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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#36: Dear Diary

"April 4th, 1984." So begins Winston Smith's first diary entry in the George Orwell novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Of course, this dystopian tale isn't the only one to involve diary entries. Bridget Jones's Diary, Gilead, The Yellow Wallpaper, Dracula, and I Capture the Castle are among a long list of other books told at least in part through diaries or journals.

This week's writing prompts challenge you to write a short story in the epistolary format.

P.S — On April 3rd we're hosting another LIVE Write-In on YouTube at 4pm EST! We'll guide you through a series of 20-minute writing sprints to give you the boost you need to stay productive. During the breaks, you can share your progress, talk about your struggles, and ask our hosts any questions you may have.

Join us on YouTube HERE at 4pm EST. We hope to see you there!

This week's prompts

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone who's just decided to take up journaling.

Adults – 117 stories

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone on a long-awaited trip.

Holiday – 56 stories

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone who's just experienced a big "first."

High School – 94 stories

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone who's up late at night because they're having trouble sleeping.

High School – 237 stories

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write a story that provides glimpses into a person's life at different ages.

Character – 135 stories

Stories

“Dmitro's Diary” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #36

Dimitro’s Diary December 1, 1905 I can’t sleep. I am so excited. My mother gave me this journal that in English is called a “diary”. She says my life is starting again so I should write about it. I practice English every day. I will write in English. It is my new language. We are on a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean. We are leaving our home in Kiev, and travelling to Canada for a new life....

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“Night Trekking in My Time” by Joy Saker

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear Diary, I really shouldn’t watch Tales from the Loop before bed-time. Last night was a no-show as far as sleep is concerned. I tossed, turned, rearranged my arms and legs, fluffed pillows, got up for a leak then had a drink of water, turned on the light to see the clock, and generally was starey-eyed awake until dawn. Only managed 1 hour of sleep. It was hard staying awake long enough to get the kids off to school with next to no sleep, then I crashed. Dear Diary,One week to an opening is not a happy format for a diary.&nb...

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“Demons of Imagining” by Megan DeRouin

Submitted to Contest #36

Demons of Imagining 4/03/2020: MidnightMy therapist said I should keep a diary, as if writing down things I would rather forget would help me sleep. I really wasn’t sure that she was worth the $500 I spent every week, but I was just so tired all the time. Even my boss has started to notice and he didn’t notice that Sharron from accounting had a chronic stapler theft problem until the day she quit and tried to pack up some twenty company staplers with her personal effects.Honestly though who needed twenty staplers? And they weren’t even ...

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“Katie Milburn Is Alive” by Charlotte Poe

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #36

I, Katie Milburn, am alive. I’ve been awake nearly two days and I’m pretty sure I want to die, but I’m also pretty sure that right now, in this moment, I’m alive. So that’s terrifying. Lots of things are terrifying, I think. Which is kind of the problem. I mean, look at the universe. Nobody really understands the beginnings or the ends of it, or if it even has beginnings and ends, and I think, well, isn’t it kind of subjective?Like, before I was born, hell, even for several months after, nothing really existed for me until somethin...

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“Bibbity Bobbity Boo” by Ananya Ak

Submitted to Contest #36

Entry on 9th AprilDear DiaryHi!Am I supposed to say hi to a diary? Maybe I am, I don’t know.I knew…I just knew starting this was a silly idea.But that idiot Sean, he gifted this dratted thing to me! Something about it being a good vent for my pent-up feelings and inner emotions.Inner emotions, my butt! He knows very well that writing a journal isn’t what I do.After all, what the heck should I even write?“I woke up in the morning, I brushed my teeth, I ate three biscuits, I took bath…”What can I even write at this time, anyway? I’m sitting ar...

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“Diary 2020” by Matthew Gregory

Submitted to Contest #36

5th JanuaryDear diary, Hi, you may not know me but I would like to get to know you. From the moment I first saw you across that crowded stationery shop yesterday, I was in love. I just had to have you. I think that was mostly because you were half price and I just can't resist a bargain. 23rd JanuaryI don't want to be accused of being racist, and I don't mind darker skin, but do you think that navy blue is quite the right colour? White, brown or yellow are more traditional. You are right. It's what's inside that matt...

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“Ms. Ling’s Camellia” by Isabella Sopo

Submitted to Contest #36

A seed floats to the ground, falls to the leafy springs that decorate Mrs. Ling’s yard. Down in the fertile, dark ground, moist soil, the seed takes root. It places green shoots down, anchoring itself to maintain a steady hold during the storms. Water, a steady spring rain, showers the little seed with all it needs. The sun glows, prideful of it’s daughter, as the seed begins to sprout up from the soil. From the tan, ordinary, plain old seed comes a shoot of green. 4/2/19–I am watching the plant grow. It seems like a flower, but I can’t...

