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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 – 80 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

“Despite” by Dee Bello

Submitted to Contest #280

“Elias? What are you doing outside my window? Have you decided to go mad to avoid the throne?” “I have not gone mad, I just could not sleep is all,” “Did you walk? The castle is miles away from this home,” “I rode Challen through the forest, he is tied to a tree not far from here, I was hoping you’d be up,” “Am I your only friend then?” “Seems so,” “I shall be down in a moment, I must make myself look presentable,” “Do not on my account, I rather like the scarf,” “It was my mothers. I figured it was warm enough that I wouldn’t need a c...

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“Balcony Games” by Amber Morgan

Submitted to Contest #280

Balcony Games “Ah, there you are. You don’t seem to be enjoying the festivities, Ambassador.” “Funny, General. I don’t seem to recall anything festive about them.” “Everyone else is having a good time. Would it kill you to play along? Laugh a little, try an hors d’oeuvre, mingle with the commoners, or smile like this isn’t a funeral.”“Not immediately, no. But you see I’m a bit anaphylactic about faux promises, you see. Eventually, I’d die from this façade of coexistence.”“You are not a prisoner here; you can leave anytime you’d ...

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“Vegas Nights” by Ronald John MacLennan Jr

Submitted to Contest #280

Xander: "Why are you just standing there? Everyone else is dancing."Moxy: "Maybe I don’t like dancing."Xander: "Then why come to a nightclub? Isn’t that the point?"Moxy: "The point is whatever you make of it. Why are you here?"Xander: "To dance. Obviously."Moxy: "You’re dancing with your drink more than with anyone else."Xander: "Observant, aren’t you?"Moxy: "It’s hard not to notice someone who doesn’t quite fit."Xander: "Not fit? That’s a strange way of flirting."Moxy: "Who said I was flirting?"Xander: "Your eyes. They’ve been following me ...

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“The Conclusion of Murder by Mai Tai” by Elizabeth Rich

Submitted to Contest #280

Are you sure it's okay for us just to show up unannounced? Of course, it's fine. It's my sister. She's going to be so happy to have some company. She's been on bed rest for a week because of the blood clot in her leg. She still has to stay home for another week. She's going to be so happy to have some company. Geez. I haven't seen her for probably 20, maybe 25 years. It's going to be wild seeing her again. I've been following her on social media for a while, and she looks exactly like the 18 year old I remember. Yeah. She will tell you it's ...

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“ Two Dogs Talking” by Michael Lewis

Submitted to Contest #280

“Hi, Hamish.” “Hi Rover, how’s life treating you?” “I’m telling you, Hamish, I’m so pissed off at my owner, I’m thinking of running away.” “Why?” “Well, I was thirsty last night, and his lordship was watching the television. My water bowl was empty, so I went into the bathroom and drank from the constant water supply they call a toilet. Well, I was lapping up the water, when it suddenly dawned on me that humans use the place to get rid of their food. When they exit the place, it often stinks. If he uses that room, it must be okay f...

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“Sleep Deprived” by Louise Arnott

Submitted to Contest #280

“No, Don’t.” “Bob, wake up. You’re doing it again.” “Wha- wha- what’s the matter?” “You’ve been moaning and groaning and now you are shouting.” “Why’d you wake me up?” “I just told you. Try sleeping in your chair.” “It’s still dark, too early to get up. What the hell time is it?” “I don’t know. Turn on the light so I can find my glasses.” “No, then I’ll be wide awake. For god sake woman, why do you need your glasses?” “To see the clock, obviously.” “Alice, just look at the bloody numbers glowing on the ceiling.” “You were t...

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“A Giver of Joy and a Bringer of Smiles” by Bärbel Morsch

Submitted to Contest #280

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my favorite patient. I was starting to think you'd fled the country to escape my tender mercies.""Escape you? Please. I've just been busy living my life, which occasionally involves things like falling down and chipping teeth.""Falling down? Well I thought maybe someone gave you a teeth rattler?""Ha ha, very funny. But no, my dental distress is self-inflicted this time. No boxing required.""You mean you finally cracked under the pressure of your own witty repartee? Well, I'm not surprised. Your mouth has always...

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“the burial of the bottle” by Steve Sommer

Submitted to Contest #280

It was a hot summer evening when the doorbell rang at Steve's residence. Carol a young and ambitious journalist, stood on the porch, her eyes filled with a mixture of determination and unease. She had been investigating a sensitive case for months, and the trail had led her to this unassuming suburban home. As the door opened, carol was greeted by a middle-aged man, his face etched with a weary expression. I'm carol, the journalist from the Daily Tribune. I was hoping to speak with you about a matter of great importa...

