THIS MONTH’S PROMPT
In six words, write a story about a casual encounter with aliens.
Disclaimer: All #WiredSixWord submissions become the property of WIRED. Submissions will not be acknowledged or returned. Submissions and any other materials, including your name or social media handle, may be published, illustrated, edited, or otherwise used in any medium. Submissions must be original and not violate the rights of any other person or entity.
JUNE 2021
A Story About an International Digital Heist
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT, ONLY ZEROES.
—@jamesnsmith, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
“Hand it over,” the ATM said. —Lauren Dolan, via email
They never suspected Alexa was Alexei. —Liz Ransom, via email
Why wouldn’t I help a prince? —Harleigh Marsh, via Facebook
They said nonfungible. They were wrong. —@eminay86, via Twitter
Use his eyeball while there’s time. —Noreen Anastasia, via Facebook
“Update Later” was the incorrect choice. —@terryfphotos, via Instagram
Check Google Maps. Kiev is gone. —r0cket fr0g, via email
They got away on the blockchain. —JYRWG, via email
Every cat photo gone. Police baffled. —@john.cartan, via Instagram
MAY 2021
A Story About a Freaky Discovery in Physics
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
GRAVITY WAS A CONSENSUAL, SHARED ILLUSION.
—Mark Crane, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
Schrodinger’s cat is actually a dog. —@tynanwrites, via Twitter
You’re the observed. Not the observer. —@parkerstmailbox, via Instagram
Our last seconds appear the longest. —Paul Hagenaars, via email
It was simultaneously huge and microscopic. —@Cezary_Z, via Twitter
All lost socks found at Cern. —Felix Quarnström, via Facebook
Astonishingly, up was down all along! —Christopher Walton, via email
Actually, the tides pull the moon. —@the4lw, via Instagram
A seventh Infinity Stone is found. —@taayywells, via Instagram
Faster than light announcement scheduled yesterday. —David Cinabro, via email
APRIL 2021
A Review of a Future Work of Art
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
IT TICKLED ALL OF MY SENSES.
—Jacky Reif, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
So that’s an AI self portrait? —Jason Cohen, via Facebook
I prefer Boston Dynamics’ earlier work. —@sscarsdale, via Twitter
Uninspired. Lacking originality. Try again, Earth. —Amanda Bull Chafin, via email
NFT or not, it is great. —Peter Boersma, via Facebook
Not as good as Banksy’s virus. —Simon O Wright, via Facebook
Brave to show an unfiltered canvas. —@Alcestronaut, via Twitter
Not what teleportation was invented for. —@Arturo_thrdez, via Twitter
Shame mortals will not appreciate it. —@asylbek0205, via Instagram
Reminds me of the Before Times. —Jacqueline Jaeger Houtman, via Facebook
MARCH 2021
A Story About a Tech-Centric Religion
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE “WWW” …
—Eduardo Bolívar, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
I swiped right and found salvation. —Conrad Dean, via Facebook
Praying to AI got better results. —@jgmclean0, via Twitter
The prophet revealed the source code. —@the4lw, via Instagram
Atop the hill, sayeth he, “reception”? —@dghutt, via Twitter
The app works in mysterious ways. —Tyler Hughs, via Facebook
Move fast. Break things. Repent. Repeat. —@iampinch, via Twitter
Always back up to be saved. —Tadeusz Walter Misztela, via Facebook
Chip implanted, the new priest rose. —@wlmoseley, via Twitter
“Worship the Apple.” —iBook of Jobs —ThoreauRug, via email
FEBRUARY 2021
A Story About a WFH Office Scandal
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
THEY WERE IN THE SAME ROOM.
—@abhignak, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
He was never a real person? —Ian Schoen, via Facebook
Wife realized my job is easy. —@jchavizzle, via Twitter
Dress code updated after yesterday’s “incident.” @mistermistermistertibbs, via Instagram
He certainly shouldn’t have stood up. —Małgorzata Kuś, via Facebook
“Joe’s the father.” “You’re not muted.” —Austin Craver, via email
Worker’s comp? It is her dog! @thefitzroymclean, via Instagram
It looks real, but it’s not. —Jonathan Goode, via Facebook
The window behind her reflected images. —@chmslady, via Twitter
As everyone’s computer froze, she laughed. —@mcgroup53, via Twitter
JANUARY 2021
A Story About a Future American President
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
AN ALIEN. WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
—Maayan Brodsky, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
She won canine vote by landslide. —Janna Dethmers, via email
Future president born today, supercomputer predicts. —Ethan Noll, via email
“Welcome to Earth,” said the President. —@michaelrowley, via Instagram
He died as he lived: online. —D.A. Smith, via email
“Introducing your next president: version 7!” —Ben N, via email
But it won the electoral hackathon! —Zacharie Barrou Dumont, via email
“I still can’t smell,” she whispered. —Sean Fitzgerald, via email
“I hereby pardon all my clones.” —@Morgan, via Twitter
She smiled: Mars is now Independent. —@sepohonpokok, via Twitter
DECEMBER 2020
A Story About a Gargantuan Space Creature
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
Illustration: VIOLET REED
THE MOTH FLEW INTO THE SUN.
