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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

“Exclusively: You and I” by DA. Blackmore

Submitted to Contest #76

Peculiarly and spectacularly, we are alive. Breathe it and feel it with your entire being. The good and the bad. The sensation will soon escape your grasp like escaping sand… ~ He traces through his book, eyes often fluttering away and letting his thoughts drift before forcing his mind back on the novel. She rests her head on his lap scrolling aimlessly through her phone. The hard thumps of overhead feet, the muffled rain, the hum of the vents. “Hey.. do you ever wonder how great life will be when we leave this apartment?” he...

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“One Day” by Ruby Skelton

Submitted to Contest #76

I refuse to talk to him, I'd just mess up anyway, what's the point in trying, he won't like me anyway. Is there a textbook or a website that explains how to talk to boys? I've checked, there aren't any. Today was the beginning of second semester. Second year of highschool, fifth year of loving him. I stopped at the table in the quad to pick up my new schedule. I searched through the names until finally I found mine. I turned around cluelessly looking at my schedule, I looked up and there he was, standing on the steps to Marlington Hig...

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“He Said, She Said...” by Lisa Wentworth

Submitted to Contest #76

Week 10 Write a conversation that takes place between two people who refuse to say what they mean. He Said, She Said They say men are from Mars, and women are from Venus, but in this marriage, there was something even more far out about the language between Casey and Leanne. She considered herself articulate; on the part of the chart as an expressive, always willing to explain and narrate with purpose her decisions. He was more educated, and considered himself to be an expressive but really wasn’t. He asked a league of inane question...

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“Purgatory” by George Puscuta

Submitted to Contest #76

It was … monday. “Monday again!”, John was in a foul mood. John’s mood was a 9 to 6, 40 hours a week mood, minus the 60 minutes when it switched from foul to predatory. He packed his lunch. It was a Monday! “I need to have a chat with some of the boys today, we’ve been lacking in responsiveness lately, I wonder what’s up with that?!” John grabbed his jacked and out he went to save his little corner of the world this Monday. He lived a ways off from the subway but the walk always soothed him, helped him prepare, gave him a chance to get used ...

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“An ocean so inviting” by Giulia Mazzetti

Submitted to Contest #76

Eliza knew she had a little too much to drink. She came to that conclusion when she found herself mocking the way he talked to her friends, who kept giving her smug smiles and exchanged knowing looks. But truly, it wasn’t her fault that he had such a haughty tone of voice when he was discussing Greek mythology – of all things. Nor was it her fault that he was just constantly infuriating. And, well, so what if he was an attractive guy? She’d met plenty before, and at the very least they were far less annoying than him. “Whatever, you know wh...

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“Good to see you” by Sambulo Kunene

Submitted to Contest #76

They had been friends since they were both attending the same college. They both got married around the same time, one was a housewife the other pursued the life of the mothers in the workplace. They gave birth to kids around the same time. It was always nice to be around them because they liked each other. When their kids started dating all the sense of goodwill fell by the way side."I meant to mention to you that your daughter is always happy. She always has a happy face." a mother said to her friend who also is a mother(meaning, I hate yo...

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“Goodbye” by Ashley Osterhout

Submitted to Contest #76

“I’ll love you forever.” The heart monitor says otherwise. Her eyes crease at the corners, and tears have traced her face so many times that their pathways leave marks on her cheeks. Each ragged breath seems to take life rather than giving it to her. My mother, once so strong, trembles underneath the weight of air. Perhaps I’m shaking too, for she sees my fear and attempts a smile. “It will all be ok honey; please, be brave for me.” I can’t fight a sudden spark of anger. She’s wrong. Her lips craft sugar-coated lies, promising love th...

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“The day my daddy lost his laugh” by Johan Jansen Van Rensburg

Submitted to Contest #76

The day my daddy lost his laugh Wordcount: 2835 Written by Johan van Rensburg It’s a stare-off. Little Steward stares at the man in the doorway -and the man stares back. It’s kind of funny, the seven year old braveboy in front of the dirty somewhere-around-thirty fellow. More awkward than funny, though. Little Steward beholds the torn and muddy shoes, from which the big toe clearly gasps for fresh air, to the two sizes big jacket that clearly dated at least three centuries ago which stinks and clearly cries out for Nenn...

