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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#76: He Said, She Said

Is there anything more satisfying for a writer than that moment your characters suddenly come alive in your mind? For me, this often comes in the form of a conversation — I know I finally understand them when they start talking to each other without any effort on my part.

From witty banter to subtle conversations packed with unspoken threats, there’s so many ways dialogue can drive a story forward. As you craft your stories this week, really think about what your dialogue is saying about your characters. What are they willing to admit to each other, and what are they trying to keep hidden?

And in case you need a little help crafting the perfect retort, here’s a few resources to get your characters talking:

This week's prompts

Write a story told exclusively through dialogue.

Dialogue – 349 stories

Write about two people who just can’t seem to understand each other, no matter how clearly they think they’re speaking.

Sad – 79 stories

Write about a character who is incapable of telling even the smallest lie or half-truth.

Character – 80 stories

Write a conversation that takes place between two people who refuse to say what they mean.

Dialogue – 58 stories

Write about a character who’s always thinking of things they’ll say to people, but who ends up saying very little when they finally get the chance.

Character – 219 stories

Stories

“Pulling the Plug” by Elise Volkman

Submitted to Contest #76

All the other kids in the classroom stared at me like I was the antelope. I leaned on the back legs of my chair, the chair back propped against the wall behind me like always, and I froze. There were at least sixteen pairs of hungry eyes pointed my way. I didn’t want to be the antelope. I wanted to be the armadillo. We’d watched a documentary before lunch — Planet Earth, since every teacher in school had run out of creative juices this close to the end of the school year. Thanks to Mrs. Otts, I was now the antelope and my classmates were a ...

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“Faithful Father” by Daryl Oliver

Submitted to Contest #76

A priest walked into a bar. The bartender asked, “what can I get for ya?” The priest paused for a second and answered, “Unless you have an alter boy behind the counter, I’ll just have a whiskey, neat.” The bartender stared with puzzlement, shook her head, and grabbed the whiskey. She flipped the high ball glass onto the bar and poured a heavy single. The priest looked up at her and twitched his fingers in a circle, as if he wanted to tell her a secret. She poured to almost the rim. This had the priest place his hands together as he muttered...

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“Tables Turn, Bridges Burn” by Elizabeth Inkim

Submitted to Contest #76

Descending the polished marble steps of the castle ballroom, Lady Cynthia Zahava could feel the eyes of the aristocracy dig into her. Beloved by all she encountered, Lady Cynthia’s charm was renowned, and if she had been born into any other life, she could have conquered kingdoms, but it was her unfortunate fate to be highborn; her hand in marriage promised before she could even walk. Brushing a stray lock of her pale blonde hair, she smiled bashfully at her shoes. Cynthia knew she shouldn’t have worn the backless emerald grown in a room of ...

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“Hidden” by Navneeth N

Submitted to Contest #76

“Run!” Alicia looked back in fear, where Alexander- limping as fast as he could-was being chased by her father. Alicia stopped for a second and watched in horror as her father bought the crowbar down on Alexander. He screamed out in pain, and she moved towards him- “No Alicia! You need to RUN!” So she turned away, sobbing, and ran. “Alexander!” He stood there wordlessly, and simply held out his arms. Alicia ran into them, and spontaneously, she felt like she was in another world. Finally. She could be with the boy of her dreams. Hi...

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“Robert, Take Off Your Headphones!” by Phil Manders

Submitted to Contest #76

“Knock-knock! Robert, what are you doing? Can I come in? . . . Sorry, my fault. I should have knocked and waited. I need to come in and change your bedsheets, ok?"“Mm, K.”“My god! Child open the curtains. It’s like living with a vampire! It’s three in the afternoon. Have you even been to the bathroom yet today? You’ll get a urinary tract infection, look at what happened to your uncle Tony. Remember Uncle Tony?”"Uh-huh."“The doctors said it made him go blind. I know, can you believe it? He never went to the toilet. Used to store it all up lik...

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“36 Ways To Say "I Love You"” by Janie Cruz

Submitted to Contest #76

“Pull over. Let me drive for awhile.” “No, it’s fine-” “Riley. You keep rubbing your eyes like a tired baby.” Riley chuckled and pulled over. They swapped and Riley was out by the time they were five minutes down the road. Niall looked over at her and smiled. What a stubborn woman. ****** “It reminded me of you.” Riley shrugged as she gave Niall the bracelet. Niall put it on and grinned. “Thanks Ri. I love it.” They hugged each other again, but held on a little longer and a little tighter.&nbs...

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“Wrong ” by Sandra Claros

Submitted to Contest #76

Irma’s was her first name. My stepmother used to live in a very clean and peaceful detached house where I used to gl, every afternoon, to have some tea with her. This lady used to live alone, having only the companion of her dog, an also clean and also peaceful cocker spaniel. - But, to tell you the truth as usual , this cocker spaniel looks like a teddy bear as it is so fluffy. - Like our first dog in...

