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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

“Dialogue 5” by Daniel Daisi

Submitted to Contest #280

Content warning: Strong language and discussions of nihilism, existential despair, and suicide.Supreme: There is no point to anything at all so we should all cease to exist. All in Unison: Naaahhhhh.Supreme: Then what’re we doing here?Mental Health: We’re here because I’m distraught about how directionless I am in my life. I feel like I’m running out of time, and this feeling is persistent.Revolutionary: I’m motionless, I’m not affecting the world in any way. I’m not making an effort to inspire the change I wish to see.Poet: I’m not sur...

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“Trouble in the Cabin” by Davy Holland

Submitted to Contest #280

“Drop it… I have no problem pulling the trigger. Now, drop the purse.”“Okay, okay. Take what you want but I don’t have a lot of money.”“Yeah, we know.”“…Then why are you robbing me?”“This isn’t a robbery.”“What?”“Let’s go. Start walking. Move!”“Okay, okay I’m going.”“Walk out of the garage, if you scream or say one word your brains will cover this driveway.”“I w-won’t.”“Walk to the van. Slowly!”“Come on lady. Do as he says.”“I got this Ronny, just get back in the van.”“Whatever you say boss.”“Let’s go girl, hop up in the back.”“A-alright.”“R...

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“Take Flight” by Tanee Hadley

Submitted to Contest #280

“What the hell was that?”“What the hell was what?”“That whole thing with the air and the trees and the-”“Man, are you drunk?”“Ira, don’t piss me off.”“I just don’t understand what you’re talking about.”“My mother is the queen of gaslighting. This is not funny.”“I’m leaving now.”“Don’t just walk away from me.”“I can do as I please.”“I’ve known you for going on five years now and you’ve never told me you could do that.”“What are you talking about?”“Move out of my way.”“Not until you tell me what that was.”“Jason, I already said-”“Please. No mo...

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“THE CROSSING” by Aaron Schuck

Submitted to Contest #280

“You think the water’s gonna be this choppy the whole way?” “Would it matter? Ain’t like we’re turning back now.” “Don’t say that, man. Just trying to keep my breakfast where it belongs.” “Better get used to it, buddy. Breakfast might not be the only thing you lose.” “Come on, leave him alone. We’re all thinking it.” “Thinking what?” “That this is it. No more training exercises. No more drills. The real thing.” “Yeah, no kidding. The real thing. Bullets, bombs, and Krauts waiting to punch a hole in us soon as they get eyes on this tin can.” ...

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“Road Trip” by Fred Horan

Submitted to Contest #280

How far is it again?Same distance as when you asked me five minutes agoWell that couldn't be right... Sure it couldn't?... Are ya listening?NoI was saying it couldn't be the same distance as it was five minutes ago cause we've ate up at least 5 more minutes worth of milage... Ya know?For fucksake Steph well be there around 6 o'clock you're doing my head in hereOoooh well sorry Mr. Sensitive. I'll just sit here like a stone and stay silentPerfectYou're so rude.... Are you excited to meet them?Who?My parents obviously, the whole reason we're g...

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“TRUE LOVE IS BLIND ” by Candy Burrowbridge

Submitted to Contest #280

•INTRODUCTION•"Can you tell me your love story?", Mina asked with doe eyes and a hopeless romantic heart. She had spent the last year asking any couple that displayed love and had the desire to share their secrets, in search of the best "all time" love story. •CHAPTER 1•Mina believed in true love. So she has made it her mission to prove that "real life" true love still exists. The divorce statistics are higher than they have ever been throughout history. This was discouraging, but she would not let that burst her bubble. She knew what she b...

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“Mr Toad” by Fred Horan

Submitted to Contest #280

"Will you marry me? Says I. No she said and she never did. True to her word she was. I couldn't fault her there... the auld bitch. I'm not bitter though that's the truth."My conversation with Tad was interrupted as he turned to answer the night's second customer."The usual is it Jimmy?" Jimmy nodded. Jimmy wouldn't say a word until he'd had at least three or four pints in him. Tad expertly plucked a pint glass from the counter beneath the bar. He raised it to the tap and filled it 3 quarters full with the ruby red porter. Then he left it on ...

