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

Posted in Short Story on Aug 18, 2023

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✍️ 147 stories

“The Deceptions” by Ken Ferris

Submitted to Contest #212

The Deceptions It was September 16, my fifteenth birthday. I remember the day well, not so much because it was my birthday, but because it was the day my mother and I arrived at Boppop’s home. Both my mother and I called my grandfather Boppop although I never knew how he got that moniker. We had driven for three days, from our suburban home in Wheatridge, Colorado, near Denver, to Boppop’s old farm house on an almost two acre former dairy outside of Centralia, Washington. Two of those days were spent mostly in silence.&nbs...

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“Lessons From a Bird” by Penni Warford

Submitted to Contest #212

Lessons From a BirdAugust 22, 2021Dear Jasper,I killed a bird today. I was trying to save its life, but it didn’t end up that way. I don’t really feel like sharing the details right now, but I didn’t want you to think I was ignoring your last letter. Maybe in a few days. I really enjoy living vicariously through your animal encounters, so please keep the stories coming.BeaSept 5, 2021Dearest Bea, That was quite an opener in your last letter. It left me with a ton of questions about the bird. I don’t want to push, but I’d ...

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“Ban for Life” by Lara Deppe

Submitted to Contest #212

Horace Bigalbal Manager of the Valley Market and Co-Op 1356 River Road Smallville Dear Manager Bigalbal, I am reaching out to provide my sincerest apologies to you and all your staff for the events of May 13th. I would like to attempt to explain my behavior and try to repay the damage done to your store. As you may remember, the weather was chaotic that night and it was the very storm warning and oncoming tornado that required the shelter-in-place order that trapped myself and so many others in the store for our own safety as the tor...

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“The Heart's Chronicle of Suffering” by Blessed Chileka

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear beloved, I do not know what to call you now. Are you still that guy I was head over heels with or a stranger? Since you have decided to ghost away from my life, I have been trying to reassess myself. As in, what did I do wrong? Where did I press the wrong button? And those around me are not making matters better. I have to come to think of myself as losing my head. I cannot focus. All I want is to numb what I am feeling. I am hiding behind the most brilliant smile. I am hiding behind dazzling fashion. I am hiding with music. But I am ...

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“Dear Gracie” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #212

Dear Grandma,I wanted a hiar band and a Bardie doll for Christmas, but I got something better. Santa Claus gave me a kittin. He is grey and white. I have called him Patches. Thank you for the coloring pencils. I will draw you a picture of him,Lots of love, GracieDear Gracie,Thank you for the picture of Patches. I have put it in a frame, and it is in the living room. I hope you are doing well at school and listening to your mother and father. It was so nice to have you here for a visit. I can’t believe how fast you are growing up,Love, Grandm...

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“Aberdeen, 1994” by Deirdre Boyne

Submitted to Contest #212

Please note that this story contains swearing and references to self-harm, substance abuse (excessive drinking and heroin usage), mental illness, and suicide. Hey Ink, I doubt you’ll get this letter; or well, if you do, you won’t answer. You never do anymore. I get it. Life fucks everyone but especially us. Especially you. Yesterday was August 4th, so that means you and Steve went to the bridge and tried again. Did your Baptist exorcism work? Maybe you’re in rehab right now, maybe you’re with your dealer. Hell if I know, but I do...

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“Two Letters Forty Years Later” by Cindy Trost

Submitted to Contest #212

Two Letters 40 Years Later By Cindy Trost Inspired by “A Story About the Body” by Robert Hass The infatuation between a young artist nicknamed The Dead Bee and a beautiful older woman, now known as Rose Petal, came to a quiet end when he found a bowl of dead bees covered with carefully arranged rose petals on his porch the morning after he withdrew his sexual interest upon learning about her double mastectomy. Forty years later, a postman delivers an envelope addressed...

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“That Love Story” by A Inge

Submitted to Contest #212

1820 Longdon, New Mexico. Dear Mar, I wish I could say I’m sorry, but you know I’ve taken the oaths and cannot lie. Our time apart has not quite been long enough to warrant a lengthy ledger of my tedious duties, and you never cared for such things anyway. I will update you to say I am now made a Whipperton, that is a woman of status. I can cook as well as any housemaid, play piano like a master, and stitch tapestries for fun. Certainly, you know my patience is daily tested for I’ve never been given to detail, and I often finish whole tapestr...

