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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

“Recycled Promises” by Abigail R

Submitted to Contest #76

Their eyes locked, it was a face-off, no one knew who would fold first, they were disgusted with each other, embarrassed to even be facing the other. It seemed as though they were trying to convince each other of something without even speaking, speaking was what started this whole mess. The heavy breathing cut the silence of the tension-filled room. They shifted in time with one another, an intimidation tactic perhaps, daring the other to speak, to break the silence. He broke first. “Come on, man.” He turned away from the mirror. “It’s so e...

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“Introductions” by Arch R

Submitted to Contest #76

Seventeen blocks of pixels stared back at her. She lifted her mug with her company logo on it to her mouth, letting the steam from her coffee warm up her lips to calm her down, while her eyes darted from square to square on her screen. She replaced the mug so it formed a venn diagram with the coffee stain ring on her new desk. She straightened her back and lifted her chin out of her neck. A free ergonomic assessment had told her that her back and neck pain wouldn’t go away anytime soon if she didn’t work on her posture. “Team, I am so pump...

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“Do You Remember?” by Tom L

Submitted to Contest #76

“Do you remember how we met? It was in Miami and the rainy season was starting to kick off. I had dressed up to meet a friend, a boy I had liked. I was a young girl and the world was so big, so I was looking for love to fill in the empty space. Something else, not exactly a shining prince and definitely not a dark hero, stumbled into Cold Stone, drenched and sopping wet. I don’t remember a lot of the details, but I remember an outlandishly iridescent floral shirt, as if neon colored flamingo had gotten drunk and lost after a night out in an ...

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“Let Me Find My Voice” by Nina Mitchell

Submitted to Contest #76

I kept my head down. My hair perfectly blanketed my face from the passing students' views. High school started out hard, especially losing my best friend. But I stopped caring when I— I couldn’t force myself to admit the words out loud. Not to anyone. Not to my mother, who was always busy with work. Not to my friend since, well, we weren’t on speaking terms. I wanted to share my grief with them. But no matter how hard I tried, the words kept getting stuck in my throat, unwilling to budge. So I kept them in my journal. It was a plain, bla...

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“The Importance of a Morning Coffee” by Brandy Rose

Submitted to Contest #76

I rushed out of the apartment and let the door slam behind me. I knew it might be the last time I visited this building, but I had to get out. I took the stairs two at a time, being careful not to trip and fall flat on my face. I was not the most agile when it came to getting out of places quickly. He did not follow me, and as I opened the main door, I dared myself to walk to my car without looking back at the second floor balcony.I made it to the car, able to keep my promise, and slid into the front seat. The clock read 11:35 PM. My parents...

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“Another Item on the Bucket List” by Adam Johnson

Submitted to Contest #76

“I told you this was a bad idea.” “Shut it, just shut up, I’m sick of hearing you say that! We don’t know if this is going to go south or not, just hush!” “…ok. So…watching a murder happen through these closet doors in a house we’re not supposed to be in isn’t ‘going south’?” “I didn’t say that, I just…just shut up for a second, I need to think…” “Ok…it’s just – and I know I need to shut up ok I just want to say this one thing. It’s been an hour since, you know, that happened, and I thought I heard a door slam shut.&nb...

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“Sammidges and Hockey Pencils” by MARY-LEE BLEMINGS

Submitted to Contest #76

Sammidges and Hockey Pencils Good morning, Allison. Good morning. Can you tell me your full name and age, please? Allison Lynn McCoy. I’m seven years old. My name is Mr. Davies. I’m the Superintendent of Schools. Do you know what that is? No. That’s okay. I’m sort of the boss of all the schools. Okay. Your parents said I could talk to you today. Do you know why I want to talk to you? No, sir. Am I in trouble? Not at all. I’m talking to all the kids in your class, because I need your help. Okay. Let’s start with an easy question. What...

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“The Long Drive” by Theresa Stefaniak

Submitted to Contest #76

“Nnnmm? . . .” “What, babe?” “I didn’t say anything.” “You said, like, ‘hmm?’” “Wasn’t me. So—damn it! She’s awake!” “Nnnmm? Hnnh!” “That tranquilizer was supposed to knock her out for the night.” “Yeah, but when she elbowed me in the nose, I accidentally pushed down on the—Eyes on the road, babe!” “Mrmmph? Hrnuhmmph!” “Miss Avery, right? Sorry. I’m sure you’re confused and there’s a lot going on but – hey! – look I understand why you – hey, cut that out! Stop!” “HMMPH!” “Hey! Seriously! You’ll make us crash!” “That’s what she’s trying to do...

