Write a story imagining 'what if' one historic invention had never happened. How would our world be different now?

Posted in Dystopian on Mar 22, 2024

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✍️ 24 stories

“The Shot” by Jennifer Luckett

Submitted to Contest #243

The Shotby Jennifer Luckett Mari staggered home, bruised and swollen with orbs of anger to expel and hurl at her attacker until his wounds exceeded hers. Rocks and stones littered the park, but she lacked what she needed to weaponize them. After Mari cleaned her wounds and swallowed a handful of pills, she discarded her clothes and changed, tying a scarf around her neck to hide the fingerprints. “Mari, I need you!” “Coming, Dad!” Mari rushed to his side. “It hurts so much everywhere,” David...

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“Desktop Suitcases” by Candy Grace

Submitted to Contest #243

Lavender whisked past a crowd of high school seniors as her desktop suitcase clinked and clattered against the not-so-smooth tile flooring. She couldn’t believe she was going to be late. She shoved her long dark brown hair out of her face and continued running towards her first period class. Naturally, freshmen at Rocket Sky High School had their classes on the other side of the campus building from the bus gate. And they were required to bring in their desktop computers, as the computer labs on their side of the school still didn’t have pro...

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“The ivory web” by Harry Mclaughlin

Submitted to Contest #243

THE IVORY WEB The steam rising off the jungle produced its distinctive smell, a mix of decaying leaves and trees mixed with the light morning mist .A new smell of fresh coffee wafted past Michael .Stretching as he looks out the port hole, the mist on the river seems to close around him. Hey sweetie can you bring me my laptop when you bring the coffee? No problem, says Anna. Anna turns and walks to the Galley as Michael starts to climb out of the big...

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“The Revelation” by Mallory Jones

Submitted to Contest #243

Ding-dong-ding-dong. That was the sound of the end of day school bell ringing. Typically, Harper felt that the consistent ding-dong-ding-dong sounds were annoying but today was different. Today those sounds that permeated throughout the school were harmonious sounds of freedom. Harper navigated her way through the narrow hallways filled with other teens whom seemed to be walking aimlessly without a purpose. Although Harper did not have any particular plans after school, she just wanted to drive far away from the campus ASAP. It was spri...

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“Paweł's New Device” by Johann Blitz

Submitted to Contest #243

Paweł stretched the earphones over his ears and released them with a heavy heart. As Mr. Wojczyk’s voice droned on about the relative costs of natively produced and imported tin, he admonished himself to ignore the clock, pay close attention, and stop making mistakes. Late that morning, Ms. Lizabeta had stood across from him, angled a degree or two from parallel, which perhaps expressed her reluctance to confront him, but there she was, proffering three curled sheets of paper. “These were in my cubby,” she said, scowling dow...

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“Goaldeen Nurvana” by Timothy Motley

Submitted to Contest #243

“You’re doing the right thing Jon.” “I don’t know. It seems a little bit extreme.” “Your dad needs help.” Jon sighed as he exited his bright blue sedan. His eyes turned towards his childhood home. Many of his best memories revolved around the quaint one story yellow house. Typically he was glad to return to it. Today was different. Today was going to be painful. He could already feel it in his gut. Jon’s eyes turned back to his phone. His wife’s face took up most of the screen. Her eyes tried to convey comfort, but he could see a tad of anno...

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“Oppression” by Daniel Kleba

Submitted to Contest #243

“C’mon, Carson!”. Freddie’s voice blasted through the open shop door. “Th’ readin’s in ten minutes. Ring up th’ ole sod and meet me out back.” Carson winced as he hastily wrapped an ornate tome on the counter. The ‘ole sod’ in question was staring daggers at him. “Your friend ought to be more respectful, boy.” The priest huffed. “You sell these books at the Church’s allowance and we can swiftly take that away.” He glared down his nose in distain, and Carson tried to shrink into the floorboards. “I am so sorry, your grace.” Carson...

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“The Sacrifides” by Drew Harrison

Submitted to Contest #243

The grandfather clock ticked and tocked, like the great big heartbeat of the house itself. It struck 9, but no silly robin popped out and chirped at the hour. “Do you ever miss Noosance, Grandma Mavis?” I asked. She waved her hands dismissively with a “bah” and then sucked at her teeth. “Three coppers at market, all for a carving and some cogs—and like I told the fool who bought it, I was the one who ought to have been paying him.” She spat a ruddy wad into the pot by her feet. “Are you hungry, Gracie?” Mama asked me, squeezing my hands. “Pa...

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“The Light” by Lauren Sowers

Submitted to Contest #243

February, 2024 Many people spent their nights sleeping with the lights out and curtains shut tight. It was far too dark to do much else. Dim candlelight and the pale moon didn't do much when all else was pitch black. There were few to no good light sources to use in the dark hours of the night, but for those who wished to stay up deep into the night, candlelight was just enough. At night, everything was quiet and peaceful. No one was awake to be a...

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Write a story imagining 'what if' one historic invention had never happened. How would our world be different now?

Submissions are closed

✍️ 24 stories

“The Shot” by Jennifer Luckett

“Desktop Suitcases” by Candy Grace

“The ivory web” by Harry Mclaughlin

“The Revelation” by Mallory Jones

“Paweł's New Device” by Johann Blitz

“Goaldeen Nurvana” by Timothy Motley

“Oppression” by Daniel Kleba

“The Sacrifides” by Drew Harrison

“The Light” by Lauren Sowers

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story with a strong sense of place. How is the setting of your world the same as, but different to, our own?

Write a story from the point of view of a non-human character.

Write a story about a character who wakes up in space.

Write a story where time functions differently to our world.

Contest #243

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

286

Contest entries

113

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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