Write a story entirely of dialogue. Nothing but dialogue. No attributives (he said, she said, etc.). No descriptions of scenes or gestures or movements (unless these things are presented in the dialogue). Just words between quotation marks. Pure, beautiful, untainted dialogue.

Posted in Dialogue on Feb 17, 2023

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✍️ 276 stories

“Anywhere’s Better Than Here” by Stevie B

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hello, my name’s Maggie.”“Hello, Maggie!”“Like most of you, I’m a victim of abuse. I understand what this process involves is sharing my story with others at tonight’s ASCA meeting. I know this is one of the steps we all have to take within this Adult Survivors of Child Abuse support group. I’m sure everyone who’s attended any of these meetings before, and since it’s my first time, knows how hard that is for me to do.”“Thank you for sharing, Maggie!”“So, here goes… I’d climbed up behind my boyfriend, Joey, on his motorcycle, and we rode awa...

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“Answer The Door” by Thom With An H

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hey, dad, are you in there somewhere?”“I’m here in the study. Come on back!”“The study? Ok, Colonel Mustard, should I beware of the candlestick?”“Very funny.”“A study, dad? Really? You don't have a single book case or even a desk in here”"I have a big screen TV and a recliner”“That makes it a den or a man cave, but not a study.”“Fine. Welcome to my den, Dentist.”“You know you’re the only one who still calls me that. Mom used to hate it.”“I know. Why do you think I did it? I loved making that woman mad.”“Why on earth would you want mom mad?”...

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“Why I Summoned the Devil” by Zack Powell

Submitted to Contest #186

"Let me get this straight: you summoned me because of a toaster?""Yeah, you got it, bucko. That orange one right there. See it?""Of course I see it, mortal.""Okay. Good. So, I was thinking. Maybe you could just wave your hands and do your magic mumbo jumbo and make it work again, Satan.""Satan?""That's your name, isn't it?""No.""Lucifer, then?""No.""Beelzebub?""Now you're just being racist.""Well, you don't have to say it like that. And you can nip that eye-rolling in the bud, too. I tell you, kids these days have no manners. No respect for ...

61 comments 61

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“The Enchanter's Cradle” by C.B. Chribby

Submitted to Contest #186

[So, you’re an enchanter, then?] “Yes, I’ve trained for it my whole life.” [Did you pick it up from your family? I know it's not an easy profession to come by.] “I wasn’t really a family man because I didn’t have much of one.” [Are you married?] “No. Artificing pays the bills. And I’m left enough time to care over what truly matters. But you don’t want to know about that. You want to know about my craft.” [Formally, yes. I have a questionnaire.] “That’s alright. ‘Questionnaire’ away.” [Right, well. How many enchantments have ...

30 comments 30

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“A Perfect Match” by Howard Halsall

Submitted to Contest #186

‘Good morning, please take a seat and we can discuss your enquiry--- ’‘I know you’re busy, so thank you for seeing me at such short notice.’‘You’ve come to the right place and having read your CV, I’m sure I can help you.’‘The thing is, I’ve outgrown my position and I need a new challenge.’‘So you’ve got bored at work and you’re considering a new career?’‘Yes, and given my wealth of experience, I’m certain I can succeed in any new role.’‘You’re in a competitive market at the moment, however I can assure you there are plenty of candidates who...

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“Cicero, '59” by David Sweet

Submitted to Contest #186

“Jimmy Dean Jackson, where do you think you’re going?“None-a-yer-business, Rosey Mae!”“If you get us both into trouble again, it’ll be my business!”“I’ll let you know when I need you, little sister.”“Little sister? I’m almost two years older than you! I know you just turned nine, but you know good and well that I will be eleven at the end of the month, little brother.”“I don’t need you taggin’ along. I’m big enough to take care of myself.”“You better not be headed off to go hang out with Stanton Burkhart. Uncle Bob and them haven’t lived up ...

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“She's Not Cryin' Anymore” by Hannah Labouchere

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #186

"It's cold." "So?" "Can I have a blanket?" "No." "Why?" "You could try to strangle me. Or hang yourself." "You really thought this through, huh? You sure this is your first time?" --- "A heater?" "No." "Because of the wiring?" "I'm not giving you something heavy to lug at me when I come through the door." "Now you're just giving me ideas." "You're too good at coming up with them yourself." "You're too good at predicting them." --- "If I had a basement, I would at least decorate it better." "Why bother?" "W...

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“Every Conversation We Had, at the End.” by Jacky Burke

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #186

Where are we, Jack? In my house. I bought it last year. What do you mean your house? Yeah! I bought a house last year. But, you’re still in college, Jack. Aren’t you? I went to college, but I got out a few years ago. I’ve been working up north, and living in apartments up there for a few years. But I thought I’d buy a house down here now. Oh. It’s cute, right? Little, and right down the road from Lisa and Adam. Lisa and Adam? Where are Lisa and Adam? They’re just a few houses down. They live right next door to each ot...

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“COMING TO A HEAD” by Susan Catucci

Submitted to Contest #186

** WARNING: Gore, drugs, language, violence, all within reason. *** * *“Before we begin, we are being audio and video recorded. Do you understand? I need a verbal response. If you say ‘uh huh’ or ‘nuh uh’, we might say ‘is that a yes, is that a no,’ just to be clear.”“I understand.”“I’m Detective Jim Harrington. This is Deputy Hank Snowden. Having gone over your Miranda warnings, is this the form you signed certifying you understand your rights?”“Yep.”“Is this your signature here?”“Yep.”“And did you sign it voluntarily, w...

