Write a story about someone who finds someone’s diary, and tries to reunite it with its owner. It’s up to you whether they read it or not!

Posted in Mystery on May 19, 2023

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✍️ 54 stories

“The Diary” by Kevin Green

"The Diary'" Chapter 1: The Scout Leader's Tale The flames of the campfire danced and crackled, casting eerie shadows on the faces of the gathered scouts. It was a perfect night for a spooky story, and the scout leader, Mr. Thompson, had just the tale to send shivers down their spines. "Alright, kids," Mr. Thompson began, his voice low ...

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“The Birthday Gift” by Lynel Black

When you have lived in the same house for long enough, it becomes part of you in ways that are hard to pin down. The well worn paths we take from the fridge to the lounge, the closet to the shower, my home office to my workshop. Then there are those corners that you hardly know at all. Or you know they are there, but just never think about them. Like the top shelf of that old cupboard in the basement, or the contents of ...

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“Tomorrow is the day after Yesterday” by Kat Alexander

It shouldn’t have been a difficult decision. A no-brainer really. You kind of recognized the book itself. It was obviously a diary. One of the classic ones you could get just about anywhere. A simple baby blue, almost periwinkle color, hardcover notebook. It had two small metal plates sitting on the edge of the covers, with two small triangular pieces of metal, and one singular lock keeping the secrets the book knows awa...

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“Or So I Herd...” by Jed Cope

I assumed it was a typo. But then I’m paid not to make assumptions, so I shelved that badly educated guess of mine and fiddled with something that might resemble an open mind, rereading the note that had been written in headache-inducing handwriting that was not at all helped by the gaudy red ink. The ink was from a fountain pen, smudged here and there just in case I wasn’t finding the spiderlike scrawl d...

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“To the Keeper of My Thoughts” by Hayley Chau

To the Keeper of my thoughts, Do you know a dragonfly is extremely unique? Their four wings, working independently from each other, allow them to fly in any direction they please. Their compound, telescopic eyes enable them to view the world in a 360 degree vision. Ironically, the only blind spot is directly behind them. Hot diggity darn, I wished me a dragonfly. I never knew words could comfort ...

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“Diary's Past” by Jack Kimball

The city has no respect for time. The train pulls Jason headlong on electric sparked tracks; careless workers in black boots make repair, so he’s late when he makes it to Washington Heights. A palpable cold heat sweeps through him at a turn-style exit. On the street, he pushes on, pulling up his collar in the drizzling day. He soon finds the gray castle-like institution, Forbes Home, an oddity in the city, lying on a stark hill overlooking the Hudson River. The late 1800's stone, parapets, arched entrance. This all fits....

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“Annabella” by Amy Bepko

Distracted. That was the best word to describe me at this moment. Struggling. I was distracted and struggling. Searching for Gate 22 in this overcrowded, hot airport. I was already 25 minutes late thanks to my uncanny ability to set off the metal detectors every single time. Part of me thinks I should just ask to be searched. Save myself the time. Instead, here I am, distracted as I wander down Terminal A looki...

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“He’s Here.” by Matthew Guerrero

Maddy’s journal Madelyn’s entry #1 I’ve decided to use my full name instead of the goto that everyone calls me, I mean my sister did tell me I should use it at my full disposal, so why not use it. It’s the name I use in my head when talking about myself or making up conversations when I’m watching others. Trust me I’m always watching (cue the eerie violins, or maybe the X-files theme?) but yea...

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“Cosminia” by Mary Ann Ford

A mix of emotions flooded William Lavenshire as he walked to what would now be his home. He had spent at least a year in Cosminia but almost no time had passed on Earth. There was happiness at the events that had happened in that world, that was almost back in time, the stress of having to keep it all to himself, and, of course, the knowledge that no one would believe him even if he did mention it.He sighed and his smile faded a little. He’d grown up over there but here he was a kid again. It was so tempting t...

