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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

“Dear Dee(short for diary)” by Donyelle C. Leachman

Submitted to Contest #36

3/23/1987, Monday, 12:58 p.m. Dear Dee, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!! I’m 10 years old today. Double digits! I wonder what my mom has planned for me today. Today is the 1st day of Spring Break and I am so excited. I would like to have some friends over for cake and ice cream. Or maybe mom can have a party for me at McDonald’s. She hasn’t said anything about it yet, but I hope we are gonna have so much fun. I would really like it if I got a puppy. My brother is really getting on my nerv...

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“Dear Diary: From a Young Girl” by Victoria Jayne

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear Diary,Today is my birthday. I just turned 12 years old! My mom got me this neat notebook as a present and she had the great idea that I should write in it every year on my birthday! My mom is so smart and pretty. I can't wait to grow up and be like her!Besides this diary, Mom remembered to order my favorite unicorn cake from the good bakery on Main Street. That's the one that puts REAL CHOCOLATE inside the cake! Isn't that just awesome?! Mom even asked them to put this type of glitter we can eat on it! The glitter looks so pretty on the...

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“My husband went to see the Yanks” by Rebecca Lee

Submitted to Contest #36

Well, dearest diary, here I am - sitting in hard back chair in the airport terminal waiting area. It has been a long two weeks, but today is the day that Joe comes home, and I feel like a kid waiting to sit on Santa’s knee.Joe, my husband of 35 years, had wanted to make the trip to New York to see the Yankees play since he was a kid. Life just got in the way. He was going to go for his high school senior trip, but his grandmother died. When he graduated from college, he and I were going to go, but then our house burned. Five years ago, he wa...

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“Coachlagged” by Karen McDermott

Submitted to Contest #36

17/04/2006Dear diary,Sorry I didn’t document the 19 hour coach journey as promised, but u were in the luggage hold the whole time as I’d stupidly forgotten to transfer u to my handbag. Had 2 make do with my Prague travel book. Was just getting stuck in when they turned all the lights off. I sat blinking in the dark while all the Czechs fell into a doze around me like birds that’d had blankets thrown over their cages. I’d love to know how ppl mange to fall asleep so quickly on public transport like that. TEACH ME YOUR SECRET. Is it Valium? Ko...

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“Helpless, Magic-less & Forgotten” by Kat Gruszka

Submitted to Contest #36

Hello Journal, It is currently 3 in the morning over California and I should be diligently at work as opposed to writing this entry. I should be feeling how heavy my wings are; my arms should be sore and tired, and I should be happier than ever. But instead, I am feverishly throwing words at this blank book, while I exhale loudly through my nose about the stupidity of it all. Other people would relish in the idea of having a day off, but not me. No way; this is a sign of the end. This is the end of the line. I’ve seen this before. Do you rem...

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“Never Take the Stars Away from Me” by Gabriella DiTaranto

Submitted to Contest #36

December 28th, 1958Dear Diary, This notebook was given to me by my mother for Christmas to write down my favorite memories. I’m not really big on writing, but I guess it’s good to remember. My name is Nancy Harris and I’m 14 years old. This was a good year, I suppose. I started high school and made many new friends. We have two middle schools so I saw a lot of people I’ve never met. I want to work for NASA one day. I love space and it is my dream to one day study it in depth. My parents say it isn’t a job for a woman, but I am going to prove...

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“~Beloved Anastasia~” by Luna Lovegood

Submitted to Contest #36

**trigger warning: suicide, depression, and anxiety**September 19, 1997Diary,I'm up as always tonight. My insomnia is the worst it's been in awhile. Dr. Peters suggested I keep a diary to keep track of when I'm sleeping and when I'm not. It might seem strange to some, considering I'm a 24 year-old man. Honestly, I'd really do anything to help my insomnia dial down a bit, though. Dr. Peters said the diary might also benefit my anxiety and depression which are one of the main causes of my insomnia. I know I won't be able to sleep, but I'll sto...

