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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

“Jesse's Plight” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #76

Jesse's Plight Howard Seeley It was ten in the morning and Jesse was staring out the classroom window. The sun was out, and he could see the ninth-grade gym class playing soccer. The cheers and shouts were loud enough to pierce through the glass, further distracting him. I wish I were out there with them, he thought. But reality was stronger than fiction. He turned to the biology teacher, Mr. Palmer. In Jesse’s mind, he wasn’t much more than a bore. Mr. Palmer’s droning voice and the gibberish he has written on the blackboard trying to e...

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“Nancy Elaine Trumbolli” by Doug Goodrich

Submitted to Contest #76

My pace quickened as I walked down the hall, getting closer and closer to my destiny. Passing the classrooms on the east side, I could see teachers prepping for the day to come. I can’t imagine many students want to come to school this early, especially on a Monday, but here I am. I feel like a fool, a bumbling idiot, at least I’ve felt this way since my freshman year started a month ago. The difference between middle school and high school is huge. I think back to my parents warning me about this fact, but I don’t think they emphasized it e...

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“So Much to Say but Such Little Time” by Maggie Brown

Submitted to Contest #76

Bellowing wind blows mercilessly against my window shield in a futile attempt to hold me back; raindrops like bullets plummet down from the heavens above but their desperate cries are drowned out by the adrenalin which pulses through my veins. My heart rate climbs and I can sense the rhythmic pulse through my entire body. Despite my trembling hands I tighten my grip on the wheel as I feel it is the only thing keeping me grounded. Everything before this moment unfolding right before me, now seems irrelevant and the one thing that concerns me ...

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“By the Riverside” by Elizabeth Sayer

Submitted to Contest #76

The dawn bled sure and true into the paling sky that lay above the boy leaning over the calm river. Rains had not yet begun to come in earnest and thus the water of the river was lazy in the dewy morning air. He did not know that I was watching him from my position just behind an old willow that curtained the bank of the river. He never saw me. But I saw him. And I loved him. I have loved him ever since I first laid eyes on him. The boy does not do anything during his visits, simply stares into the water. I must admit that I have n...

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“The Proposal” by Debora Cutshall

Submitted to Contest #76

The Proposal “Victoria, you didn’t need to make an appointment to be here at 8:00 in the morning. If you wanted to see us, why didn’t you just ask?” “I’m not here for me. I’m here for you. The partners of Steed Eastman. “I’ve spent the past week with my accountant and attorney. We are aware that you are one of the many victims of embezzlement by the Jacobson Accounting Firm. As with several other companies, yours was targeted long enough for the insurance to lapsed leaving you with few options. Together we have drafted a proposal, under m...

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“Depictionary” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #76

“They call that, unprecedented?” “I don’t know what you’d call it. I’m not sure what the word even means anymore. It’s one of those words that will go down in infamy. You know there is a problem with using a word too many times for too many different reasons. It begins to resemble those comedians who do nothing but swear. After a while it gets to be less effective. Your ears rebel against the lack of imagination. Let’s find another word. What do you say?” “I agree it has been us...

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“Two Men enter a bar” by Maureen MacLennan

Submitted to Contest #76

Two Men In a Bar What can I get you? Bottle of Stella please I’ll just grab a sleeve of Lucky, and hey son can you stick on the Packers game? Yeah, just give me a sec, there you go guys, 2 beers You like that draft crap? And the Packers’, I don’t know, I might have to move, it could be catching. No one’s forcing you Settle pal, I’m just kidding, what’s eating you? Work, ...

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“The Silent Partner” by Megan DeRouin

Submitted to Contest #76

The Silent Partner “Okay, let’s start with something easy. What’s your name?” Aberdeen asked it with faked sincerity as she leaned forward bringing her elbows up onto the table, drawing her face closer. The man across from her lifted his eyes only as high as her mouth, “Winston Churchill.” “Really? Winston Churchill. That was the best you could come up with?” Church shrugged, “What can I say, you’d be better off taking it up with my mother.” The corners of Aberdeen’s mouth drew into a frown, she leaned back a...