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“Four Worlds” by Kendall Defoe

Submitted to Contest #186

“Who’s next?”“Me, sir.”“Good. You have all the forms?”“Yes. All complete.”“Okay. Let me see… Right, so it is not a machine or…?”“No, no. Just some written work to protect.”“Okay, I see. May I ask about the application of your work?”“I am not sure I understand.”“I mean, how would the layman use the ideas in your papers?”“This is for science…”“I see. To benefit mankind.”“I think that may be too much to say at the moment.”“But it is for science?”“Yes. My own theory.”“A theory?”“Yes, for now, it is my own idea. But if my ideas are correct, it ma...

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“Party Planning” by S. M. Lewis

Submitted to Contest #186

"Did Mom respond yet?""Dude, it's been two minutes. Relax.""I know it's been two minutes, but I have things to do today. Not all of us are freelancers, you know.""I get that, but it's our mother. You can afford to take one long lunch break to help me organize her retirement party. Also, I do work on occasion.""Pfft, yeah, I'd hardly call rolling out of bed and pushing a few buttons 'working'.""Carter, you're a computer programmer. Isn't that, like, your whole job?""Yeah, but I wear real pants while doing it.""Hey, I wear real pants!""Shelby,...

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“Concert Hall Murmuring” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #186

“Did you pre-order tickets when they got released a year ago?” “Actually, I didn’t. I was gifted this ticket yesterday by a friend who is sick and had to miss out. She grabbed the ticket many months ago though, I think. I didn’t waste a second before snagging it up when she offered!” “You know this symphony, though?” “Know of them, more like. I’ve heard some of their stuff online but have never seen them live… until tonight anyway!” “I have seen them a handful of times! I’m pretty sure I’ve shed tears at least once every concert.” ...

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“Frank” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #186

Frank“Good morning, Frank. I’ve got a nice red one for you today.” “It’s perfect, Margie. Red was her favorite.” “Frank, you really don’t have to give me the dollar.” “I know.”----------“Here’s your coffee, Frank. I’ll bring you a menu, Leadhead.”“Thanks, Katie. Why don’t you at least look at a menu, Frank?” “I like the chicken sandwich.”“Yeah, after five years, I get that. But you might like something else.” “But I might not like it.” “Can’t argue with that.”---------- “Leadhead, where does Frank get the f...

18 comments 18

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“It's A Steve Harvey Kinda Day” by KT George

Submitted to Contest #186

“I love my wife. She won’t be mad. I love my wife. She will be reasonable. I love my wife. Please, God. Don’t let her divorce me. Huh. Isn’t that where I left you this morning?” “They call it a Living Room for a reason. I’m living. And it’s Bon Bon hour. Why are you home so early?”“Why are you so flushed?”“The sugar rush, and Steve Harvey. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry. Anyway, another jerk at work got you down?”“Something like that.”“Sit. I’ll go make you a drink. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, and Steve’s about to crack another joke. ...

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“One Nation Under Trump” by Lisa Hoadley

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hello everyone, and welcome to the third annual Trump Military Parade, brought to you by ARussican Oil. I’m your host, Lou Dobbs, and I’d just like to thank President Trump for making this great day possible for us all. Sitting in the booth with me today is our very own Second First Lady, Tomi Trump. Tomi, it’s an honor to have you here.” “Thanks, Lou. I’m so happy to be here supporting my husband and our president, Donald Trump, in the very first military parade since we passed the Trans Ban to honor our brave alpha male fighting brigade...

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Write a story entirely of dialogue. Nothing but dialogue. No attributives (he said, she said, etc.). No descriptions of scenes or gestures or movements (unless these things are presented in the dialogue). Just words between quotation marks. Pure, beautiful, untainted dialogue.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 276 stories

“Anywhere’s Better Than Here” by Stevie B

“Answer The Door” by Thom With An H

“Why I Summoned the Devil” by Zack Powell

“The Enchanter's Cradle” by C.B. Chribby

“A Perfect Match” by Howard Halsall

“Cicero, '59” by David Sweet

“She's Not Cryin' Anymore” by Hannah Labouchere

“Every Conversation We Had, at the End.” by Jacky Burke

“COMING TO A HEAD” by Susan Catucci

“Four Worlds” by Kendall Defoe

“Party Planning” by S. M. Lewis

“Concert Hall Murmuring” by Sarah Martyn

“Frank” by Murray Burns

“It's A Steve Harvey Kinda Day” by KT George

“One Nation Under Trump” by Lisa Hoadley

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in which each paragraph begins or ends (or both!) with the same sentence.

Write a story of fragments. Many options here: no verbs, sentence fragments, short sections, nothing but objects, etc. The fragments should relate to one another obliquely, hesitantly, subtly, ambiguously, preposterously, marvelously.

Write a story within a story within a story within a ...

Write a story that formally utilizes a mathematical sequence; e.g., the Fibonacci sequence could determine the number of words in each paragraph, or start with a number and work backwards. Make sure the formula is made clear, either within the story, or before or after it.

Contest #186

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

481

Contest entries

142

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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