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“Even if it hurts” by Julia Roberts

Submitted to Contest #36

June 7thHe kissed me…I know I should be writing about how magical and romantic and amazing it was. That’s all my friends can talk about when they discuss their first time. But I just, can’t. I’m struggling to find the words to explain how I feel. I’ve thought about the moment over and over in my mind. The setting, a cool summer evening in the local park, at a bench, just the two of us. The lighting, just one, lone lamp and the waning moon brightening the night sky as we rested from our walk. The sound, just the creaking symphony of cric...

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“Day 23” by Sara Tonsy

Submitted to Contest #36

Lockdown Day 23 11:11 p.m. I make a wish from my bed, already covered and set to sleep. Writing in my diary is the “last” thing I do everyday since the start of this lockdown. I am upset with the book I am reading. “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” That Dostoyevsky! He makes me think at night, which is what I am trying not to do. I miss going out for walks more than anything. I went out to buy groceries today and the Police stopped everyone that di...

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“The Serpant, the Bull, and the People” by Kavika Hall

Submitted to Contest #36

Jan 25 2020My therapist suggested I journal, to help cope with this existential Crisis I seem to be having so...I might as well try. I want happiness.Who honestly doesn't, really. Idealistically we all do,But what defined happiness isn’t a universal term.It’s a case to case kind of thing.I’m jealous of and over any person getting more attention than me, especially when I feel like I need it the most.Certainly right now, I’ve lost so much,I am so damn empty.I am God damn lost.And there’s nothing I can do about it.I am almost positive I’...

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“The donkey kon champion boy ” by Tyra Johnson

Submitted to Contest #36

12 June 1981Dear DairyIt me the game freak Tommy here again. I am a legend of playing games. All the games know my name. Games are apart of my life, I love and enjoy playing games. Today was the best day in my life but before I tell you about my great news that happen. I want to share my gaming experience with you.Dairy, the first time I experience playing game was on my sixth birthday ,when my best friends name Steve, Jack ,Howard, Harry, my mother and I went to the game arcade played games and had eaten pizza all day celebrating my birthda...

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“Spring to Autumn” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #36

Spring to AutumnSuzanne MarshOctober 17, 1963Dear Diary,Today is my thirteen birthday, Mom gave you to me this morning. I hope we will have a long and wonderful friendship. I am freshman at Mount Saint Mary's Girls Academy. The summer before I had to read The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, one of twenty five books that were required reading.Perhaps I should tell you a little about myself. I am an only child, both my parents work. I have learned to play the accordion and the piano. I love music especially classic music. I hated the acco...

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“Dear Diary: Mending the Broken Road” by Deanna West

Submitted to Contest #36

Dear Diary: Mending the Broken RoadHmmmm, I'm new to this, not really sure how this works, or better yet why people do it... But anyway heregoes nothing. So, I guess this isme escaping from my own reality. I loved my parents dearly, well still do, justknow that there was domestic violence and my mother had to defend herself.We'll probably get into that later. She's alive and doing well, but father isnot.... Yea, so growing upthey had a lot arguments and disagreements, but we just thought it was normal.None of us expected anything differen...

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“The Diary of an Honest Thief” by Leland Day

Submitted to Contest #36

Entry 1: I stole Mrs. Edward’s pie today. I’d feel bad about it if that pie wasn’t so darned good. Signed, &n...

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“To Will Another Day” by Princess Eno

Submitted to Contest #36

Diary,Yo was the best I could come up with. Three years of friendship, two years of love ,and not a hi, or a call. A strange message to his girlfriend, Ada ,would have been better, considering we took the same classes, met up for lunch every Tuesday, and were convenient best friends. "Yo" would probably be a word to use if he and I were still friends. It was funny to write after his last message that was two months ago, and for it to just be "yo". I try not to dwell on it, but I've never been good at starting a conversation, much l...

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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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