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“Colloque” by James Freeze

Submitted to Contest #76

Colloquy “Well, hello stranger, where have you been?” "Around." “No, really, I mean it’s been at least three months since I last saw you here at the bus stop.” “Okay, nowhere really and a little bit of everywhere, you might say.” "Come on now; you've got to give me more than that. I've told my husband about our little talks, and he won’t believe me when I tell him about today. So give me something juicy to lay on him.” "It's not that interesting, but I was in Hillsdale for a while. Then I went to Greenberg for a week or so, and after that, ...

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“Consequences” by Olivia Fairfax

Submitted to Contest #76

“Whitmores' Real Estate. Geoffrey Whitmore speaking.” “Hello Geoff. It's Daniel.” “Hi Danny. How are you?” “Not brilliant I'm afraid. I've been made redundant.” “Wow Danny. That's bad luck. What are the prospects?” “Not very good. That's the reason I'm ringing you, Geoff. We shall have to sell the house.” “Oh Danny I'm sorry. Of course there'll be no problem selling it. I can probably get you whatever you want for it.” “Do you want to come and look at it?” “Yes, better come and take some pictures and give you a valuation.” “Ca...

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“The Group” by S Gabriel

Submitted to Contest #76

The Group by S. Gabriel “So what do you think?” “To tell you the truth, I’m ambivalent.” “Ambivalent about what? The whole thing or a part?” “It doesn’t feel right. The whole thing doesn’t feel right.” “Are you kidding me right now? We’ve been talking about this for months and just now you’ve decided to get all sentimental about it?” “Jillian, it doesn’t help if you shut me down. How does it help if you shut me down? Answer me that!” “Look, Doug. I’m all in. I told you that from the beginning. Do you think I would have invested...

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“Balloons” by Emily Shaughnessy

Submitted to Contest #76

-Are you going to say anything? -I don’t….I’m not sure wh…-You could perhaps share about any emotions you might be experiencing? Or what you think of the balloons. -The balloons! -You see I remembered that you had expressed pink was a particular favorite of yours. A worthy color for a—-When did I say that? -Last Tuesday between approximately 4:15 and 4:30. Perhaps you don’t remember. You were wearing a pink hairband and remarked that—-How did you even get my address? -I inquired at the restaurant. -Mike is ...

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“Over The Edge” by Cindy Pereira

Submitted to Contest #76

“You dropped him home?” “Yes.” “Good! He’s a trouble causer. Pete is just a trouble causer.” “He was just drunk. That’s all.” “Aggressive. I think he started the fight. I can’t believe he hit his wife.” “Well, how do you except he’d react – when he sees Eliza flouncing in to Carrie’s wedding reception, hanging on to the arm of some other bloke?” “I think they’re headed for Splits-Ville.” “Fat chance. He owns part of her estate. If they decide to break up, they’ll have to split that property, and neither wants to give the other ...

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“Betrayal” by David Murphy

Submitted to Contest #76

Morning, Sir Charles. Ah, good morning James. A bit out of the way for our chats, isn't it? But so much more pleasurable than our usual meeting place on the Embankment, don't you think? Different, I'll give you that. But why here? Why the RA? James, have some respect. The Royal Academy of Art, please. Whatever. I will never understand why you Brits place such deference to things. History, James, history. Something of which you Americans have limited background or understanding. Well, we are certainly surro...

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“Never Pass Up the Opportunity: A painful lesson at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport” by Chuck Waldron

Submitted to Contest #76

“I told you we should’ve left earlier. Take a look at that line at security.”“Chuck, you’re right. We need to step on it.”“I should make a pit stop now. Do you remember where we parked the car?”“Duh, I even have a pic on my phone. This is where we parked at the Buckhead MARTA station and rode the train. Have a look. Plus, I have an app for finding it when we get back. Yikes, even the pre-check line is backed up.”“I hate flying anymore. It wasn’t that much fun before the pandemic. Now we have to wear a damn mask. And so much for any att...

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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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