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

“THE SWORD OF SIN” by Jonny Sied

Submitted to Contest #186

THE SWORD OF SINWas I a man made to ponder riddles? Was I not anointed to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before our God? As God lives, you men of Beket are too hard for me. You weary me. Why do you not speak as men speak? Why do you stand about my throne as beasts and not as men? Speak.Your voice is deep. But I have a voice. And my voice is as deep as a well. Consider diligently this king before you, Ra En, and recall to your mind that his favor is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.Thinkest...

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“Rustlers?” by Mary Bendickson

Submitted to Contest #186

Rustlers? “You two gonna pag-nag back there all day? We got beeves to round-up. And I for one want to get back to the ranch house tonight for one decent meal for the week.” “Lighten up there, K-Keyes. Who d-died and left you in ch-charge anyway? We all got equal b-billing with the B-big B-boss.” “Then hustle up there, Stinky.” “W-wish ya didn't call me that no m-more. That encounter with th-that polecat was so long ago his stripes have f-faded away by now and he would just be a c-cuddly p-pussycat.” “Been calling you 'Stinky' for so long d...

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“Inner Dark” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #186

Good morning. I'd like to pick up where we left off during our last session. Could we go back to the line you wrote when you said you thought suicide might be an option for you. What about it? Do you think about suicide often? Well, that wasn't really me writing that, was it? I think it was you. You admit to being the author. Your name is on the cover. I don't think anyone, least of all you, can deny that you wrote the sentence. I've written a lot of sentences, friend. You, more than most, should know that. No one is disputing t...

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“Group Therapy” by Emry Archer

Submitted to Contest #186

Content Warning: Mental health, sui* reference“I’m here! I’m here! So sorry everyone. Traffic was an absolute nightmare—”“Sh!”“Oh, shit. Sorry. Sorry Sylvie.”“Sylvie, please continue.”“Right. So, like I said, my daughter-in-law got me signed up on some dating app. I’m no good with technology. Dinosaur and all that. And if I’m being honest, I don’t know I’ll use it, really. She showed me some of the profiles, and they just weren’t… that… interesting.”“Do you think they’re not interesting because they don’t measure up to Tom? Or perhaps becaus...

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“Scary Diagnosis” by Sandy Paty

Submitted to Contest #186

“Did I just hear what I thought I heard?” “If it’s what I heard, then, yes.” “They said that within the next six months that I need to have heart surgery or die, correct?” “Yep, that’s what they said.” “How is it possible for a doctor to walk into the room, simply state that and walk right back out without waiting to see if it was understood?” “I don’t know, but that doctor just did.” “What type of heart surgery?” “I don’t know. All he said was that you need to have heart surgery within the next six months or you won’t be...

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“A Prayer” by DionTre Speller

Submitted to Contest #186

"Life just feels so much different without you, Somedays I just feel empty and hollow on the inside. It’s been rough getting adjusted to everything, Even though a piece of me feels like it died, But a small piece of me is Still Alive on the Inside. Somedays are good, While others I remember so vividly, It gets hard to not think of that one moment, But it is forever etched into my mind, That moment haunts me, Even looking at your pictures reminds me of that day, That day my hope and faith were crushed, So much so that I must redefine those wo...

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“Better Off Dead” by Jennifer Jones

Submitted to Contest #186

“Jessica, Michael is here.”“Oh...okay, thanks mom.”“Hey Jessica.”“Hey Michael, I wasn't expecting you.”“What's all this?”“Listen, you have to swear not to tell anyone.”“Tell anyone what?”“I'm leaving.”“What do you mean you're leaving? Leaving where?”“I'm going...across the wall.”“You're joking. Do you want me to just put a bullet in your head now, save you the trouble?”“That's not funny.”“You're damn right it's not. You can't go out there Jessica!”“I have to go. I can't stay here one more minute, and I have to know what's really out there.”“...

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“The Statue” by Jeannette Miller

Submitted to Contest #186

Sidney: Well, that's the last of it, except for the boxes there. Claire: Great! Yeah, these will be picked up tomorrow. I'm donating all of it to the second-hand store across town. Sidney: Oh. I can take them, drop them off on my way, if that works better for you. I mean, I hate for you to have to keep coming back here. After everything...you know. Claire: Uh, sure. Why not. That would be fantastic Sid. You're a great friend. I couldn't have gotten through this without you. Sidney: Aww… I know. Claire? Why is this statue in the donation box?...

