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!

#82: How App-ropriate

Love it or loathe it, there’s no denying that modern technology has reshaped literally every aspect of our daily lives. From the way we stay in touch with family and friends, to the ready access of information (or misinformation), to how we work and then spend our hard-earned cash, there’s no part of modern life that isn’t impacted by technology.

And it’s safe to say the advancement of tech is only accelerating. But while some characters welcome — or even help usher in — this changing world, others won’t be so accepting. This week, let’s take a look at some of the highs and lows of a world run by algorithms.

This week's prompts

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.

Character – 95 stories

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

Science Fiction – 74 stories

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

Historical Fiction – 17 stories

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

Thriller and Suspense – 130 stories

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

Science Fiction – 221 stories

Stories

“How to Race” by Rhonda Allen

Submitted to Contest #82

HOW TO RACE As he woke, he could feel his pulse racing, he could still hear the cheers from his dream as he crossed the finish line. It was only a dream, he had never crossed the finish line when he raced, well not when he raced using his legs. He reached up, grabbing the bar that hung down from the ceiling and pulled himself up, then reached to the side of his bed to position his wheelchair, he moved his legs off the bed, and swung his body around in one swift move "ready to roll" he hollered. Just then his mom appeared "I thought I ...

Read story

“Paper Money or Plastic Card?” by Rajesh Patel

Submitted to Contest #82

I am a 70-year-old man. I am retired. I live alone. My name is Gilbert Alphonso. I was born at the end of World War I. I have always been more of a concrete person than the abstract, digital or technological. I hate computers. Tell me to build a mechanical equipment. I will do it for you. Anything about cars, plumbing, house renovations…I will get it done. Today, I had to wait in line for almost an hour at my local bank before I was served by a teller. When finally, my turn came, the young lady told me that the bank is going through a ...

Read story

“Snake Oil” by Rich Conti

Submitted to Contest #82

SNAKE OIL By Rich Conti Zelda fell asleep after she wore me out again. I couldn’t fall asleep, although I wanted to. I had to stay awake and think of a way to get away from her and take that damned gadget with me. How was I supposed to know any of the things worked? They were just gizmos to sell to gullible rubes. The alien I bought them from told me they were children’s toys where he came from. I got the entire shipment cheap. He said he had to get rid of them fast and was happy with my offer. I always wondered why. “Tell your customers the...

Read story

“An Unwanted Gift” by Melissa Källström

Submitted to Contest #82

Sofia didn’t know how she felt about starting her new school. She had heard things about the way the kids were there, that they were snobby and stuck-up, and that they were as high-tech as they came. She worried most that she would be judged for the way that she was; even at her old school, being old-fashioned like her was not a desirable trait. She knew that it was natural for people her age to be interested in all the modern things, although she had no idea why. She thought it safe to assume the reason she turned out this way was because s...

Read story

“Learning the Truth” by Stellan Quin

Submitted to Contest #82

In the home of Winchester, Virginia, lived a man by Bernard. He was a rather well-known programmer and had been hired to do various jobs for many companies. In one of his more recent projects, he was assigned with developing an app that seemed simple enough. It was just a game where the user would raise a per or something. Bernard didn’t know the specifics and was only assigned with some models and the rest he would have to code. But it wasn’t a big deal, Bernard had done tougher jobs than this. But he wanted this specific project to be spec...

Read story

“Featherstone Heights” by Chris Wagner

Submitted to Contest #82

We only intended Featherstone Heights to be a fun simulation app to play on your phone or X-Box. We added a bunch of randomly generated stuff for replay value, and an artificial intelligence to make each gaming session lifelike and unpredictable. We used some experimental algorithms for our AI. All of it, we assumed, only gave the appearance of life, enough to fool our would-be customer, but somewhere along the line the metaphorical chocolate truck T-boned the peanut butter semi, and we had something we could no longer control.&n...

Read story

“Digital Conscious” by Jude E.

Submitted to Contest #82

I decided to name it, “Andrea”. Ever since then, “it” was a “she” to me. I designed her to help people, people who were like me, and my friends, and millions of others around the world. Soon, it’ll reach them all, as soon as Andrea passes the beta testing phase.I shifted uncomfortably on my hospital bed, rubbing my eyes until I began seeing colors that weren’t there. I couldn’t lie, being a full-time student, patient, and programmer was starting to take its toll on me, and suddenly there couldn’t have been enough hours of the day for me to f...

