Write an epistolary story set during a major historical event. The event may be the subject of the letters directly, or be referenced in the background.

Posted in Historical Fiction on Aug 18, 2023

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✍️ 30 stories

“The Amber letter” by Magdalena Brynard

Submitted to Contest #212

A heavy shudder shook the window panes as she wrote. The rushed keys of the typewriter pounded in unison as mortar after mortar fell decimating the city. London was falling but the letter had to reach him by morning. Emily wrote as fast as her fingers could but the ink on the ribbon seemed to fade after every turn of the paper. She couldn’t run out of ribbon at this exact moment but try as she might the ink would not stick to the paper. She jerked the paper from the typewriter and ran to the next; abandoned by its typist. The rushed words s...

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“Letters from Malaysian Flight 370” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #212

[Voice message found in a mobile phone]Life is a mystery, isn’t it? One day we are in control of everything, taking exams, passing tests, choosing which job interview to attend. And then, if we work hard, we move up in our career, step by step.But the whole time, there’s a parallel universe that we don't control that affects us strongly. Our boyfriends get transferred to different cities, our employers go bankrupt, our friends get sick.I’ve made the right choices my entire life. I was polite to others, took care of my parents and grandparent...

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“Despatches From the Home Front” by Katy B

Submitted to Contest #212

Post Office Telegraphs. Augustine Madlain to Imogen Eley — (Received 3 August 1914) Believe war entry likely STOP Paris in uproar STOP Holiday enthusiasm STOP All very exciting STOP ᛭ Auggie10 October, 1914Dear Auggie,I was so glad to receive your letter last week. Imagine your marching in shirts and ties through the countryside — suppose a cow, for instance, had seen you? What must the poor creature have thought? And I don’t think it’s fair of you to complain of learning to cook “like women-folk.” You say it’s hard on fellows but I see...

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“In the DLD” by Kimberly Walker

Submitted to Contest #212

In the DLD Nothing vaguely interesting ever happened in the DLD. How could it, with a name like the Dead Letter Department? It is where undeliverable mail goes to die in any city. Usually, it’s only a missed spelled last name or street name. Occasionally, someone may transpose a house number or leave off an alphabet like “54 C Sunset Ct.” at the most. Any permanent carrier knows the residents on their route, so they are used to sorting the mail and correctly delivering all pieces of mail and packages; even when someone has moved. When the zi...

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“Hopeless Gimmering” by Gary Phipps

Submitted to Contest #212

August 3rd, 1849 Reached this lonesome valley today, a real marvel under God's sky. The land stretches endlessly, its only partners being distant mountains and a beckoning stream's song. The journey was a trial, boots laden with mud, spirits weighed by tales of men who came and departed with empty pockets. In my pocket, though, is this curious shiny stone. Not yet gold, but whispering of its presence nearby. Camp's set, the daunting task ahead clear as day. Many a man ventured, few struck gold. Yet, tales of fortunes and the promise of a...

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“The Christmas Truce: Letters from the Western Front” by Jonathan Page

Submitted to Contest #212

The Christmas Truce[Christmas Truce of 1914 (World War I)]“The thing started last night – a bitter cold night, with white frost – soon after dusk when the Germans started shouting 'Merry Christmas, Englishmen' to us. Of course our fellows shouted back and presently large numbers of both sides had left their trenches, unarmed, and met in the debatable, shot-riddled, no man's land between the lines. Here the agreement – all on their own – came to be made that we should not fire at each other until after midnight tonight. The men were all frate...

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“Let Your Hair Down” by Anne Abraham

Submitted to Contest #212

Cornelia glanced with increasing annoyance at the date on the unopened envelope. August 1, 1910. Written in a nearly illegible scrawl that she immediately recognized as William’s. The letter had been resting in the top corner of her bureau for the past week. She refused to open it. There were other things to do in her life that were more important than reading that letter. She had written to William in April, and it had taken him five months to reply. Five months! The mail may be a little slow between Boston and Brooklyn, but it certainly wa...

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“Love, War, and Carrots” by Anna W

Submitted to Contest #212

***Based on true events*** WESTERN UNIONNOVEMBER 1940SECWAR BY WAY OF ADMIN LT/C JD WALKERWASHINGTON, D.C.OUR NEW IN AIR RADAR TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW US TO FIGHT THE GERMANS IN THE DARK PERIOD GERMANS ARE DESPERATE FOR THIS INFORMATION SO WE MUST DEFLECT THEIR ATTENTION PERIOD WE HAVE COME UP WITH TWO EXPLANATIONS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL RETALIATION AGAINST GERMAN NIGHT STRIKES PERIOD ONE POTENTIAL IDEA IS THAT AN INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF CARROTS HAS IMPROVED THE NIGHT EYESIGHT OF BRITIS...