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“Let Go” by Carlie Beth

Submitted to Contest #186

***Trigger Warning - use of some foul language and abuse***“You’re home! Finally!”“Yeah, but I’m gonna…”“Where’s my kiss? Come here, give me my kiss.” “Donnie...I’m…”“I have been waiting all day for you!”“I’m sorry, someone called off, I had to cover…”“You didn’t think to text or call me? The last message you sent me was at 5:22. That was more than two hours ago! Why haven’t you texted me since?” “We were too busy, I was doing a lot of running around…”“You ALWAYS say that. Always too busy for me... always... take your coat off and ...

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“The After ” by August Jett

Submitted to Contest #186

Hello? Hello. Where am I? Hard to say. Where would you like to be? I'm not sure. I see. Then we are at a standstill. Who are you? Who would you like me to be? I don't understand you. Why must you be so cryptic? Why must you ask so many questions? Forgive me. I'm lost. Yes. I suspect many who come here are. But where is here? That is entirely up to you. Truly? Yes. Just take a step. It's dark. I'm afraid. I know. It will be alright. How do you know? I just do. I don’t think I’m ready. I understand. It’s okay. There is time e...

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“Customer Satisfaction ” by Holly Grover Brandon

Submitted to Contest #186

“Thank you for calling Vigor and Vitality Supplements. Please be aware that this call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance. My name is Mallory. How may I assist you today?”“Well Mallory, I need to speak with someone about these good-for-nothing vitamins of yours.”“What seems to be the issue with the vitamins, ma’am?”“I’ll tell you the issue, Mallory. They ain’t worth the cotton ball that came inside ‘em.”“I am sorry to hear—”“Yeah, you sound real sorry.”“—that one of our products was not what you expected. May I have the name o...

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“Lab Safety 101” by Elka Rae

Submitted to Contest #186

“So, the first step is just to pour this bottle into that one?” “Edwin, I told you it’s the blue beaker into the red. And get your hair out of your eyes before we start.” “Right, right, sorry.” “No need to apologize to me, just follow the directions. I do not want to blow up in study hall on a Tuesday of all days just because you can’t figure out a basic assignment. Especially when your dad is barely paying me to be your tutor.” “Yes, fine… you don’t have to be dramatic. Alright, here we go…” “Gently!!” “How do you pour gently, S...

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“The meaning of life” by Sasan Sedighi

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hi, what a lovely morning.” “I couldn’t agree more.” “This is a beautiful place!” “Yes, it is a stunning place.” “Look at the superb scenery. The hills are a patchwork of colors, a tapestry of greens, yellows, and golds, interwoven with blue ribbons of rivers. Trees are tall and green. The air is fresh, saturated with the sweet fragrance of wildflowers. It’s a little slice of paradise.” “Yes, it is a slice of paradise.” “Nature manifests its greatness here.” “You are not wrong.” “I see trees of green…. Red roses too…. I see them bloom…. Fo...

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“Dinner with Attica” by Ralph Schneideman

Submitted to Contest #186

Dinner with Attica. “My dear, dear friends, I delight to welcome you to my home once again. How wonderful that you all had the time and agreed to travel south to celebrate our mid-winter doldrums, in joyful reunion and stories that I expect shall unfold as our time together progresses. It has been much too long since we have all spent time under one roof. You have welcomed one newly arrived, with Cicero. For the moment we shall call him ‘the Seeker.’ He has a story to tell, I am sure, for he has a quest to find his son, whom I have met. T...

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“"Painted Black"” by Lance Peltier

Submitted to Contest #186

“Douglas, I have some bad news.” “Great. So do I. Um, you first though.” “I seem to have gone blind.” “-” “It could be some kind of neurological issue or something. I am getting a little older, as my wife keeps reminding me. "I mean I’m utterly blind. I can’t see a thing. To say that I can’t see my own hand in front of my face would be an understatement. Complete darkness. I might be tempted to touch my eyes to see if they’re closed but it wouldn’t be this dark if that was all it was. La...

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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

“THE SWORD OF SIN” by Jonny Sied

“Rustlers?” by Mary Bendickson

“Inner Dark” by Ethan Zimmerman

“Group Therapy” by Emry Archer

“Scary Diagnosis” by Sandy Paty

“A Prayer” by DionTre Speller

“Better Off Dead” by Jennifer Jones

“The Statue” by Jeannette Miller

“Let Go” by Carlie Beth

“The After ” by August Jett

“Customer Satisfaction ” by Holly Grover Brandon

“Lab Safety 101” by Elka Rae

“The meaning of life” by Sasan Sedighi

“Dinner with Attica” by Ralph Schneideman

“"Painted Black"” by Lance Peltier

🌟 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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