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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

“JESSICA.” by Frances Benjamin

Submitted to Contest #76

"I don't mind if you never find it in your heart to forgive me, I deserve it.""I forgave you a long time ago, but where were you? For months I searched, contacted all our friends but nothing!""I was in Yarmouth," Jessica revealed willingly."Yarmouth?! What were you doing in Yarmouth?!""Thinking most of the time........regretting.""Regretting what?"That I left you. Living without you is always so painful Lawrence.""I missed you too, so badly, Jessie!" Lawrence confessed shamelessly and kissed her full on the lips, "but you'll never have to mi...

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“i forgot.txt” by Kaitlyn Gress

Submitted to Contest #76

"Excuse me?" "Huh?" "Where do you think you're going?" "Who are you, and why me?" "That doesn't matter, you have to come with me." "Why? Seriously, why?" "I can't say until we get there." "Can we stop at that Dunkin' Donuts first? I'm hungry." "No, we don't have any time to waste." "People are looking at us weird, can you at least tell me your name? Also, it would be nice if you could let go of my wrist, you're literally dragging me and it hurts." "No." ". . ." ". . ." "Why are we going in a parking garage?" "Be quiet." "I won't be quiet ...

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“I wanna be famous” by A. D. Nimon

Submitted to Contest #76

“It’s about me isn’t it?”“Well hello to you too. A little hungry but I’m fine and you?”“Stop it. Just admit it’s about me.”“What are you even talking about?”“Your story. The character. It’s me.”“I have written several stories.”“Your last story.”“It has more than one character.”“Don’t play dumb with me. You know you can’t win.”“I can still try. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“I’m talking about the character who dies at the end of your story. I wouldn’t die like that, I’m not that stupid.”“But all my characters die.”“The one who’s ins...

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“One small step for man, one giant leap towards Instagram fame” by Taylor Zimmet

Submitted to Contest #76

‘Did you always know that you were going to be famous?’ ‘Well, I would say that it was my calling. When I was young, I realised that this was my purpose in life and I could truly make a difference.’ ‘Wow, that’s beautiful. What was the moment that you realised that this was your calling, that this is what you would dedicate your life to?’ ‘That’s a good question…hmm, I guess there wasn’t a moment that stands out for me. There isn’t a moment that my life flipped on its head. I think there was little moments that gradually led to here. You ...

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“Choose” by Jaymee T

Submitted to Contest #76

"It's just through here, Mrs. Conwell. You can take a seat right here while waiting." "Thank you! Oh, I'm so nervous. It's my first interview in years. My husband was the one working, but then he… well. What's your boss like? Are they nice? I used to be a translator, I've never even tried applying as a writer before. It's really just been a hobby, but I really wanted to pursue something I actually enjoyed. It was either this or find a way to get paid for napping! "Gosh, I'm sorry for rambling so much. I have no brakes when my heart ...

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“Karen´s Books” by Alexandra Lambert

Submitted to Contest #76

“No no. As I said, it’s colourful.” “I really am gonna need a bit more information than that from ya sir.”“Yes, yes of course. I’m playing your game. What else… it concerns fragility and how should I describe it…”“We only ‘ave a small selection ‘ere...”“SHAPELESSNESS!” “Maybe you could take a look in anovver branch?” “Hah! We both know you stock all of the number one best sellers here. Yes yes! Do wave your manager over! Hello ma’am, a very tight ship you keep!”“Hello Mr Mosely, we haven’t seen you in a while? Did SeaRock keep...

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“Recipe for Serendipity ” by Lyn VJ Bennett Wilson

Submitted to Contest #76

Tracy Blane, society writer, drew a small tape recorder out of her bag and began to speak into the microphone. She snagged the first interview with Linoak County’s newest power couple and she was excited to get the story behind the relationship and engagement of Bob Schlagel and Lillian Hyde. Tracy was a young, eager and relatively talented newcomer to the Linoak County Gazette. She said into the tape recorder, “Notes by Tracy Blane, interview with Bob Schlagel. January 15.” “Bob good to see you! Thank you fo...

