There is a Winter Texan writing group in which I have the pleasure of participation. This group meets during the months of December through March ( all go back up north) and each week we would do a writing prompt. Most of the prompts are flash fiction and carry a theme. The one below was to be less than three hundred words and include only dialog. I thought maybe you would enjoy this fiction favorite prompt. It is titled John Howard.
“Can I help you young man?”
“Yes I am here to see the president.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“He should be. I sent him a letter and said I was going to stop by.”
“A letter?”
“Yes.”
“When did you send a letter?”
“I guess it was about a month ago. The letter asked that my correct name be used since there has been a computer error and the University keeps calling me Howard instead of Howell.”
“Did Dr. Hannah respond to the letter?”
“Yes he did. I got a nice letter back. Here is a copy read it for yourself.”
“Humm. Dr. Hannah specifically thanked you for your correspondence and indicated that he would look into your problem. You say that your name is Howell and not Howard?”
“Yes it has been Howell for the last nineteen years.”
“Yet the letter from Dr. Hannah is addressed to John Howard.”
“This is why I need to see him.”
“Wait here Mr. Howard. Let me see if I can find someone to help.”
“It’s Howell.”
“Excuse me?”
“My name is Howell not Howard.”
“Oh yes that is what I said. Howard.”
“Howell.”
“I said Howard not Howell.”
“I know.”
“Very well Mr. Howard, I will be right back.”
“Howell.”
“I am only trying to help.”
“I’m sure.”
“I think you should call for an appointment. Good day Mr. Howard.”
Have a GREAT weekend
Fiction Favorites 
Ha! I love it John! My family in Romania goes through a similar thing with whether or not Florescu is spelled with an “e” at the end.
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My biggest problem with writing dialogue these days is the requirement that I not identify the speaker. You’ve done a great job here, John.
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I work on tags as well. I take the advice of Elmore Leonard…keep it brief. Thanks
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Got a big morning chuckle out of this story, John. Thanks for sharing it.
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Thanks for the comment. I like chuckle
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I did enjoy that John, …and the officiousness makes it all the more funny.. Have a wonderful weekend.. xx
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You’ve met this type I am sure
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Wonderful. I took a drama class, then did some co-writing with a friend who writes drama to improve my use of dialogue. This is kind of what I had in mind as an improved style…dumping as much dreary exposition and thought – the two elements of storytelling that drag the most – to get the the three elements that really move a piece along. You got it down…good prompt. If I ever teach English or writing again I’ll have to liberate it.
Later…
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You have my permission. Thanks for the compliment
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Gave me a chuckle!
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I am glad. Thanks
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I enjoyed this very much, poor John Howard… er I mean Howell. 😉
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I hope you noticed John Howard’s grave marker
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The Texan winter writing group sounds fun Howard, I mean Howell. You’ll probably get loads of comments with that last bit!
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Thanks. The group is fun and then they go home. (I miss them)
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I really enjoyed this. Funny, I just read a post today about dialogue tags, where I commented “my favorite variant of dialogue tags is none at all.” I think you did a great job here; tags are bulk.
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thanks
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That’s hilarious. ^_^
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Thank you 🙂
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This made me laugh as our Prime Minister in Aus for several terms was John Howard.
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Yes. John Howard is famous
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John Howard is quite famous (well to me) since I have family in Sidney.
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[…] may indeed be divine; still, my favorite variant of dialogue tags is none at all. “John Howard”, a short story made up entirely of dialogue, written by John W. Howell, is an excellent example. (A […]
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Good stuff. I took some journalism courses in which we were docked points if we didn’t spell the names in our assignments correctly, and yet the professors could never spell my name correctly– and it was right on the page!
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I used to get in a lot of trouble with school officials over stuff like this. I can see where your name might pose a problem for the unobservant, but come on Manny Coral no one is perfect. Always love your comments thanks. 🙂
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Heh heh. Mandy Corral is my pen name. My real first name is Lynne, and that “e” on the end makes it nearly impossible to spell.
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We get Nickles and Nichols with one L, but the worst is the street I live on. Yorketowne. If put in a GPS Yorktown our pizza gets delivered on the other side of town, or ends up two hours late and cold. Bitch that is! Funny stuff 🙂
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This is why I always pick up my pizza. My street is impossible. Thanks for the comment. 🙂
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Love it! This is a perfect example of why tags are often not needed in dialogue. We know exactly who is speaking and how they’re feeling. Great job!
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Thanks. I was thinking of putting classic over the top tags on the same dialog to show improper tagging.
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That’s a great idea. I’d love to see it!
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…she said excitedly. 🙂
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while trying to juggle the baby and it’s bottle
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This was wonderful John. The dialogue was great 🙂
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Thank you so much
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