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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

“Vera” by CarefreeChicken, The Overlord Of Reality

Submitted to Contest #76

( Part one )I was born different from the others.I was born with an inability to lie.I was born in the main village of my tribe. Everyone is born in the main village. But my thirteenth birthday is approaching, which means I may not be able to live in this village any longer. Let me explain. My world, K’setra is ruled by one High King. He governs six smaller tribes, including mine, the mountain tribe, Sikhra. Every year there comes a day which we have come to call, Cira, where all the children who turn thirteen that year are brought...

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“Tell Me More” by 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚝💙

Submitted to Contest #76

“Why is the sky blue?” “I’m not sure Annabeth.” “Salem, you must know why the sky is blue.” “I told you Annabeth I don’t know.” “Well, do you know why I’m here?” “You know why you’re here Annabeth now stop asking these silly questions.” “Can you please just tell me again?” “Do you not remember?” “No, not really so can you tell me”. “Well, Anna your parents had an accident, and they-” “I know that part skipped to why I’m here”. “You need to know the whole story.” “Now, where was I? Your parents-” “What did they look like?” “Anna, are you gonn...

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“You Grow, Girl” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #76

“What on Earth is that?”“It’s a Garden, Georgina. I know we’re both getting on a bit — a bit long in the tooth — but it’s still early days for senile dementia, don’t you think?”“Oh, don’t be snarky!”“You know, grass, shrubs. A hedge. Flowers. Maybe even a tree. Lawn chairs, soil. A parasol. A little table, a tray of ice tea. Maybe a glass of gin and tonic for you, you old flirt. A garden.”“I know what a garden is, you old bat! I meant that. Phyllis, I’ve never seen a plant like it in my life! It wasn’t there last week, that’s for sure. I wou...

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“Stand on the Right, Walk on the Left” by B.T Beauregard

Submitted to Contest #76

"How many fingers am I holding up, bud? Hey, bud, can you hear me? Wake up.""Hmm?""There he is. I told you he was breathing, keep the crowd back, will you Chris?""Yes sir.""How many fingers am I holding up?""What?""How many fingers am I holding up?""Well, shit, I- seven?""Close. Again now.""Four. Ah fuck, my head...""Nope. Only one.""One? Well, shit. That was my next guess.""I'm sure it was.""My head... I-""Took a mighty fall there, bud. Mia, come here, hold this against his temple.""Yes sir.""Where were you headed in such a hurry? Follow th...

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“They're coming to take me away ☠️” by Ari Berri

Submitted to Contest #76

Fourth part of Dead End. It doesn't have anything to do with the prompt. Enjoy! “The Glean?” I exclaim. “I have to go there?” The Grim nods, still smiling. “But-but I thought Gleaners were dangerous.” I say. Another nod. “They are. But we have an agreement. Any special cases here get sent to them.” “But don’t I get a say in this?” I demand. “I don’t want to go!” “I’m afraid you don’t have much choice.” He says. “I must honor the agreement.” “What if I quit?” I ask. “So you’re ready to move on?” “...What?” “Oh, you didn’...

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“in my room” by Masha Kurbatova

Submitted to Contest #76

15 minutes until Adeline’s holiday performance, and she was curled up somewhere in a little ball. No one could say where exactly. Caroline, twin sister, PR manager, sat on the couch, smiling with just her mouth, not her eyes. Sometimes Adeline pulled through last minute. Sometimes, she didn’t. A dozen people were scattered in Nikolai’s living room, a scrappy holiday post-tour party. There were the backstage technicians, the bearded and pot-bellied lighting specialists, the tour manager locked up in the bathroom with yet another im...

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“Thanatophobia” by 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚝💙

Submitted to Contest #76

Thanatophobia: the fear of death “I know this is going to be a weird question but who’s afraid to die,” Cole said breaking the silence in the room. A series of yes’s and no’s filled the room. “Heaven, how are you not afraid to die,” Courtney shouted once she heard her answer. Her name was Haven but they called her Heaven as a joke. Her name had been related to something good when she, herself, had not been. “I’m just not, I can’t really explain it,” Haven shouted back. “I can explain,” Sybil chimed in. “So then explain,” Courtney said....