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“HIS GENTEEL” by L.L. Lux

Submitted to Contest #76

“This is a real problem for me. I don’t know how to tell her,” he sighs with both corners of the mouth pushing up.“Just tell her what you told me. Be honest. You know, best policy and all that.”“Nooo, but that’s too harsh. I cannot do that,” he boasted.“Well, then just don’t answer her calls and text and that’s it. I mean, it’s not a big deal.”“For you… but I am not like you. I’m not that kind of a person.” His smirk is starting to develop into a full smile.“This kind of situations are never pleasant for anybody, but it’s inevitable, so you’...

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“The Request” by Philip Baker

Submitted to Contest #76

«If there is one thing I know for sure, it's that Robert would have repudiated all of them. There was not a single person that he trusted while he was alive and that was for a good reason.» She stood up and sat over the sofa-stool, right next to the man as she griped her finger like a multi-hook lock and continued. «At least he didn't have to face the people he worked with every single day, plunging like animals to capitalize on everything he created and see what they were really made of. These hideous people... nobody could anticipate ...

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“Hope and Dread” by T MM

Submitted to Contest #76

“What are you doing out here? It’s freezing.” “It’s nice though, isn’t it?” “If you enjoy frostbite, I guess.” “It’s just… so loud in there.” “That’s kind of the point of a party, yeah.” “Well, I wanted to get away from it all for a bit. Why’re you out here, anyway, if it’s so freezing and pointless?” “Saw you out here looking all sad.” “Thanks, I guess?” “I’m Mina, by the way.” “Oh, Laurie’s talked about you. Noelle.” “Festive; very fitting for this time of year.” “Yeah, my parents think they’re hilarious. My younger s...

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“The Disclosure” by Liv Sandbakk

Submitted to Contest #76

─ Welcome to this hearing where we shall find out what happened when Sophie was brought here to the headquarters. We have seen some disturbing pictures on TV. But we start from the beginning. Sophie, can you take a seat here in the front? Good. You can start with why and how you ended up at the farm in the wilderness. ─ I could not stand the life in town, isolated in a small flat. Our country had changed from democracy to a dictatorship in only one year, that was, and is, unbelievable. I got in contact with the resistance movement and thoug...

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“Sorry” by Andrea Kepple

Submitted to Contest #76

“I was getting worried. You always used to be early for everything.” “You were always late as I remember. When you bothered to show up at all. So, what do you want to see me about?” “Do you want to get something to eat? I hear they do a great pastrami on rye.” “Kevin, what do you want to see me about?” “How about a drink at least?” “I don’t want to have lunch with you. I don’t want to have a drink with you. I don’t even want to talk to you. The only reason I’m here is to get the phone calls to stop. You hear me? I want you to stop ...

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“I Never Said I Missed You” by Emma Rose

Submitted to Contest #76

-“Don’t look now, but guess who just showed up…..”“Are you serious?”“Dead serious. And, oh. Oh how scandalous.”“What?” “He has the girl with him.”“For real? Already?”“She’s, like, really pretty too….. Really, really, really pretty…..”“Wow, thanks for clarifying Allison, my self esteem really needed that right now.”“Hey, I’m just stating the facts….. oh. oh! Wait, he saw us! Ha! See, I told you to wear the black dress, he looks impressed, maybe even a little ashamed.”“Good riddance, he should be ashamed, the little lying…..”“Woah, hold u...

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“Games” by ILARIO UDINESI

Submitted to Contest #76

“Is it time?” asked the man. “Look at your watch, answered the woman. “Where’s your watch?” “I seem to have misplaced it.” “Misplaced it? Your precious watch, your pride and joy, which was your father’s and grandfather’s before you. I don’t recall ever seeing you without it.” “Well it’s a day of firsts,” reflected the man, “I’m just as shocked to see you without your long, wild tangle of hair”. “I guess it is a day of firsts. And lasts! How many jobs together does this make?” “52, once Centipede gets here wi...

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“An Old Acquaintance ” by E B

Submitted to Contest #76

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I wanted him to realize, but on his own obviously. Otherwise it’s not worth it, you know?” I said to Marie as we walked down Truman Blvrd., past half-drunken heaps of younglings and the familiar bearded man, yielding the eery “Apocalypse” poster out of some 70s L.A. film. “Robert would never do that though, he’s too much of a-“ Suddenly we all found ourselves frozen alongside Marie, who was staring straight ahead, mouth wide open. As I looked before us, I found myself gazing once more at Walter Rees, an...

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$50

Prize money

787

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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.

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