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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

“His Undelivered Letter” by Dasha Nasova

Submitted to Contest #212

Sensitive content warning: Implied abuse and alcoholism, blackmail, mentions of homophobia, mentions of historical events, issues with mental illness & suicide. “Hey, Martin? Can you start sorting through these packages? The next shipment goes out this afternoon.” I glanced over at the annoyingly large stack of packages towering over the office, then at the woman who had just spoken to me. Twenty years at this office, never learnt her name. As for the packages, I never did enjoy seeing the pile grow. It always simply bec...

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“What Had, What Has, I Have” by Callan Brinker

Submitted to Contest #212

Magnus struggled with the buttons on his new vest. Button, then unbutton, button again and then undo. The slip and thread of the wooden discs moving between the fabric became too difficult for him to be effortlessly indecisive as his hands were sweaty in the heat of September.He had figured that the colder months would have allowed him to wear thicker clothes, but every year, like the ones before, September held onto that lingering touch of sunshine that was more annoying than ever. He loved autumn and could not wait for the struggle to brea...

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“Frank's Last Letter ” by Kiyana Marie

Submitted to Contest #212

You're bored, living the same day over and over again, until all of a sudden you're leaving the life you knew behind. One year ago, I made an impulse decision to buy a one-way ticket to Pennsylvania. I needed to leave Arizona and leave my life with Brian behind."Happy one year! Natalie shouts at me as she jumps up from behind the service desk. Today was December 21st, making that my one-year anniversary working as a postal office clerk. Natalie is my co-worker and one of the only people I have talked to since moving to this small town in Pen...

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“Kenneth's day.” by Shaun Griffin

Submitted to Contest #212

One Tuesday morning Kenneth Wilson came to the realization that he despised people. He was about to open the doors of the small post office when he glanced up at the informal queue of waiting people. Each wore the same look of quiet impatience. It was a look that said he was the sole reason for the delay to their self-important lives. He stopped, key paused halfway to the lock, and smiled. The squat, balding man standing in front responded with a puzzled frown. For the briefest of moments Kenneth considered not unlocking the door, if only to...

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“Going Postal” by Cindy Strube

Submitted to Contest #212

Going PostalIt wasn’t Mattie’s fault.Put it down to a chain of events. Circumstances. An uneven floor; a wobbly cart; a gap under a cabinet. Perhaps slipshod maintenance, or a less-than-diligent cleaning crew.Mattie was a temporary employee. A college student, home for the holiday break. His job was to roll a canvas cart full of mail from the receiving room to the sorting center, and it was not his fault that the cart had a wonky wheel. Certainly it wasn’t Mattie’s fault that the wonky wheel caught on a floorboard which sat just a bit t...

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“Flowers for a Place” by Matt Ward

Submitted to Contest #212

Flowers for a Place To the current residents Upstairs Apartment 302 Locust St. Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee No doubt you wonder why a stranger has sent you flowers. It is, in this instance, not because of who you are, but because of where you are― a modest little upstairs apartment that has much significance for me. Please let me tell you a bit of its history. In 1941, a widow and one fresh-out-of-high-school daughter moved back to their hometown of Mt. Pleasant from Nashville. The mother, Annie Lou Hutcheson, was a seamstres...

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“To You From Me” by Heather Johnsen-Gisi

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear You, Hello old friend. I've missed you. I know we haven't talked in a while, but I've been lost. Everything is wrong and I can't fix it. I don't like to admit this, but I have written a note. A note to leave behind when I end my life. I want to, at least I've been thinking about it. It is my last resort, but I knew I had to come to you first. You are the only one who can save me! My situation is impossible! I have lost my job. I hated it there anyway, but I'm about to lose my house. My money is gone. My electricity and water have alr...

