Write about a technophobe who’s been given a device to solve a problem they’ve struggled with for years, but isn't sure how they feel about it.

Posted in Character on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 95 stories

“Unlonely” by Sara Rotondi

Submitted to Contest #82

Brad sat at his kitchen table and stared unblinkingly at the circular device that rested before him. When his therapist supplied him with this thing he was skeptical. He had problems trusting people as it is, how is going to learn to trust a piece of technology? Regardless, Brad took it and since he got home he could not bring himself to put his techniques into practice. Even though Brad was technically by himself the awkwardness in the room was palpable. He did not know what to say to a thing that was supposed to talk back to him. Br...

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“Unstable” by Jackie Silvers

Submitted to Contest #82

The flat rectangular object sat on the soiled table, its nefarious glow pulsed appearing to breathe the air in the stale room. I clutched the tattered terry cloth robe around my flabby waist, my bare feet edging across the dull hardwood floor inching me closer to the figure. The hasty scribbled script peeked out from a piece of folded crisp white paper, drawing my attention like a sail in an ocean of chaos. A single pearl of sweat roll...

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“Crane” by Alice Claude

Submitted to Contest #82

“Oh, to be young again.” This usually nostalgic and longing phrase was instead uttered grumpily by Hal Karlson as he tried to reach the jar of jam at the top of the cupboard. Unfortunately, his constantly stooping back and short stature, which he claimed came with age, was always in the way. He finally reached the jar, edging it forward with his fingertips, and sat down to huff about his victory on the chair he was standing on. Interesting thing is though, Hal Karlson really wasn’t that old. Not young, certainly- his days of fun and...

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“Aaron's Smile” by James Ehle

Submitted to Contest #82

Seven years had passed since the accident that stole Aaron’s ability to smile. The condition baffled doctors who hypothesized that a localized region of synapses in Aaron’s brain which controlled the muscles that allowed people to smile had become blocked as a result of the blunt head injury. He was informed that he would likely never smile again. Aaron was a handsome young man with a bright personality who enjoyed goofing off with his classmates in high school and went on to become one of the bright faces displayed on a billboard which adve...

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“New ways” by Pablo Mascaraque Glenn

Submitted to Contest #82

“… and may they deem us fit for the Palace of Eternity.” The congregation spoke out the words as one and fell silent, every head looking down at the floor. Other than the occasional sniff or cough, the only thing breaking the silence was the rhythmic drip-drip of some new leak that had appeared in the last ten minutes. He would find out where it was once everyone was gone. Now, though, he too kept his head bowed, his eyes glued on the rotting and chipped floorboards that made do as a floor. A foot in front of him, a particularly large stain ...

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“The Remedial Gift” by Thompson Emate

Submitted to Contest #82

Larry had a problem which he had battled with for a while. He had an issue which he had struggled with for quite some time. This had made him miss some unique opportunities. Opportunities that would have made him strike gold. Opportunities that would have brought him unspeakable joy. It was building a wall of divide in his home. His marriage was heading for the rocks. He had to see a doctor when it was about having an unusual adverse effect on him. He was about losing his marbles. Doctor Smith Kensington is a paranormal specialist and a cons...

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“The Banter Between Bloodhounds” by Linecker Da Silva

Submitted to Contest #82

Pale sunshine bounced off an undisturbed expanse of fresh fallen snow, flooded the windows of a lonely log cabin, and bled through their ancient barriers of tattered curtains and collaged newspapers. Faded layers of black ink print on arts and culture, sports, and events not so current diffused the brilliance of the light prisms inside to a stale yellow glow. Towers of old books grew from the cluttered floorboards, reaching toward the squat ceiling to further obscure the brightness, gently swaying at their roots and pinnacles like seaweed. E...

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“The Mishap” by Rafia Naseer

Submitted to Contest #82

Technophobia. The fear of new technology. Quite surprisingly, technophobia affects 1/3 of the world’s population. Technophobia can originate due to past incidents and certain behavior taught since childhood. This phobia causes it’s victims to suffer from anxiety, which can lead to panic attacks, inevitably resulting in death. --------------------------------Virginia Mason Medical Center, United States...

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“My Phone, Harry” by Alpine Aupair

Submitted to Contest #82

February 5- I have a problem. I forget things. Never people- just items. My neighbor suggested I start journaling. She said it might “strengthen my mental vibes” or some kind of malarky like that. I leave a trail of personal belongings wherever I go. I try to remember to check before I leave a place, but, inevitably, I will receive a text or a phone call asking if the blue watch is mine or did I mean to leave my wool jacket at Jerry's house. I've started labelling everything, just in case it's left behind. Last week, I went to the ma...

