Chores, T-Shirts, and All Night

Readers Write is a feature in The Sun where readers share their personal writing on a given topic—a unique fixture of the magazine since the section’s inception in 1978. Send us your true story on an upcoming topic, and if we publish it you’ll receive a complimentary one-year subscription.

Not sure what to write? See below for some prompts to spark an idea. Writing style isn’t as important as thoughtfulness and sincerity, and topics are intentionally broad to give room for expression and interpretation.

Chores: Entries due September 1, 2024
Did you—or your kids—grow up helping out around the house, the farm, or a family business? Do you dread cleaning day, or is it your form of meditation? Do you secretly love to file your taxes? Maybe the real chore for you isn’t vacuuming or laundry, but social obligations or keeping up with the news. Dust off your true stories about chores and send them to us by September 1.

T-Shirts: Entries due October 1, 2024
Remember that free one from summer camp that was more comfortable than any shirt you’ve owned since? Or the overpriced tie-dye you bought in the parking lot after the concert? Maybe you inherited your mom’s. Maybe your kids are now wearing your old favorites—and getting compliments on something so retro. Send us your true story about T-shirts by October 1, and we’ll see how well it fits.

All Night: Entries due November 1, 2024
There are times staying up all night is an adventure: sleepovers; endless coffees with friends at the 24-hour diner; awaiting the sunrise with a lover. And then there are times you’d give anything to get some sleep: battling insomnia; pulling an all-nighter before an exam; waking up every hour to soothe a crying baby. Do you work the night shift? Find you’re most creative in the wee hours? Have any strange nocturnal habits? Don’t sleep on it: the deadline for sending us your true stories is November 1.