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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

“Skye's the limit” by Sarah F.

Submitted to Contest #76

She sits beside me in class. We talk a lot, often about things that don’t matter. Marshall doesn’t like that. He tells me since we have forever been in the same class, I should spend more time with him. I understand where he is coming from. No one likes Marshall. Everybody loves him, but no one likes to be seen with him. Marshall thinks it is because he is homosexual. I usually assure him it’s not, but today I let him think what he pleases. Today Skye looks different.Her bob is colored light pink. People stare at her as she walks down the ha...

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“Don't ask Don't Tell” by Amanda Stuntz

Submitted to Contest #76

Tami rushed into the room, the biggest smile on her face. “Guess what?” She plunked down on the couch next to Amber. With a sigh, Amber put the bookmark back in her book and closed it. “What are you so excited about?” “I’m going to throw Cindy a surprise birthday party!” She clapped her hands excitedly, then hopped off the couch and practically ran down the hall. Amber closed her eyes, wishing she could go back in time and not hear Tami's plan to surprise their friend Cindy. Secrets were not something she could keep. And living with ...

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“Weak Liar” by Emma Harris

Submitted to Contest #76

Artemis, Jaemin, May, Yoonki, Doseok, Taehyun and Jungguk had gotten together at Yoonki's place to talk. Yoonki had called a friend meeting that excluded Jun. He had something important to talk about. "So, what are we here for?" Jaemin asked Yoonki once they were all sat down on the couches in the living room. "And why isn't Jun invited?" Asked Doseok asked. "You're not still angry about him walking in on you guys, are you?" Artemis asked. "You guys know how Yoonki holds grudges. Don't be too worried. This isn't about that anyway." M...

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“The Truth About Tris” by 🐔zen Chicken 🐔

Submitted to Contest #76

Authors Note: Hi guys! This is only my second submission, so I hope you enjoy it:) This prompt intruiged me, and, though it's not my best work, I like the result. Please comment below anything I should change, I would love to have your feedback, I really need it 😁 THE TRUTH ABOUT TRIS "Trista? Trista! Are you even paying attention?" Trista William glanced up from her sketch paper, and truthfully answered, "No." Her teacher, Mrs. Burns, groaned. "Trista, you have to listen if your going to get good grades." Trista didn't say anything. Nothing...

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“The day that brought change ” by Srishti Katare

Submitted to Contest #76

The day has arrived, and Hope can’t seem to control herself. Today is the…. Uh-oh first it seems like you’ll need an introduction. Hope Forbes is a little 9-year-old girl with cuteish smile, chocolate brown hair and pretty blue eyes. She is much more similar to her mother Candice Forbes. And she lives in Atlanta. So, let’s pick up from where we left. Today is the day as Hope is going to visit and stay at her grandma and grandpa’s house for the rest of her vacations. As the corona virus pandemic was currently in action and there was lockdown ...

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“Truth or Dare” by Carol Keefer

Submitted to Contest #76

Light cascaded through the partly pulled blinds exposing the dust bunnies hiding underneath the cubicles' strategical places, including the water cooler just down the hall. Where there is a poster is hanging for everyone's view, as it said” Meeting today for all employee’s Time: 2 p.m. Place: Conferen...

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“Who's she?” by Brigid Walters

Submitted to Contest #76

Who is she? She cannot tell a lie. She is red. She is alive. That's the only truth she can be sure of. That's all she knows because if she cannot tell a lie, she is very gullible. She falls for whatever people tell her about herself. Because herself she does not know. This leads to many lies. Little ones, because she cant tell what truth is. So the story goes. An honest girl walked into a bar and only got out due to the diligence of her bestfriend, who she loved very much and planned to escape to ever after with. This honest girl had golde...

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“Joe isn't a psycho!” by Utkarsh Srivastava

Submitted to Contest #76

Joe had fewer friends because they knew Joe was untrustworthy. They wanted to be kind to her, but not at any conditions, her personality allowing them nearer. They had differences of opinions, unlike others, Joe had entirely unacceptable mood sets; she would become so sweet to others and in a moment venomous as a cobra. She had chosen St. Marks College to read psychology and people would say, “a psycho is reading psychology,” it sounded so lame like—an apple was eating an apple, wasn’t it? Everybody has a life written to live with all t...