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“"STOP!"” by Ashley Ciminieri

Submitted to Contest #76

“STOP! You can’t take him. I love him! Please please please try to see it through my eyes. Sometimes I wonder why you do this to me. Maybe it's because you are obsessed with me. Maybe it's because you can’t be happy on your own so you come back to me, and you can’t see me be happy with someone else. You know I never loved you right. I felt so bad for you and thought you wouldn’t be able to make it on your own. I always said that we would be together forever because you made me. You try to act like I was the toxic one but it's you. I was scar...

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“Pas de Deux” by Leo Blanes

Submitted to Contest #76

The sudden discordant jangling of the phone interrupted his reverie. 2. Hello? 1. Hi, I haven’t heard from you in a while. 2. No, It has been a while. Sorry, you know, busy and all that… 1. How are you? 2. I don’t know. 1. I’m sorry, you don’t know? What kind of an answer is that? What’s the matter? 2. I don’t know. 1. Excuse me? Come on, where are you? 2. I don’t know. 1. What?? 2. I went to bed last night. Just like I do every night, at home in my bed. Just as I was falling a...

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“Bickering Love” by Doug Coates

Submitted to Contest #76

“Oh, crap, where is it?” Frank yelled. “Where’s what?” “My schedule?” “What schedule? You don’t go anywhere,” growled his wife. “Dammit, you know what schedule. My pill schedule.” “How should I know? I didn’t touch it.” “But, it was next to your…” “Next to my, what Frank? Next to the priceless Ming vase we own?” “I told you, the piece of paper with my pill schedule,” Frank said harshly. Edie replied, “Which pills are you talking about? Heart pills? Pain pills? Stupid pills?” “Ha, ha. My heart pills, you know I tak...

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“Unveiling ” by Lubelihle Mlalazi

Submitted to Contest #76

Glancing at her father right now,Harmony could tell that there's more to this case than what meets the eye. A message she received this morning doubled the seed of doubt she already had. "Honey I suggest that you distance yourself from this case.For your own peace of mind. Go home and mourn your mother in peace." He then looked down,picking his nose. Under normal circumstances, Harmony would be disgusted but right now she couldn't manage to waste even a nanosecond of her time. "We wouldn't want the court calling psychologists for you, accusi...

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“ What did she tell you this time” by Slothy Penguin

Submitted to Contest #76

Sitting lazily on the soft cushions by the large arched window,taking in the warm rays of the evening sun. Dominik, with his brows tightly knitted together, picked at his nails, decapitating the poor folks from the crown of his long slender fingers. With no nails to pick on anymore, Dominik, starts to shake his legs vigorously, of course those pesky little actions doesn't go by unnoticed, William, his best friend whose knees were glued to the latter's knees all day long feels every single movement and vibration caused by the latte...

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“Lemonade” by Robin ✿

Submitted to Contest #76

There was once five kids - Matthew, Alfie, Donald, Sophia and Lily. They had a beautiful treehouse of their own. ' Oh no!' Sophia cried. ' Everyone, come here quickly!' Sophia's urgent call brought the four kids to her. ' What happened? Did you get hurt?' Matthew cried. ' It's not anything with me.' said Sophia. ' It's the treehouse! Look!' Everyone peered, she was right. It was braking. ' We need to repair it.' said Alfie. ' It had been our most loved treehouse, and I wouldn't like it broken.' Everyone had agreed that they had to fix it. Un...

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“Having His Baby Dialogue Piece” by Angie Steckley

Submitted to Contest #76

“What’s wrong with you? Are you still having morning sickness?” “Yes. I can’t keep anything down, except raw eggs. Eggs are easy. But I can’t lay them. “Sorry, I know I promised to get some. I can go to the variety store. They’re open all night.” “Oh, no, you can’t. You look a mess. You’d freak Sam out. Where have you been all night? Again?” “I’m really trying, Anka. I was looking for a job – all day and all night. In my condition, it’s not easy. Not like I could eve...

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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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