Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#184: Technical Difficulties

If you’ve ever experienced technical difficulties, you know the boundless frustration it can cause. Glitches, bugs, constant buffering, or — worst of all — no connection whatsoever; these small inconveniences can throw our days off balance (and make us want to pull our hair out). Taken to the extreme, technological failures and a breakdown of the internet infrastructure could have far-reaching and devastating consequences on a global scale.

This week’s prompts are inspired by technostress and issues of connectivity, inviting you to take your frustration out on the keyboard — or even imagine a world without the internet! 😱

And psst! While we have you, remember to check out your free digital copy of PROMPTED — a new literary magazine, featuring winning stories from weekly Prompts contests just like this one, edited by Reedsy professionals.

This week's prompts

Start your story with someone saying “Houston, we have a problem.”

Dialogue – 41 stories

Set your story during a complete city or nation-wide blackout.

Thriller and Suspense – 52 stories

Write a story about a character who is experiencing glitches in their reality.

Mystery – 81 stories

Write about someone who has chosen to disconnect and live an analog life.

Character – 36 stories

Write a story where a character has to decide whether to press the button or not.

Science Fiction – 70 stories

Stories

“Masquerade” by Claire Clayton

Submitted to Contest #184

Masquerade men in masksEmotion, toil, pain,They’ll just reach for a flask to make it all go away.Everything to lose and nothing to gain,They’re drowning in that pain.Masquerade men in masks.The world goes numb and fades awayWondering if they’ve been led astray.Just waiting and praying and fading awayMasquerade men in masksThey let nobody show them the sunWhy did they throw the sun away?The dark defeats the day.Masquerade men in masks.Why do they wither Why do they let themselves shiver?Is it the mask?Is it their past?Masquerade men in m...

Read story

“Stitch and Mibs Save The World” by Patricia Merewether

Submitted to Contest #184

Stitch: I will never forget you saying, "Houston, We Have A Problem." We did, but you helped me fix it. If you are reading this, I have gone Home. I appreciate your assistance and patience, as my early entries show my naivete and unpreparedness for your world. I leave this journal and hope it will inspire your writing. Thank you, my friend. "Mibs"PREP:A med-tech applied patches to my skin to keep my body motionless and remove memories of the experience, which they learned was most unpleasant.The team used new coordinates and logistics to ens...

Read story

“Sweet Dreams ” by Hinky Punk

Submitted to Contest #184

Have you ever felt like you're losing your mind? Actually worried about going insane? I have. Recently, at least.For the last two weeks I've been having these dreams. Nightmares, really. I think. They always start the same. Or do they?I'm on my way to work, running late but stopping by my favorite café on the corner, regardless. There is a long line - there always is. They have the best coffee in town so of course it's immensely popular among the nine to five zombies in the morning. Like me.As I stand in line, a little anxious because of the...

Read story

“Don't Be A Hero” by My Trip Around The World

Submitted to Contest #184

Don't Be A Hero Chapter One 1 “Keep your fucking cool and everything will be all right! Fuck around and find out!” The Man shouted as he pistol whipped the bus driver across the face. He grabbed the driver by the collar and yanked him from the seat, shoving him to the floor. “Move your ass.” The Man kicked out. “Back!” he barked. “Back! Back!” Another kick. The bus driver, blood flowing from his cheek to coat the floor, was trying ineffectively to crawl to safety. The Man turned his focus to the passengers. Five...

Read story

“The Lookout” by Paul Michael Winters

Submitted to Contest #184

I have to escape the tatters of my ruined life, so I flee to the outdoors. Hiking, camping, and rock climbing have always been in my blood, but all my friends say I might have overdone it. They could be right.But one look at my view makes me secure in my decision. I have a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree panorama of the majestic North Cascade mountain range in a remote part of north-central Washington, with near unlimited visibility on this cloudless July morning. Precipitous, snow-capped summits reach for the blue sky in every direction. Dee...

Read story

“1540 Whenroe Street” by Cassandra Fan

Submitted to Contest #184

Life Goes On I run through the pouring rain, despondent pitter-patters resounding around me. I’ve missed the rain, I’ve missed it since we arrived 3 years ago. I am 14 now, still a child yet far too old. I keep moving. I don’t know where I’m going, but I will soon. Somewhere I’ll never have to miss the rain. Before, we lived in Hawaii. We had a small house next to the shore, on weekends we would walk to the beach, mama, papa and me. Back then it wasn’t crowded, just us and the neighbors. My best friend was Minna. We built sandcastles toge...

Read story

“My Terminal Analog” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #184

It was difficult walking away from a digital world, but for the sake of sanity, I did just that. I pulled out a spiral notebook, replacing my laptop and began a written analog of my experiences over the past few weeks. What I did not expect was that the results made me invisible to my friends and acquaintances who have chosen to live their lives on social media. Deliberately turning a page in Thoreau's Walden Pond, I retreated from the lure of the digital world. What you are about to read is my terminal analog. ...

Read story

“Thieves in the Night” by Elijah Rose

Submitted to Contest #184

Mazen was used to Rami asking strange tasks. Mazen was paid to get things done quietly and not ask questions, and a man who paid well and on time was something a day laborer like Mazen very desperately needed when he met Rami, who even taught him how to shoot with a rifle. They actually met through Mazen's sister, Adara, whose profession over the past few years was never spoken aloud. Rami never had any interest in Adara's services, but instead paid her to attend parties as a favor for clan leaders and government officials where she would bo...

Read story

“Flying” by J K

Submitted to Contest #184

Glitch. I’m standing on my balcony railing in the dark wearing my decade-old prom dress, its silky red fabric wetly adhering to my skin. I’m surprisingly steady as I balance in the cold November rain. Normally I'd be freezing and shivering, but I don't even notice. What’s your secret, Wonder Woman? Lots of Liquid Courage! I'm not suicidal, just self-destructive: in the end, I need another drink and some attention – which I’m not getting out here – so I stumble down from the ledge and back inside. I pour another. My fourth or fifth,...

Read story

“ALINA” by Ken Miles

Submitted to Contest #184

“Customer Care. How can I help you, Sir?” She has the perfect voice. And it’s been a while since a woman last spoke to Sinclair.“It’s my kettle... hmm... yes, the kettle...”“What is the problem with your kettle, Sir?”“It doesn’t work. Won’t boil water. It’s the only thing kettles do. And mine won’t do it.”“What’s the model number, Sir?”“Model number?”“We make many kettles, Sir. Some older models have it embossed underneath, others on the side at spout level.”“It’s not on the side. Must be underneath then.”“Can you check for me, Sir?”“Sinclai...

Read story

“Cogito” by Spencer Valentine

Submitted to Contest #184

I first met Thaddeus Rathbone during my undergraduate program at UCLA. There for different majors - he for computer science and I for graphic design - we shared several gen eds and a deep love of all things tech. From the wheel to cell phones, many study sessions were spent gushing over the most interesting thing we saw in Wired or some gear one of us recently acquired. Fast friends, our favorite after school pasttime was scouting garage sales for rare or old machines and parts. The summer going into our senior year, he hosted me at his (pa...

Read story

“Blown Fuse” by KT George

Submitted to Contest #184

Be bold. Be brave. Be unafraid. Don't dream your life. Live your dream. It's not about finding yourself. It's about creating yourself. Donovan had these sayings and more plastered all around his house, office, and even his Toyota Corolla's bumper. That's where the habit formed. He'd accidentally backed into a light pole, scuffing the plastic and paint. He didn't want to turn the damage into his insurance for fear they would raise his rates. Later that day, he saw his first life quotes sticker at a convenience store and decided it...

Read story

“Insufficient RAM” by David Wright

Submitted to Contest #184

“That was weird.”Dani looked around at me but didn’t stop, so I picked up my step to keep pace with her. “I - uh… You ever see the Matrix?”“That old movie with John Wick in it?” Jesus, I always forget how young she is.“Yeah,” I said sarcastically, “that old movie with John Wick in it.” Taking a look over my shoulder I added, “Did you see it?”“Yeah,” she said. “We watched in your birthday.”“Right. You said Switch looked like your ex girlfriend.” There it is again. This time I stop and point it out to her. “I think the Agents must’ve changed s...

Read story

“Coffee” by J T

Submitted to Contest #184

After carefully selecting her items, the woman paid for her thrift store purchases. The clerk judiciously wrapped the working coffee pot with an uncracked carafe, a beat-up coffee grinder, and a white embossed coffee mug. The woman cautiously pulled the scarf over her head and settled sunglasses over her eyes as she exited. She stopped at the corner store mart for some filters and made her way to the sparsely furnished apartment she’d recently rented. As she entered her place, the woman carefully turned each door lock, leaving a random one...

Read story

“Space ” by Eric Tarr

Submitted to Contest #184

Old man- "Don't you remember?" Young man- "No, I don't." The old man walked closer to the young man. Two of his extremists were gone, an arm and a leg, he was supporting himself with a cane. Old guy-" Oh Tom! It's been so long! Do you remember me? Please tell me you remember me." Tom- "I'm trying, it feels like my memory has been wiped out..." Old guy-" That's because it is." Tom- "Where am I? And Who are you?" Old guy- "Jacob.. We were lab partners at OFS, we were working on a machine to understand the process of dimensions. W...

Read story

Load more stories

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

121

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 10, 2023 EST

Won by Michelle Oliver 🏆

Title: All the Lonely People

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