fbpx

[Write On Wednesday] Epistolary Stories

This month I’m encouraging you to write stories in non-narrative forms. Last week was a story as a list, this week we’re back to one of my favorites: letters!

The Prompt

Write a story in the form of a series of letters/updates

Tips

  • The ‘letters’ can be anything really: letters, journal entries, log entries, found documents, Tweets, Facebook updates…
  • The letters might come from only one person — in which case we hear only one side of the story.
  • The letters might come from various sources and in various time periods.
  • You might mix letters with documentary evidence (school report cards, obituaries clipped from a newspaper, a termination document from an employer).
  • Your writing might be in the form of a ‘gospel’ for a new religious or political cult.
  • Your story might be the log entries left behind after a disaster.
  • Your updates might show the slow unraveling of an online scam on GoFundMe.
  • There are so many ways you can tell a story that don’t involve expository writing. Have fun with this!
  • This might grow to be a bigger project than you can handle in one day…

9 thoughts on “[Write On Wednesday] Epistolary Stories”

  1. This is amazing and just the confirmation I need. I’ve written a series of Children’s adventure stories, set in a missionary family in Africa… all in the form of letters to their friends back home. (Adventure, suspense, culture, and lessons learned) I’m now compiling them into one book.

  2. This was written for a 100 word story challenge

    The Last Expedition of Mavis Richter

    Day 1: Equipment arrived safely. Spent the day assembling telescope and yurt. Should have requested extra blankets. Nights are below zero now.

    Day 2: New telescope is powerful – felt like I was floating among the stars last night. No unusual activity noted. Should have requested back-up generator. Old one is on the fritz.

    Day 3: Strange lights in the sky after midnight. Generator died. Should have requested kindling. Tried to build a fire. Not much here will burn.

    Day 4: Lights were back. Seemed to be a dozen. Should have requested rescue flare gun.

    Day 5 : Help ……..

      1. There was a photo for the prompt and you know how writing goes, you get the initial idea and then the story just takes over. With only 100 words, I think you must leave much to the reader’s imagination.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Find out more about the StoryADay

Superstars

The only qualification to be a ‘Superstar” is a desire to write and support your fellow writers.

A supportive group of committed writers, who meet virtually, support each other’s efforts, and inspire each other.

Registration for 2024 open now-June 8, 2024 

Find out more about the StoryADay

Superstars

The only qualification to be a ‘Superstar” is a desire to write and support your fellow writers.

A supportive group of committed writers, who meet virtually, support each other’s efforts, and inspire each other.

Registration for 2024 open now-June 8, 2024

The StoryADay

I, WRITER Course

 

A 6-part journey through the short story.

Starts July 28, 2023