What Are Storyletters? The New Way to Experience Stories Through Real Mail
A storyletter is a serialized story delivered through real letters by mail. Each envelope reveals the next part of the narrative, often including artifacts, recipes, notes, or clues from the world of the story. Unlike novels, storyletters are designed to be told only through letters, creating a personal, immersive, and uniquely tactile reading experience.
What Makes Storyletters Unique?
Storyletters take the centuries-old tradition of epistolary fiction and bring it into the modern world. Instead of consuming a whole novel at once, readers experience the story slowly—just as the characters would.
Here’s what sets storyletters apart:
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Personal: You receive a letter addressed directly to you, from a character inside the story.
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Serialized: Each mailing reveals a new layer of the narrative, building anticipation.
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Tactile: You hold the paper, turn the pages, and see the handwriting or typewritten style.
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Immersive: Artifacts, clues, maps, and notes make you feel like part of the world.
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Real Mail: The story arrives physically, creating an experience unavailable in digital formats.
A storyletter is not a book.
It’s not fan mail.
It’s not a subscription box.
It is a story told through correspondence, crafted specifically for this medium.
How Storyletters Work (Step-by-Step)
While every publisher has their own style, the core experience is simple and universally enjoyable.
1. Choose Your Storyletter Series
Whether you love cozy mysteries, sci-fi thrillers, romance, horror, or holiday stories, each storyletter series has its own world and characters.
2. Receive Your First Letter in the Mail
Your first envelope arrives with your name on it—just as if someone from inside the story reached out to you personally.
3. The Story Unfolds by Mail
Depending on the series, you’ll receive a new letter:
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weekly
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bi-weekly
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or monthly
Each mailing continues the narrative one piece at a time.
4. Collect and Experience the Story
Readers often save their letters, annotate them, arrange them chronologically, or keep them in a binder. Each envelope becomes a keepsake.
5. Enjoy the Full Journey
By the end, you’ll have a complete epistolary story, told exclusively through letters, artifacts, and surprises.
Why Storyletters Feel More Immersive Than Books
Storyletters transform reading into an experience.
They create anticipation
You’re not binge-reading; you’re waiting—just like the characters.
They feel real
When a character writes about a clue, a key, or a recipe, you might actually receive it.
They slow down time
In a world of instant everything, storyletters bring back the joy of patiently following a story over days, weeks, or months.
They deepen emotional connection
A letter is intimate.
It feels private.
It feels meant for you.
They’re interactive by design
Recipes, notes, scribbles, postcards, photos, and clues turn readers into participants.
What Kinds of Stories Work Best as Storyletters?
While any genre can be told through letters, certain types shine brightest:
Cozy Mystery
Perfect for unfolding clues slowly, building tension, and sending recipe cards or artifacts from the town.
Romance & Romantasy
Love letters, confessions, forbidden notes—epistolary romance is timeless.
Horror
Found footage, unreliable narrators, cryptic warnings—horror thrives in the intimate letter format.
Sci-Fi & Thriller
Mission logs, classified transmissions, and survival reports feel powerful as physical letters.
Holiday & Seasonal Stories
A 25-day Christmas countdown or a fall seasonal mystery delivered by mail feels magical.
One-Off Letters
A single powerful letter telling a complete story.
Every genre has its own rules and rhythms, but all of them feel more immediate when they reach your mailbox.
Are Storyletters Good Gifts?
Yes—storyletters are one of the most unique gift experiences available.
They’re perfect for:
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readers
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homebodies
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mystery lovers
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romance fans
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sci-fi fans
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collectors
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people who miss real mail
They’re the kind of gift that unfolds slowly, surprise by surprise.
Common Questions About Storyletters
Do storyletters replace books?
No. They’re a different form of storytelling—slower, more immersive, and more personal.
How long does a storyletter series last?
Most run 6–24 letters depending on the story.
Do I need to read them in order?
Yes. Storyletters are serialized, and each piece builds on the last.
Do storyletters include physical items?
Some do. Artifacts are added only when they truly enhance the story.
Where Should I Start?
If you’re new to storyletters, begin with:
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a short series (6–12 letters), or
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a genre you already love
Then let yourself enjoy the rhythm of receiving a real letter from inside a fictional world.
To explore all options, visit the Storyletter Hub:
epistolary.com/pages/storyletters
Explore More About Storyletters
About Epistolary
Epistolary is the world’s #1 storyletter publisher, creating immersive stories delivered through real letters by mail. Led by bestselling author David Viergutz, Epistolary is dedicated to expanding the world of epistolary storytelling and helping readers discover new worlds one envelope at a time.