Does anybody have recommended games to look at for a general idea of how these kinds of things are structured? I've never played a game where the main mechanics are just writing, and was wondering if anybody had some recommendations for getting an idea of what I'm doing. I've got an idea for a theme, but the how and the why of structuring it as a GAME eludes me. (And yes, I know the jam isn't until November, I'd just like to play other games before I start working on mine)

Here is a great game, it's not a multiplayer ttrpg, but still in the spirit of writing letters: Quill, by Scott Malthouse https://trollish-delver-games.itch.io/quill-a-letter-writing !

I can also recommand you to look at solo TTRPGs here : https://itch.io/c/574927/the-hermit-club-list-of-all-solo-ttrpg-and-larp-on-itch... → a lot of them are writing games (for example writing a diary or writing a letter being lost in space) and I guess it can give ideas/mechanics to create an epistolary game :)

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You also got epistolary games like:

• Sincerely https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/206314/Sincerely about being 2 women in love, during the 19th century: so you have to hide your secret love - I find this idea really nice, and you can easily play keeping the same idea but with a different secret
• or Worlds of Ruin https://ideomotoring.itch.io/worlds-of-ruin in a dark fantasy world
• or Reverie Cycle https://seaexcursion.itch.io/reverie-cycle which is more poetic

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To begin or to get ideas, you can be inspired by writing exercises ( http://writingexercises.co.uk/index.php )