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“The Bereavement of George Thomson” by N K

Submitted to Contest #82

George’s limbs awoke from their dormant state as he felt the light spill through his translucent beige curtains. With a sigh, George pushed himself up onto his forearms and turned his rigid neck, eyes meeting the two thin hands on the perfectly circular clock hanging on the wall. 7:32 in the morning. A slight sigh escaped his lips as he pulled the duvet across his lap, exposing his bare legs. As his feet met the hardwood, he debated setting his bed though decided against it. He couldn’t be bothered. There wasn’t the smell of coffee waiting f...

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“Samuel and The Cube.” by Aydan Ruddick

Submitted to Contest #82

“Just me and the box now” Samuel stared down at the small metal cube no bigger than the size of his palm. Strange Gaelic-esque markings scratched across the block’s surface, engravings he prematurely deemed unimportant in the grand scheme of things. The only evidence of light in his room was that of the crisp autumn sun peeking through creases in the blinds. It almost felt symbolic, like those blinds represented his life up until this very moment, and he was about to pry them open to welcome the sun. The scratch of a chair being dragged from...

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“What the Iphone happened.” by Cinthia Phillips

Submitted to Contest #82

I am in the future, and I have been for three years. Every day seems like it repeats ever since I have been here the first day just replays all day every day. I have a device it is to travel back home. Back to be with my family, back to where they have newspaper back when we were I know it sounds funny, but to when we were wearing masks because of Corona Virus. I have never intended on using it, but today is my daughter’s 18th birthday it’s a big milestone. I want to be there to celebrate with her. Suddenly I hear a knock on the door, so I d...

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“Little Details” by Lana Harrell

Submitted to Contest #82

Regretting even showing up to his appointment Reese sat in a stiff waiting room chair. Seeing the person beside him check their phone he looked away. Having been badly electrocuted by a malfunctioning computer when he was younger the boy hasn't been very fond of technology since then. Even though he feels shameful about his hesitancy he just can’t shake it. Trying not to think about it he stares across the room at a poster about how to take proper care of your ears. Thinking of his ears he subconsciously threaded his fingers through his long...

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“The Happy Hat” by Will Flynn

Submitted to Contest #82

Content warning: mention of depression/suicide 1 Dr Rowan’s practice was based on the 1st floor of a 19th century terrace, just off the corner of Spadina and Willocks in downtown Toronto. From the outside, you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a warm family home, a place filled with model trains, fluffy beanbags and unfinished math homework. But on the other side of those red-brick walls and grand bay windows, guests were met with the sterile, off-white soullessness of a functioning clinic. For Seth, that made arriving for his bi-wee...

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“The Last Post ” by Javier Garcia-Fonseca

Submitted to Contest #82

Julian handed him the phone, as he stood stocked from the device that was in front of him. He hadn’t looked at another one of those devices for 3 years, ever since the passing of his late wife. While watching the light illuminate the dark shadows of the small office, he thought he had been ready to face his fears, but he had been mistaken. The loss of his wife had taken a toll on his ability to trust any smartphone, especially a Twitter account. Julian looked over at Joseph who was still frozen from the initial shock of seeing t...

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Write about a technophobe who’s been given a device to solve a problem they’ve struggled with for years, but isn't sure how they feel about it.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 95 stories

“Unlonely” by Sara Rotondi

“Unstable” by Jackie Silvers

“Crane” by Alice Claude

“Aaron's Smile” by James Ehle

“New ways” by Pablo Mascaraque Glenn

“The Remedial Gift” by Thompson Emate

“The Banter Between Bloodhounds” by Linecker Da Silva

“The Mishap” by Rafia Naseer

“My Phone, Harry” by Alpine Aupair

“The Bereavement of George Thomson” by N K

“Samuel and The Cube.” by Aydan Ruddick

“What the Iphone happened.” by Cinthia Phillips

“Little Details” by Lana Harrell

“The Happy Hat” by Will Flynn

“The Last Post ” by Javier Garcia-Fonseca

🌟 Similar prompts

Your character has just realized the app they’ve been developing has become self-aware. How do they react?

Write a historical fiction story about someone working at a company that helped revolutionize early computers.

Write a near-future thriller where a piece of everyday technology has turned against your character — and only your character.

Write about an android just trying to blend in with their human companions.

Contest #82

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

537

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: