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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 Tale of the Fox” by Ainsley MacDonald

Submitted to Contest #212

My dear friend, In a classical retelling of the Queen’s Gambit, one Beth Harmon attempts to carve a, should I say, far more prestigious future than that offered to a young woman living during the Cold War. But we’ve come a long way since then, haven’t we? Still, I see the spirit of Queen Harmon within yourself as you exploit every opportunity that may present itself to you until every drop is sucked dry. It’s admirable, really, the way nothing you obtain is ever wasted. It is with great humility that I reach out to you, as I know you ...

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“Letters to Emma Bovary” by Jane Andrews

Submitted to Contest #212

“Lucy Marsh!” The handsome face in front of her broke into a grin. “I didn’t imagine I’d find you in here. What happened to your plans for university?” For a moment, Lucy struggled to place the army officer holding the toothbrush. Was he the brother of one of the girls she’d been at school with until a year ago? “You don’t remember me.” The stranger gave an exaggerated sigh. “And I always gave you top marks for composition too.” “Mr Franklin?” She’d heard he’d been conscripted; hadn’t realised he’d look so dashing in his uniform. At school, ...

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“Juliette” by Ian Patterson

Submitted to Contest #212

September 7th, 1940 Corporal Eisenhower was tending to his Sargent’s leg when the field was obliterated. Some new enemy technology, a white wedge that spanned the horizon, had slid under the door of the closet, and after wiping out their front line troops without slowing, had come for the Corporal. No matter what you do, it always comes for you. So it goes. Peter was playing with his plastic army men when the letter slid under the closet door. It scattered his carefully built legion, the considered work of an enti...

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“Oakheart” by Aiden Harris

Submitted to Contest #212

No one writes letters anymore. No one sane, anyway, even ransom notes just get sent over the internet, cold and formal. Maybe that’s why I chose to open it, when it landed on my front step that day. What could someone who writes letters have to say? E.L. Andover. A name that didn’t belong to me, on a manila envelope that had been delivered to the wrong address. It was thick, too, filled with papers, photographs–I had to open it. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, but I did my research. Google told me that there were only two guys named E.L....

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“The Letter Carrier” by Zachary Thomas

Submitted to Contest #212

It had gone too far this time and even the mailbox seemed to know it; seemed to be laughing at him from the inside. The address on the letter was clearly not his, not even close: “1496 Bonanza Ave,” addressed to a Jennifer Waterman, in a city that was at least twenty miles away. By itself the incident should’ve been of little concern–a simple oversight by the carrier, who was still visible in his Jeep down the street.“But it’s happened so many times before,” he thought as he slid the envelope out of the cold box and held it in his trembling ...

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“You’ve Got Mail” by Andrew Fruchtman

Submitted to Contest #212

The mailbox door had fallen to the ground. It lay on the grass looking up at the row of black metallic boxes, all other three screwed securely into their wooden posts. A neighbor had come by and zip locked it back into place but now it only hung like some large black medallion on a very skinny torso. When Joanna drove by to collect her mail she needed to get out of her car, remove the assortment of bills and brochures and wrestle the detached door back into place. It was time to replace the whole damn thing, even the box itself jig...

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“Thirty-eight Years Ago Today” by Bill Richter

Submitted to Contest #212

Dennis didn’t notice the letter until after he finished his dinner. He brought the mail inside sometime during the middle of the afternoon as he always did on the days he worked from home. The office was trying to get everyone to go back in at least three days a week, but he was determined to keep it to two days, just as the main office in Seattle announced in the waning days of the pandemic. Like so many others, Dennis took advantage of the situation that presented itself in the early months of the lockdown and he was able to get out of San...

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“The Secret” by Bob Long Jr

Submitted to Contest #212

Ruth was being summoned. It was her family's policy to have everyone present at the supper table unless some major force was at work. Supper time was 6p most nights, including Saturday, but not Friday and Sunday nights. She, her younger brother, Benjamin, and even younger sister, Sarah, were involved in many school and church activities. Because the time frames for these activities usually ran well into the evening, mom and dad showed some leniency on those two nights. It was just a few minutes before 6p. Her mom walked over to the stai...

