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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

“Alfie” by Jeanne Marceau

Submitted to Contest #36

Entry 70, 1942He called you Alfie I wonder why, maybe it is the name of one of his brothers. He spoke too often about them and how the war already took one. I wish I kissed him one last time, but he looked so tired and hurt. At least I have you to remember sweet Theo by. Entry 20, 1942Today was too overwhelming I should not have smiled at him nor have handed him the serviette with the telephone number on it. As much as I wish to not have done that I would do it once more, Alfie, I would sit at that table across from him so I could see the fl...

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“Steerage” by Anna Mosqueda

Submitted to Contest #36

April 10th 1912Dear Diary, I'm elated. Right this second, I am staring up at the magnificent, long awaited, Titanic. My grandmother gifted me this journal, you, for my half-birthday. I never really thought about celebrating a half-birthday, but with my grandma's limited time here with us, she wants to cherish every day. The Titanic is huge. Four large cylinders rest at the top, placed about four meters away from each other. The large, black metal at the bottom, that holds many rooms, is topped with the lovely white, first class rooms. I've d...

112 comments 112

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“Notes from Chni Wohn” by Cholmondeley Frink

Submitted to Contest #36

March 20, 20487:14amCCP Police Station Beijing, ChinaIt has now been 16 hours since I was arrested.I have been given no food or water since I arrived.I am sitting on one of the lumpy cots in the holding cell of the Police Station, where I have been detained.Over the final 4 hours I have been interrogated, questioned, and shouted at. I have not been allowed to sleep.They have searched me twice and gone through my bag. Luckily the trunk had already been loaded on to the plane, and, before they had found out, it was out of there reach.But they ...

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“Secret Diary! DO NOT READ!” by Ivy Spade

Submitted to Contest #36

Wednesday, 2 June 1954 9:32 amOur baby girl, named Turquoise, was born EXACTLY one year ago. You are a beautiful girl, with fair skin, nice brown eyes and shiny blonde hair. Your first word was Mamma, and you have a lazy eye. You are the most lovable creature EVER! When you were 6 ½ months old you started crawling. You’re also very talkative (mostly babbling)! Every year, on your birthday, I will write in this journal until you are old enough to write by your self! I can’t wait till you start talking and reading!!! But goodbye no...

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“Unfinished Business” by Lynn Penny

Submitted to Contest #36

MondayI hate that piano. I should have never bought this house so cheap. That out of tune piano has been playing every night, but only when it’s just me. The piano stops when I have people over, or start recording on my phone. I guess spirits are smarter than what is shown in movies.It feels weird writing these words down. Like I have to convince myself that everything is happening. I have nothing else except what I put from my mind to paper. I hate this feeling of insecurity from my own senses. Maybe this is why all haunting victims seem to...

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“The Dream Man” by Elliot Douglas

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear Diary, Monday I am once again up past midnight. It's sometime around three, and the darkness seems to press in around me. I have spent most of my nights awake recently, and it's getting rather taxing. I can't fall asleep anymore, and I swear I see shapes moving in the darkness. I have been drifting off at work lately, and I'm sure sooner or later someone will notice. My energy has begun to wane as of late, and my head has a dull ache. Marlene recommended I try drinking tea before bed. I'm heading out to buy some today. I'll let you know...

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“Dear Subconscious” by Harken Void

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #36

Date: June 2nd, 1991Time: 13:37;46Age: 39 seconds Dear Newborn I took the liberty of resetting your memories, knowledge, experiences, emotions, growth and all imprints or ‘stamps’ you might have received or collected prior to coming here. All your knobs have been dialed to zero, all scales calibrated, all bases for evaluation and differentiation erased. You are now a blank slate, clean and completely innocent. You are perfect.You may wonder why I have done this and who I am, and I’m sure you also have many questions regarding yours...

