The Analog — A Writing Competition by Mail

Key dates

Rules

1. One entry per person, per round. Don't be greedy.
2. Entries must be a response to the current round's prompt, which is sent to you upon registration.
3. Entries must be mailed in a single standard envelope, postmarked on or before the deadline. We trust the post office more than we trust you.
4. Handwritten or typed only. Printed entries are returned to sender, unread, with a small note expressing our disappointment.
5. Include your full name, return address, and email on the back of the letter or on a separate slip. Anonymity is romantic but unhelpful.
6. Entries become the property of The Analog. We reserve the right to publish, excerpt, and reference your entry — with attribution — in future correspondence, on this site, and in printed collections. You retain authorship and copyright of your work. See the Fine Print for the full terms.

Judging

Who judges the competition?

I do.

Based on what criteria?

How good it is.

What makes it good?

Wow, you're awfully persistent. Fine. Correct grammar and spelling, prose, voice, how well it fits with the prompt. Really, if you don't know what makes writing good, you might reconsider spending money on a writing competition.

Anything else?

I do, of course, need to be able to read it. See "Legibility" in the FAQs below.

And honorable mentions?

Awarded at my sole discretion for things including, but not limited to: beautiful stationery, stunning penmanship, a memorable wax seal, and very good letters that simply did not win.

Frequently Asked Questions

Asked, in some cases, only once. Still, here we are.

Does it have to be handwritten?

Typewriters are acceptable. Printers are not. We can tell.

If it's handwritten, does it have to be legible?

Yes.

What if I have bad handwriting?

You may direct your note to The University of Chicago's Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, as the foremost center for deciphering hieroglyphics. We will not be doing that work on your behalf.

Can I use AI?

Sorry, what? Are you sure you're in the right place? This is a letter-writing competition. You might be lost — try closing this tab and starting over fresh.

How long can it be?

It must fit in a standard envelope with regular postage (one stamp). If it's long, it had better be interesting to read.

How short can it be?

I personally wouldn't pay $10 plus postage to send a one-line response, but you do you. No restrictions on length.

Can I include a sketch, a pressed flower, a sachet of lavender?

Yes, provided it fits in the envelope and does not leak. Decorative flourishes are noted by the judges, sometimes favorably.

Can I email my entry?

Once again, letter-writing competition, not an email-writing competition. If you're not sure what a letter is, you can learn what constitutes a letter on Wikipedia.

How do I know you received it?

You don't. Welcome to corresponding by mail.

Will I get my letter back?

No. We keep them. Some are framed. Most are filed. Truly terrible entries are ritually burned, as a form of catharsis for having been forced to read them. Don't send us anything that bad.

Do you accept international entries from outside the US?

Yes. The post office, last we checked, still acknowledges other countries exist.

When are winners announced?

Three weeks after the postmark deadline, by email — and the winners (and honorable mentions) receive a letter, naturally.

Am I guaranteed a response?

No. Sorry. Winners and honorable mentions get letters; everyone else gets the warm, abstract knowledge that we read their work.