The Prompt
Today I want you to mine your memory for a conversation that you will never forget…and give it to (at least) two different characters.
Tell as much of that story as you can in dialogue, without much narrative explanation.
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Julie Duffy
Julie Duffy is a writer and the host of StoryADay. Those who know her will attest: she is rarely short of something to say. Read more at julieduffy.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.
Here’s your next Game Piece. save the image and share on social media with #storyaday
Prefer paper crafts? Here’s the cut & paste version
I wrote a phone conversation between myself at 21 and a man I was dating for a few weeks, I liked him a lot. A friend of mine had introduced him to me. Her boyfriend was best friends with the young man I was dating. What happened was I found out my date’s friend was cheating on my friend and I told her. The guy I liked called me to say he wasn’t going to see me anymore because I told on his friend. It broke my heart. I couldn’t believe it. In our convo I just kept saying I felt I had to tell my friend.
@Lisa,
Thanks for posting the story (second comment, the other has not appeared), which matches the Gauge Act of 1846. (Think about it, though, they were making that measurement when they were making Roman Chariots and before) I definitely like the donkey tale in the middle. I think I’ll use that at work. And thank you for putting the effort into finding that. You refer to ask.com, so bit of a giveaway on when you wrote that piece.
Well I went a little off script on this. I wrote about a conversation I had with myself (yep myself) about a decision I had to make. The pros and cons of this very important decision. I don’t know why but when Julie said ‘mine your memory’ that’s what popped up. My story needs some fine tuning. I try to post my final draft on my blog.
28 stories done! Four weeks in a row. Woot woot to me, and woot woot to everyone else who is still in the challenge even if you don’t have 28 stories. This is a big deal, and we are doing it!
My story today was a great opportunity for me to work on a project I have been considering for years. I plan to start a podcast and in the brainstorming I started making a list of questions I will use for interviewing guests. Then, for the story part, I wrote out the interview itself creating the responses from my interviewee from my own head. It was a great exercise, thanks for this prompt, Julie! There have been such a variety of approaches in the prompts and I have really enjoyed stretching myself.
I fictionalized a conversation I once had with my father about an important life choice he was making. I think I caught the two POVs pretty well, almost entirely in dialogue. By minimizing anything else, I think I heightened the impact of the one descriptive moment.
I saw ‘mine your memories’ and went ugh, do I have to? Then, I remembered something I said to my mom when I was young. Not the exact conversation, but the feelings it evoked and how it made me shove part of myself into a box. And how when my daughter was very nervous to tell me something about herself, I reacted differently than my mom did.
I used that to write this conversation between Ash and their mom, when they’re about 12. 234 words of simple acceptance.
I wrote a story recently for a popular magazine. The word limit was 600. As the prompt is somewhat similar, I thought of sharing the link here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SjOL9cd3yYC4x3Ou1oSKIHi4Q3U5jbde/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=106869997121002148472&rtpof=true&sd=true
I nearly reproduced the story here, but then I remembered that dear lady’s stern warning and changed my mind.
I hope you like it.
Rathin, I have made a viewer request. thank you for offering up a story to read.
Andrew, thank you. My story was not exactly the way the prompt wanted it but I wrote that for a magazine a few days back and thought of sharing it here.
I like your interactions with others. You always make it a point to read others’ comments and all and comment on their stories or links or whatever.
I wish I was like you. I’d like to read your story. Day 29’s story against Day 28’s prompt as you put it, if I can recall it correctly.
You are a fantastic writer and a good human being, based on your writings.
Keep writing and inspiring.
Nothing but the very best for you
The box is checked with a conversational drabble, I have captured SO many ideas, and I’m off to work. Happy writing, friends, and Happy Thursday!!!
PS. I didn’t edit the above. Please excuse spelling and grammar errors. Thank you.
I love the spelling errors and grammar issues, that’s what makes story a day.
Okay, as per usual, I am all over the place. Here is my response to the day 26 prompt ‘Sing It!’ Written this morning before your day started and posted now as you’re in Day 28. https://afstoryaday.blogspot.com/2026/05/ra-ra-rasputin.html
Note that I am now considering a derivative of the Day 28 prompt above for my Day 29 prompt tomorrow.
May the inspiration fairies fly for you today.
“May the inspiration fairies fly for you today.” =) that’s a day brightening phrase, thank you, Andrew.
Andrew,
Here is the link to the story you asked for yesterday
I wrote it around June or July of 2006.
It was inspired by a conversation I had with my manager at the grocery store I was working.
Hopefully you’ll enjoy it and get some information.
https://bunchesofstories.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-story-of-horses-ass.html
Let me know what you think.
Lisa, that was excellent, and ties in to the gauge act of 1846 (I think it was).
I like the donkey story within the story I think I’ll use that at work sometime.
Thank you for putting the effort in to find that for me.
Thank you Andrew,
I actually used that donkey story in another story. I don’t remember who wrote it originally. Like I said I wrote that story about 20 years ago. I was surprised I still had it on a flash drive considering everything else I have is on some document on my computer.
The flash drive had some more stories that were written late at night when I couldn’t sleep.