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“My happily ever after.” by Sam Ho

Submitted to Contest #36

Friday, 5th JulyDear diary,This feels odd; writing to myself. The school councillor is forcing me to write this diary because, apparently, I am a "bully". Alice deserved it; she was flirting with Ricky. He isn't my boyfriend, but I keep him wishing. Alice and I have been best friends for years, but now she is trying to steal my crown as 'Queen Bee' of the school! Haha, small chance of that with no eye-brows! They almost expelled me, but I pulled the 'dead parents' card, it works every time! I suppose I can publish this diary, as a memoir, w...

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“Dear Diary” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #36

January 22, 1978.Dear Diary, I'm moving to a new city today. My mom and dad said that it costs too much to live here in the big city, so we need to move away where it is cheaper to live. I'm really sad though because I won't be able to play with my friends anymore. I just think we should stay here and my mom and dad could find better jobs that pay more. I don't want to start at a new school in a new city. It scares me.February 18, 1978.Dear Diary, I have lived in this new house for almost a month now, and it is a lot bett...

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“PARTS OF DELAWARE DESCRIBED” by Loretta Moore

Submitted to Contest #36

“Parts of Delaware Described” The Delmarva Penisula, the region about which I’m describing in my journal took place in 1980 when I drove there from Pennsylvania, where I’m from. Immediately, coming upon the eastern shore of America I sensed something mysterious, metaphysical, and mystical about the watery environment seeming in command: histrionic and universal qualities with Aegean and Arcadian components cast brooding shadows on the surroundings-the deepest shadows appearing across the terrain closest to the Atlantic Ocean. The area...

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“Diary of an Adventure crew: Jessica and the Alien Invasion” by Alice Yared

Submitted to Contest #36

CHAPTER 1: The crew is awakeAbove the skies, there was a strange object soaring towards Earth which I was watching through an open window. I was just sitting on my bed, wondering about it when I decided to wake up the crew. Once we were all gathered Robert, Michael, Amy and I tried our hardest to figure out what it was together.“So...Jessica,” Robert asked me, “did you notice anything strange or weird about the object?” “Hmm, I’m not sure. Well, maybeee...” I replied. “Oh! Yes! YES! I did notice something - the object has a cover. It was so ...

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“Tomato Sauce” by Katelyn Davis

Submitted to Contest #36

Journal Entry #34Yeah, that’s right, guess who ate tomatoes again. Hint, she’s wearing Jayden’s spelling bee shirt and she can’t sleep...for the third day in a row. You would think I would try to justify it, but at this point I honestly can’t be bothered. I should know better. Anyways, today was mostly uneventful. Mom wouldn't let me see Jayden because she was in one of her moods again. The same old “you can see her when you can drive yourself there” thing again. I’ve basically accepted my fate at this point. I’m just gonna die alone in my p...

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“The Color of an M&M” by Mel Mendoza

Submitted to Contest #36

It’s funny, the things you remember. I’m pulled back to that day where I was sitting against a fence of the entrance of an old football stadium, my mom walking toward me from the concession stand with a bag of M&M’s. The long curls of her hair were half in an updo to keep it from brushing her face with the fresh winds that flew through on a Friday night in October. She had those high waisted, super washed out denim jeans with a button up sleeveless shirt tucked in, her usual wear for this kind of night. My surroundings blurred, it’s almo...

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“Three Weeks of Sleeplessness” by Carille Durbin

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear Diary,Once again it's two am and I am wide awake. I decided to document all the things that I have tried and the result of these remidies, starting with today, Sunday. I will use the following format for easy reference. Day Insomnia Remedy Results Sunday Counting sheep I counted over five thousand sheep and became bored beyond belief. Sleep eluded me so I started over with number one. I finally fell asleep at 9:00 AM Monday Glass of warm milk I was overcome with anxiety because I did not brush my teeth a...

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“Appreciate what you have” by Aishath Saimon

Submitted to Contest #36

16th March 1986/MondayDear diary,My name is Henry Baskerville and I am eight years old. I have just started keeping a diary. I have been in this orphanage since my parents passed away. I do not like it, nor do the other children because the master is not very nice. But I do not need to worry about this any longer. I am actually in the carriage now, on my way to live with a wealthy lady called Miss Westill; to a new place and a new life. Miss Westill is a widow who had decided to adopt me as she had no children. The other children were really...

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$50

Prize money

639

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 10, 2020 EST

Won by Zilla Babbitt 🏆

Title: Kiss of the Snake

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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