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“Quest in Time” by Bill Davis

Submitted to Contest #280

Where is Julienne? It is a question that has haunted my mother, father and myself. It was 3 years ago when my life changed forever. My sister, Julienne, disappeared coming home from Red Oak Park, a county recreation site about 20 miles west of Jonesburg, a small town south of Cleveland, Mississippi. The park had a pond with access to Lake Colbert and the Mississippi River, lots of trees and hiking trails, campgrounds, and a couple of boat docks. My sister and her boyfriend had gone to the park to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, the two h...

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“A Conference With Death ” by Korey Dear

Submitted to Contest #280

A Conference With Death By: Korey Dear 'Tonight's the night; I can't believe the first quarter is over. After six years in the eighth-grade hallway, I should be used to how quickly the quarters were over.', thought Ms. Wolf. It had started like any other conference; teachers were all sitting in the gym waiting to speak to students and their parents. While there was a lull between meetings, Ms. Wolf took a bathroom break. As she descended the stairs, Ms. Wolf heard hushed voices of arguing. She could only make out a woman's voice s...

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“Looking for Keys” by Louisa Kelly

Submitted to Contest #280

“Tony, where are my keys at?” she yelled. “You know I can’t be late again; can’t afford to be written up when bonus season is coming.” My own damn fault I guess; I really need to get some of this clutter off the counter. But only off the counter; she never did like parting from her possessions. Even catalogs mailed to her felt valuable. They had her name on it which made them hers to have. She kept checking her usual spots, not bothering to wait for a response from Tony. If the patron saint of lost things ever did personally respond to her, ...

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“To Kill A God” by Wan Roina

Submitted to Contest #280

“Come here. Lie down,” Aphrodite said in a firm yet caring tone, to which Ares obliged. He sighed deeply as he laid his head on the cushion on her lap. His skin, as if seeped in blood and iron, flooded her nostrils even after the long bath he took. Begrudgingly, she decided it would be of little concern at that moment. His blood thirst and affinity for chaos was incomprehensible yet wildly enchanting to her. She stroked his brow unconsciously, wondering if she could understand the ways of this god. All the while, he inquisitively stared at h...

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“I'm Here” by Katie Sayers

Submitted to Contest #280

I’ve got my heated blanket on high, my laptop fully charged, and my butt firmly planted on a well-worn couch. It’s snooping time. First stop, Amazon. ‘Tis the season for seeing what people are buying for Christmas. Thanks to my mom, who shares her account with a multitude of people, the orders section is a goldmine for learning information. Who’s giving socks for Christmas and who bought matching iPads for their children? Spoiler alert, it wasn’t my parents. I start from the top, my mom is ordering herself groceries on Amazon Fresh: celery, ...

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“Sign” by William Rose

Submitted to Contest #280

They loved each other quite a lot. However there was one problem. Wilt never spoke. It drove Kade crazy for the first few months of their friendship. After all how were they meant to get to know each other if Wilt never said anything. Instead of talking Wilt would make all these gestures that Kade couldn’t understand. Always flailing his pale hands and making faces that warped his cold dark brown eyes. After consulting his mother, always his first choice, he found out that Wilt was signing. Wilt did speak it turned out, just not in a languag...

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“The Eiffel Sisters (a short story to celebrate the Tower 135th Anniversary)” by Adriano Dechicha

Submitted to Contest #280

GEORGESFor the love of God, Mademoiselle Eiffel. We have received orders fromthe Mayor of Paris to demolish the tower.VALENTINEMonsieur, there are three Eiffel sisters. I am one of them. Although Claireis the leader, I am just Valentine. Valentine Eiffel.CLAIREDear Valentine, it’s been a long time. So stubborn of you, but not in theway our father preaches. Your manners are inappropriate whenaddressing Monsieur Georges, especially during our negotiation.VALENTINEI am punctual, just not a precise kind of person.CLAIREAnyway, I wonder why you a...

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“Stall Secrets” by Isobel Cunningham

Submitted to Contest #280

I can’t believe I just heard that. I guess love, loyalty, stability can all be flushed away in a toilet stall. I always use the end cubicle for a bit more privacy and normally a tinkle is all I do at work. Dr. Baker just prescribed me a new laxative, though. I’m not used to it and I still can’t tell when Nature is gonna call. I thought I had chosen a quiet moment but just as I was starting to meditate I heard those two, Louise and Sylvia come clattering in on their crazy high heels. How they manage in those shoes all day is beyond me. Sylvia...

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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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