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 African Council ” by Crystal Lewis

Submitted to Contest #186

“I call to order this Council…” “Oh, stop with the formalities, Ron.” “Don’t you stick your long neck into it, Gary. I was nominated as the Council Leader so butt out.” “At least Gary’s nose isn’t all turned up and nosing in everything.” “It is a horn. I can’t smell with it and I can’t help its shape.” “It’s still there isn’t it, big and on display though, like a giant nose sticking into things.” “Oh, you’re one to talk, Elbert. What about that monstrosity on your face you like flinging about.” “This will be so much fun, Vida.” “Oh, yes, ...

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“We Never Really Parted” by Raquel Smith

Submitted to Contest #186

“I just couldn’t help myself.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It was supposed to mean I miss you.” “Then why couldn’t you just say that? Why do you always have to put things with so little emotion?” “You know I’ve always been rubbish with words, Adeline. I can never really say what I feel.” “But you’ve said it before, Rick. You said it just then.” “Exactly. I said it just then. At least you know it.” “I don’t know what to say to that.” “How about you miss me too? You obviously do, otherwise you wouldn’t be here with me right now.” “It’s be...

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“Be Careful What You Ask For” by Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hello, this is AI Chat. How can I help you?”“Can you tell me how to track someone?”“There are many ways to track someone. What are you trying to accomplish?”“I want to track my boyfriend. I want to know where he’s going in the evenings.”“Maybe you should just ask him where he’s going.”“That isn’t really an option.”“In that case you have many other options. You could follow him yourself, you could hire a private investigator, you could turn on tracking on his iPhone, or you could hide a GPS tracker in his car. Would you like help on any of t...

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“Eggless Supermarket” by Salsabeela Alrehaily

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hi, do you know where I can find the eggs?” “Sorry Mrs.Malki, the egg delivery did not arrive yet.” “Oh no, I’m promised my grandbabies pancakes.” “If you’re in a hurry try going to the Danube at the mainstreet, they get the first batch of eggs.” “I never go there. I buy eggs here every Saturday. Since 1983!” “Wow, I guess you are our most loyal customer.” “Yeah, well, I would hate to break that record, but they’ll wake up soon.” “We’ll forgive you this time. See you next Saturday.” **** “Hi, do you know where I can find the eggs? I loo...

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“The Hungry Haint” by Harriett Ford

Submitted to Contest #186

The Hungry Haint“No, Ma’am, I not a prowler. I’m Eddy Wright, local reporter for the Weekly Howl, on assignment to investigate sightings of strange lights and prowlers at the abandoned Ellington hotel on Wolf Hill. And you are?”“Abbie Tidmore. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Wright. Don’t worry. I’m not after you with my garden rake. I saw you out here at the edge of my yard and just wondered if you were lost or something, seeing as how you’re new to our town.”“Thank you, Mrs. Tidmore. Since you live down the hill from the old place, perhaps you ca...

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“Dreamland” by Eddie Lay

Submitted to Contest #186

DREAMLAND “There you go, all tucked in.” “My pillow needs scrunched up, Daddy.” “Is that better?” “My covers are untucked, Daddy.” “If you quit squirming around, you won’t get untucked. Now close your eyes and go to sleep.” “But I’m not sleepy.” “It’s way past your bedtime; you should be sleepy. If you close your eyes, you’ll be off to Dreamland in no time.” “Where’s Dreamland?” “Dreamland is a magical place where Unicorns romp, bunnies hop, and Fairies play.” “Have you ever been to Dreamland?” “Oh, yes, many times whe...

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“The Sleep Assassins ” by Fomichi Fomichi

Submitted to Contest #186

“Pss, Molly,are you sleeping?”“Yes, I sleep. What do you need?”“Auntie Thana snores like Sisyphus, rolling and rolling an air boulder up with her nose. Can we switch places?”“You think my place is better? Mom’s elbow has grown into my liver.”“Ugh!Molly…yesterday I was at Adriana’s. She has her own bed. Can you imagine? Large, with a thick mattress, a duvet that smells of peaches, and four pillows! She showed me what was under her mattress: many-many wooden slats, like rails. I’m telling you, her bed is a train that can take her anywhere in t...

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“The Cooker Hood” by Veronika Jordan

Submitted to Contest #186

‘You know that thing.’ ‘What thing?’ ‘That big thing. The silver one.’ ‘No.’ ‘In the kitchen.’ ‘No.’ ‘It sits over the cooker.’ ‘Oh, that silver thing. The cooker hood. Yes.’ ‘Well, do you think it removes the smell of cooking?’ ‘What else is it there for?’ ‘Apparently to remove smells, grease and smoke…’ ‘What are you getting at?’ ‘I’m just wondering how efficiently it would remove the smell of…’ ‘You’ve done something haven’t you.’ ‘No I haven’t. Not yet anyway. I’m just thinking.’ ‘I know what your thinking means. It means you’re up to so...

