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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

“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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“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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“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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“Anchor Island ” by Victoria Nuzzi

Submitted to Contest #36

5-3-2016Dear Journal My name is Dr.David Singh have started this journal because I have embarked on my first of many journeys to Anchor Island. Anchor Island is off the coast of New Zealand and is home to my favorite bird of all time the kakapos. Strange name yes I am well aware. These big flightless green captivating parents have captivated me since I was a boy. This is monumental because the kakapos are almost extinct and are protected on one of three very secure islands. The Islands have no predators of the Kakapos.My day started out like...

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“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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“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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“A Clever Story?” by Rob McGregor

Submitted to Contest #36

April 9th/2020Where do I begin?Today is my sixty first birthday and I am trying to come to terms with the world in complete and utter chaos!I felt 2020 would be my best year in decades.So much so that in January I proudly announced on Facebook and to family and friends, my plan to make it happen in the self guise-titled theme of “Rise Up 2020.”A year to which the promise of finally publishing my first book would come to fruition after ten painstaking years of plodding along in quest of its eventual completion.I also started the year in the t...

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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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“The Birth Journal” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #36

My Journal.The Beginning.I can write now, so I am going to start a journal and I promise to keep it for the rest of my life. I like it that I don’t just know how to print. Actually, I taught myself how to write a year ago, but children, especially girls, weren’t supposed to get ahead of their level, so I was told I had to wait. Now that I’ve waited a year, I can begin my story and I can use cursive. Oh how I love the way the letters can be made to run together, like a stream or a river or a snake. I hope I can remember some of the stuff...

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“Man Eater” by Barbara Eustace

Submitted to Contest #36

2331.10.26Today we will start our journey. I think about all I’m leaving behind, my friends, my family. I’ve said my goodbyes to mum, dad, sister Katie. Mothers face will stay with me the longest, that and the comforting smell of her. As a mother she wanted to say, ‘Don’t go’. But she knew she had to let me go, that it was my decision. She knew what it meant to me so she said nothing. My father, always a man of few words, hugged me and I could see the pride in his eyes, for achieving what I had. Katie said ...

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“Dear Elizabeth, I'm Sorry” by Destinee Jenkins

Submitted to Contest #36

Der Diree, Mommy gav me u. Jenny haz 1 n I wan be lik her. I go two skool now n I m big gurl two! My fren Amy iz not nis. Amy sed I m stoopid a cuz I m jus lurnin two rit n cownt. Amy's mommy lurned her how two do stuffs a four we wen two skool. My mommy iz wurkin so her duz not have tim. Jenny woodnt lurn me how two a cuz she iz two big two. I dunt thin I m stoopid. I m smart. Mommy telld me so. Deer Diree,I am in first grade this yeer. Jenny is going two middle skool, and now she says she will not help me with my spelling. I am gettin bedd...

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“You see, I'm a magician” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #36

You see, I’m a magician March 13Dear Diary: You see, I’m a magician. And it can be a tricky business. I write that as if it is news to me. But I want these diary entries to be recorded. I won’t be around this place long, so I want the story told. I’ve already left a note beside this diary that I purchased today. It tells the reader to give the diary and my wand to my nephew Todd. He has talked about maybe becoming a magician. I’m moving on to where people have never heard of me. ...

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“Late Night Thoughts” by Unknown User

Submitted to Contest #36

Tuesday, April 3, 10:54 PMI thought staring up at the ceiling would help. Maybe counting to 1,000 to tire my brain out? Or maybe tossing and turning, trying time find a comfortable position to lay in.None of it helped.I don’t even know what’s bothering me. I just can’t sleep. It’s been happening for the past couple days.So I decided to just write about my thoughts as they pass through my head. I don’t know what I’ll write or if I’ll offend anyone, but it’s not like someone’s going to see this. It’s my property. It’s my notebook, and some ran...

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“Dear Diary: This would happen to me!” by Ashley Vanderhoff

Submitted to Contest #36

-Anabel's point of view.-Dear Diary, Today is Monday, April 6th 2020. On this day, I met him. The man I'm going to marry! I'm not kidding diary, I, Anabel Violet am going to marry Aaron Green. See, we met on the bus today, well actually I...may or may not have fell onto him. OKAY I DID! But it wasn't my fault, it was the stupid drivers! And the equally stupid potholes in the street! I could feel everyones eyes on me, on us! Anyway, Aaron was the sweetest man I've ever met! He smiled and asked if I was okay, even though I had just fallen onto...

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“The Best/Worst Days of my Life ” by Aubrey Linder

Submitted to Contest #36

Sep. 4, 2008,9:45 p.m. Dear Diary, Yay! It’s almost the first day of middle school. And I even have my clothes planned out. But there is one thing wrong, my friend Amelia is moving to Hartford, Connecticut. (>.<) I will really miss her. Well, she wrote me this note before Summer Break, Dear Fawn, I really wish I wasn't moving. I hate Leaving u but I have to go. Call me at any time :3 From, Amelia. P.S. I live in Vernon, Connecticut...

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$50

Prize money

639

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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.

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