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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✍️ 275 stories

“Pinky Promise” by Crystal Mendoza

Submitted to Contest #186

[Trigger warning: Inappropriate language, suggestions of violence] “Why am I here?” “Hello, Miss Jackie. Please, have a seat. My name is Officer Jones. I have a few questions to ask you regarding a recent event.” “What event? I don’t think I should be talking to you without my mom here.” “Don’t worry about that. She’s on the way over as we speak. In the meantime, can I clarify a few things with you? Your name is Jacklyn Milan, you’re a 16-year-old high school junior at Piedmont High…does all of that sound about right?” “...” “These aren’t ...

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“Ianfu: A Documentary” by Jerome Grafil-Carlos

Submitted to Contest #186

Sensitive Content: Some parts of this story allude to instances of sexual and physical violence on the context of war.“We’re clear to take? Cameras, audio, lights? Great, great. Are you ready, Ma’am?”“Yes, I’m ready.”“Please know you are free to stop whenever you want, and you are not required to answer any question you’re not comfortable with. We’re going back to some hard times in your life when you might have felt like you did not have any control. This time you control everything, okay?”“That’s good to know.”“State your name and age, ple...

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“The Lily Conundrum, Part One: The Plan” by Mae Lynn Wallace

Submitted to Contest #186

“Thank you so much for coming, Porcupine.” “Absolutely, Fiona! I don’t often get called in to consult on Awakenings. It’s fascinating, really. Fox shared updates occasionally, but it’s been a while since we spoke.” “Yes, he mentioned you two had spoken about it when he recommended that we bring you in. He’s been working so hard to make his presence felt. But, unfortunately, Lily has not got the slightest clue yet.” “So she hasn’t noticed the foxes at all? Fox rarely uses a light touch, it’s hard to imagine his work going unnoticed.” ...

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“Smoke over Santa Monica” by Jacob Weber

Submitted to Contest #186

“911. What is the nature of your emergency?” “Hey there” “Hello. What is the nature of your emergency? Can you provide an address for dispatch?” “It’s the corner of Everett and Powell, blue house with a white door” “Sir, are you currently in danger? Can you please provide me with a name and a contact number?” “You’re going to need an ambulance. There’s been gunshots” “Sir, I am dispatching an officer to your location now. Please stay on the line until help arrives. Can you please provide me with a name and a contact number?” “...

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“6 days 5 hours 46 mins 14 secs” by Enn Wren

Submitted to Contest #186

PART 1“I’m thinking of getting a new pot for you. I think your roots are getting too crowded in there.”“That would be nice. How would you get the pot here?”“I could order it and have it delivered. I’ll ask them to leave it outside my door. Or maybe I’ll ask my mom.”“That would be nice.”“Yeah. Okay. I’ll do that— for you too, Shiva.”“Thank you, dear.”“Shiva, you have enough water?”“…”“…Shiva?”“Oh yes, I have enough water. Maybe even too much.”“Too much?”“Well…I don’t drink much. It takes me a while to get through the amount of water you give ...

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“Dr. Grimm’s Diagnosis” by Douglas W. Carr

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hello, it’s so good to see you. Come on in and have a seat. I was just freshening up from my morning walk.” “Thank you. It’s good to see you also. It’s been what, six months? I’ve lost track of time. Anyway, how’ve you been?” “Oh, you know…taking it day by day.” “You look tired.” “Well, I don’t sleep well. You know, the older you get the harder it becomes to get a good night’s rest.” “I suppose.” “You look well.” “Thank you. I’m in a good place now.” “Good for you...” “Listen…I’ve been thinking. We didn’t end things very wel...

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“Order are Orders” by Brownbread Fred

Submitted to Contest #186

“Fuck you, sir.”“What did you say to me, private?!”“Fuck you, sir.”“How dare you speak to an officer…”“Holy shit! The new private just knocked the LT out.”“I ain’t see shit. C’mon Jones, lets beat feet. Besides, there’s Sergeant Moultry’s, let him take care of it.”“What the fuck happened here, private?” “LT, you good? Come on; on your feet, sir.”“Huh? Ye-yea-yeah, I’m fine sergeant.”“Well, private?”“There is nothing to ask him, Moultry, he assaulted me! An enlisted soldier struck a commissioned officer, what else do you need to know?”“I want...

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“Your Station for the Nation” by Edward Savage

Submitted to Contest #186

"Welcome Sports Fans! This is Marcus Titus Grippius welcoming you to the fourth day of the Lupercalia games. This is your Station For The Nation, Radio Rome! Sports Fans we have a full day of thrills ahead of us. The Emperor is rumoured to be attending and what a thrill that will be for those lucky enough to be here in person. For those out there in the city and the burbs, stay tuned and don't go away as we bring you blow by blow coverage of today's events. Now here's Antonius Priapius Diccus with a recap of yesterday's events for those who ...