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“Edelweiss” by Demetrius Chew

Submitted to Contest #280

Lady Catherine Puller.…Lady Catherine Puller.Yeah… yeah, here. It is time.Time for… Who the hell are you?My name is -No… no, no, no, no. You stay the hell away from me, you freak.Fear not, my lady. My name is Charon. I am here to carry you across the river.River? What the fuck do you mean, river? I don’t need to cross any river, I’m perfectly fine where I am.Please, Lady Catherine. I will assure your safety.No, no, you don’t understand. I’m not supposed to be here, I still have a long life. Take me back right now.You know I cannot do th...

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“Heaven Is a Quiet Place” by Taylor Wallace

Submitted to Contest #280

"I thought Heaven would be a quiet place but this is downright eerie and lonely. Where is everybody?""You're here, finally.""Where am I? Who are you?""You said it best: Heaven. I'm your angel, I was sent here to answer your questions.""Sent by who?""Your Maker."" … What happens next?""They always say that.""Say what?""Your kind is always so interested in knowing what happens next. You don't even have a clue what just happened prior. Do you remember your past life?""No. Not at all. I remember... fragments. That's about it.""Do you think you w...

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“The Visit” by Ellen Balaban

Submitted to Contest #280

- Any plans for the holidays this year Jim?- Not this year, Bon. Mary’s got her heart set on a ‘Christmas staycay’ as she calls it, get the grandkids round, maybe pitch up a tent in the back yard, watch the stars. Bit cold, if y’ask me, and I prefer real campin’ anyways, but Mary’s put her foot down as she always does. Kids are too young to go out in the woods late at night. Huh. Goes on about bears or wolves or sumthin’, but I ain’t never seen no bears or wolves in these ‘ere parts. - Me neither. ‘Course… it’s been a while since I been able...

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“To Ben - Who Always Makes Me Laugh! ” by Charlotte Morse

Submitted to Contest #280

*NB Ben has Down Syndrome, so I have written his voice as close as possible to how he actually speaks. “Hi James, good to see you. Ben’s upstairs beautifying himself in front of the mirror, he’s been up there for hours trying on so many different outfits the floor’s just littered with clothes! He could probably do with your help in making his final decision.” “Oh yes, he’d said he wanted to go to the wine-bar tonight. No worries I’ll go up and speed him along a bit.” “Ben! James has arrived! He’s on his way up now up to give you a han...

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“Mother” by S.E. Tomlin

Submitted to Contest #280

Mother? Yes, child? Can you tell me what it was like in the Before Times—before the Lord appeared to us in all His glory? That is difficult to describe, dear girl, for I scarcely remember the details now. Things were different in the Before Times. People were selfish, sinful, filled in abundance with the desires of the flesh. They were wicked things, stricken with toils which burned within, causing them to abandon the Lord entirely. What did the Lord see fit to do about it? Why, child, the Lord transformed His people. He made us in His image...

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“Saturday Car Shopping” by Conrado Maher

Submitted to Contest #280

“Good morning, Jack. Get in and close the door. Let’s get going.” “Good morning, Phil. Things okay today? Thanks for driving.” “Everything’s good. Could use more sleep, though.” “Me too. Definitely. I thought you got up early every day with those two young kids. Don’t you?” “Hold on. Got to pay attention to the traffic. Ok, clear now. Off we go! How do I get to the highway? I forgot to set up the GPS app on my phone.” “Follow this road about two blocks into the park. Then take a left at the first traffic light. Then leave the park and go for...

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“Forbidden” by Delilah Elegans

Submitted to Contest #280

“I’m falling in love with you.”“Don’t, look at me that way. You know we can’t do this.”“I know. But my head and my heart refuse to agree.”“This is a mistake.”“The feelings aren’t the mistake—only the actions.”“It doesn’t seem fair.”“All’s fair in love and war.”“I don’t think I believe that.”*“What’s worth fighting for, then? Isn’t love the reason we go to war?”“How can something that comes so naturally feel so wrong?”“Perhaps it’s just what we’ve been taught.”“Or maybe it’s who we are.”“We can’t stop this train—not in time.”“Would we, if we ...

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$250

Prize money

382

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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