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“Now and Then” by Kirsten Wall

Now and Then by Kirsten Wall It was small, and it was scarlet. Beat up in a way that testified to how much it was used and therefore, how much it was treasured. Clearly, it meant something to someone. Kathleen Bauer knew she had to return it to its rightful owner, but for the life of her, she could not figure out to whom this dusty, old diary belonged. And how had it wound up on her nightstand?...

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“The Signs We Seek” by Liz Solimini

Hello All,Here is your trigger warning. This story contains gore, explicit language, murder, mental illness, self harm and suicide.Please continue with caution.************************************************************My feet pounded the concrete as I ran through the streets. My thoughts whirring about, my breath barely able to keep up with my lungs. I flew over a curb and landed with a stomp, my legs pumping as I kept going. His face flashed in my eyes. <...

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“Bad nights for strangers” by Dimitra M.

What a great deal !I couldn’t believe my luck when they accepted my offer. The house had been on the market for ages and I felt the seller just wanted someone to take it off his hands.There was a lot of work to be done. It was a wonder the thing was still standing but I didn’t care. That was my job, buy old neglected houses, restore them and sell them.I wasn’t surprised when the creaking wooden door almost got out of its hinges when I opened it. The old furniture was still there under a thic...

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“The Stranger and the Lioness” by Halle Giannelli

Nothing brings out the animal in people like a full moon during a heat wave. Katherine Jane Wright was pure feline, as she prowled along the muddy creek bank. Stockings balled tightly in her fist, she stretched out her arms for balance. The moon was glorious, and provided just enough light to tip toe from one moss-slick rock to the next. Something about the thick humid air made her feel positively feral—dangerous even. It was unlike Katherine to be out past dark. Phillip would be livid, if he knew that his newest bride was som...

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“the Diary” by J.G. Mcmillen

The Diary A short story by J.G. Mcmillen Allen P. Worrel was a grounds keeper at the Withering-Woodlands park and preserve, and he delighted in his daily doings. A short and elderly man, with short gray hair beneath his official blue cap, and bushy brows above thick framed glasses which magnified his eyes in a very silly manner. It was on a fine summer morning at about 9:00 am when t...

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“Illuminated Society” by Alessandro Dell'Anno

It was a beautiful May afternoon. The sun shone and birds sang from the trees as I returned home from work one Friday evening. As I was about to turn off Wardlow Road onto my street, I noticed a battered old book on the corner. It was brown, cracked, not too thick, with a leather binding. I thought it must be important to someone, so I picked it up and went through the garden gate leading up to my house. My wife, ...

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Write a story about someone who finds someone’s diary, and tries to reunite it with its owner. It’s up to you whether they read it or not!

Submissions are closed

✍️ 54 stories

“The Diary” by Kevin Green

“The Birthday Gift” by Lynel Black

“Tomorrow is the day after Yesterday” by Kat Alexander

“Or So I Herd...” by Jed Cope

“To the Keeper of My Thoughts” by Hayley Chau

“Diary's Past” by Jack Kimball

“Annabella” by Amy Bepko

“He’s Here.” by Matthew Guerrero

“Cosminia” by Mary Ann Ford

“Now and Then” by Kirsten Wall

“The Signs We Seek” by Liz Solimini

“Bad nights for strangers” by Dimitra M.

“The Stranger and the Lioness” by Halle Giannelli

“the Diary” by J.G. Mcmillen

“Illuminated Society” by Alessandro Dell'Anno

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story on a warm summer evening with a full moon, when everything feels magnetic and your character’s about to meet someone important.

Write about a character having a spiritual experience at a concert or a nightclub.

Your protagonist walks past an intriguing stranger, then turns around to take another look at them. The stranger turns around, too. Write about what happens next.

Write a story about a character who returns home changed by someone they met on a trip.

Contest #199

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

274

Contest entries

154

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Tired of MS Word?

Explore more writing prompt ideas: