Dialogue Only Story Challenge

Paper or notebook

Pencil or pen

Challenge: a story using ONLY dialogue. No narration.

Read an example dialogue-only scene together.

Discuss how dialogue reveals character, emotion, and plot.

Choose a scenario: mysterious map, sibling argument, life-changing phone call.

Plan characters and conflict.

Write as dialogue lines, one per line, alternating speakers.

Read aloud with two people as characters. Does it work?

Revise unclear parts.

This constraint teaches what dialogue DOES in a story: it reveals character personality, advances the plot, creates tension, and conveys emotion. When dialogue is the only tool available, your child discovers its full power.

The challenge of conveying action through dialogue is fascinating: "Why are you climbing on the table?" tells the reader what's happening without narration. Kids figure this out quickly and creatively.

Each character needs a distinct voice. If you cover the names, can you still tell who's talking? That's the mark of well-written dialogue.

Reading the story aloud with two people is essential — it immediately reveals whether the dialogue feels natural or stilted.

This format works well for kids who resist long writing. Dialogue-only stories can be short, punchy, and feel more like writing a play or screenplay than an essay.