A Letter Home

It’s New Year’s Eve aboard a Starfleet vessel, and for one junior officer, it’s their first time celebrating away from home. In the form of a heartfelt letter to their family, describe the officer’s experience aboard the ship. What do they tell their loved ones about their crewmates, the celebrations (or lack thereof), and the emotions that come with spending such a meaningful time far from home?

Details:

• The letter should reflect the officer’s personality and their unique perspective on life in Starfleet.
• Include details about life aboard the starship, from the quirks of their fellow crew members to the challenges and surprises of their first assignment.
• Explore the officer’s emotions – are they homesick? Thrilled to be part of Starfleet? Nervous about fitting in?
• Use the letter to show how they connect New Year’s traditions to their current experiences, whether through sharing a funny story, reflecting on their goals, or simply expressing their love and longing for home.

Word Limit: 500–1,500 words

Criteria

• Stories should be submitted through the BFMS, your entry should link to that story
• Stories should be between 500 and 1,500 words.
• Stories will be graded using the Bravo Fleet Fiction Rubric, which marks on the following criteria: Language, Style, & Mechanics; Adherence to Canon; Perspective; Characterization; Originality; Use of the Prompt.
• Stories must be written during the competition period and should not be a reuse of an existing story. Stories written before or after the competition begins will be disqualified. The BFMS publication date will be used.
• The story must be a single author post in BFMS and not a joint post with another author.