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“THE WAR TO END ALL WARS” by Charles Corkery

Submitted to Contest #212

THE WAR TO END ALL WARS August 9th 1914 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx My darling Gertie I write this brief letter shortly before we embark. The two horses are stowed safely. Altogether, there are xx cavalry divisions crossing the channel tonight and conditions are chaotic as you can imagine. God alone knows what part horses will play in this enterprise but the xxx Lancers shall do our very best. Look after our dear boys. You may find this letter heavily redacted as we have been advised that all mail is to pa...

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“HOW WE WHERE MADE” by JarJar Giles

Submitted to Contest #212

I grew up in a little town in rural south Alamba with my older brother and two sisters. Now when we were young, there was no gentle parenting like there is now-a-days. So our father was big in the community, like a dad to everyone or maybe brother, grandpa. You get my drift, anyway the time we had growing up was just terrible. We were raised a certain way, taught to act a certain way and if you didn't adhere to what ma or pa said you was taught a rathe harsh lesson. Being big in a small town it had its pro's but it also had its con's. So our...

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“Operation: Jager Hunt” by Rudy Senecal

Submitted to Contest #212

The air parade that seems to happen every night at this point continues until it drowns out all other sounds. The letter is on the table next to her. For a moment, Eve wonders if she should read it. She sips the tea clasped in her hands and looks at the flag outside her window. Its black, red, and white colors flutter in the soft winter breeze. She looks to the bedroom door across the hall, her husband is most likely sound asleep by now. January 3rd, 1941 To, Ms. Eve Claude In German-Occupied Paris Let me first start by writi...

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“Letters to a Heartfelt Island” by D.J.J. MIZZI

Submitted to Contest #212

Letters to a Heartfelt Island June 2, 1939, London, England. Dear Mikiel, It’s extremely difficult to know how to start a letter, especially to someone you’ve never met; in the same way it’s difficult to speak to a stranger. But it becomes easier once you get started, and after that it gets easier still. In the end you’re glad for it because you’ve made a new friend. There we go – I’ve started and it wasn’t so hard at all. I’m very glad my uncle put me in touch with you. I’ve been wanting a new pen-friend, and when my uncle told me he’d m...

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“Pickles” by Yvonne Scott

Submitted to Contest #212

It’s Labor Day afternoon, 2020. I take my seat in the tight semi-circle of my two cousins and their kids outlining the cluttered work area in the middle of my uncle and aunt’s small living room. My uncle fumbles or maybe trembles, I can’t tell, as he searches among his precarious stacks of papers, books, and magazines arrayed on tables behind him. His angular bowed body and sagging skin retain only the faintest whisper of the once vibrant, husky, tall man with a ready wit and scholar’s mind I’ve always admired. He deftly slides a finger into...

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“Letters from Borneo” by Padmini Sankar

Submitted to Contest #212

Letters from Borneo Jesselton British North Borneo 9th December 1941 Dear Appa, My respects and namaskarams to you and Amma. You may perhaps be wondering why I am writing to you so soon after my last letter, to which I have not yet received your reply. Appa, a big event occurred recently that I have to tell you about. Neelakantan came home yesterday morning. I had just put baby to sleep, when he came rushing in. "The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor," he shouted. Well, I couldn't really understand what the issue was. "Where is this ...

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“Monkey Tale” by H.e. Ross

Submitted to Contest #212

Heppy lived in a small apartment right in the centre of the ‘Mo, short of Fillmore District in San Francisco. The neighbourhood used to be rough with fights, very loud music and the occasional shots. I loved it as a kid growing up sort of like in the wild west. When he passed there were a lot of people at the funeral. Heppy was well liked by most of the people acquainted with him in the ‘Mo. I liked him but of course he was my father. Heppy lived for the American Legion. He was a veteran of the First World War and had lied about his age to...

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Write an epistolary story set during a major historical event. The event may be the subject of the letters directly, or be referenced in the background.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 30 stories

“The Amber letter” by Magdalena Brynard

“Letters from Malaysian Flight 370” by Scott Christenson

“Despatches From the Home Front” by Katy B

“In the DLD” by Kimberly Walker

“Hopeless Gimmering” by Gary Phipps

“The Christmas Truce: Letters from the Western Front” by Jonathan Page

“Let Your Hair Down” by Anne Abraham

“Love, War, and Carrots” by Anna W

“THE WAR TO END ALL WARS” by Charles Corkery

“HOW WE WHERE MADE” by JarJar Giles

“Operation: Jager Hunt” by Rudy Senecal

“Letters to a Heartfelt Island” by D.J.J. MIZZI

“Pickles” by Yvonne Scott

“Letters from Borneo” by Padmini Sankar

“Monkey Tale” by H.e. Ross

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in the form of a letter, or multiple letters back and forth.

Write a story about a pair of pen pals.

A mysterious letter is delivered to your character's home. It's not addressed to them, but they can't resist peeking...

Set your story in a post office.

Contest #212

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

304

Contest entries

129

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: