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

“The Eyes of Cortés” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #247

The following journal was found in a repository room of the British Museum, translated from the original Spanish into English by the scholar Maxwell Soverington in the 18th century. The document was misplaced in a file where it remained missing until 1981. The translation is presented here, with section breaks added to distinguish separate, non-dated entries. It is unknown how this text made it to England. 13 September, in the year of our lord 1519It is on this date that Diego and I, along with a few others, received the grace of Hernán Cort...

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“Tar” by William Malave

Submitted to Contest #247

TarDay 1, Docking Station 2H:There's a stubborn splinter, deep within the skin of my index finger, and just as large as it is painful. Some of the writing I may do for the next few days will be short and simple, rather dull in nature if my briefing is, for once, entirely accurate. The planet I have been stationed on is called Jhard, which is pronounced Jard in the Universal Dialect. Since my deployment, I have noticed one very peculiar place on the otherwise uncolonized world: The walls of Crater-1. Supposedly, there was a small mining opera...

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“In Search of the Flying Women of Georgia Folklore” by Laura Holt

Submitted to Contest #247

In Search of the Flying Women of Georgia Folklore Laura Holt Montezuma Jones, Folklorist and Amateur ExplorerDiary Entry # 1 – July 16, 2023 The boo hag is a winged witch, most often a woman, with the ability to shed her skin, take to the air via a pair of bat-like wings and visit the homes of her sleeping victims at night, where she sits on their chest and drains their lifeforce from them—normally, this lifeforce is energy, although in some cultures it’s believed to be blood or soul—then returns home and steps back into her skin befor...

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“The Trek” by Bill Gregory

Submitted to Contest #247

Allan Thomas had grown up in middle-class East London. From and an early age Africa had fascinated him. Scouring libraries looking for all he could find on the dark continent. Fact or fiction, didn’t matter to a young boy, it all held an intrigue that he soaked up like a sponge. After completing University with a degree in geography, he set about planning his lifelong dream of exploring. At age 24, with the assistance of a small inheritance from his grandfather, he set sail, for Africa.June 27th 1848 – Day 1After an horrendous sea journ...

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“Death of the Voyager” by Elena Stanley

Submitted to Contest #247

July 10th We’ve finally gotten the go ahead. I’m pretty sure Dr. Sterling is the one financing the trip. The crew is pumped. I never thought we would get this far. What is it, 6 crews that have gone missing at this point? I could have sworn the university would throw in the towel after losing Ginny. She ran this place. I mean sure, having the Dean as her father didn’t hurt, but even I have to admit she was the best man for the job. And to think that they’re banking on me now. God, we’re so fucked. It’s gonna be fine. Everything is fine. July...

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“The Saddest” by Carina Caccia

Submitted to Contest #247

15th April, 2024Monday08:30 a.m.How presumptuous of me to think the recesses of the human heart is unexplored territory! How presumptuous to think my experiences are unique! But I did, I do, sometimes. I’m a coloniser declaring terra nullius where generations of feet have trodden before – culture, customs, stories.We’re all a bit like Lu Xun’s Ah Q or Voltaire’s Candide, our ignorance a child’s newspaper hat—roll it up and you’ve got a telescope! —as we frolic about wreaking havoc with a toothless grin, adult teeth yet to grow in. Want to pl...

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“The Lost Civilization: A Race Against Time” by Adeniyi Goodness

Submitted to Contest #247

"The Lost Civilization: A Race Against Time" This title captures the essence of the story—the discovery of a lost civilization, the ticking time bomb of the energy orb, and the team's desperate race to escape its destruction. It's an action-packed adventure that explores the dangers of tampering with forces beyond our control. 😊 Day 1: Today, my fellow explorers and I embarked on an expedition into the unknown. We were told that this location was untouched by human hands, and the thrill of discovery was palpable in the air. The landscape is...

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“No Way Out but In” by Sofija Ribaric

Submitted to Contest #247

11/11/2018It's been three days since I got lost in this forsaken desert, because I took a wrong turn trying to reach the ocean, so I could go to the island from the legends, which was supposed to hide the great gem of Thoth. My camel got scared away because of a snake, threw me off its back and so I am stuck here.I don't even know why I started this journey to begin with, the only thing I know is that I was looking for shelter, a place where I would stop feeling as lost and wounded as I feel now. Meanwhile, I also hurt my foot on a cac...

