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

“The Incident ” by Amanda Dunbar

Submitted to Contest #82

It was August 23, 1951, I was heading for 1215 Walnut Street. As I trudged through the streets of Philadelphia I thought of how I had received my position at the Electronic Controls Company. I thought about how the Company was founded. I worked at the Electronic Controls Company. The company was founded in 1946 by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, my bosses. With the prospect of receiving some money, the company rented their first offices at 1215 Walnut Street in Philadelphia and began to hire employees. I was one of the first emplo...

Read story

“Blanking on her name” by Harm Jager

Submitted to Contest #82

“it just keeps happening doctor, I know I’m going crazy. There is no other explanation. I cant stop seeing her. I keep blanking. Help me” Alex had barely sat down on the chair before he had started his tirade. He wasn’t even sure doctor Marfin had had time to ask a single question. Alex hadn’t visited doctor Marfin in over 3 years. Not since the death of Alex’s mother. Doctor Marfin had helped Alex quite adequately. He hadn’t needed twomore than the governmentally required 2 sessions to find a way to blank his grief. This time howe...

Read story

“Technology takeover ” by Abby Mills

Submitted to Contest #82

It was summer of 2028, Charlie had just finished his computer science lesson and was heading to lunch. He was being accompanied by his best friend. They had been best friends ever since Charlie created him the previous year as his end of year project piece. He won first prize at a science fair with it, and he managed to adapt his creation every now and then meaning that now it can speak and act like an actual human being. A robot. Everybody in Charlie’s school thought he was mad, that’s why nobody was friends with him. That’s why he crea...

Read story

“"Alexa, Why Do You Hate Me?" ” by Ava Lees

Submitted to Contest #82

Harvey Jates had no idea what he had done to deserve the wrath of his Alexa. When he had first bought her, she was helpful and polite. She’d even told him good morning every day that he would ask for the weather. Somewhere along the way, he must have done something to upset her. At first, he simply noticed the lack of enthusiasm from his AI assistant. She answered his questions with short simple answers and never wished him good morning or good night. Talking to her had become like talking to an ex after a bad breakup. H...

Read story

“Zy” by Tatiana Vaillant

Submitted to Contest #82

I ran until my legs ached beneath me, I ran until my lungs were about to burst, I ran until my knees had unbuckled, the asphalt ground hitting my face. I crawled at the nearby narrow alley in between two condominium buildings and hid behind a tower of boxes. I cradled my right elbow as pain shot throughout my arm. The smell of gravel, rain, and rubbish-filled my nose as I inhaled deeply trying to calm myself. At a distance, I heard the shooting of guns, the faint screaming of the people. I looked up at the moonlit sky and watched as ...

Read story

“Avatar” by Gerald Daniels

Submitted to Contest #82

Avatar There was no escaping the heat during that summer. Only one front lawn in the cul-de-sac showed any sign of life and that was because a secret sprinkler showered the baked ground every night. In the morning the grass would glisten in the fresh light before evaporating into the morning air, little streams of water ran down the path and made shallow puddl...

Read story

“May I Have Your Consent?” by Sankara Luna

Submitted to Contest #82

“May I have your consent, Connor?”The man in question blinked once, twice. He was still not familiar with the total whiteness of the room. The doctor sitting before him mentioned the idea of purity, like a newborn. Connor thought it fit the description of this Reborn programme.“Sorry, could you walk me through the last minute? I—”“Probably the medicine is still kicking. You might find it difficult to maintain concentration, but rest assured, its effect will disappear after two days. You know, recalibrating your body after we flushed out the ...

Read story

“Apocalypse Man” by David Moyer

Submitted to Contest #82

Author's Note: Fair warning, this story contains some strong language and dark themes. Nothing graphical or explicit of course, but be advised it is not intended for young children. Well, here we go... The sky is a constant shade of grey from one horizon to the other, but at least today it is a relatively light shade of grey. It is almost like a quilt covering the earth to keep it warm… but in this case it is actually doing the opposite. It must be around 20 degrees out here in the open. Fluffy particles ...