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“Fallen Citrus” by James Ashton

Submitted to Contest #76

It looked like a scene out of an old Italian film. The mountain range stood like a giant, as if painted onto canvas and hung carefully in the backdrop of a movie. Nearby grasshoppers sang a symphony to my ears as cars drummed in a low baritone behind me. The house was of an old Spanish design and painted white, with a red trim that matched the mountains, which were reflecting light from the setting sun. The infinite rows of orange trees, all small with leaves green, stood upright like soldiers in a small army. This place lives vividly wit...

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“The Next Time” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #76

“The next time she says that, I’m going to…” How many times have I said that? And then what? Usually nothing. I’m a coward, not because I want to be, but because I have been taught to be. Not just by my parents, but teachers, telephone solicitors, nearly anyone in authority. I am afraid of being embarrassed, humiliated, made to feel as though being ineffectual, is what I should emulate. I was encouraged to be no more, no less, than that opaque color on the wall that refuses to make people wither, blush, or prete...

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“Something on My Mind” by Sean Packard

Submitted to Contest #76

Something on My Mind I am a calm woman. Every day, when I wake up, the first thing I do is take ten deep breaths. I inhale deeply, so that the oxygen flows all the way to my pubic bone, and I exhale until the capillaries nearly burst. It’s soothing and prevents the anxiety that accompanies the dawn of day. When I’ve taken my tenth, I open my eyes and say three things that I’m grateful for out loud. My dear friend, Anne, and the inspiration she affords me. A song that comes on the radio at just the right moment. A lovely memory of grand...

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“When the Bathroom Door Swings Open” by Shayna Halliday

Submitted to Contest #76

Toss and turn, back and forth, left and right, no comfy spot on her uneven mattress covered in too many pillows and ‘not enough’ blankets. Sofia Marsh, the biggest mean girl in town, wanted to pick on her, and for what reason, she had done nothing but mind her business and keep to herself. The only reason Sofia even noticed her was because Maddie Close, Sofia’s girlfriend, was now her lab partner by no choice of her own, because if it was her choice, she would’ve worked alone, but Mr. Scott insisted everyone must have a partner. It’s not lik...

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“Midnights change” by Katherine Edmundson

Submitted to Contest #76

Twelve year old Midnight rubbed her purple eyes as she woke up to a bright and sunny day in Chinatown. She brushed her black and purple hair and walked out of the alley staying under the shops where the sunlight doesn't shine. Anyone who even thought about messing with her got an ugly glare. Midnight was homeless and hated everyone and whoever got in her way. Everybody feared her and did what she demanded. They are always wondering why she is like that. The truth is she is mean to everybody because her mom and dad died and she hates ev...

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“Treatment day” by Sue Catrama

Submitted to Contest #76

Lucia heard the phone alert which meant it was time for her to get her achy 49 year old out of shape body down the stairs and start the coffee. Before her eyes opened and hand reached for the phone the pain over whelmed her. "Why does he expect me to make the coffee?, he's the one that has to leave this early" she asked herself. Charlie rolled over as Lucia's struggle to the end of the bed began. "You get up, you make the stupid coffee I am in sever pain! while your at it get me my medication" Lucia screamed in her head. Soon as he...

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“Pointless” by Elizabeth Crabtree

Submitted to Contest #76

That’s it. This. This is the final straw. Getting up from my desk, I storm over to Sandburns office and throw my report in his face. I said, “So this is how you treat your employees, huh?” Unsurprisingly, he looked at me with shock. But I continued, “Do you think it’s funny to harass the people in this workplace?” He opened his mouth, presumably to stop me, but I wouldn’t let him. I slammed my palms down on the hard oak desk, knocking over a couple of pens and cheap knick-knacks. Glaring, I said, “I don’t care that you're the boss, I don’t c...

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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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