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“Mission to Olympus Mons” by Liz Hayes

Submitted to Contest #247

Olympus Mons Exploration Mission15 May, 2152Mission Sol 1Red. That's all I see. Crimson dust swirling around the rover, painting the rocky outcrops in hues of rust and ochre. The gaping maw of the ancient volcano stretches out before us, across to the horizon. This is the day we finally explore Mons Crater, something we hope will help uncover secrets from Mars’ past. The team consists of Dr. George Sato (geologist), Dr. Miranda Singh (botanist), Kai Saite (engineer), and Captain Renaldo Li. And I, Madelyn Kim, xenobiologist ...

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“The Musings of Mr. Carrow” by Evvan Erb

Submitted to Contest #247

Day 12 It’s been several days now since I was separated from Paul and Mary. I still can’t shake the chill in my boots from the rain of that night. I’m just grateful I still have Pachu to keep me company. Despite my isolation I’ve found great comfort in the beauty of this land. The flora and fauna appear untouched, their beautiful hues of blues, purples, yellows, and colors that I couldn’t dream of describing. The animals here are mostly docile and roam in abundance. I have fear of hunting them for not wanting to disrupt this glorious ecosyst...

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“Karina's Cave” by Elaine Elliott

Submitted to Contest #247

February 10 We’ve arrived! After a long hot day in the double cab pickup, Jack driving, Alex in the front, Amara, Jaime and I in the back, we’re “home.” Our site is as far down a dirt road into the jungle as ever. Francisco and Louisa have done a wonderful job cleaning out and refurbishing our old haunt. Jack thanked Francisco for keeping guard on our past excavations so no one bothered them. His frail and elderly wife is a good cook and we’re glad to have them here along with five other workmen. Tonight I found I couldn’t ...

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“The Land of the Elixir of Life” by Kathleen Shapona

Submitted to Contest #247

August 10, 1999 I’m starting a brand new journal today. I am committed to writing down as much as possible on our adventure to the Amazon. Jim and I arrived this morning around six am to the village of El Vergel, belonging to the Ticuna tribe. Our guides, Yuri and Bayo, were there to welcome us, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good their English was. The natives were busy with the day-to-day details of their lives, only glancing at us, some with curiosity and some greeting us with big, toothless smiles. We were not the first white peop...

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“Erubon Cave” by Zoarch Vanderman

Submitted to Contest #247

Note 1 —Into The Unknown Hello, my name is Eddie Erubon. Today will mark the day I embark on a new, untold journey through a mysterious cave that no one else has seemed to come across. I asked the locals about this particular cave, but they were all nonplussed at its existence, even with the pictures I showed them. I’m not exactly sure what to make of this just yet, but it will be interesting. I’ll be the first to ever explore this cave. Maybe I could even get it named after myself. Erubon Cave, that sounds pretty cool. But first, I have to...

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“Dear diary...” by Genevieve Carmen

Submitted to Contest #247

31/7/99Dear diary,School feels like a dystopian waste land, everyone just fighting to end up on top. The only thing that kept me out of sinking and drowning was Ted. He, he's the kind of guy that will memorise the way you speak when your anxious or underwhelmed but will hide life threatening secrets from you. "Meet me at the science room on level two." Ted shot me an unsure look, see sometimes he forgets that i have also memorized his eye movements and the way he speaks. Ever since the accident last year Ted hasn't been the same, his distanc...

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“Into the Unknown” by Jennifer Luckett

Submitted to Contest #247

From the Field Journal of Dr. Alexandra MasonMarch 2224Field Traveler, SITE for Exploration CommissionMarch 3, 2224Day 1I’ve always hated first days. Whether it’s training days, or trips, it’s so difficult to begin with nothing and face the unknown. And nothing really helps-no mantras, or prayers, or whatever. I’m always scared to face things, but now, it seems, I have no choice but to finish what I've begun.I’ve never seen such a blue sky. The clouds seemed wispy, like fragile stretched cotton, so whisper soft. Good thing my eye shades had ...

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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

“The Eyes of Cortés” by Joseph Ellis

“Tar” by William Malave

“In Search of the Flying Women of Georgia Folklore” by Laura Holt

“The Trek” by Bill Gregory

“Death of the Voyager” by Elena Stanley

“The Saddest” by Carina Caccia

“The Lost Civilization: A Race Against Time” by Adeniyi Goodness

“No Way Out but In” by Sofija Ribaric

“Mission to Olympus Mons” by Liz Hayes

“The Musings of Mr. Carrow” by Evvan Erb

“Karina's Cave” by Elaine Elliott

“The Land of the Elixir of Life” by Kathleen Shapona

“Erubon Cave” by Zoarch Vanderman

“Dear diary...” by Genevieve Carmen

“Into the Unknown” by Jennifer Luckett

🌟 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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