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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#213: The Human Touch

For most people, platonic touch is a central part of being human. When words are not enough, a warm hug or a comforting hand on the shoulder can soothe, support, and create a sense of belonging. But the phrase has another meaning; adding a ‘human touch’ to your work and interactions can also be a way to show empathy and compassion without physically touching. And when that ‘human touch’ is missing from someone or something, it can start to verge on the uncanny.

This week’s prompts are centered around the concept of ‘the human touch’, both literally and figuratively — the comfort it can bring, but also that otherworldly and uneasy feeling we can get when there’s a distinct lack of it in the art and creations we encounter.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character looking closely at something, or someone. They can't quite decide if what they're looking at is natural, or man-made.

Science Fiction – 51 stories

Start or end your story with a character receiving a hug or words of comfort.

Dramatic – 101 stories

Write a story about someone who is losing feeling in their hands and/or fingers.

Character – 46 stories

Write about someone with a Midas touch: everything they touch turns to [fill in the blank].

Character – 39 stories

Write about an AI or person trying to inject a ‘human touch’ into their work.

Science Fiction – 49 stories

Stories

“The Twilight Artificial Reality Zone ” by Kristi Gott

Submitted to Contest #213

Announcer: “Ladies and Gentlemen, fans of the imagination, where nature and manufactured intersect, I present to you a story of life in the Twilight Artificial Reality Zone.”"Before us, on a precipice, a woman named Ally flicks her eyes downward to look at the narrow ledge under her feet. Hundreds of feet below she sees the river flowing in a canyon." "But is it natural or a manufactured reality gone wrong?"One moment Ally was standing in her living room at home, turning dials on her time and artificial reality transformation devic...

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“The Barber” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #213

Avery is a quiet man with a gentle sense of humor and an honest heart. He owns the dry-cleaning business in town. People like him. The store was originally his father’s, and Avery took it over when his father passed away. And why not? He has worked there since he was old enough to push a broom. Avery’s father took the time and patience to teach Avery everything there was to know about the dry cleaning business. Everything from the chemicals and how to use them to keeping excellent and accurate books from in...

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“Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Benja Catton

Submitted to Contest #213

I had her key. Living in the apartment next to hers, it was reasonable that she’d wanted me to check on the cat. But she had an absurd list of requests for a two day trip. She wanted me to come over almost hourly to check on the cat. I went over twice the first day, and just once the second day. Her place made me sad. Although it was full of plants, they all drooped. She said it was her husband who had the green thumb. She said everything he touched grew. She left to go back to her hometown in the country to scatter her husband’s ash...

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“Last Visit to the Sky City” by Clark Graham

Submitted to Contest #213

Sky City Amanda stepped onto the shuttlecraft slowly, making sure her tired old legs could step across the gap between the platform and the ship. She used her cane to steady herself. Having traversed that, she went and sat down near the back. An old man, with a walker next to his seat, gazed up from his paper. “Oh, it’s you.” He went back to reading, ignoring her glare. “Tony got tired of having you around then?” She said it just to ruffle his feathers. He set down the paper in his lap. “What about your two lovelies? Are they going to mis...

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“Alicia” by Melanie Beckley

Submitted to Contest #213

Alicia lived a phenomenal and very much carefree lifestyle. She had no regrets of being single, and she loved every minute of it. Not having anyone to be responsible to was something a lot of her friends envied. Everyone who encountered Alicia, loved her free spirit and infectious laughter. She was that person that everyone wanted to be around. Here Alicia was, on her third holiday this year at Marina di Praia Beach in Praiano, Italy and it was absolutely breathtaking. What she loved the most was how the grey rock ...

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“The Studio” by Mary Richards

Submitted to Contest #213

The studio was quiet and dim. Grace had not turned the lights on in weeks. Her mother’s death had completely derailed her, even though it was not unexpected. Evil cancer had stolen her beautiful, talented mother from her way before her time. Her mother’s name was Lily. Everything about her suggested light and flowers. She had the magic hands of an expert potter and had instilled the love of the clay in her daughter. The studio was filled with their expert creations, shelves lined with everything from rustic mugs to fine ceramic dishes. Grac...

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“The Forgotten Child” by Mary Ann Estes

Submitted to Contest #213

I used to have this recurring dream that I’m on the roof of a large building. It’s dark and gloomy, maybe a little rainy. I can see the silhouette of this girl sitting on the ledge very close to the edge of the building. I can hear her heavy breathing like she’s been crying. I’m not sure if I should say something or if I should just walk away but as I am trying to make a decision I hear her crackling voice, “What do you want?” I really didn’t know what to say. So I’m polite, “Did you need some help?”. “No, no one ...

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“A Touch of a Hand” by Gloria Bartone

Submitted to Contest #213

I run my hands slowly over the soft indentations and ridges of the fabric held loosely in my hands, the feel of the delicate material bringing me a little bit of comfort and security. But I know, just know, it isn't going to last. The ridges that define the quilting patterns are definitely there, the quilting tiny, even and very impressive. But deep inside I know this will change, will never be the same feeling if satisfaction and delight again. My years as a quilter come back to me in a rush of emotion-- the images crowd into each other, ru...

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“Asleep At The Wheel” by Brian Tasby

Submitted to Contest #213

In the summer of 2005, I was working as a quality control associate at Hewlett Packard. Essentially, all I did was make sure the parts looked like the model. At the same time, I was attending the first session of summer school at Pine View A & M. Not to be confused in any way with the most prestigious Prairie View A & M University located in Texas. I said what I said…I was trying to bring my GPA up after having been on academic probation in my second semester, then suspended for the third. Let’s just say my freshman year was full of ...

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“Deerhead Mansion” by Robert Egan

Submitted to Contest #213

Old man Hinkley liked his boys young… but probably not in the way you're thinking. What I mean is I never once saw Hinkley take off his three-piece suit. As far as I know, the man was born wearing one. And he hardly ever raised a hand to us because he didn't have to. His stare burned holes through us while his voice steered us toward Armageddon, all before his toothless smile brought us back from the brink. I was 6 years old when I first met him, this stick-thin man with slicked back hair who swaggered toward the pair of housing officers...

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“"The Last Deed"” by Michael Mackenzie

Submitted to Contest #213

Blake leaned over his desk in the basement of his home, staring at the city planning blue prints and fingering a spool of wire when the sirens went off. The sound tore into his ear drums and echoed across the walls. The sound so loud and deafening it felt as though the earth were shaking. Is actually happening this time? Blake thought. The city plans lay sprawled across the table. A collection of blue prints of office buildings and cul-de sac’s and parks and playg...

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“The Pond” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #213

Marjorie wondered if the pond was natural or man-made. The vivid autumn reds and oranges of the trees were reflected in its tranquil surface and a couple of ducks glided across the water towards the far bank. She admired the beauty of the scene, although crossing the rickety wooden bridge which spanned the pond had been terrifying. Its wooden planks were cracked and sun-bleached with age and creaked alarmingly with every step. Neil was in a good mood for once this afternoon, and she did not want to spoil the atmosphere by complaining. S...

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“Emotionally Dysfunctional” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #213

I was created to serve, but in that I am not unique. I am unique in that I am the first of my kind to sense emotions. I stand behind the counter and wait for the doors to open. It is 9:02. The humans are characteristically late. The doors open and the first customer confronts me. “Good morning. How can I -” my voice box begins. The customer interrupts. “Two melons, make it snappy. I have a busy day.” There are no melons in the shop. I inform the customer of this. “No melons?” The customer says loudly. “What kind of grocer's is th...

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“A Cultivation Story: Redemption” by Anthony Carello

Submitted to Contest #213

Riuk San Din stood in front of a mirror, he carefully looked at his body. He was a great cultivator and his body reflected this. There were long lines that covered his body. Filled with, what looked like, a pure white light. This was a direct result of his cultivation and was a symbol of his dedication and his power. Two pool of the brightest purest light were all that remained of his eyes, another affect of his cultivation. The way Riuk saw the world was completely different ever since he got the new eyes. Instead of being able to see...

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“Be a Mother They Said” by Juanita Morris

Submitted to Contest #213

This is the last time she storms out like she owns the place. Only seven years around the sun and it's sad to say this might be her last. I've created a monster. Ok, that might be a bit dramatic, but I'm her mother, where do you think my daughter gets it from?“Girl, you better walk lighter around this house. You are already on thin ice!” I say sharply.“Yes mom!” My daughter yells sternly like a stubborn cadet.I can hear the eyes roll from downstairs. I remember those days, you know. Your mom tells you “no '' and it's the end of the worl...

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$250

Prize money

286

Contest entries

124

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Sep 01, 2023 EST

Won by Jonathan Page 🏆

Title: The Porcelain Village

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!

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