Hello!
In the summer of 2017, filmmaker & artist Will Darbyshire published a book with Penguin Random House called 'This Modern Love'
Posing a series of questions via YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, he asked his viewers to share their thoughts about their relationship experiences, in the form of hand-written letters, poems, photographs, and emails.
After 6 months and over 15,000 heartfelt submissions later, Will collected the letters together to form a compendium of 21st century love, structured into the beginning, middle and end of a relationship.
It went on to become a Sunday Times Number One Bestseller. Amazon.com/ThisModernLove
In 2025, Will is reopening the email inbox for its sequel, This Modern Love 2.
To be a part of the project and have your submission featured in the next book, all you have to do is:
1. Write a submission
Prompt #1 (June 24th 2024)
‘Write a letter to a crush, a partner or an ex.’
Link
This can take any shape you want it to. It could be prose, a poem or perhaps something more abstract. Address the letter to a person and then sign off with a name. If you would like to maintain complete anonymity, you can change the names but do please include a name as it helps maintain the format. Please also include a location, and age.
Prompt #2 (Jan 5th 2025)
‘Send us the best or worse message you’ve received on a dating app.’
Link
This could be from Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, Hinge etc. It can be a pickup line or a series of short messages.
Prompt #3 (Feb 4th 2025)
’Write a letter to your last hookup’
Link
This can take any shape you want it to. It could be prose, a poem or perhaps something more abstract. Address the letter to a person and then sign off with a name. If you would like to maintain complete anonymity, you can change the names but do please include a name as it helps maintain the format. Please also include a location, and age.
Prompt #4 (May 16th 2025)
’Write a letter to a person you were in a situationship with.’
Link
This can take any shape you want it to. It could be prose, a poem or perhaps something more abstract. Address the letter to a person and then sign off with a name. If you would like to maintain complete anonymity, you can change the names but do please include a name as it helps maintain the format. Please also include a location, and age.
2. Submit the response
Once you have your letter or response, submit it to submissions@thismodern.love
If your letter is selected we will need to contact you so please send it from your primary email address or include an email we can contact you at.
3. That’s it!
Once you’re submitted, your response will be considered for the next publication! Thank you! We really appreciate you trusting us with your work. It means the world to have your support and we can’t wait to read!
We will also be suggesting new prompts monthly on Will’s social media. You may respond to these if you wish to be an apart of the project.
FAQ:
Can I submit more than once? Yes!
How long can my submission be? It can be as long as you want!
Is there a deadline? No.
When can I expect a response? Not for a while as we’re still in the beginning stages. We will contact you if your letter is selected!
Can I also write a submission to a close friend? Yes if you think it fits within themes of the project and or prompt.
Can I handwrite it and scan it in? Of course!
Can I write it in my native language? Yes! But please include a translation too.
Links
Original Book - Amazon
Merch - Modern Love Store
Publisher - Penguin
Will’s Info