m so happy you’re back, I can’t contain my pee. —Who’s a good boy? —Here we go again. Please don’t start with that good boy question. Ridiculous ...

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“My child is a therian. ” by Debra Koffski

Submitted to Contest #280

Doctor Jones, I’m very happy you agreed to see me. I’m going crazy.It’s not a problem, I had an opening. Have you been feeling anxious again? Tell me what’s going on.Its not me this time, it’s my daughter, Bella. She believes she’s not human. She identifies with a cat. A cat! She crawls around on all fours, purring and meowing. She wants to eat her food on a matt in a bowl. If she’s not happy, she hisses. Her dad thinks she needs a mental institution. When he said that in front of her, she hissed at him and scratched him, believe me, he was ...

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“Neurotoxin” by Eliza Troy

Submitted to Contest #280

Trigger warning: There is a mention of child loss in this story. Some bougie place in Seven Springs, Lucy tells her friend. A forceful poke illuminates the elevator button. These people aren’t real, you wouldn’t believe it. Her friend leans against the wall, street clothes crumpled. Hours ago, blood saturated her scrubs. Yeah? After tonight, I can believe anything. For Lucy, tonight’s memories were being boxed up and compartmentalized each floor they descended. The primal screams, the coppery wet penny scent, the deafening silence from mom ...

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“A Great Lesson. ” by Joseph Lucero

Submitted to Contest #280

Remember when we used to come here all the time? You remember?Yeah. Wasn't that long ago...it's still the same ain't it?It feels the same--I mean it's just the JackRabbit.Yeah. It just feels different is all.How so?Nostalgia. So, you still skin pop that shit huh? No. Maybe surreal was the word I was looking for. I don’t know–maybe I’m just stoned. I think you are. And like you didn’t wake up and have three shots to get your day started. You got me there. Yeah, I saw you pouring one in your cup when I was coming ...

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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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