Start or end your story with a character scrolling (or doomscrolling) through social media.

Posted in Adults on Oct 25, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 14 stories

“Neuropathic Pain” by Emma Cooper

A kitten in a basket. News there was a murder in the next town over. An advert for weight loss. Some influencer looking happy eating salad. Scroll. Scroll. Scroll. Where. Was. The dopamine? “Why are you always on your phone? You’re going to hurt your eyes.” Mother said, teasingly, swishing past me in her soft pink blouse. I felt her words stab me in the back of the head. I put my phone into my jeans pocke...

3 comments 3

Read story

“The Courtyard” by Amanda Lieser

The Courtyard is bustling this morning as Sean stares at his phone, scrolling past fake smiles of fake people he used to know. He resists the urge to stare at the little black iron gate. He resists the urge to listen for the creak as more guests shuffle in. His green eyes peek over the bright blue screen of his phone as the waitress with blonde curls tamed into a ponytail that could rival a show horse’s offers a refi...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Dark Web. Darker Sleepover (Trigger Warning)” by John Hamour

Finally, me and Maggie were done with our homework and now was time to chill for a bit. I opened Instagram while playing Drake's new album. My LED lights were dim red, the setting was so relaxing. While scrolling on Instagram, I come across a video of a guy getting his head cut off. I honestly didn't feel grossed, can't say the same for Maggie though. I'd show her gore on purpose and she'll push me away and cringe. It ...

4 comments 4

Read story

“History Doomed to Repeat” by Emily Snyder

“I don’t get why you’re always on that thing.” Dawn waved her hand in front of Kelsey’s face. “What?” Kelsey kept scrolling. “I’m just reading the news.” Dawn raised her eyebrows. “News? Really?” Kelsey shrugged. “You never know. Maybe they decided to cancel school again.” “Doubt it.” Dawn snatched the phone and scanned the first few headlines. “This stuff is always the same. Look at toda...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Another cup, this time sweeter” by M E

Another cup, this time sweeter On his 365th day of unemployment, her husband took his coffee, pack of cigarettes and phone to the garden, sat on a chair and did not move for three hours. She knew she would hear all about what he was reading later, in bed, when her day’s work for her employer would be done, the children would be in bed and the house cleaned from ...

5 comments 5

Read story

“I never wanted to speak in public” by X. ENDO

(CW - mentions of racism and privilege, as the character comes to terms with an uncomfortable truth about their life) I know when I’m tired by the feeling in my bones, and my eyes. It feels like my whole body is chafed, irritated and aching all at the same time. I know I need to sleep. It's 3.18 am and I know I will be exhausted tomorrow. But I also know that I need to know everything that everyone is say...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Truth In Jokes” by Bria Pate

After finishing a long day of work and taking a shower, I sat in my bed eating a homemade pita. I decided to then get on Instagram and see if anyone posted anything interesting. I scrolled past photos of my relatives, friends, and some of my co-workers. I liked a few posts and commented on one, but none of them really stood out to me. After being on Instagram for...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Doomscrolling Doomtrolling” by L.J Sunwing

“Thomas!” A crack of skin and bones broke the silent chatter of the picnic. Alison felt her heart beat out of her chest as she saw her husband stand over her cousin who had been standing several seconds before her vision hit the pair. It was not the situation she wanted in a family gathering. Her cousin, Cass, was lying on the ground with a robust grunt coming out as he rose after Thomas like a striking snake looking at ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Hope on the Horizon” by Hannah B

TW: Alcoholism; references to sexual assault Anastasia’s eyes glazed over, her head throbbed, and her stomach was in knots. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she had managed to get roughly ten hours of sleep in the past forty-eight hours, or perhaps it was the fact that, in those last forty-eight hours, all she had consumed was about a handful of pistachios and roughly a gallon of whisky. Despite those factors, Anastasia blamed her current state on the litany of social media po...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Looking For Directions” by Catherine Kwalton

“If we’re together, I would like for you to actually be here with me.” “I know, I’m sorry, I’m just scrolling.” “Exactly, you’re just scrolling. It would be more fun to hangout. I mean, that’s why we’re here, right? After asking it I was swept with a cold sweat of shame. From my eyebrows to my lower belly. We were lying on the bed in a tiny hotel. Why were we here? He was just scrolling. I should do ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“A door ajar” by David Hubber

Trigger warning: Addiction, suicide “Julie, get your things ready now, the bus won’t be long here!” “In a minute, dad” - Julie said quietly while rolling her eyes, slumped in the armchair, left hand hanging loose with the right hand holding her smartphone. Mark raised his head as he was packing his suitcase and could glimpse through the small gap in the door; she was at it again, ...

4 comments 4

Read story

“Hope In Madness” by Faith. M Troyer

(This piece contains sensitive material that may be triggering to some readers. Readers discrestion is advised) My social media feed has been clogged with horrible images of hurricanes and wildfires for the past week. More devastating, senseless shootings are taking place in public venues and even elementary schools. My stomach churns with the thought of my nine-year-old daughter, Brenna, having...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Pay Attention” by Mallory Senn-Flinn

Content warning: references to suicide and death ----------- She scrolled past image after square image of happy mothers, fathers, children with their toothy smiles, all appearing candidly full of joy and wonder. This specific photography account she began following a few days ago was becoming one of her favorites. The photographer had a distinct talent at capturing families at their most ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Voice” by Vincent Cruz

CW: Drug use.There is nothing worth looking at. It’s just a lot of pictures of birthday parties and cans of beer, nature scenes, and people whom I don’t really know. My finger is flicking the endless images up into the folds of my phone, where I imagine them going on forever like the opening to Star Wars. My mind is in a state of excited dullness. Consumed by the hole of the endless scroll. It’s after noon and I still haven’t heard from James. I’m sweeping up crumbs on the kitchen floor into a corner, there's all this d...

0 comments 0

Read story

🌟 Similar prompts

One moment your character is talking on the phone with a friend, and the next, the connection is lost. Write a story about what follows.

Thriller and Suspense – 42 stories

Set your story in a town disconnected from the rest of the world.

Dystopian – 36 stories

Write about a character who feels like they're cut off from something.

Angst – 57 stories

Write a story where a device goes haywire.

Science Fiction – 29 stories

Contest #115

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Connection Lost

$250

Prize money

178

Contest entries

118

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Oct 15, 2021 EST

Won by Alex Sultan 🏆

Title: 28 Letters

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Tired of MS Word?

Join the revolution and write your book in a tool designed for authors. 🙌

Includes FREE typesetting to print-ready PDF & EPUB files, track changes and collaborative editing.

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Start or end your story with a character scrolling (or doomscrolling) through social media.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 14 stories

“Neuropathic Pain” by Emma Cooper

“The Courtyard” by Amanda Lieser

“Dark Web. Darker Sleepover (Trigger Warning)” by John Hamour

“History Doomed to Repeat” by Emily Snyder

“Another cup, this time sweeter” by M E

“I never wanted to speak in public” by X. ENDO

“Truth In Jokes” by Bria Pate

“Doomscrolling Doomtrolling” by L.J Sunwing

“Hope on the Horizon” by Hannah B

“Looking For Directions” by Catherine Kwalton

“A door ajar” by David Hubber

“Hope In Madness” by Faith. M Troyer

“Pay Attention” by Mallory Senn-Flinn

“The Voice” by Vincent Cruz

🌟 Similar prompts

One moment your character is talking on the phone with a friend, and the next, the connection is lost. Write a story about what follows.

Set your story in a town disconnected from the rest of the world.

Write about a character who feels like they're cut off from something.

Write a story where a device goes haywire.

Contest #115

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

178

Contest entries

118

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Tired of MS Word?

Explore more writing prompt ideas: