The Prompt
Write a story that entirely or mostly consists of a human character talking to an animal.
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Max Delsohn
Max Delsohn is the author of the short story collection, Crawl, which was named a November 2025 Indie Next pick and a Best Book of 2025 by Vulture, Them, Debutiful, Electric Literature, and Chicago Review of Books. His short stories have appeared in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Joyland, Lit Hub, and elsewhere. Learn more at www.maxdelsohn.com.
Join the discussion: what will you do with today’s prompt OR how did it go? Need support? Post here!
Remember: Please don’t post your story in the comments here (and I talk more about why not, here). Best practice: Leave us a comment about how it went, or share your favorite line from your story.
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Prefer paper crafts? Here’s the cut & paste version
I’m on holiday with my husband & adult daughter so struggling to find the time to write. Though today I wrote a lovely story about my daughter &her cat
I took a character from a novel and started her off talking to a pigeon on a gutter she was hanging from (she’s a thief), and now I think I’m going to have a story that can help me in my quest to explore the novella form (after May, obviously)
Having permission to write poorly is making this challenge so much easier. I don’t believe I have ever given myself this much freedom. Today’s story I wrote quite late again, I had a very busy day. I really was dedicated to writing it, and I feel so satisfied to have written a story every day for 6 days in a row even on days when it was tough.
I’m right there with you. And yet, even when I’m aware I may not be writing brilliant stuff, there’s still enough pleasure in playing with the words to remind me that I really do love this.
And it feels SOOOO much better than sitting around fretting and NOT writing!
I only wrote about 300 words, but this was fun. I had a few ideas but I decided to use this to sort of play with a story idea I’ve been ruminating on. I used about two lines of exposition with the first few lines of dialogue to get started, but once I got started I was surprised I far I was able to go with only dialogue and how it made me look for different ways to tell the story. And I actually kind of like what I wrote, though I’d want to add some description and stage direction if I were to turn it into a story.
Sounds like we were on similar quests, today.
This prompt elicited a story I feel drawn to polish. (First time this challenge.) This was an unexpectedly productive prompt for me, and I’m feeling grateful.
Yay! That’s exciting!
That’s wonderful.
Also wonderful: that we’re 6 days in and you’re still showing up even though this was the first one that seems like it has promise. Professional-grade!
Thanks 😊
What is it with all these dark stories I’m writing?
The dialog is realistic, between a human who speaks in English and a squirrel who speaks in movement. It ends with a hawk.
Did the hawk attack the squirrel or the human?
Yikes!
I’m hoping it’s a Tolkein-scale hawk and that the squirrel is just fine… 😉
My main character talks to her son’s dog about how her son needs to dump his crazy girlfriend.
Sounds fun! Will the dog pass on the message?
Melanie, that may actually be a better idea than what I wrote.
Take it and run with it 😊
Oh that could be interesting…
A micro flash about a giraffe going through a psych evaluation to qualify for the New Ark Space Colony Initiative. So. Much. Fun.
Totally sounds fun! I’d read it. =)
Oh that sounds like so much fun! What a cool idea!
Sounds witty and fun! My story also included a giraffe. Mine took a trip across the desert to the library.
Oh. My. Goodness. I love this.
Day 6 complete
I’ve been up since early this morning. I cheated a little and finished yesterday’s prompt first. Today’s prompt was a continuation of yesterday’s. It actually has two humans (an attorney and a judge) talking to the cat that was arrested after yesterdays party.
That doesn’t sound like cheating to me. That sounds like ‘adapting the challenge to make it my own’ 😉
I went back to the bookstore romance and had the character(Kris) talking to the bookstore cat who led em right to the owner(Thomas), who Kris had been trying to avoid for…reasons. 383 words that could be backstory or possibly find their way into the main story.
Those darned cats…
Hi everyone. I finally caught up with all the prompts. As always, great prompts and great comments. This is such a busy month for me that I considered skipping the challenge this year, but I love it. It’s in my blood. The first thing every morning, I read the prompt. I have accepted the fact that I will fall behind and catch up in June. But that’s okay because on June 1st I always have withdrawal pains. Great job everybody. Thank you, Julie.
Gaby! Lovely to know you can’t resist the challenge. And that you’re having fun.
Dear Julie,
I was finally able to put together a story in response to today’s prompt. Here is the link:
(https://1drv.ms/w/c/b9c56d07ae2461d0/IQD-zGAH5OUOTYNOgZFWumgZAXMF6AraBkhX8GlFddbJaOc?e=RJOpDR)
I am not sure though if the link is working. I am not sure if my story can be called a story at all. It has conflicts, a resolution, a beginning, middle and an end.
But would it really qualify to be called a story?
Best wishes.
Yes! I can see your story. (And thanks for playing along with my rules. Upside: you get to use the proper scripts, which adds flavor!)
Rathin, Yes I can see the link, and it’s cool to drop out and get a read.
What a lovely reveal at the end. The cat show reframes everything and lands beautifully. Rimi’s voice is completely convincing, and the cultural texture comes through strongly; the Hindi phrases and family dynamics feel lived-in rather than decorative.
Your dialogue carries a lot in the story, the scene culture, and thought, giving it a pause and some breathing space in the monologue, a gesture, a glance, a moment where the prince nudges in, or even licks her hand in appreciation, or some other action would entrench the dialogue in Prince and Remi’s personal space.
I really appreciate being able to have a read. Keep going.
Well, surprised as usual, I’d already written day 6 on one of my own prompts, and was taking the ‘talking to an animal’ prompt onto the backlog to use later. Didn’t happen, I wrote it today, the other piece, well, now I have a story up my sleeve for another day.
I quite like where this one went.
https://afstoryaday.blogspot.com/2026/05/its-all-about-martia.html
Perfectionist me just deleted half of the third paragraph. much better.
I like where it went, too, Andrew. Fun read!