Read story

“Manners maketh the android” by Sando .

Submitted to Contest #82

Ralph gave a satisfied groan as he flopped onto the bed next to Tracey. ‘Babe, that was amazing,’ he said. His lover grabbed hold of his shoulder and sighed, but their moment of bliss was interrupted when Sigmund Freud entered the room. ‘Miss Branson!’ he said, eyes flashing behind perfectly circular eyeglasses. ‘There is a parking inspector on the street - you may be in danger of receiving a ticket.’‘Oh,’ Tracey got up and started to dress. ‘Sounds like I better go move it.’ ‘Nice work keeping tabs on it, Siggie,’ Ralph said,...

Read story

“The Bad Hair Day” by Shelly Desjarlais

Submitted to Contest #82

The hat smelled like her Great Uncle Edgar. It was a difficult odor to describe, a sort of cross between burnt bread and wet dog, and it left a lingering stench in its wake. Riley tried to hide her red cheeks beneath this filthy fedora, but her wounds stung whenever she tugged at the brim. She still couldn’t believe it had really happened. When she opened her eyes that morning, there was a stone in her gut. It was slowly sinking towards her feet, a sign that something wasn’t quite right. She sat on the edge of her mattress with her hands on...

Read story

“Everything is Fine” by Charlotte Brown

Submitted to Contest #82

I dump my empty breakfast bowl in the sink of my tiny one-room flat and grab a bottle of filtered water from the fridge. “Hey Artelli, check air quality levels.” The speaker beside my TV lights up, and an airy, synthetic voice fills the flat. “The air quality in London today is four hundred and thirty-seven. Conditions today are hazardous, with high levels of nitrogen dioxide. Staying indoors is advised. PPE should be worn when heading outdoors.” &nb...

Read story

“The android that deserted Texans ” by Laura Wilson

Submitted to Contest #82

Once there was an evil Android with no heart, no soul, and definitely no brain. This evil Android was one of the most important people in the government of the country of Texas. How many lies did the Android tell in order to be elected into a position of great power, with an amazing salary, and many lovely benefits, paid travel, and great prestige. It was a dream job that few Androids could secure. The Android was very happy to take the position and the salary, but he wasn’t actually willing to do the work to earn that salary or the respect ...

Read story

“I wish” by Tatiana Vaillant

Submitted to Contest #82

Beep...Beep...Beep... “Battery at a hundred percent” A female’s voice filled the silence. A moment later the door to this room opened and slammed shut. Everything was dark at first, I couldn’t see anything but a vast empty, dark void. Until I felt the plug above my left chest was pulled. Then a button was pressed, automatically my silver steel lids slowly opened. The very same white walls, big windows were before me, and also the familiar face of Sarah filled my vision. My owner. A green hue lit her face, the light that came ...

Read story

“I, Jaheia” by T MM

Submitted to Contest #82

There’s tragedy in a person who can never make herself happy. You cannot help but pity, for there is something pathetic in being a slave to one’s own melancholy. I had known Jaheia for close to a decade, and not once had I seen her truly happy. Perhaps there was an ease of contentment in her shoulders or eyes, but as close as it inched toward the threshold of happiness, it always cowered and fell back. As all those chronically self-absorbed do, I ruminated over the idea that it was an innate characteristic of our relationship—that she coul...

Read story

“kiki” by Pamela Berglund

Submitted to Contest #82

I remember the day my parents bought me my first android. It was my ninth birthday and it was wrapped in expensive birthday paper, the kind of paper that has the distinct odor of grandeur. You just want to remove the paper ever so gingerly. But of course, being nine years old and excited to receive presents, I grabbed it off the table and quickly demolished the fancy paper, leaving a mess on the kitchen table. ‘Oh wow, I yelled. Its an android”. My very own android. Now I can play anything I want a...

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 ⭢