Write a story told entirely through text messages or emails.

Posted in Dialogue on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 104 stories

“Who Speaks to Death” by R Kon

🏆 Winner of Contest #34

HeyHello, who is this?an old friend.I’m sorry, I’m still not sure who you are.I’m afraid I’ve lost touch with rather a lot of old friends.Do you have the right number?This is George McGregor.i knowAnd you are?dont worry, youll remember me.Could I get a hint, by any chance?sureu never saw me in personI’m sorry, I’m very confused. Are you quite surethat you don’t have the wrong number?yesi dont make that kind if mistakes*ofIn that case, would you mind giving mea bit more to go on?For instance, what’s your name?i have a lot of nameswhich o...

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“A Grandmother's Tale Via Gmail” by Scout Tahoe

Submitted to Contest #34

To: grannynanny@gmail.comFrom: lbeanf@gmail.comSubject: new gmail accounthey nan its beanstill figuring gmail outi wanted to know if you wanted to talk ya know since we gotta stay inside and all that.,,././.,?<</./,/,/,/??oops sorrybyeTo: lbeanf@gmail.comFrom: grannynanny@gmail.comSubject: Hi. What’s up Beanie-boo? I can’t believe your father actually caved in and gave you a gmail account even though I’ve been telling him for the last five years that you absolutely need one. I would love to chat. Apart from the Young Ladies’ ...

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“Best Friends in Quarantine” by Allie Mae Sakry

Submitted to Contest #34

“Ugh, quarantine sucks the worst of anything I’ve ever experienced.”“I know. At least we have technology to occupy us.”“Technology has become my worst enemy these past twenty days.”“We’ve only been in quarantine for seven days, Catie.”“I know that. Just feels like it’s been longer.” Jessica smiled to herself. Catie always had a flair for the dramatic side of things. She served as the true personification of comedic relief when it came to bleak situations. She really adored Catie, more than words could ever t...

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“Sparking something” by Marte Van Der Linden

Submitted to Contest #34

To: hermes@olympians.comFrom: hephaestus@olympians.comSubject: Your order is ready [nr: 45031]Hey Hermes,I finished the work. Pick-up details below.Best,Hephaestus---We have completed the work on your item, nr 45031. You may pick up your order from Monday 10 am. Please visit our website for information about opening times.***Hephaestus:HeyDid you take anything from my workshop earlier?Hermes:Just my sandals. Why?Nice work on the wings btw.Hephaestus:See anyone else while you were there?Hermes:No. Why??***To: MailingOlympusFrom: hephaestus@ol...

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“Out With The 'Unknown'” by Artemisia Pearl

Submitted to Contest #34

Unknown NumberTuesday, January 7・ 7:33 p.m.UN - When did you say that you were available? I need to know ASAP!ME - Who is this? UN - What!? Come on, Kate. It’s me! Stop pretending that you don’t know me.ME - I’m not Kate. My name doesn’t even have a ‘K’ in it.UN - I’m serious, Kate. We Have a missionto complete! If we don’t, we’ll be EXTERMINATED. Exterminated, Kate. UN - If you don’t comply, I will come and get you tomorrow. ME - Um… Sorry, but you have the wrong number. I AM NOT KATE!!UN - Yeah, real fun...

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“Re: Dear John” by Dafni Ma

Submitted to Contest #34

Liz Malory lizmalory89@yahoo.com Thu, 31 October at 12:35 a.m.To:john_c_malory@yahoo.comDear John,This is not a Dear John letter. In fact, it’s not a letter, it’s an email. I find it difficult to write with pen and paper nowadays. I also don’t live in the 16th century, so there’s that as well.Forgive me. I ...

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“Some Reasons” by Festus Airuedomwinya

Submitted to Contest #34

"Life sucks. And I mean that. Life is a fucked up piece of an abattoir.""Hey! I agree that life is shit but abattoir? Come on.""Ok, well scratch that. We'll go with you. Life is a piece of shit.""No problem. I'm ok with the fact that I'm smarter.""Always the hypocrite. Asshole.""I've been called worse names than that, Nelly, so I'm thinking you could up your game.""I'll think of other names, Jeremy😊""You could even google it. Have you ever heard of Google? It's like a search engine...I'm pretty sure you can manage.""If you weren't my brother...

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“Pen Pals” by Libby Carter

Submitted to Contest #34

Email Correspondence between Richard Lawrence and Willa Reed:From: R. Lawrence To: W. ReedTime: 4:47pm EDT, March 11th, 2019Dear W. Reed,Good evening. How are you? I thought I’d share a little about myself. My name is Richard Lawrence. I am sixteen years old and attend Hall High School for the Academically Gifted. As part of my English project, I must maintain close correspondence between a peer chosen by my teacher at another school for the next six weeks. I look forward to getting to work with you on this project.Good wishes,R. Lawren...

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“There's Gonna Be a Better Day, Just You Wait” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #34

Trigger warning: mentions of suicide and abuse.Text messages from xxx-xxx-8432 to 911Start time: 12:34 pm, 6-7-2020 Julie the 911 Operative: Hello 911 speaking. xxx-xxx-8432: I need an ambulance. Julie the 911 Operative: Can you please describe what happened? xxx-xxx-8432: I think my husband had a heart attack. We’re at 97 Greenville Avenue. Please hurry. He’s all choked up and red! Julie the 911 Operative: Okay. We’re sending someone now. Please stay in contact in case anything develops. ….End time: 12:58 pm, 6-7-2020 Text message from xxx-...

