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

“Make me Melt” by Jeanne Kiesinger

Submitted to Contest #186

"What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your other girlfriend or home with your wife?""I'm pretty sure this is exactly where I want to be. Can we take this conversation to your room? Unless you want the whole hotel to know your business.""When we're alone in a hotel room there's never a conversation. You can lie to me right here in the stairwell. Isn't that why you're back?""Why are you doing this, Tina? Don't shut me out.""I'm not the one shutting anyone out. You just left me here when I needed you the most. Did you even co...

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“You Learn a Lot When You're Dying” by Evan Stone

Submitted to Contest #186

"Thank you for coming, Lawson." "I wish it wasn't for this." "She's dying, and I can't stop it. Not that I could ever stop her from doing what she did before. I'm a parent. Parents are supposed to die before their children. This way. Bristol? Bristol, you have a guest." "Is it Lawson?" "Hi, Bristol. I'm so sorry." "You learn a lot when you're dying. I've been remembering all the bad things I did...said. What else do I have to do? Can I do? I'm glad you came. You're better than me. I don't think I would've come if you were lying her...

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“The Postmaster” by Jen Thompson

Submitted to Contest #186

“Next customer.” “I have a parcel to ship.” “Where is the parcel?” “She’s right here.” “That’s a baby.” “Yes, her grandparents want to meet her and I can’t afford to take the train to see them. I can afford to send them a parcel through the mailing system.” “Where do you want to send her?” “Iowa City, Iowa.” “That’s a seventy mile journey!” “I brought food for her.” “I don’t think we can take your baby to Iowa City, ma’am.” “I was told you can send anything in the mail as long as it’s under fifty pounds. She’s around thirty pound...

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“Could've Been a Dick” by Michelle England

Submitted to Contest #186

“I want a motorcycle!”“But why? You’ve never even shown interest in riding.”“That’s because I could always just ride on the back of Kenny’s bike, and we broke up, so I don’t have his to ride on the back of anymore. Why should I wait around for someone to come pick me up on their bike, when I can learn to ride my own bike? I won’t even have to date. All I need is a bike. No men. Just bikes. Well, bikes, boats, and books. The three Bs… that’s all I need.”“I’ll look for a bike then. It will be nice to have someone else to ride with.”“Yeah. We c...

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“Orchids in Omaha” by Royce Pochowski

Submitted to Contest #186

“Unbelievable, you’re such a ditz old man! This ride costs more than your entire family's net worth. You better have good insurance otherwise you’ll be passing along some serious debts.” “Oh, I’m sorry lad, my vision isn’t that good. What is your name?” “Clearly isn’t. Can’t believe you didn’t see me, the only vehicle for miles. Ridiculous. It’s Derek Marshall, that’s with an e and a k, don’t spell it wrong.” “Derek, pleasure to meet you, I’m…” “Didn’t ask, and I certainly don’t care. Just write my name down so you can call insura...

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“Playing the Odds” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hey, Ryan.” “Foley! What’s up?” “You hear ‘bout the lotto?” “Of course! Bought a ticket.” “You? I thought you didn’t believe in that…” “I don’t. But with a prize of almost a billion, I figured… can’t hurt. Doing my part. Goes to the schools and all that…” “You said some politician skims...” “Same dif. They take their cut either way… I figure it’s a win-win. Brings the customers in.” “You have an edge because you’re the licensed seller…?” “Course not, Fole. How would that look? Bought an app though. Uses algorithms to shave a few points off ...

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“Embrace the new me. Please!” by Kelly Sibley

Submitted to Contest #186

“Are you really going to wear that?”“What?”“Don’t be dumb; you know what I mean.”“Yes.”“So, you’re going to do it even though you know it’s a dumb move.”“I pretty much think so, yes!”“Are you sure, ‘cos you won’t be able to take it back!”“When has that ever stopped me in the past?”“Unfortunately, Zorro, it’s never stopped you in the past. I was just hoping you would learn from your past mistakes at some point.”“Sangre De Ventosa, when has a werewolf ever learnt anything from the past? I shall proudly continue my life's adventure the way my f...

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“The Lovebirds” by Kate Rich

Submitted to Contest #186

“It can be anything. Anything!”“No.”“Chicken.”“There's nothing wrong with you. You're perfect the way you are.”“Oh, come on. You can’t give me one simple–”“Hey! Get back here.”“Just one thing, just whatever. Some little thing. I want to know!”“So you mean, a performance evaluation.”“It could be my performance. It could be my looks. Has to be something I can change, is all. Preferably without surgery. Something that just kinda bugs you.”“And then it'll be my turn, I presume.”“No, we don’t have to.”“Oh, really? Hardly seems fair.”“I like to wo...

