Write a story in the form of diary entries, written by an explorer as they make their way through what they thought was an untouched location.

Posted in Adventure on Apr 19, 2024

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✍️ 66 stories

“Clear Skies and Knocking, October 22nd of 1948” by Jeffery Young

Submitted to Contest #247

The Birbour Cannery’s built-ins were suitable enough living quarters . . . that is if you’re preferable to cold, brisk drafts and mildewed wood. The windows were at least glass, Doctor Malone Trenton thought gratefully. They could be the opened holes of the Tiawit tribal mounds back in the Congo. Only instead of mosquitos the size of humming-birds, Alaska’s primary danger lie in the freezing cold. Autumn had already passed, but the winter was unusually mild thus far according to Mirabell, the cannery’s forthright owner. All the same, it was ...

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“Pipe Dream” by Grim Maiden

Submitted to Contest #247

The newspapers arrived this morning when I had just made my morning coffee. I almost made two. One for me and the other for Martin but he was still sat in his chair, eyes closed and leaned back in his study chamber. The museum attorneys will be here soon to redeem his assets and his body for the family funeral service. The body is still wet, hair pasted to the forehead, and very much bloated from how long he was submerged in the tanks of his own menagerie. As his faithful housekeeper and lover, I’ve done my best to preserve my late master’...

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“Dr. Sandy Shells ” by Emerald Lace

Submitted to Contest #247

10/23 The ship travel is rough with the seas angry fits and the siren's calls that keep me up at night. I've been sick much. But we shall make landfall within the next few days and then they'll leave me to do my work. Most excited. Miss my wife and children a little but honestly it is nice to be away and on an adventure. 10/27 First night on the beach. Built tent, fire, and cooked a fine meal as I watched the ship take to the sea again. Dark now an...

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“The Shadow Taker” by Lee Kendrick

Submitted to Contest #247

The Shadow Taker After the Antarctic Treaty of December 1959 12 countries including Norway and Britain united to work together scientifically in Antarctica. In 1956 the British established Halley Research Station to study the Earth's atmosphere.The team of six British explorers, commanded by Captain Sterling were assigned to Antarctica to investigate the disappearance of Captain Flynn and his four men who had worked since 1956 at the Halley Station of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), on the Brunt I...

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“THE GREAT UNKNOWN” by Glenna Agnew

Submitted to Contest #247

March 17, 2056 We made it to the dwarf planet 136199 Eris this morning. I can hardly believe we made it this far. This is the longest mission I have ever been on and I miss Chrystal and Jack so much. Jack would love to see this, ever since I have been assigned to this mission he has been researching the planet and finding as much data as he can about the planet. He says he wants to be an astronaut and a scientist just like me when he grows up. He wants to explore the farthest reaches of the galaxy. We sent out dozens of pro...

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“INTO THE UNKNOWN: AN EXPLORERS DIARY” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #247

My DragonflyEarth, our little blue planet. My home that I miss a lot. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss seeing the sun rise. I miss seeing the sun set. I miss seeing the stars in the night sky. I miss it all. This opportunity I was given to explore to go into space. I couldn't pass it up. What we are doing is going to change humanity in ways I can't imagine. Me and 500 other explorers are the first humans to journey into space. We are heading into the unknown. No human has ever gone this far. I'm excited and scared. I'm on board th...

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“You can never go home again” by Lindsay Southworth

Submitted to Contest #247

April 23, 3022Day 108My 35th birthday and almost certainly my last. My heart thuds in my chest as I reach the final crest of the hill and look out at the jungle below me and the ocean beyond that. I never imagined I would be celebrating my final birthday so young and so alone. I take a deep breath and feel the salty, humid air fill my broken body. And then I let out a thundering cry, full of grief and despair that no one will ever hear. January 25, 3022Day 20As far as I know, I am the only human living on this entire massive blue-and-gr...

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“Tell the Stones” by James Carlson

Submitted to Contest #247

Land of the White WolfIt starts White Wolf, a book by Jim Brandenburg (Northword Press Inc., 1988). So, few people visit Ellesmere Island that the wolves are not afraid of humans and the photographer lived close to them for months. “Why don’t you go somewhere warm, sit on the beach and drink margaritas” friends ask? But I am drawn to tundra, deserts, mountains, and as far away from people as I can be. I resolve that a visit to where there are more wolves and muskox than people will be my 50th birthday present. A cri...

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“Tainted Treasure” by Bec Newton

Submitted to Contest #247

Year of our Lord 1632 15th March Today we set sail on the early morning tide. The sun was barely bleaching the horizon when I had heard Captain Horatio of the Annalise calling me a fool. He was not the only one on the docks to feel this way but I am not one to listen to naysayers. It may as yet turn out that his slander is accurate but until I attempt the journey who is to say it will fail? Perhaps I should outline the reason for this voyage. An unfortunate man washed up onto the shore nearly a week gone now. The man was crazed and wea...