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“Coffee?” by Aidan Cox

Submitted to Contest #76

1. The car was parked, convenience store neon stretching across the lot and sputtering out 2 parking spots away. We were staring at each other instead of ahead, and for the first time I realized that our collages of one another were imperfect. He did not know me. “No,” I said. My breath was coming fast, I could feel it oxidizing through my arms or my legs, not quite reaching my wrists. “Don’t tell me what you think. We were- are- so much better implicitly.” “What are you?” He laughed a bit, more of a sigh. The light was low, a lone ...

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“TO DO OR NOT?” by Ronald Gagnon

Submitted to Contest #76

There is a long line up in a Big Box Shopping outlet on a hot busy Saturday afternoon, because of the major advertised sales, and the fact that the monthly government cheques had come in the day before. The next "gentleman" in the longest line, dressed slovenly in dirty jeans, a ragged football jacket, dirty half-cut leather boots and a trucker's cap pulled low over dark unruly hair..and carrying only 3 items in his hands, lets out a very heavy sigh...right through his Covid protecting mask. A few moments later...seeing no response from ...

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“Winnie and Frank” by Don Hill

Submitted to Contest #76

Winnie Freiberger descended from hard working German stock who rose to local prominence in the dry goods business after arriving to Texas during the Adelsverein migration of 1845. The spirited student was as headstrong and quick-witted as they come. Yet, she could still charm the dew off a honeysuckle while holding her own during debate competition. It so happens, she won quite frequently while working towards a bachelors degree at Southwestern in Georgetown.She was a rarity on the debate circles since Texas was still quite a chauvinistic pl...

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“Unrelenting ” by June Murage

Submitted to Contest #76

BrookeToday is the day my life begins. Yes, the day I have been groomed for, ever since I could walk. Well, maybe even before that! You see, today I get to meet and marry Brent Everleigh the Duke of Kitsburge, and my betrothed.You would think to group me with all the mindless romantics who cannot wait to get hitched and start popping out babies but you would be wrong. My joy is only so because today is also the day I get to leave Avery Manor, my family home, and my own version of a prison.Being of royal blood there are certain expectati...

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“Autumn leaves” by Vaishnavi Venu

Submitted to Contest #76

I trudge back home from work, my jeans that trail across the mud with each step I take, reminding me of a snail inching towards its destination, its burdening shell weighing on its back. No wonder snails are so... slow. And people, they make fun of it. The bicycle catches on a stray stone and I stumble to get it back on balance. “And this stupid old bike,” I mutter. Kicking at stones, scraping by alleyways, I finally reach home and leaning the bike on the seat I plop down and heave a great sigh, running my hands through my hair. I re...

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“Supermarket” by Lizzie Hur

Submitted to Contest #76

Rose shifted her basket from one hand to the other as the grocery line shuffled forward. Over the intermittent beeps and muffled chatter, a cheerful Christmas tune played faintly. She hummed along as she went over a list in her head one last time. Eggs, cinnamon, fried onion crisps….Absently, she flipped up the collar of her wool coat. Ever since she’d cut her hair short, her neck always felt so bare and cold. It was just one thing she’d have to get used to.As she approached the register, she arranged her items on the belt, all of them reque...

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“The Silent Conversation” by Philip Bradbury

Submitted to Contest #76

If he took the A Train, he couldn’t take the B Train. If he left now he couldn’t leave later … or earlier. If he wore his black trousers he couldn’t wear his camouflage pants. If he stopped to talk to the old lady next door, she might chat too long and he’d miss out on seeing the glamorous girl round the corner … not that he’d ever talked to her but, if she was there, he might get the courage to say something. But he hadn’t had the gumption to say anything the last twenty times he’d passed her by so wondered if it’d be different this time. T...

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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.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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