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“Confined to Texting” by Keri Dyck

Submitted to Contest #34

MOMMom 24/03/20 3:47pmHey do you know what time you’ll be home?Mom 24/03/20 4:52pmSupper’s readyMom 24/03/20 5:23pmI just got the email from the hospital! How are you doing? Mom 24/03/30 7:26pmWhat, you don’t speak to your mother anymore?Mom 24/03/20 8:45pmGood nightKeri 25/03/20 10:05amHey Mom, sorry I missed your texts. I couldn’t have my phone while they did the testingMom 25/03/20 10:07amAnd???Keri 25/03/20 10:07amYou know how the virus could only get people whose respiratory systems were compromised? Well now it’s mutated and I’ve ...

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“Subtext” by Jane Andrews

Submitted to Contest #34

Fri 10 Jan, 13:06Hi Gorgeous. Looking forward to seeing you tonight. J xxxWho is this?Stop messing around! No, seriously. Your number’s just coming up as Unknown.Fran?Kate. And you are?OMG – I’m so sorry. I must have mistyped my girlfriend’s number.You mean she’s not saved in your contacts?I’ve got her number saved on my phone, but I left it at home so I borrowed someone else’s to text her. I thought I remembered the number, but obviously I was wrong.So you’re texting from someone else’s phone now?Well, yeah, otherwise I wouldn’t be texting ...

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“The Satellites Knew You Didn't Love Me Before I Did” by Emily Sperber

Submitted to Contest #34

10:37 a.mY: I think we should pretend we’recoworkers while we’re quarantined.We’ll have our own offices and we’llcommunicate only through text.I think it’ll keep us sane and won’tmake us hate each other by the end of this.M: Babe, I’m in the next room.I can hear you typing.Y: Exactly. We’re coworkers now,just until the virus goes away.M: I do have a lot of work to do.Y: Perfect! So I’ll be in the study andyou can be in the living room.M: But, wait, I’m hungry.Y: Ok, let me take a look at my calendar.Yes, I can squeeze you in this aftern...

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“Escape ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #34

The following text messages were recovered from a person working in a biological research laboratory in the Center for Disease Control to Mindy Walton, a tenth grader from Window Rock High School. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is still investigating this top secret correspondence. Please do not post the following on any sort of social media outlet as these facts still have not been ascertained or authenticated by investigators still working this incident. The text messages have been label as follows:CDC is the unidentified resea...

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“Scary Valentine's day text message prank ” by Tyra Johnson

Submitted to Contest #34

short setting- This story is set in California in the middle of the night on Valentines night.Hannah is at home alone, in her bedroom waiting on her husband to come home to spend Valentine's together.Tick and Tock, around and around the hands of the clock move.Ping! , Ping!, the phone of Hannah sounded as text messages came in from a stranger and restricted number.Unknown- ("Hello Hannah.")Hannah-("Yes, this is Hannah and who is this?)Unknown-("This is your stalker, I been watching you for years now.")Hannah-("Oh let me guess, now you're goi...

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“Two Sides of a Story...or Three (Text Messages)” by Akito Yu

Submitted to Contest #34

Alex: "Hey, how's life?"Diane: "Fine."Alex: "Rlly?"Diane: "Fine. No. It's not fine."Alex: "Lol. How come?"Diane: "Because it's boring. I'm home all day. I'm starting to get sick of my family..."Alex: "You okay there?"Diane: "Haha, very funny. I think the real question is, "Have I ever been okay?""Alex: "Lol. What have u been doing lately?"Diane: "Nothing. I'm bored to death. Actually."Alex: "Srsly? U have gotta be kidding me. No way ur bored. Ur never bored!"Diane: "Cut the sarcasm, will u? Wanna FT? I need some company rn..."Alex: "No, not ...

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Ended on 23:59 - Mar 27, 2020 EST

Won by R Kon 🏆

Title: Who Speaks to Death

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Write a story told entirely through text messages or emails.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 104 stories

“Who Speaks to Death” by R Kon

“A Grandmother's Tale Via Gmail” by Scout Tahoe

“Best Friends in Quarantine” by Allie Mae Sakry

“Sparking something” by Marte Van Der Linden

“Out With The 'Unknown'” by Artemisia Pearl

“Re: Dear John” by Dafni Ma

“Some Reasons” by Festus Airuedomwinya

“Pen Pals” by Libby Carter

“There's Gonna Be a Better Day, Just You Wait” by Lily Kingston

“Confined to Texting” by Keri Dyck

“Subtext” by Jane Andrews

“The Satellites Knew You Didn't Love Me Before I Did” by Emily Sperber

“Escape ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“Scary Valentine's day text message prank ” by Tyra Johnson

“Two Sides of a Story...or Three (Text Messages)” by Akito Yu

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about a family game night.

Write a story from the perspective of a dog, thrilled to find their owner has been spending so much time at home.

Write a story about a rainy day spent indoors.

Write a story about someone who finds a secret passageway in their house.

Contest #34

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

540

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: