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

“The Dining Room Table” by K.E. MacPhie

Submitted to Contest #186

“You think I WANTED to come here? I had nowhere else to go, Kenny. Trust me, I’m here for our children, not for you.” “You could hide out anywhere in the world and you pick MY cabin. Bullshit, Ashley. I’m sure you’re banging some new guy by now that could take you in.” “No one has a space like you have and you know that. Most people don’t do the whole Grizzly Adams survivalist thing on the rez like you. In fact, I think it was your total need for solitude that contributed to our divorce. Oh wait, you weren’t in solitude, you had…someone el...

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“Not Your Stereotypical Hero” by Jaclyn I

Submitted to Contest #186

cw: foul language, mentions of death “Why?” “I told you. Lilith said—” “No. I want to know why you did it.” “To save them.” “Save who?” “Everyone. If I don’t stop you now, you’ll slaughter everyone in Milwood.” “What the hell are you talking about, Theo?” “You’ll kill them like you killed my family.” “Theo—” “Just stop, or I’ll make this a lot quicker for the both of us and just slit your throat.” “What are you waiting for then?” “What?” “What the hell are you waiting for? Do it. Slit my throat.” “What are you—”...

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“Working On It” by Troy Chavez

Submitted to Contest #186

Explicit Language and Themes I don’t like your tone. I’m not yelling, Thomas? Well, I don’t like your monotone; it’s disturbing. I’d rather you be yelling at me. But I’m not. Have you done that report yet? It was due yesterday. Dean, Dean, I have rights here. You can’t just jump on me about some report without a written or verbal warning. Im not giving you a warning. I’m just asking for the report. See, there you go… using that tone again — (copying monotone) I’m just asking for the report. It’s nerve s...

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“Privileged Sunrise” by Vera Kurt

Submitted to Contest #186

- “Privileged sunrise”. How can I help you? - Hi, I would like to get one of your insurances or something… - Sure, sir. We in “Privileged sunrise” are ready to introduce to you our 7 types of insurance products according to your personal needs. - Why do you say “we”? Is there someone else who is eavesdropping on us? - No, sir. “We” represents the collective spirit of “Privileged sunrise” and makes each of us contribute more to the achievement of our goals. - Ok, back to the essence. I kinda need some general insurance, you know, ...

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“Catching the Red-eye at Midnight” by Richard E. Gower

Submitted to Contest #186

“Welcome to the Avalon, sir! Say now, I haven’t seen you in a good while. Must be at least six months, or maybe longer. So I’ll say, welcome back to the Avalon, sir!”“Where the Hell is everyone?”“Well, you’ve almost got the whole place to yourself tonight, sir. Plenty of seats at the bar over here. And, if I remember, you’re beer and a shot, Scotch, right?”“You remember right, but hold on. Waddaya mean, almost? I just bumped into a guy who was on his way out, when I was comin in. Now I’m the only one in the place.”“Not quite, sir.”“Wadd...

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“2 AM” by Laura Pamenter

Submitted to Contest #186

2 AM by Laura Pamenter “Hello?” “What’s up, kid?” “Don’t call me that.” “Kid?” “Yes.” “Why?” “It’s patronizing, condescending…” “…endearing?” “No. It makes me feel like a child.” “I don’t think that’s my fault.” “Fuck off.” “I was joking, chill.” “Okay……whatever.” “Oh my god; typical.” “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” “You never could take a joke, could you?” “I can take a joke… but only when they’re actually funny.” “Good one!” “Shut up.” “Two strikes! I’m almost out, haha.” “…” “Fine, it’s typical ...

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“THE CONFESSION” by Paul Sandford

Submitted to Contest #186

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been… it’s… Father, I—” “Easy now, son. Take a breath for a moment. How long has it been since your last confession?” “I… I don’t know.” “There are folks from Glen Lake to the Hudson that I only see once in a while. They will say, ‘Oh Father Sheehan, I know it’s been too long.’ But I still see them and that is okay. I don’t recall when you last sat with me and there is no shame in that, son – God is still happy you are here.” “It’s been a few years, I guess. I’m not sure if I should be h...

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“How About That Cigarette ” by Nicole Farmer

Submitted to Contest #186

“You’re probably wondering why I called you out here…”“My guess it would have something to do with last night.”“It does...And it doesn’t...I know you had a hand in what happened last night. It all worked out too perfectly for you not to have some part in it.”“I don’t know what you--”“Don’t deny it. Katie told me everything.”“Did she? Well then, exactly what did little Miss Katie say?”“She told me you planned the whole thing from the beginning. Starting on the night you all went out to the clubs. She told me you were planning to get some of t...