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“Dust mites and Diatribes ” by Yolandi Bester

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear diary5/4/2020It’s 3 am. I’d gotten out of bed thinking it was closer to 7.So, here we are. On the one hand I think that maybe I should just go ahead and start my day. It’s not like it’ll matter when I get what done. That’s to say if I even get anything done at all. . . Happy Quarantine!On the other hand, I feel like I don’t want to wake up early. That’ll just give me more time to waste.I don’t know how people are doing fitness challenges and catching up on hobbies and online learning and whatever else they make do with during this time....

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“Who Am I” by S. John

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear Diary,I have tapped out at twenty-five. I came to this depressing realization one afternoon on a cold South Iowa day. It wasn’t snowing, but there was snow on the ground. The dogs were barking outside, and the kids were fighting over something in the living room. It was my birthday. I was staring at the dusty blue walls of my bedroom, and thinking absolutely nothing. Only later would I realize that this nothing I thought of was the tell-tale sign of a young life coming to its end. From now on, I would be somewhere in betw...

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“Stars, Heart-Shaped Keys, and Dreams” by Natalie Frank

Submitted to Contest #36

April 23, 2020 This is a first. Journaling. It's a form of therapy, they say. They say a lot of things, tell me a lot of things.They tell me to forgive him, that he was only seventeen with a promising future ahead of. They tell me that he has a little sister who is only a nine, a father in the military, and a depressed mother. They tell me that he has friends and he is a teacher’s pet, that he loves basketball so much that he wears his jerseys on weekends, that he didn’t mean to do it. They tell me it was an accident. I know it was an accide...

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“Figure me out” by Imogen Bird

Submitted to Contest #36

Waking up from a coma. What a cliché way to begin. Of course it isn't like movies would have you believe, that one day you will flutter your eyes open and take a few panicked breaths through your nose. A loved one tells you everything is okay and ten seconds later you pull your IV's out with vigor and topple off the gurney despite the nurse feebly trying to stop you. Wobbly-legged, like a newborn lamb, you'll take a few uneasy steps before you gather your resolve, muster strength from nowhere and burst out the hospital doors to continue...

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“Between Me and the Universe” by Kate Le Roux

Submitted to Contest #36

Thursday April 3 2081I feel kind of strange tonight, restless, as if I’ve eaten too much candy. I just keep thinking that I’ll be seventeen soon and the most exciting thing I have ever done is sneak through the ducts to the edge of the dome during a storm with Vlad and Susan. It was pretty awesome – the dome creaked and groaned so loudly we could barely hear each other. They were both so scared of getting caught that we only hung out there long enough for me to carve half my name in the vinyl floor. I wrote “Mauro” but didn't get to my surna...

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“Diary from the Bear Apocalypse” by Genevieve Taylor

Submitted to Contest #36

Day 146Dear Diary, It’s too loud down here, but not the kind of loud we had at home. At home, there were cars honking and people shouting, and their cacophony would lull me into sleep. Here, there is only the hum of the generator. Really, it shouldn’t bother me. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. Evangeline doesn’t seem to mind it. She’s sleeping next to me, and I’m afraid to move too much in case I wake her up. I found this notebook when Marcus was out, and he doesn’t know I have it, though I’m sure he’ll find out soon....

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“The Big Reveal” by Anupama Iyer

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear Diary, Do you remember the 1st of January? I had made a resolution that I would tell you about each one of my days, in as much detail as possible. Some days I wrote to you, and on others I kept to myself. Tonight, we are going to have a talk. It’s sometime past midnight right now. I did what I do every night-a glass of milk, my kindle and a huge blanket. But nothing worked. I remember the times my eyelids used to droop down with exhaustion and I would be asleep in no time. But now, it doesn’t happen th...

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“A Little Bit of Confidence” by Aida D

Submitted to Contest #36

April 2nd, 2019I'm looking at myself in the mirror, studying myself. Looking for my flaws, my perfections. I have a lot more flaws than perfections. I'm so clumsy, like a bull in a china shop. I'm socially awkward, I cant keep a conversation going, there's too many awkward silences. I have the biggest crush on the dorkiest kid in school. I have horrible hair, its a reddish brown color with blond highlights, and goes like an inch past my shoulders. I don't understand how God could make someone as hideous and ugly as me. How much did he hate m...

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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.

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