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“Dear Gram” by Julie Mills

Submitted to Contest #212

Daer Gram Mrs Potts said i have too writ a letter for my sckool summr projeck. I dont rely want to. It is summr vakation. So how are you? Write back.love julie Dear Julie, I was so happy to hear from you, even though I just saw you last week! I think Mrs. Potts is a very smart teacher, to have you write a letter or two as a school vacation project. Let’s do this all summer and have lots of fun! Trust your old gram. Learning to write well will become more important as you begin your journey toward all you...

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“Processing Center” by Taylor Major-Dame

Submitted to Contest #212

(Author's Note: This story contains material concerning mental health, suicide, and violence.)January 3rdH, Do you remember when you learned how to tie your shoes? I don't remember exactly. I remember the frustration of not being able to, then one day, I could always do it. Isn't it odd certain lessons from our childhood have stuck with us to this very day? Tasks that we see as mundane were once so challenging. I brought this up because Martha, my oh-so wonderful sister, stopped by my office today. She wants to orchestrate a celebration of l...

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“Bury Our Secret ” by Davina Drema

Submitted to Contest #212

Trigger warning ⚠️ Mental HealthHey Mama,I know it’s been a while and you’re probably wondering what I’ve been doing with my time or why I haven’t been around much, but then again, you have a bird's eye view of everything now, so you probably already know. Hopefully you’re not too disappointed, maybe you could even understand what’s been going through my mind. If not, this letter should provide some clarity on these last few months for me. You’ve never been one to judge, but before I continue with my life choices, I wanted to talk to yo...

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“Correspondence” by Michael Robinson

Submitted to Contest #212

From Lucius Iulius Nerva to Gaius Sempronius Flavianus Greetings, I write to you from Alexandria, using the new telegraph. These Greeks are clever lads. I sometimes wonder why they are not our masters. They say that all of Romania will soon be strewn with telegraph wires, making communication almost instantaneous. I have taken up my posting as an aedile to Marcus Aelius Sejanus, appointed governor of Aegyptus by the Western Emperor. My trip from Rome wa...

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“The Osprey” by Stefanie T

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear Emmett, I watched the osprey fly across the lake this morning. He was searching for breakfast and after effortlessly diving into the stillness of the water, he came up short. He reminded me of you. Please, read this with your heart open, as it will be our last connection in this lifetime. I guess I could just text you but there’s not enough tangibility in that. I want you to feel the weight of my words as you read them, if you read them, and to touch the same paper that I held. I’m not looking for a response from you, bu...

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“FRANKLIN & RUSTY - The Pen Pals” by Les Clark

Submitted to Contest #212

FRANKLIN & RUSTY The Pen Pals By Les Clark March 4, 1933 Dear Mister Prezdent I only have a pensil to rite you so if it smears, well, you can have someone help you read this. I know I need help reading my own riting. Haha!. I live in a small town in Ohio you probly never herd of. My pop gets the Sunday Columbus newspeppers. Over breakfast this morning, he was reading to us that you are the new president. My mom gave me the rite spelling but thinks you’ll be okay with the rest of my letter. I’m nine and in the fourth grade. I ai...

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“Prince Charming” by Jess Pearl

Submitted to Contest #212

To my dearest granddaughter, Juliet Guinevere. Happy birthday, my darling! Sweet sixteen: such a milestone of a birthday! Such romance, such hope, such maturity not yet marred enough by age to relinquish fairy-tales and fantasy. Though I hate to be apart from you on such an occasion, distance matters not for I do cherish and enjoy the relationship of pen-pals we have developed over the years. On this, your most happy day, I have a story to share with you. And sweet sixteen is the perfect time in which to receive it since your wisdo...

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“Nightmares” by Stan Konwiser

Submitted to Contest #212

May 2, 1944 Dearest Clem- After these 2 years apart, I miss you more than ever. Every day I pray for your safe return to me and Jimmy. I know this war is needed to save the world from Hitler but why can’t you be fighting it from some safe place instead of inside the belly of some bomber? Yes, I say this in every letter, but it is no less true each time. The fight here on the home front is as fierce as ever, the collections of scrap metal and rubber has reached a fever pitch. The food shortages of some items continue even though they are ra...

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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.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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