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“Prayer Talk With God” by Elle Jaye

Submitted to Contest #186

“Our Father who is in heaven, holy is your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today our sufficient food, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” “……” “Hi, it’s me. I was reading that if you’re learning to pray, that I could start with the Lord’s Prayer. You might have noticed that I changed some of the words. Is that wrong?” “……” “Okay, so no response. I wasn’t really expecting you to answer me. I feel like I should explain why I made those word changes. The word hall...

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“The cost of regret” by Cixtian Trybe

Submitted to Contest #186

"Well... I just caught my 'wonderful' boyfriend taking three xanax, and 2 norcos... so I'll probably be up all night fighting." "I'm sorry..." "It's ok. I know... you don't have to say it. It's my fault for actually believing in him when he said he didn't do that anymore." "Listen to me. Don... Never mind." "Yeah... I don't ever listen, do I." "Umm..." "I know... it's a problem. You know what I realized the other day?" "What's that?" "I realized that... Remember how I told you that I really don't remember much from my childho...

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“The body” by Feona Sayles

Submitted to Contest #186

The Body “Do you think she knows we’re here Jan?” “I don’t know Ang, she looks like she’s asleep Or dead..” “Should we prod her?” “Nah, let’s just sit here til she moves” “But that could take ages..” “Yeah, but what else are we going to do? This place is so boring…no wonder she’s dead” “Don’t say that! She is not dead! She is asleep! She’s breathing!” “Are you sure……let’s put a mirror up to her face” “Why the hell would we do that? what is she going to do? Open her eyes and look at herself?” “No dumbass, that’s what I read in a book, its w...

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“Buy You a Drink” by Gio P.

Submitted to Contest #186

- A drink?- No, thanks. Diet.- You want Diet?- No—on one. I’m on one.- Oh…for what?- Isn’t it obvious?- Is it supposed to be?- I don’t know. It was a joke. I guess.- Weird joke.- Maybe. In some con...

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“Whoops, Billy Came Back” by Brad Heald

Submitted to Contest #186

Content warning: Frequent cussing. “Billy it’s Polly.” “My oh my. Polly I never expected to hear from you, been sixteen years. Everything okay?” “Your sister gave me your number. Pike is mistreating your son Billy, and me. I don’t know what to do. I can’t talk much before I start crying. Can you help?" “Polly, if you haven’t already, assemble a go bag for the both of you. I’ll come soon. Pack those bags with important documents and what you will need in the short term. Hide them where they are easy to access.” ”Okay Billy. Come soon.”...

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“The Proof of the Pudding” by Mick Franklin

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hey, man watcha up to”? “I’m just trying to write some poetry”. “Cool man – Hit me with a line or two”. “I’m not sure I want to share it yet”. “C’mon man you need to get some feedback, after all, I’m your best friend”. “Ok, ok, but it has to be constructive criticism”. “Goes without saying”. “The first line goes – ‘Things haven’t been the same since you stole my heart away’ “. “Ok, so it’s a social commentary about the evils of organ harvesting”? “No, it’s a poem about lost love”. “No love lost in that first line, I’m tellin’ ya, keep going...

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“Moving On” by David Nesbit

Submitted to Contest #186

“Hey.” “Hey. You made it then.” “‘Course I did. I told you I would be here, didn’t I?” “Yes.” “Do you want something?” “Just a drink. You? No, don’t get up. I’ll get it.” “So.” “So.” “Say something, then.” “I don’t know what to say. You say something.” “Ahh. Where to….” “...begin?” “Exactly.” “Yeah.” “ So? Is it definite?” “ Come on.” “ ‘Come on’, what?” “We can’t have this conversation again, can we? We’ve been over this again and again.” “Yes. I know…It’s just, you know…” “It is what it is, Dan. It just is.” “I know.” “What are you...

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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

“The Dining Room Table” by K.E. MacPhie

“Not Your Stereotypical Hero” by Jaclyn I

“Working On It” by Troy Chavez

“Privileged Sunrise” by Vera Kurt

“Catching the Red-eye at Midnight” by Richard E. Gower

“2 AM” by Laura Pamenter

“THE CONFESSION” by Paul Sandford

“How About That Cigarette ” by Nicole Farmer

“Prayer Talk With God” by Elle Jaye

“The cost of regret” by Cixtian Trybe

“The body” by Feona Sayles

“Buy You a Drink” by Gio P.

“Whoops, Billy Came Back” by Brad Heald

“The Proof of the Pudding” by Mick Franklin

“Moving On” by David Nesbit

🌟 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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