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“The Wedding Guest” by Kendall Jones

Submitted to Contest #186

The Wedding Guest “May I join you?” “Huh? Wha… you mean… here?” “I mean, this is where you are, so… yes” “I, uh, well, I mean…. this is pretty weird.” “Well, I would agree that a beautiful girl under a table at a wedding reception surrounded by entire platters of hors d’oeuvres is pretty weird…. But here you are.” “Right.” “I’ll just move these bacon-wrapped meatballs a little closer to you and I can scooch in right here. So, you can call me Davis, what should I call you?” “What should you call me?” “Sure. You don’t have to tell me your...

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“A Lot of Talking for a Short Flight” by Maria Ruban

Submitted to Contest #186

“First time flying, huh?”“That obvious?”“Well, not at first. As soon as the plane took off and during the emergency safety drill, you started fidgeting. I kind of had a feeling.”“I’m usually a calm person. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”“This is probably my 100th time flying, so I’m an old pro.”“I sat next to the right person. You can help distract me.”“I’m a good listener and a good talker. I can talk, or you can talk, the whole trip if you want. Since I get special seating, usually nobody sits next to me. I'm glad I have someone to talk ...

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“Customer Service” by WRL Battle

Submitted to Contest #186

"Thank you for calling the Mumbo Electronics Customer Service Hotline. Para Español diga, 'Español.' To order a Mumbo Bot V-3 say, 'Order V-3r.' To speak with a representative, say, 'Speak to a representative.' To report a malfunction or a defective unit, say, 'Report defective unit.' For more options say, 'More options.'""Report defective unit.""Okay. Before we proceed, I need some information about your personal Mumbo Bot unit. Please say the eight-digit PIN, located at the back of the unit's neck."“Six, two, five, four, four, zero, two, t...

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“Arguments” by Leigh Hays

Submitted to Contest #186

“It’s bright… it hurts” “You can look now, I won’t hurt you. At least not physically, not on purpose” “Where am I?” “A place you will not have to see for a long time” “Then how come I can see it?” “You always were a smart-aleck. You don’t see it, you only think you do. As well as that pain you felt, you didn’t really feel it. You only think you did.” “Smart-aleck? Who are you and why am I here?” “I wish you wouldn’t shout, it is considered rude here. You are here because you feel guilty. Or at least you would if you could remember.” “Guilty?...

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“Dad Bot” by Andrew Fruchtman

Submitted to Contest #186

So, you gonna answer me or what? Yes, yes Dad, it’s just that I’m real busy right now. The kid is napping and I’m trying to get some work done before he wakes up and I honestly don’t have time to address your vanity issues. Can we talk about this later please, huh? Okay, okay I’ll power down for a while. My equivalent of a nap. Talk to you later. Thank you. Good evening family, how is everyone tonight? I feel so refreshed after my little doze. Funny Dad. Hey, JJ come here and say hi to Grandpa. &nbs...

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“Buried in Blankets” by Tasneem Dairywala

Submitted to Contest #186

“When I opened my eyes today, I couldn’t see anything. It was terrifying. Could you”? “No, I couldn’t either. I was blinded by light so bright, it hurt.” “Did you hear it calling you? Did it deafen you with a high piercing sound”? “Yes, I found myself floating upward, floating toward the sound, floating toward the light.” “I felt as if I had lost all control of myself.” “I felt as if I would rise right out of this bed, but as always, something was weighing me down.” “Something was keeping me grounded, heavy on this bed.” “It w...

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“Good-bye” by Ren Lalo

Submitted to Contest #186

“You know.” “I actually don’t know. I don’t know what you want from me. I never know what you want from me! You say these things, these words that carry a heavy weight in your mind, but in actuality mean very little to me. You expect me to know, but I don’t know. And you know that I don’t know, yet you continue to talk at me instead of to me. You love to belittle me.” “I don’t understand why you’re lying to me. You know exactly what it is that I’m trying to convey to you, you know exactly what I need from you. You know exactly how you ne...

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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

✍️ 275 stories

“Pinky Promise” by Crystal Mendoza

“Ianfu: A Documentary” by Jerome Grafil-Carlos

“The Lily Conundrum, Part One: The Plan” by Mae Lynn Wallace

“Smoke over Santa Monica” by Jacob Weber

“6 days 5 hours 46 mins 14 secs” by Enn Wren

“Dr. Grimm’s Diagnosis” by Douglas W. Carr

“Order are Orders” by Brownbread Fred

“Your Station for the Nation” by Edward Savage

“The Wedding Guest” by Kendall Jones

“A Lot of Talking for a Short Flight” by Maria Ruban

“Customer Service” by WRL Battle

“Arguments” by Leigh Hays

“Dad Bot” by Andrew Fruchtman

“Buried in Blankets” by Tasneem Dairywala

“Good-bye” by Ren Lalo

🌟 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

479

Contest entries

141

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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