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“Doves and Blood” by Mounir El-Mahrouky

Submitted to Contest #212

My dearest Liora.I hope this letter finds you in good health and prosperity, though I have no way of knowing if this will reach you. But as my heart aches, I pray that my efforts are not in vain. The last I saw you, you were running out of your coming out party in tears. And while I wanted to chase after you, I was held back by the snickers of the room. Forgive me for my cowardice. If I had known it would be the last time I saw you, I would have ran into the night and begged you to stay with me, and if you still chose to run, I would have be...

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“Right, Friend?” by Christopher Biery

Submitted to Contest #212

__________ Scott, My friend. It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. As you know, Francine’s death has put me in a fragile state, and I’ve made the difficult decision to move away. Before I met Franny, you had been my closest confidant, and, admittedly, so much more. The past few years have driven us apart, and although we both denied the reason for this fissure I never gave up on rekindling our friendship…until now. I’ve gone up north, beyond Toronto, in hopes of finding myself in these twilight years. Perhaps solitude wi...

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“Pain & Paper: Turning Wounds to Words” by Samyah Fadel

Submitted to Contest #212

CW: Mentions of substance abuse, mental health issues, and death. Mama, It’s almost your birthday. You would have been sixty-eight, but you never made it past fifty-eight. I’m lucky, I guess. A lot of people lose a parent, or both parents, when they’re really young. I was twenty-five. The age when you’re supposed to be coming out of your wild youth and merging onto, or at least close to, your life path. Not me though. I didn’t have a wild youth. I had a wild you. My youth was spent navigating the consequences of your mistakes and vowing ...

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“Picking Up the Pieces” by Charles Sheehan

Submitted to Contest #212

Picking Up the Pieces Ben, Sorry it took me so long to reply to your letter. I recently moved and it took some time for my mail to catch up with me. I included my new address with this letter. I hate it when someone starts out a letter by saying they’re sorry for not having written, but there you have it. It made my day to hear from you. I’ve talked to Olivia several times and she’s kept me up on your progress. You’re fortunate to have such a caring sister nearby. You didn’t need to apologize for not wanting to talk to me. Your recovery n...

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“Inked in History-Letters between a wife and husband caught in the tides of change. ” by Arpad Nagy

Submitted to Contest #212

The First Letter. Lyon France, July 15, 1989. Thaddeus, you're going to divorce me. I'm not on the train to Lyon. I'm in Barcelona. Now, before you call the lawyers and have the papers drawn up—I know I deserve it, and I swore the last time was the last time, but let me explain—I saw my father. I can feel you rolling your eyes, and I get it, but I know it was him this time. It was him! I was getting on the train to Lyon, and I was early at the Milan Porta Garibaldi terminal, so early that I had time to p...

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“Dear Drugs” by Tiffany Snyder

Submitted to Contest #212

Day 1, letter 1 Dear Drugs, We were never supposed to take it this far. My friends try to warn me saying you were toxic and dangerous to my identity. But I didn’t listen. You were something new and exciting. I became obsessed with you. To the point I begin to yearn for the chance to be with you every second of the day. You brought me out of my shell. You help unlock a side of me I never knew existed. Your presence gave me a rush beyond anything I’ve ever felt before. It started out casually then weekly before I knew it you were with me dail...

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“Notifications ” by Meghan Lambie

Submitted to Contest #212

When are you coming home? (Photo of the cat) Late, maybe 9:30. Are there any cookies left? There’s two, I’ll save you one <3 (Photo of the cat) Check out this link - tiktok.com Check out this link - tiktok.com Check out this link - tiktok.com Check out this link - tiktok.com haha (Photo of the cat) When are you coming home? Have you left yet? ?? ….. Sorry sorry sorry I got tied up, I’ve been stuck in meetings. There was a last minute change the client requested but we still have to make the ...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 147 stories

“The Deceptions” by Ken Ferris

“Lessons From a Bird” by Penni Warford

“Ban for Life” by Lara Deppe

“The Heart's Chronicle of Suffering” by Blessed Chileka

“Dear Gracie” by Bettina Karpathian

“Aberdeen, 1994” by Deirdre Boyne

“Two Letters Forty Years Later” by Cindy Trost

“That Love Story” by A Inge

“Doves and Blood” by Mounir El-Mahrouky

“Right, Friend?” by Christopher Biery

“Pain & Paper: Turning Wounds to Words” by Samyah Fadel

“Picking Up the Pieces” by Charles Sheehan

“Inked in History-Letters between a wife and husband caught in the tides of change. ” by Arpad Nagy

“Dear Drugs” by Tiffany Snyder

“Notifications ” by Meghan Lambie

🌟 Similar prompts

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.

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: