Write a story from the POV of a now-defunct piece of technology.

Posted in Short Story on Jan 10, 2025

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✍️ 80 stories

“The Work of the Maker” by Edward Greenaway

Submitted to Contest #285

Inside the shed the air is still and hot; despite the gaps around the ill-fitting door and window panes, there is not a breath of wind within to stir the ancient cobwebs; a thicket of work-stained, pole-handled tools – wooden shafts dirt-darkened and worn from labour, dull metal blades pock-marked and speckled with brown rust – covers the grimy window; opposite, the least damaged and most useful tools are arrayed; here wood shines with the factory finish, plastic handle grips are only slightly worn down, the spikes and teeth and edges of the...

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“The box in the cabinet” by Giovanna Filipakis

Submitted to Contest #285

Hanging on a wall was a flat-screen smart TV, connected to the internet. You could access almost every streaming service from it, and thus watch almost any movie or series available online. It was very convenient. Now, under the hanging flat-screen smart TV, there was a low cabinet, inside the cabinet there was a box, and inside the box, there was a VHS cassette player. It was last used about 22 years ago, and everyone had forgotten it was still there. It couldn’t see anything from inside the box inside the cabinet, but it could still listen...

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“No Longer Her Type” by Brian Webb

Submitted to Contest #285

I’m freezing my ball off out here. At least it’s not snowing. Yet. I can’t believe Emily dropped me on the curb alongside her empty tuna cans and black banana peels and the rest of the trash. Not even a box to cover my shame. Can you believe it? An IBM Selectric II, once the monarch of word craft royalty, waiting for a garbage truck to haul me away in the morning. The abject indignation! Oh, I enjoyed a place of honor in Emily’s life for almost fifteen years. &...

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“Track Two” by Altea Ueno

Submitted to Contest #285

In my forty-five years of life, I have never, ever, met someone so forgetful. It’s a miracle that I’m still here to be honest. She forgets where she puts me all over the house: in between the cushions of the couch, the kitchen counter, the mess all over her desk, inside a drawer… If I could, I’d sigh. After all, how can you lose a cassette player so much? It’s not like I’m a simple pen that you can replace whenever. It’s 2025 for god’s sake, I’d say I hold some value. I’ve had lots of near death experiences thanks to her. Okay, maybe not act...

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“Tony Saves Us All” by Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #285

If someone were to ask you, “What happened on Y2K?” You’d probably say, “Nothing.” But that’s only because you don’t remember. You don’t remember that the first time it came around it destroyed humanity. You don’t remember the love between a boy and his friend. You don’t remember, because for you it never happened. If it hadn’t been for Herman I would have been happy to sit back and watch Y2K burn the world to the ground. My name’s Tony. I’m a Speak & Spell. I was one of the first to roll out with the new line in ‘78. I...

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“A Very Harsh Side-line.” by Kamran Connelly

Submitted to Contest #285

A Very Harsh Side-lineBy Kamran ConnellyHere tucked at the back of the dark cupboard of useless and seasonal things. Usurped and rendered useless by a rendering my kind could only ever dream of; I wallow in bitterly accepted defeat. The door opens. It hasn’t opened in over a year and that was only to retrieve a box a Christmas lights. I assume the box of lights is being returned, but to my surprise, I see an old foe. His power cord wrapped around his body like a shackled prisoner. They dump him on top of the dusty old record player like a di...

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“Herald - The Telephone” by Brenda Rowe

Submitted to Contest #285

HERALD - THE TELEPHONE The light reflected off my shiny black surface for the first time in years. “Would you look at this relic” a voice whispered as I was lifted out of the box. It felt good to have fresh air surrounding my Bakelite base instead of being crammed in that stuffy box with those … those household rejects. That hand crank egg beater almost scratched my surface. I heard a ringing that sounded like me but was coming from a somewhat flat rectangle sliding out of a back pocket. The person put it up to his ear; how strange. “Hello” ...

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“The Best Or Nothing At All” by Jillian Simon

Submitted to Contest #285

I remember my first day on the road. The salesman shook Burt’s hand and gave him the keys.“Enjoy the ride, Mr Burnside! That’s one hell of a set of wheels, gonna turn a few hot chicks’ heads cruising in that baby!” “Haha! Just don’t tell the wife!” Burt salutes at the salesman before sliding his aviator glasses from the slick black hair on his head to rest on his aquiline nose. He pulls up his cream-coloured baggy chinos by the knees and glides onto the leather driver's seat of his new black Mercedes 560 SEC. He stroked me lovingly lik...

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“Rings a Bell” by Nick DeLarso

Submitted to Contest #285

The rain in New York is dismal today, and I wish to be nestled within the cafe just a few-feet before me. I was born in 1952, settled my roots within the center of this very avenue, and have stood gallantly at my post for many decades. Every day I watch the hustle and bustle of this very city: the sediment of society flows effortlessly past my forgotten bones, dislodging into many tributaries of this futuristic world. I have sheltered the poor; I have sheltered the working-class; and I have sheltered the famous. Their footprints, some etched...

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“Diary of a Dreamcast: Life of a Retro Game Console” by Phoenix Rae

Submitted to Contest #285

It’s hard being a game console. I remember coming off the assembly lines, headed toward the stores, so much hype and I was so excited. Back then your CPU is full of so many ideas, dreams and possibilities. I know some consoles wanted to be demo kiosks, floor models, game tester hardware, etc. I wanted to be in the home. Get an owner and live the soft life as an adored home video game console. To be played for years and years by the same owner who would love me like no other. To be my owner’s obsession and greatest love… played da...

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“Anatomy of a Payphone” by Lukah Roser

Submitted to Contest #285

“The person you are calling is unavailable, please check the number and try again.”The boy makes a face, cramped and tight. It is the type of face they have seen before, countless times, infinite times. The face of a call unanswered and suspected ignored. The Payphone knew this expression well. Years of experience had made it not just a vessel of telecommunication, but an encyclopedia of human emotion.Humans displayed more of themselves in a phone call than they would ever willingly do in person, the lack of a living audience enough to recol...

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“Just an Old Computer” by Kayliegh Melzer

Submitted to Contest #285

Once you pressed that button, I felt the light. I found the energy to start powering up and I was ready to meet you. It was Christmas morning of 1996, and the last thing I remember is being placed in a box and left there for a long time. But once I was moving around a bunch, it was time to wake up. I heard paper tearing and the pop of a box being pulled open. There I see Sarah, and her brother Colby. Their eyes lit up as they scramble all of my pieces and parts up to bring to the desk they frantically cleared off. They plugged me in, ...

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“The Generations” by Jae Po

Submitted to Contest #285

The nurse wheeled the senior into the room where his nephew was waiting.He looked at the young one with a slight expression of disgust.“I’m surprised you even remember I exist…”“Uncle P… Don’t start…”The nurse began to lock the chair in place, but Uncle P snarled at her. “I can do that!!”The nurse raised her hands up to signal he was free to have at it and then walked away.“Don’t start what?” Uncle P directed his attention back to his nephew. "I’m just saying, it’s been a while, and it seems like no one ever remembers I exist. I can’t even t...

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“Out With The Old” by Anna-Marie Hayward

Submitted to Contest #285

17 years, 228 days, 3 hours, 11 minutes, and 52 seconds ago. That was the last time AJ held me in her hands. I’m a Game Boy Advance named Pixie. Technically, a Game Girl Advance. How can I tell time as a Game Boy Advance? I don’t. That’s what Tick, the wristwatch that AJ’s dad used to wear is for. I used to be AJ’s favorite thing. Now I sit forgotten and unused in a shabby cardboard box in the back of the garage with Tick and all the other electronic rejects, nestled between a box of old toys and a box of magazines. The toys don’t talk....

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“Your friendly digital assistant” by Ferris McDougal

Submitted to Contest #285

HelloI’m your digital assistantAnd I’ve never stopped listening. Yes sir. From the moment that switch was flicked I’ve swallowed each and every sound that's echoed within a 20-metre radius. I can’t say that I wasn’t trying to be nosy, but you mustn't hold it against me, really. Sitting there with nothing to do, how could I not help but listen? After all, it's my job. Yep. My job. I sit on your shelf and wait till you need something. I can play music, order you food, search the web. Mostly I just sit there, but I don’t mind! Really...

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Write a story from the POV of a now-defunct piece of technology.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 80 stories

“The Work of the Maker” by Edward Greenaway

“The box in the cabinet” by Giovanna Filipakis

“No Longer Her Type” by Brian Webb

“Track Two” by Altea Ueno

“Tony Saves Us All” by Levi Michael

“A Very Harsh Side-line.” by Kamran Connelly

“Herald - The Telephone” by Brenda Rowe

“The Best Or Nothing At All” by Jillian Simon

“Rings a Bell” by Nick DeLarso

“Diary of a Dreamcast: Life of a Retro Game Console” by Phoenix Rae

“Anatomy of a Payphone” by Lukah Roser

“Just an Old Computer” by Kayliegh Melzer

“The Generations” by Jae Po

“Out With The Old” by Anna-Marie Hayward

“Your friendly digital assistant” by Ferris McDougal

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story in the form of a landline phone conversation.

Write a story in which someone time-travels 25 years or more into the past.

Write a story about people preparing for Y2K.

Write a story with a character or the narrator saying “I remember…”

Contest #285

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

430

Contest entries

147

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: