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

“Phone's Surrender” by Kara Case

Submitted to Contest #82

It was a normal day, or so she thought. Julia got up and checked her phone for any appointments. In the back of her mind, she thought she had a doctors appointment in the afternoon for a check-up; however, her calendar was blank for the day. She was a stickler about appointments and showing up on time. Julia waited until the office opened and called. The receptionist confirmed that she did indeed have an appointment at 1:30 that day. She re-entered it in her phone and thought nothing of it. While she was in the waiting room, Julia had time t...

Read story

“Unfortunate Mr. Bradley” by Navneet Pandith

Submitted to Contest #82

The morning sun rose above the clouds. Was it raining glitter? Why was the sun changing colors? The sky was teeming with strange birds! What was happening?The real reason for the strange phenomenon that was occurring only inside the Bradley Villa was technology. Recently, Alex Bradley had brought in some engineers to replace the walls with artificial scenery. Since then, the scenery was so realistic that when he woke up every morning, he believed he had been kidnapped in his sleep to a South American jungle.Of course he had to install the ar...

Read story

“An Evergreen Dies” by James Ehle

Submitted to Contest #82

Evelyn inhaled a deep pull of air from her Evertube oxygenerator. Unlike fresh air, the oxygenerator provided a more nutrient-dense supply of oxygen which was essential for the Evergreening process. The machine had become a part of her nightly routine since she received her first Evertube apparatus when she turned eighteen years old - over one hundred and eighty years ago. She removed the tube from her left nostril and leapt out of bed with renewed vigor in her lungs, ready to take on the day. Evelyn felt not a day over eighteen, even though...

Read story

“Felt Wrong” by Meggysa Nine

Submitted to Contest #82

One hundred scientists were gathered inside this two thousand square meters facility with two upper floors. TechNew Labco. always took my breath away as I entered the ground floor, there are machines everywhere, people in white walking with either glasses on their face or clipboards on their hands. I drifted my gaze towards the grand cafeteria on my right where people dined in with their partners and talked a lot about the art of science craft and engineering new technologies for the next years. When I look up, these holograms neve...

Read story

“Hey Siri” by Mesuur Iorkighir

Submitted to Contest #82

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” The technician told me as he handed my phone back to me. “Are you sure?” I asked in frustration, looking over the phone as though that would help. Siri had been acting strange recently. And by strange, I mean she always responded with… Beep. Beep. “I’m sorry I didn’t catch that.” Every time I told her to do something or asked her a question, that was the response I got. While Siri may not hear or respond a few times was normal, this w...

Read story

“Arthur” by Nicholas Lee

Submitted to Contest #82

It was exactly 10 years since the end of the Third World War. The world itself is still recovering from the horrors of the first nuclear war in human history. The global population has risen to 10 billion people, despite the fact that nearly a billion lives were wiped out by the horrifying 7-year long nuclear war. While the United States stood victorious against The Coalition, which was made up of the Second Russian Empire, The People's Republic of China, and the Democratic Korean Republic, the nation was undoubtedly in a state of ruin. In ...

Read story

“Verified!” by Gayathri Ponnalagan

Submitted to Contest #82

“Wake up! Wake up!” I heard the thunderous voice of my younger brother, Caleb. “Ugh! Let me sleep, Caleb,” I groaned and buried my head under the soft pillow. “This is super important! You’re on TV. Wake up, Aldora!” Caleb screamed. It took me a solid second to be conscious. I grabbed my blanket and threw it away as I ran towards the television in the hall. As I was running down the stairs, I lunged out, “You better be not kidding!” I grabbed the remote and increased the volume. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I saw my face on television...

Read story

“A Wasted Day ” by Katarina Ivancik

Submitted to Contest #82

The almost empty refrigerator exhales cold air as it swings open and a voice hisses at him. “You don’t feed me enough” The words form eerie, yet distinct, coming from the direction of the bare, open fridge. He stumbles back looking around for the source of the voice. He sees his wife, Sarah, still sipping her coffee while carefully scorching a single egg, half scrambleds. Both of her eyes are glued on the wrinkled page of a water stained romance novel and she doesn’t look up to acknowledge the voice. Still searching for the voice, he loo...

Read story

“Ferdon's Will” by Cody Davis

Submitted to Contest #82

It all started around the 5th of June, 2029. Nothing about this day gave any semblance of dire shenanigans on the horizon. Then again when does anything odd or in this case dangerous ever give a hint of its arrival. Truly this day was anything but stellar, the city was alive and bustling. A cacophony of vehicles and business taking place echos all around as the Sun sitting high aloft a cloudless sky. One could say it was a near perfect summer afternoon. One would also say that person was sorely mistaken. I entered my downtown apartment, ca...

Read story

“Tech Madness ” by Olivia Spotter

Submitted to Contest #82

“Mommy give me a phone, I want a new, super phone!” I said holding up a cool photo I saw in a magazine. “You already have 10 phones. Honey don’t you think that’s enough,” says mommy. “NO! I need it. All my friends have it. You don’t want me to miss out, do you?” I say with puppy dog eyes. “Ah, I guess we could make an exception for this one, this will be your early birthday present,” says mommy. I can barely focus on my goal because of my mom's hideous outfit. It wants to make me barf. “Mommy! You're the bes...

Read story

“W.H.I.C” by Conor Thackray

Submitted to Contest #82

I know when I’m not being taken seriously. I can see it, the eyes glaze, the head nods and the mouth agrees far too much. So, when I told Dr Parsons that I thought I was allergic to my W.H.I.C, I could tell at once that she thought I was talking nonsense I suppose that was understandable. W.H.I.Cs, or Wrist Housed Information Capsules, were made of hypo allergenic, semi biotic matter and were implanted hours after birth in every child and were so small that it barely left a scar. So, for me, a 23-year-old, to be complaining now of allergies ...

Read story

“His Turn to Disappear” by Urvi Kulkarni

Submitted to Contest #82

Year 2097 Theo woke up to the blazing rays of the moon. A lot had changed in the future. The moon had taken the sun's place as it disappeared. Water became limited to the people who could afford to buy it. Air masks were developed for people to breathe and trees were now made of plastic. Theo woke up to the sound of his mother’s robot. His mother was always working in her office and her robot had taken her place as Theo’s mother in his house. Of course, Theo didn’t like this. He never liked the present he was living in. He wondered how his...

Read story

“The Don't Wake Up Option” by Stevie Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #82

The Night Before “I hope you find this as useful as I have. I think it’s the perfect thing to get you past your little phobia.” Scoff! The nerve! Jose couldn’t believe she’d be that presumptuous, gifting him something she knew would tighten his throat and grip his chest. Sure, they’d discussed easing him into various tech gadgets, hoping they might bridge the gap between his mental island and the rest of the technologically advanced world. He didn’t think she’d send him something without warning. To his house. Where he lived. His wooden ho...

Read story

“Techno-Ghost” by Fay Ali

Submitted to Contest #82

“I told you I’m not crazy” “Still it’s better to consult a psychiatrist, just getting advice…” I hung up my phone, I couldn’t listen any longer, I couldn’t endure that a part of me was starting to accept his words, I mean just two days ago I was fine, completely fine, a little stressed but that was normal. All of a sudden, everything started going downhill, to the point of having my brother telling me to call a… Ah, I don’t even want to remember. Two days ago, This morning, my best friend’s flight was going to take off, he was going ...

Read story

“Charles, Charlie or Chuck” by Eric E

Submitted to Contest #82

Charles Simpson was a nice guy. He was the kind of guy you wouldn't mind being stuck in an elevator with because he wouldn't make that awkward small talk. He would just ask you which floor you were going to, press the button, and smile. He was the kind of guy who didn't mind if you called him Charles, Charlie, or Chuck. The kind of guy that took life's hills and valleys in stride, and didn't seem to mind that by his 30th year of existence, he was still a single man. If you'd have asked him how he felt about that, he would have given you the ...

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 ⭢