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“The Mask of Erlik” by Ben Parrack

Submitted to Contest #247

The following account was found after the disappearance of two researchers in Northern Russia in the subsequent investigation. It was written in a journal found in the coat pocket of a 30-year-old researcher on an expedition, Dr. Daniel Moore. The investigation has affirmed that the entries in the journal were written by Dr. Moore, whose body was discovered in a forest near Lake Taymyr by local law enforcement.Entry 1 | 09/07/2008Tim and I arrived in Syndassko today. We're on a research expedition to search for signs of climate change in the...

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“WestBlock One” by Madeleine Hunt

Submitted to Contest #247

Dear Reader, If you are reading this message, our mission was successful. We have landed on WestBlock One. Day OneDay one was great. I know they trained us for how hot it was going to be, but after being put in those freezing chambers for six years, everything feels hot. I know we’ve landed on a dessert, but it’s still going to take some getting used to. I’ve never seen red dust quite like this, when the wind picks up, it’s the only thing you can see. Once we set up camp, Marina and I were selected to be on patrol duty for the afternoon. It...

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“Telling a Story” by Edward Brown

Submitted to Contest #247

Telling a Story DAY 1Once she’d thrown two plates, shattered on the kitchen floor behind me, I knew this was not the usual anger. Janie picked up a third plate, so I surrendered, apologized, and made a promise. That was yesterday. Now I haven’t done what I promised. Mind you I didn’t say I wouldn’t drink. What I did say is I’d deal with my drinking. “Start dealing” is more precise. I said it to Janie, under great duress, that I’d get help. So, I’m going to a meeting. Since we moved in together, it’s been rules. More rules. And rules that ex...

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“A Walk Through a Cave” by Charlie M

Submitted to Contest #247

Day Before Travel (July 1st, 2024)My name is Stacy Mitchell. I am 27 years old, and I am going into the ‘Eternal Cave’, found in Lansford, PA. (I would like to point out that the only reason I’m writing any of this down is because I am being forced by the Cave Diver Association to help with my mental state in the cave. I find this completely pointless, but I want to keep my job.) The Eternal Cave was found a few weeks ago by the coal mine tourists that got a little too curious. When others tried going down it, they came back rambling about h...

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“The Ice Wall Adventure” by Noted Moments

Submitted to Contest #247

Entry 1 - January 03, 2048Today I wokeup feeling restless... I keep thinking about what my wife said before she died. How she saw many visions of different lands beyond the wall almost every night in her dreams. How they say, no one has ever been on the other side, and they are keeping us from knowing the reality of what lies there. She became desperate to go on a trip after months of what started to seem like night terrors to me. Her waking up and freaking out, writing down everything she saw, telling me she needs to know before she dies, a...

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“IN SEARCH OF THE GOD PARTICLE” by Douglas Render

Submitted to Contest #247

May 15th, 2035 – Journal day: -chasing the God ParticleThroughout the course of human history, the question of the existence of a divine being has sparked profound discussions and contemplation. It stands as a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry, delving into the essence of existence, purpose, and the nature of reality. Among the great debates lies the question of creation: Did a supreme being fashion the universe, or did it come into being through the mechanisms of the Big Bang theory? Some within the scientific community entertain the not...

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Write a story in the form of diary entries, written by an explorer as they make their way through what they thought was an untouched location.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 66 stories

“Clear Skies and Knocking, October 22nd of 1948” by Jeffery Young

“Pipe Dream” by Grim Maiden

“Dr. Sandy Shells ” by Emerald Lace

“The Shadow Taker” by Lee Kendrick

“THE GREAT UNKNOWN” by Glenna Agnew

“INTO THE UNKNOWN: AN EXPLORERS DIARY” by Melinda Madrigal

“You can never go home again” by Lindsay Southworth

“Tell the Stones” by James Carlson

“Tainted Treasure” by Bec Newton

“The Mask of Erlik” by Ben Parrack

“WestBlock One” by Madeleine Hunt

“Telling a Story” by Edward Brown

“A Walk Through a Cave” by Charlie M

“The Ice Wall Adventure” by Noted Moments

“IN SEARCH OF THE GOD PARTICLE” by Douglas Render

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story on a spaceship exploring the far reaches of space when something goes wrong.

Center your story around a character’s personal exploration, whether it's trying a new hobby, visiting an unfamiliar place, or learning something completely new.

Imagine a world where exploration is forbidden, and write a story about a character who defies this rule to satisfy their innate curiosity.

Write a narrative about a group of scientists exploring the deepest parts of the ocean.

Contest #247

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

260

Contest entries

102

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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