Tales from Beyond: the Haunted Letter Challenge
An Unofficial Vocal Challenge with Cash Prizes!
Hey Everyone - I'm a judge for this Challenge and I'd really love to read your entries! Details are in the link at the end of my own haunted letter below. Use your imagination and give us a story that's lighthearted or not-for-the-faint-of-heart, humorous or dead serious or undead serious. Go ahead - take a stab at it :) Here's mine (just for fun, obviously not competing):
Dear Ms Wilson,
This is your 7th cousin 4 times removed contacting you from the other side. I wanted to let you know that I so appreciate you supporting me all these years by proclaiming my innocence. As you rightly point out, I was acquitted by a court of law!
But the public had made up their minds. And I must admit there was some very incriminating evidence against me: the hatchet head, the burned dress, etc. It really sealed the deal when the children made up that nursery rhyme and it spread like wildfire throughout the land. Hence my legacy is that I killed my dad and his wife.
That rhyme was way off base - I did not give my mother 40 whacks, nor my father. First of all, she was not my mother. My father married her after my beloved mom died - so "stepmother" at best, but really she was just some wanton gold-digger my dad fancied. Mrs Borden, as I called her, never liked me. I guess you can tell I never liked her. But 40 whacks? No. I mean, the coroner’s report put the whacks at about 18.
Anyway, please keep professing my innocence. For my part I will keep haunting those who say otherwise, unless of course they bring some sympathy to my story. You know, like that writer Angela Carter. She really got the scene - the oppressive heat that summer, those woollen undergarments we had to wear, the ptomaine poisoning from the rotten mutton, and the way my dad constantly berated me. You know he killed my pigeons? You know that, right? He was a nasty old man who got what he deserved...uh…well I guess I’ve said enough.
Your Cuz,
Lizbeth (Lizzie)
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Writers, I can't wait to read your entries! Leave the links to them in the comment section of the following official announcement. Good luck and have fun:
About the Creator
Marie Wilson
Harper Collins published my novel "The Gorgeous Girls". My feature film screenplay "Sideshow Bandit" has won several awards at film festivals. I have a new feature film screenplay called "A Girl Like I" and it's looking for a producer.
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Comments (15)
Marie, this is brilliant! I love how you brought Lizzie Borden to life with humor, dark wit, and a touch of mischief. The Angela Carter reference was the cherry on top! Truly clever and entertaining.
Hey there! Just stopping by to say I’m blown away by your score on my piece! Such an honor to be a favorite and obviously it was critical to ending up “in the money”. Thank you so so much
I love that you wrote as Lizzie Borden!
Oh, such a clever angle, writing as Lizzie Borden! I love it!
Nicely done
Excellent story telling and loved the Angela Carter reference.
That was flowing! I love when what I read is just taking me with it like river water. They are the best.
Brilliant work Marie! 🧡🩷🧡🩷
This was great! I love the bit of humor mixed with the macabre. 💀
I just found out more about Lizzie Borden. Great story.
And this is how I found out about Lizzie Borden. Thank you so much for this tale, Marie.
I loveeeeee how you wrote this in the POV of Lizzie Borden!
This was such a clever and witty take on Lizzie Borden’s story, dark humour done so well!
This was a humorous take on the challenge, making Lizzie an all-knowing spirit from the beyond. I enjoyed the voice that you gave her, although I’m not quite sure if she would’ve said “Cuz” (but that’s just me). Overall, great job.
Marie!!! This is an outstanding letter. I mean it is top notch. I almost wish you weren’t a judge, but really I am very happy that you are a judge. Because I’ll tell you if you weren’t a judge this story would probably rate within our top three. Excellent work. Thank you very much.