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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#212: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

I don't really exchange letters with anyone, but if I did, I'd receive them with great anticipation. There's something very unpredictable about a letter: it can provide insight into a person's most private feelings, make a public statement, or share news of events big and small, from historic events to everyday gossip. You just never know until you open it.

This week's prompts are inspired by all things epistolary.

This week's prompts

Write a story in the form of a letter, or multiple letters back and forth.

Short Story – 147 stories

Write an epistolary story set during a major historical event. The event may be the subject of the letters directly, or be referenced in the background.

Historical Fiction – 30 stories

Write a story about a pair of pen pals.

Character – 26 stories

A mysterious letter is delivered to your character's home. It's not addressed to them, but they can't resist peeking...

Mystery – 64 stories

Set your story in a post office.

Fiction – 36 stories

Stories

“The Persistence of Memory” by Clara Dodge

Submitted to Contest #212

Oh mourning dove of my heart,you inconsolable cooing thing,each beat riddled with grief. You alone know my beloved ashes, cloudy feathers sarcophagusing my blood and veins. You run away with every sunrise yet you find yourself unchanged. You lacerate my words and turn every saturated childhood memory pale. You know mourning in the morning before stale dawn, the ache when there is no face to place your love. By night you are silenced by the heat of theMoon.Souris-A mourning dove...

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“Letters Across the Atlantic” by Keelan LaForge

Submitted to Contest #212

Sensitive Content - References disease and death. Dear Mummy, I’m writing like I promised I would. God knows how many weeks it’ll take for this letter to reach you. It took two months to get here on the boat. It wasn’t what I’d imagined. Did you know they call them Coffin Boats? A fifth of the passengers on board died of Yellow Fever. I was one of the lucky ones, I think. This land of opportunity isn’t exactly what I thought it would be. We didn’t get a glorious fanfare of a welcome when we stepped off the boat. In fact, I could feel the...

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“The Poplar Tree ” by Christina Cooper

Submitted to Contest #212

The Poplar Tree Christina Cooper January 16th, 1952 Dear Jane, I have got to tell you something huge, but you can’t tell anybody. Remember when we were talking at Christmas and you told me that this was my year, that I would fall in love? Well, I think you may be right. I’ve always known him a little bit, or knew of him, he works for my Pa. His Pa works for my Pa too! He’s a bit older than me, he’s probably 21 or 22, but it’s not that much difference. I’ll be 17 in just over a month anyway. It’s not like we really talk that much, but I d...

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“NOTHING IS EVER WASTED IN CHINA” by Robert W

Submitted to Contest #212

15th August 1945 America To: Christopher Cheshire, Oxford, England Dear Chris, I’m glad you got back from Germany in reasonable shape. It must have been Hell to be a POW. And I know what Hell is like – I’ve seen it. First the war with Germany, then the war with Japan after their attack on Pearl Harbour. Five years of destruction, killing and wasted lives. Finally, last week, Nagasaki. And now it’s all over, at long last. ‘Anti-Hero Hito’ has just announced that Japan has surrendered. It seems the Ja...

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“Loretta is Dead, Sincerely Dwayne ” by Brian Royer

Submitted to Contest #212

Dwayne was the one who told me Loretta was dead. He sent me a letter scrawled on three sad pieces of paper torn from a crappy dimestore notebook. The letter was covered in pizza grease and Kool-Aid stains, and the first two pages were nothing but poorly punctuated ramblings about his sad-sack life. The last page was about Loretta, and even though grease had worn it translucent in spots, I got the main point. It went something like this: three months ago Loretta died a sad and pathetic death. For the past twenty years, she and Dwayne had been...

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“A Chance at Fate” by Christiana Crawford

Submitted to Contest #212

My mailman chuckles at me as he hands me my letter. I wait for him every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Will’s letters usually come on one of those days. Occasionally I’ll get them on Wednesdays. “Have a good day Wendy.” “You too Rich.” I sit on my porch swing and take a sip of my tea before opening the letter. Dear Wendy, I’ve been counting down the days until I see you. Ten days and I will be in the same room as you. I’ll get to actually wrap my arms around you. You have no idea how excited I am. Be warned, I may hug you for a r...

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“Dear Penpal, I am sorry.” by Jeniffer Arvayo

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear Penpal, My teacher and counselor thought it would be a great idea to get a penpal. I don’t know where you live, I am rather curious.. I am from Arizona, and I am in 10th grade. I would love to chat and see what you are about! I guess letters will do, this sounds like a fun idea! Let me know what you think Elisa! -DrewDear Penpal,Your teacher and counselor made you do this? Wow, you must be a troubled one.. it’s fine! So am I honestly, I hang out in the stalls more than the classrooms. I am also in tenth grade, it is an ok grad...