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“Artistic Sacrifices ” by Willie Tee

Submitted to Contest #186

“I need to get something off my chest.” “Oh, do you have a pimple? No big deal. I get those on my back all the time, and…” “Gulliver, shut up. I’m serious. I think I want to stop being a dragon.” “You can’t do that, can you?” “I don’t know if I can or not, but I have to. I’m done killing knights and gathering gold. I want to do something else.” “I get you, Lars. I’m a little tired of the knights hiding in that armor. Farmers are easier on the teeth.” “No...

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“Mr. Mirror” by Howard Seeley

Submitted to Contest #186

“Good morning, Mr. Mirror. What do you think you’re looking at, and why won’t you answer me? If you’re trying to drive me crazy, don’t bother. I’m already there and beyond. You think you can hide behind the mirror, always out of touch, but never out of sight. Every jester I make, you imitate, and as much as I’ve tried to trick or deceive you, I’ve never succeeded. No problem though. Like you, I’ve got all the time in the world. But for now, I’m going to turn away and ignore you.“We’ve been together for so long, it’s now like peering through ...

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“what's the point? we're gonna die anyway. Just get on.” by Cassandra Fan

Submitted to Contest #186

“.......Look, to say that for destruction there is no beauty would be a shortsighted tragedy.” “…” “Look, is there not some level of beauty in this? For you and I to be able to witness the end together?” “…what the hell you talkin about..?” “Pardon me?” “WE ARE GOING TO DIE OUT HERE! WHAT PART of that do you NOT UNDERSTAND?” “Calm yourself. Just breathe. Everything will be fine, my friend.” “… heh, WOW. wow…..” “What?” “everything will be FINE, huh? this. is. it. we are all that’s left now. if anything that there’s a, ‘shortsighted tragedy!’...

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“How to let go without really dying” by L J

Submitted to Contest #186

"Hi dad, I'm home! Wow, what a day I had. How are you guys? huh? Dad you comfortable? Kevin, bro? you good? You getting tired of sitting that long? Sorry, I'll loosen the ropes a little. There. How's that? Better? Can you move your fingers? All your toes? I mean, the ones you still have? I told you not to make me mad! I hate it when you ignore me! That is so impolite and mean that I just had to defend myself! What are you afraid of, Bro? I'm not taking any more of them. I can't cut off the big ones so don't worry. Great! I'll have your din...

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“Fancy another beer?” by Liv Valen

Submitted to Contest #186

"What's on your mind?"“It’s so strange to see you again after so many years. As if it happened in another lifetime.”“Yeah, well… Lately I think a lot about it. About people and life, that is. Don’t you think sometimes it's as if people would be only the cells of a huge gut that makes up our world and when a life ends, it is as if a cell dies? A peeled off dead cell of a gut sized The Milky Way. And the other cells keep you in their memories – if you’re lucky.”“If you think of it, people are essentially all just dead cells that last for a dis...

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“Words Only” by Cate Stamper

Submitted to Contest #186

“This is unfair.” “Don’t talk to me like that. This is all your fault.” “How is it my fault? You’re the one who-” “No! Just stop it! You can’t keep blaming me, Libby. You just can’t.” “Oh, so it’s all my fault, and I suck, right? Oh, don’t roll your eyes at me, Adam!” “I’m not rolling my eyes, I’m just looking at the ceiling.” “Don’t use that tone with me!” “Oh, just shut it already! It’s over now. You can't talk to me like that anymore.” “Like what, Adam? Like, what am I ‘not allowed to talk to you like? Huh? Care to elaborate?” “L...

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“How I Met Your Grandmother” by Dan Taylor

Submitted to Contest #186

“Dad, how did grandpa meet grandma?” “I imagine it kinda wentlike this.” *** “Hey! Are youse ok?” “No thanks to you!” “I’m sorry! It’salmost dark and with this snow still coming down I couldn’t see youse walkingthere.” “Pearl! Help get usout!” “We’re coming, Ruth!” “Miss, don’t struggleso much. Gimme a chance. You’re making it worse. Let me help ya. Youse must befreezing.” “Okay! Don’t pull myarm outta socket. Who do youse think you are, President Harding, hisself?” “No ma’am. My name isChauncey. I just work for the county. I w...

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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 African Council ” by Crystal Lewis

“We Never Really Parted” by Raquel Smith

“Be Careful What You Ask For” by Paul Michael Winters

“Eggless Supermarket” by Salsabeela Alrehaily

“The Hungry Haint” by Harriett Ford

“Dreamland” by Eddie Lay

“The Sleep Assassins ” by Fomichi Fomichi

“The Cooker Hood” by Veronika Jordan

“Artistic Sacrifices ” by Willie Tee

“Mr. Mirror” by Howard Seeley

“what's the point? we're gonna die anyway. Just get on.” by Cassandra Fan

“How to let go without really dying” by L J

“Fancy another beer?” by Liv Valen

“Words Only” by Cate Stamper

“How I Met Your Grandmother” by Dan Taylor

🌟 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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