Read story

“The Messiah ” by Russel Lad

Submitted to Contest #82

"alright test 512" This has been a 2 month long project, longest project so far, man where am I going with all of this? "Hello Glom" "Hello Richard" an Electro sounding voice said. "How is the weather going?". ... "The weather is 37 degrees below normal, an inbound storm will come this Thursday, prepare all belongings and be sure to be safe at all times" a warming sensation started to creep up my fingertips. "well doing good so far, but come on I just made it do 2 responses what in the world? May be it is not mean...

Read story

“Memories” by Valentin Aleksandrov

Submitted to Contest #82

Have you ever wanted to capture a moment, to be able to go back to a single moment to your life and to relive it again, in your mind of course? Have you ever been in a state of your life when only memories from the past are preventing you from giving up your life and killing yourself? We all have gone through such state and I wanted to help people, to show them that their life is worth living, that if they were once happy, they could be again.. but I made a horrible mistake.I wanted for people to be able to remember everything they want to, ...

Read story

“Reset it all” by Benny ...

Submitted to Contest #82

22:23 26/02/2070 It wouldn’t take long, maybe an hour or two. How hard could it be to completely rewrite the internet? Still pressing the blood-soaked scarf to her side, Yanga hissed through her teeth, incapable of ignoring the pain of the bullet lodged next to her ribs. As the security guards banged on the door, fighting to break into the server room, she slowly slid the small USB device into the nearest open port. Considering how many morality lectures and existential crises she had within the past few days, it could be seen as a reli...

Read story

“Maya's Revolutionary Design” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #82

Breanna Pierce has worked for Horizon Tech for three years, her specialty is computer tech design and developer. Breanna is the most important computer designer and developer at Horizon Tech and she is currently developing the latest version of Star-link, the most important computer Horizon Tech has. Star-Link has been around for generations, but star-link hasn't always been called star-link, the original name for star-link is called the Hart-computer created by Maya Hart. Breanna has always been curious about the founding of star-link a...

Read story

“I Transmigrated After Death” by Janna Mae Lagno

Submitted to Contest #82

It's unbelievable but it's true. I got transmigrated in another era of the world. I still remember my past life Where I was betrayed and being played by destiny. My mom left me when I was young and my Father is an alcoholic man. I have a sister whom I love the most. My mother always tells me that I must protect her and take good care of her. My sister is my father's favorite child. Between me and her my sister was the only one who goes to school-while I sweat water and blood working everyday to pay her school fe...

Read story

“Travel to the dream city” by Mammadova1000 Mammadova

Submitted to Contest #82

The tourist girl from Baku Sabina Veliyeva feels sudden weakness while walking through the harem of the Topkapi palace, her eyes get misted. When the mist dissipates the girl sees that all tourists disappeared, surprised she walks forward and faces the open doors of the large room lightened with candles. Inside are only women who play music on ancient instruments and dance. Sabina enters the room and music stops, everybody, including the lady with a golden crown at her head look at the girl with a great astonishment. The crowned woman asks S...

Read story

“Unknown Sender” by Stephanie Barber

Submitted to Contest #82

“I got your email,” Annie told Steve with a catch in her voice. “What email?” Steve asked her. He sent out a lot of emails in a day, but he never sent emails to Annie. He always liked to talk to her face-to-face.“The one you sent last night,” she replied. “Don’t play dumb with me.”“No, seriously, I did not send you an email. I don’t know what you are talking about.” Steve shifted his weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other. He knew Annie had been upset after their argument the night before, and he w...

Read story

“Loose Wires” by Hiba Irfan

Submitted to Contest #82

"Mom I'm Home" Mariam called out when she got home. "Great, how was school" Mom replied. "Normal" Mariam responded. Mom just cocked her eyebrow. Mariam walked into the kitchen. god, I'm starving Mariam thought. She grabbed some leftovers from last night's dinner, then she walked over to the microwave which had her brother’s food in it. "Ibraheem get your food already” “Coming, bossy!” Ibraheem ran into the kitchen and grabbed his food from the microwave, Mariam made a face at him and put her food into the microwave. Right when she put h...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

537

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 26, 2021 EST

Won by Cyndy Reads 🏆

Title: ALN23061912RK

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 ⭢