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“Escape” by Aman Fatima

Submitted to Contest #76

“Mother! What do you mean by I have to marry into that family” Alicia yelled at her mother. “Just like I said darling. We need you to marry into the Harrison family so that your father and brother can expand business through the Harrison estate” Alicia’s mother replied to her as calmly as possible. Alicia tried to defy her mother by throwing around anything she could get her hands on. Alicia’s mother walks up to her daughter grabs her arms and pulls her closer, close enough to whisper. “Darling I don’t care how many things you break this dec...

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“The Mantra” by Gip Roberts

Submitted to Contest #76

It falls. It seeps. It gathers. They Grow.Druwa. Filtris. Occue. Amasee...***"I await. The darkness is my blanket and my shield. The dampness is my friend. You are my teacher, and I await...What in Hades am I doing wrong? The mantra is simple enough.Patience.These four words all feel good to say. The setting is right, the noise level is perfect, my spine is as aligned as I can get it without pulling something. What the hell?I'll try focusing on 'the beat'. Maybe that'll help get the chakras woke up."Plink!"Breathe in: One, two, three. Breath...

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“Indirect.” by 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚝💙

Submitted to Contest #76

“Do you like the sunlight or moonlight better?” Eli was asking her questions again. She always did this when she was bored. She was always bored since she came here. “I like looking at light.” I knew that wasn’t what she was asking but I liked watching her try to decipher my answers. It was a game we would play. She asks indirect questions and I somewhat answer her question, then we both figure out what the other had meant. “Caleb, which is better?” “I’ve never stayed up long enough to see the moonlight.” She shrugged at my response. “Which ...

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“Empty Encounters” by S.N. Beale

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #76

This is not what I want to be doing right now. How did it get like this? All I want right now is to be alone. It used to be so much fun. So, comfortable. But now my skin is crawling. I cannot even think of a conversation, a word to say, a statement to make, other than: When are you leaving? When can we call this? Do I need to order the car, or can you get it yourself? But all I can muster is, “Can I get you another beer? Oh…cool, bet, yeah, this song is dope.” To your, “Yeah, thanks, you know them? I keep telling you, ya gotta ge...

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“Birds of a Feather” by The-Burrowing-Owl- Author

Submitted to Contest #76

The pathway echoed with footsteps like the pattering of agitated heartbeats. Sariah seemed to storm across the neatly fitted stone pieces, dark green cloak fluttering behind her. A shorter figure skated after her, ebony curls bouncing in her wake. “Sariah! Sariah, slow down!”She halted suddenly, turning on her heel with a brief skid. “I know, I know, I’m sorry.” She blurted, hands held out in a calming gesture. Sariah’s brow was furrowed slightly, her shoulders bowed downward tiredly. “I just-- I didn’t want to explain anything to the r...

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“Questions” by 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚝💙

Submitted to Contest #76

Melody:She was kind so I should be able to talk to her. I shouldn’t get nervous or stumble over my words with her.“I like your name. It reminds me of peace for some reason which is odd I know but I just wanted to say your name is pretty.”“Can you help me with this one thing from math? I understand it but not fully so if you don’t mind can you help me?”“Do you remember when we used to talk almost every day?”“How does it feel to be popular?”“Does it ever get hard or bothersome to hear your name all the time?”Kamara:She was brave and wasn’t afr...

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“Breathe” by Lindsey W

Submitted to Contest #76

"I don't know what to say, Detective," "I don't expect you to say anything, just a nod will tell us all we need." She says, motioning for me to follow her downstairs. "Is it cold in the morgue?" I ask, "A little, but try not to think about it too much. We don't have to stay there long; it will only take a moment." She has a kind face, and I know she means well. But with each stair we descend, it feels like I'm stepping deeper into my worst fears. "How long have you been doing this?" "This is my 2nd year at this department," "Do you oft...

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“Sailing -- The Happy Fits” by Elliot Thomas

Submitted to Contest #76

He is a drop of sunlight in a clear glass bottle. A photoshoot in a field of lavender. An aesthetic. As I sit at my weatherworn desk, I poke a hole in my dam of emotions. He is a friendly phantom, existing only in the quiet space between. He is a heated blanket in the dead of winter. He is a song that lingers at the edge of memory until you listen to it. It leaks out little by little as my pen moves across the page. . . .&n...

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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.

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