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“The Pen Pals” by Sheryl Westergreen

Submitted to Contest #212

The Pen Pals My brother honks out snores every night. On and on it goes. It keeps me awake, so I resort to my own entertainment. About a month ago I calculated a fake birthdate to get myself a Snapchat account. They have an age requirement of sixteen. I am eleven years old, but a savvy one. My handle is Dimmer24. So, I start chatting with Coolbear52. We chat every night. Back and forth, like a modern pen pal. I can’t imagine having to wait weeks for letters like they did in the olden days.&nbs...

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“Fan Mail Flames” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #212

Ira Stanford told his assistant, “Seen it all.” He’d glanced at the fan letter for about five seconds. “A rubber stamp would suffice to answer most of these scribbles.” He tossed the letter onto the stack. “Yes. Answer them, but you’re not Miss Lonely-hearts, Shane. More important things on your plate.” Shane Delacroix was relieved he needn’t answer each fan letter in depth. Ira said. “Did you book those flights next week? And hotels? How about the press? Anyone meeting me at the airport? Any talk shows? Radio? TV? Cable?” Shane answered ea...

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“Daniel's Letter From Heaven” by Kristin Johnson

Submitted to Contest #212

The sky is gray and rainy in Palm Springs on the street. A mysterious envelope descends. Daniel Wilson, 11, carrying a school backpack, counts off on his fingers as he points to the raindrops. The other children look at him and shrug: "what a weirdo." The letter falls onto the sidewalk. Daniel's schoolmate Maria, 11, cute, picks up the letter and looks at the writing, then holds out the envelope to Daniel. "Take it. It's got your name on it aaand...it's poison!" Daniel takes the envelope and sees the name "DANIEL" on...

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“The Keyblade Chronicles (Chapters 5-9)” by Ian T. Smyth

Submitted to Contest #212

Chapter 5 Josiah and Daniel walked through the Great Hall of Manoor, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Sahzya Edein. Great, regal columns held up the lofty hall, crafted by people from another age. Their footsteps made satisfying clicks as they walked, the sound echoing throughout the hall. “The air on this planet is 43.21% oxygen; did you know that?” Sahzya said. “It is some of the purest air in the known universe. It strengthens the body and the soul.” He smiled to himself. “The people of Manoor are strong. The Authority will not lay ...

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“The Threat Of The Menacing Mind” by RJ Johnston

Submitted to Contest #212

The letter was delivered by registered mail and I had to sign for it. I hadn't noticed it wasn't for me because I was excited to get a handwritten letter in this digital age. I should have looked closer. I should have paid closer attention. I signed for the letter and thanked the courier. He nodded and went on his way, leaving me holding the little square of paper and wondering who sent this delightfully outmoded means of communication? Then I saw the name and who it was addressed to and it was not me... The address was mine but the name wa...

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“Hair of Secrets” by Heidi Poole

Submitted to Contest #212

Coral had never minded bending the truth to suit herself, but she hated liars. She knew it was a little hypocritical to live by that, but a white lie never hurt anyone. Her parents didn’t need to know she’d spent the night at Tommy’s house, they thought she was at Tina’s. Her history teacher didn’t need to know she was vaping in the bathrooms, he thought she was helping a younger kid to the sick bay. Her younger brother Aidan didn’t need to know she was the one who accidentally broke his Lego set, he thought the dog had knocked it off the ta...

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“Distant Hearts” by J.B. Redel

Submitted to Contest #212

Her name was Elenore Devonte. Classy, regal, civilized, and the epitome of 1950’s upper class with an attitude to match. Even at 96 years-old, the woman was sharper than the needles of a porcupine, and just as likely to go on the defensive and show her quills. The prickly woman had gone through several nurses before I was assigned as her caretaker at the retirement home I worked at. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t considered putting in my own request to transfer the client to another caretaker. The old crone reacted to my every sweet att...

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“I Think I Feel God (Or, At Least, His Hands Around My Neck)” by Zachery Miller

Submitted to Contest #212

The grip tightens around my throat as I break the wax seal of the letter addressed to Kaya. That isn’t my name, nor is this my letter. It was delivered early this morning, I think, and I had fixated on it since its arrival. The alluring violet envelope, the onyx seal, Kaya written in a beautiful cursive hand. No return address. “Open me! Open me!” it screamed. I just couldn’t resist it. Who could? Kaya was long dead so the letter would never be opened. Not without an interloper, a hunter, someone who takes what they want. A mystery can’t rem...

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$250

Prize money

303

Contest entries

129

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 25, 2023 EST

Won by Wendy M 🏆

Title: The Last Of The Bright Young Things

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

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