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“Eden with Butterflies” by K Cao Xai

Submitted to Contest #186

“Please keep your eyes on the scanner and answer the following questions truthfully. Is your name Alicia Wendell?” “Yes.” “Is your identification number 47-D2479?” “Yes.” “Are you captain of the Star Sentinel?” “Probably not for long since I’m sitting here.” “Please answer with a yes or no.” “Yes.” “Thank you. We’ll move on to the next section. In order to confirm there are no irregularities in your mental stability, you must consent to a Poinsettia Behavioral Test. Are you ready to begin?” “Not unless you promise me a bath...

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“The Beast” by Al Cassidy

Submitted to Contest #186

“Are you awake?” “I am.” “How long have we been out?” “Hours. Maybe longer.” “Longer than hours?” “I don’t know. It’s pitch black in here, smells like goat guts, and my head is aching with confusion. And my hips are killing me from laying on the ground.” “Same. I’m real thirsty, too.” “Yep. Like cotton balls.” “I don’t hear…the thing…anymore, do you?” “No.” “What should we do?” “Find a way out.” “Agreed. But how?” “We’re on a dirt floor. I think we’re in some kind of cave. It must have dragged us here.” “That doesn’t answer how we get out.” ...

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“Bollinger Pub” by Chesley Richards

Submitted to Contest #186

“Langford, you ever heard of the Bollinger Pub?” “Yeah. I heard of it many years ago but thought it was closed.” “Well, I just met the strangest guy. He called me from across Broad street, near the Empire Building. Waved too. And then he shouted that he’d meet me with a gift at the Bollinger Pub on Tuesday, around 7.” “Do you know the guy?” “Nope. Never met him before. Somehow he knew my name.” “That's weird. But what about him. What's his name?” “Jackson? At least, that was what I thought he said. Seemed a bit snookered, but I am still...

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“Lights over the Citadel” by Katarína Krigovská

Submitted to Contest #186

"Stop what are you doing and pay attention to what I am about to say. I will not repeat myself." "As if you could stop me." "Put that knife back." "Why are you whispering now, as if you could stop me." "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I haven't been careful." "Why do you think it matters now? It's about a time you pay for all you have done to us. After all those years, still breathing and what about them? Is your life more important than them? I have to do it for their sake. To free them." "If am going to die, you go with me!" "Did you see that? Wha...

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“The Afterlife Machine” by SCOTT GEORGE

Submitted to Contest #186

"Whoa. Where am I? How did I get here?""You're at the Yenabgon City police station." "Police station? Why am I at a police station? I did nothing wrong.""I know this must all seem confusing to you, Jason. It's normal to feel disoriented and confused at a time like this. Try taking slow, deep breaths." "Okay." "Is it helping?""I think it is.""Good." "Jason. My name is Detective Brian McLeod, and this is my partner Saul Nicholson. We just have a few questions for you.""Questions about what? I didn't do anything....

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“Tanixx Wildfire: Thrash & Swagger” by Roger Scypion

Submitted to Contest #186

“Do not be startled Tallfellow Halfling, you have come to wield two sentient weapons. I am Thrash, a short sword made of mithril, silver and gold empowered with a unique set of abilities. Accompanying me in your discovery is the poniard, Swagger.” “My name is Tanixx, Tanixx Wildfire. What do you mean by sentient?” “Both of your newfound weapons are able to empathize with you; feel and perceive your needs as well as form a mental bond. We can communicate with telepathy; it's what we are doing at this very moment.” “This is amazing! I...

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“1-800-NEW-BLUD” by Lexa Frail

Submitted to Contest #186

(Content warning: mentions of substance abuse and murder, mild language) “Hello, you’ve reached the Midnight Covenant. If you have this number, you know why. This is Sveta speaking. How may I help you?” “Hi! Sorry about the noise! Uh . . . actually, I don’t know what this is. I thought it might be a customer trying to get me into a pyramid scheme or something, like those life insurance scams, but I figured ‘hey, why not call? Maybe it's important’! I mean, you invested in matte black paper—love the blood red text, too. Goth aesthetic, ni...

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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

“Make me Melt” by Jeanne Kiesinger

“You Learn a Lot When You're Dying” by Evan Stone

“The Postmaster” by Jen Thompson

“Could've Been a Dick” by Michelle England

“Orchids in Omaha” by Royce Pochowski

“Playing the Odds” by John K Adams

“Embrace the new me. Please!” by Kelly Sibley

“The Lovebirds” by Kate Rich

“Eden with Butterflies” by K Cao Xai

“The Beast” by Al Cassidy

“Bollinger Pub” by Chesley Richards

“Lights over the Citadel” by Katarína Krigovská

“The Afterlife Machine” by SCOTT GEORGE

“Tanixx Wildfire: Thrash & Swagger” by Roger Scypion

“1-800-NEW-BLUD” by Lexa Frail

🌟 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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