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CRAFT Dialogue Challenge

A project of CRAFT (see other related projects).

About

We know eavesdropping isn’t nice, but sometimes, you just can’t help it. You’re on the bus, or in a coffee shop, and you’re pulled into a conversation that’s absolutely none of your business, but fascinating all the same. For this challenge, we’re asking writers to recreate the serendipity of an overheard conversation. The only catch—we want to read only the dialogue: no tags, no stage directions, no added context whatsoever. What we want instead—the subtext. Leave the broad interpretation of the moment up to the reader. Just capture what your characters most need to say on the page (and please do avoid any obviously expositional dialogue), and we’ll fill in the rest. Let the reader have the work and pleasure of building the world that surrounds this conversation.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee is USD $10.
Want more insight into the affiliated editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s) of CRAFT.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States
Established in 2024

Publication Medium & Contest Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication
Unknown contest frequency

Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

Open to all/most Genres including...
General.

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: 50 - 250 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $500.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Nonfiction Temp Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Narrative Nonfiction: 50 - 250 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $500.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

CRAFT Dialogue Challenge Submission Statistics Free Preview!

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Accuracy:
We have received 17 reports from 16 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported:
16 min | 21.3 mean avg | 23.0 median | 68 max days (11.9 std dev)
Responses
100.00 %
Acceptances:
0.00 % No publication has a 0% acceptance rate. This data is based on submission reports sent to Duotrope, and we have not received reports of any acceptances yet.
Rejections:
100.00 % (21.3 avg. days per rejection) | 23.5 % personal, 58.8 % form, 17.7 % unspecified
Non-Responses
0.00 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
-
Withdrawals:
-
Pending
4 responses are pending (45 min | 45.0 mean avg | 45.0 median | 45 max days waiting | 0.0 std dev) from 4 different members This only includes pending reports from users who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The most common submission fee paid: USD $10.00.
Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day.
Most recent response reported was received on 24 Jun 2025.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 01 Jun 2025.

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Your Submissions

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CRAFT
CRAFT Character Sketch Challenge CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Creative Nonfiction Award CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Elements Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT First Chapters Contest  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Flash Fiction Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Flash Prose Prize  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Hybrid Writing Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Memoir Excerpt & Essay Contest  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Novelette Print Prize  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Short Fiction Prize  Charges fees for all submissions

Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
  • Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
  • Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 01 Jun 2025
Last Audited: 31 May 2025
Date Added: 20 Aug 2024

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.