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“Train Comin’ on the Low Road” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #212

Content warning: non-explicit references to meditated sexual predation, slaveryLeland was stirring sugar into his morning coffee when Bessy brought in a few letters. As he sorted through them, he was surprised to find one addressed to James, his personal valet. Who would be writing to an illiterate slave? He called for a letter opener and slowly cut open the letter addressed to James. As he did so, Leland’s eyes surreptitiously lifted to James’s sister, whose back was turned to him as she cleared a few things from the table. His spoon c...

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“A Tomorrow Letter” by Daniel Brandt

Submitted to Contest #212

John Mayors fumbled with a book about dolphins and their relationships, a chocolate muffin from yesterday and a giant spiders nest of keys in the other hand as he arrived at his destination. A charming green post office door that had been painted a vast number of times throughout the years since its inception more than a hundred years ago, which had created a moon-like surface if one looked closely. Postman Mayors rarely looked closely. As for anyone, looking at the moon up close for the first time is a mind boggling experience, for the secr...

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“A Goosey Gander by Caitlin E. Elia” by Caite Elia

Submitted to Contest #212

To Chaddeus P. Waddlebury, Hovering Goose of Letters, Pixie Parcel Division, On this day, I find myself in a rather peculiar state of mind. It could be attributed to the recent arrival of my newest son, a robust little lad who's but the size o’ your thumb. I realize you lack thumbs, but I know you catch my drift. Then again, it might also be the consequence of a bout with fae froth hooch from the night prior. Anyway, I require your assistance with just one delivery for today. Please proceed to the customary collection point to re...

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“The Letter” by Shawna Burge

Submitted to Contest #212

The Letter By Andy Pearson © 2023 Joshua Weston moved the cane to his left hand and pushed on the door with his right. It swung open slowly. The cowbell hung above the door clunked and clanked as the door struck it. Getting his balance, he shifted the cane back to his right hand and stepped into the lobby of the post office. Walking past the rows of tan mailboxes, each with a little window showing the edges of the mail inside, he made his way to box one hundred and forty. Looping his cane handle over his blue jacket-clad arm, he reac...

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“The Heart's Chronicle of Suffering” by Blessed Chileka

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear beloved, I do not know what to call you now. Are you still that guy I was head over heels with or a stranger? Since you have decided to ghost away from my life, I have been trying to reassess myself. As in, what did I do wrong? Where did I press the wrong button? And those around me are not making matters better. I have to come to think of myself as losing my head. I cannot focus. All I want is to numb what I am feeling. I am hiding behind the most brilliant smile. I am hiding behind dazzling fashion. I am hiding with music. But I am ...

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“Dear Gracie” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear Grandma,I wanted a hiar band and a Bardie doll for Christmas, but I got something better. Santa Claus gave me a kittin. He is grey and white. I have called him Patches. Thank you for the coloring pencils. I will draw you a picture of him,Lots of love, GracieDear Gracie,Thank you for the picture of Patches. I have put it in a frame, and it is in the living room. I hope you are doing well at school and listening to your mother and father. It was so nice to have you here for a visit. I can’t believe how fast you are growing up,Love, Grandm...

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“Aberdeen, 1994” by Deirdre Boyne

Submitted to Contest #212

Please note that this story contains swearing and references to self-harm, substance abuse (excessive drinking and heroin usage), mental illness, and suicide. Hey Ink, I doubt you’ll get this letter; or well, if you do, you won’t answer. You never do anymore. I get it. Life fucks everyone but especially us. Especially you. Yesterday was August 4th, so that means you and Steve went to the bridge and tried again. Did your Baptist exorcism work? Maybe you’re in rehab right now, maybe you’re with your dealer. Hell if I know, but I do...

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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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