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“The Skylight” by Sarah Mumtaz

Submitted to Contest #76

"I haven't done anything please let me go, let me go. Don't hurt me, please. Aaaa...Leave me, Irtiza. I don't want to stay a single moment with you. Don't kill me please I'm sorry!", cried Azula. "Fuck you! Just shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Stop barking, Azula, my dear. I'm not hurting you, I'm just writing my name on your..." "Ah...", screamed Eshaan. "Hey bro! Are you okay? What's the matter? What did you dream about?" asked Sarfaraz. "They are not dreams but the dark moments of my past, I cannot get over them, those moments are now hau...

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“" Between Two Hearts " ” by Miruthulla Vaani

Submitted to Contest #76

Between Two Hearts Yes, as much as I’ve had people laugh at me, shout at me and patronize me, there is perhaps nothing more rude than an eye roll. To the middle-class, middle-aged lady in the hipster pizzeria in East London who rolled her eyes at the Polish waitress: Shame. On. You. Eye rolling is rude in all circumstances, not just when you’re speaking to somebody who isn’t fluent in your language. Your waitress was kind, good at her job and clearly trying her level-best to communicate with you despite your incessant whining. She r...

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“When The Bigot Speaks” by Aris K

Submitted to Contest #76

-I have had enough of these damn foreigners stealing our jobs. I am done with them! Finally the new president will send them packing in the filthy place where they came from! Good riddance! It was a cloudy Tuesday morning in Oakley Cove and Bailey was ranting obnoxiously loud as usual. His wife would occasionally nod like she agreed, but it was painfully obvious that she didn’t. The terrified look in her eyes and the constant tension in her facial muscles revealed how much she was afraid to speak her mind. But after all, how can a fawn stan...

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“Me To Myself” by Ari .

Submitted to Contest #76

“What was that dream?” “…” “…” “Daylight behind my eyelids. I have to get up.” “I don’t want to open my eyes.” “I have to.” “I can’t move.” “I have to get up.” “I can’t. It’s cold out there, and it hurts, and I can’t move.” “…” “…” “… The dream is leaving. Yesterday is catching up.” “No. No thinking. I can catch the tail of the dream if I sink back in.” “Too late.” “…” “…” “No!” “I remember the dream.” “No, no, no, I’ve lost it, it’s gone, I can’t pick up where it left off—” “I have to get up. I have to move.” “— and I can’t see her. Th...

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“Café Lat(t)e” by Kevin Schenk

Submitted to Contest #76

There she is. Such a cute face and those freckles are adorable, too. She is always on my mind and I often wonder if she likes the same things as me. I think I will ask her for her phone number today. I will say "Hey, I have seen you working here a few times. Want to hang out sometime?" No wait, that sound stupid. I can't say that. What a weird thing to say. No, I need to be cooler. Maybe more something along the lines of "Are you doing anything after work?" I mean her shift probably started. It's only 10a.m. but I guess I could ask her wha...

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“Just Spit it Out” by Crouton 828

Submitted to Contest #76

I remember the first time I saw Damien. He was playing basketball with some friends. I actually didn't really know him then. He was a friend of the boyfriend of a really good friend's sister. He was pretty decent at basketball I guess, but my attentions were focused on another guy, Jordan. Jordan was all a girl could dream of. He was tall, at least six feet, maybe even six-foot-one, and strong, incredibly so. With bright blue eyes, and brown curly hair, he was the epitome of perfection. I had had a crush on him for four years, and we had kn...

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“Being Bi In India” by Aditi Ojha

Submitted to Contest #76

I promise I'm not a creep. Well, I try not be but sometimes I just can't help but take a double take (sometimes a triple too) whenever I see a beautiful girl walking around. And hey, it's not I'm the only one who does that. Sure, there aren't a lot of bisexual girls in this country who openly showcase their interest in a girl and end up looking like a lost puppy gazing at a random stranger. But hey, cut some slack alright? There is a really good reason as to why I stick with just looking and lamenting over my singlehood instead of shoo...

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“Talking Between Toilet Stalls ” by Mandy Fernandez

Submitted to Contest #76

“Mommy, I don’t have to go to the bathroom,” Oliver, a rambunctious, four-year-old red-haired boy, said loudly. “I know Ollie, but I do,” his mom replied patiently as she opened the door to the ladies’ room and pulled Oliver by the arm inside the restroom with her. “Why do I have to go in here when this is only for girls?” Oliver asked while stomping his feet. “Because this store doesn’t have a family restroom,” Annie, Ollie’s mom replied. “Can I take out my truck?” Ollie asked, tugging at her backpack. “If you can hold it and not...

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$50

Prize money

787

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 15, 2021 EST

Won by Rinnie Leigh 🏆

Title: Him

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.

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