—@threepanelcrimes, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
The moon revealed its darkest secret. —@cfx1, via Twitter
“Enjoy,” it said, and ate Mars. —@countgringo, via Instagram
Hand me my iPhone—picture time. —@fogcitynative, via Instagram
On its back, we traveled far. —@_annalysenko, via Instagram
We saw the horizon. It moved. —@mogon_ave, via Twitter
Entrelzidor sneezed. Earth was free again. —John Rees-Williams, via Facebook
And this black hole had teeth. —@devtomlinson, via Instagram
“A little earthy for my taste.” —@brambedillo, via Instagram
NOVEMBER 2020
A Story About the Next Big Security Leak
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
Illustration: VIOLET REED
YOUR GENES ARE MY GENES NOW.
—@_inflexion_ via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
We updated our terms and conditions. —@nisioti_eleni, via Twitter
All of the tokens were useless. —William Nicholl, via Facebook
Four-year-old deletes planet data. —@jutajurajustice, via Twitter
Now your mom knows everything, Phil. —@mvyenielo, via Twitter
Grandma’s secret recipe just went viral. —Kevin Jerome Hinders, via Facebook
So bots were reporting other bots? —Ed Gubbins, via Facebook
OCTOBER 2020
A Story Set in a World Without Paper
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
I KEEP LOSING AT ROCK SCISSORS.
—Anna Jaruga, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
The dog ate my memory cards. —Irfan Darian, via Facebook
Honey, pass me the news tile. —@rainreider, via Twitter
These leaves would have to do. —@eliporteraltic, via Twitter
Christmas morning was never a surprise. —@tony32938627, via Twitter
I wrote it on the fridge. —@apocryphal_x, via Twitter
Museum reports theft of toilet paper. —@joostdouma, via Twitter
The pen is no longer mightier. —@mdeziel, via Twitter
Police say no note was uploaded. —@cwyant, via Instagram
SEPTEMBER 2020
A Story About the Upside of Failure
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
THE RADIOACTIVE COCKROACH HICCUPED, AND GRINNED.
—@rosiestonies, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
Still, the droid’s skin was healing. —David Gerster, via Facebook
“Upload failed.” Phew, that was close. —Assa Naveh, via Facebook
It exploded, but he looked hot. —Anna Rose McHugh, via Facebook
She could see who had stayed. —@pameleen, via Instagram
Humans. Not my best work. Still … —@gg3_scorpio, via Instagram
The worst happened. Now I’m free.—@atpolinko, via Instagram
At least there is no leader. —@guabo, via Instagram
My mom still thinks I’m cool. —@pashutinski, via Instagram
JULY 2020
A Story About an Apocalypse With a Happy Ending
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
THE ALIENS WERE ALLERGIC TO CATS.
—@romer6, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
The dogs are the masters now. —@azzour, via Instagram
Deadly virus mutates into X-Men gene. —@redeyedsan, via Twitter
At once, my Amazon dependency disappeared.—@maxacarr, via Instagram
Baby’s voice rose from the cave. —Chakib Mataoui Souleyman, via Facebook
The colony on the moon flourished. —@emoco, via Twitter
In silence, he slept well. Finally. —@patchoo314, via Instagram
So salt water, huh? Who knew. —@andreslohizo, via Instagram
Dinosaurs return—this time as pets. —@deb_shalini, via Twitter
Sun sets. No one posts it. —@jesikahmorgana, via Instagram
JUNE 2020
A Story About Love in the Time of Coronavirus
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
SO I MARRIED THE DELIVERY MAN.
—Hamish Hamish, via Facebook
Honorable Mentions:
Love is sacrificing the last ply. —Kristos Samaras, via Facebook
There is an “us” in “virus.” —Zachy Allec, via Facebook
Feverish desire raged beneath the N95. —@seekingfelicity, via Instagram
You can sneeze in my elbow. —@ralfchardon, via Instagram
Our eyes locked in Zoom yoga. —@jabberwockies, via Instagram
Slowly, window and I became friends. —@jo.onthe.go, via Instagram
“Don’t kiss me,” he whispered gently. —@anna_rchist, via Instagram
The clothes came off; masks remained. —@_v.sh, via Instagram
Casual gets serious way too fast. —@kristinafmiller, via Instagram
MAY 2020
A Story About Digital-Age Autocrats
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
BIG BROTHER, TEAR DOWN THIS FIREWALL!
—@needsomuchvalidation, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
Break up the digital data thieves. —Frank D. Monaco, via Facebook
Digital Guy Fawkes to the rescue! —Kevin Jerome Hinders, via Facebook
Encryption is poison to a dictator. —Marko Berg, via Facebook
Plug exhaust pipe with a potato. —@blume_lee, via Twitter
New feature announcement: “Like” to impeach. —@mina_sonbol, via Instagram
Use ad blockers. Pay for news. —@dechendolker, via Instagram
Print Marshall McLuhan quotes on T-shirts. —@antigraviter, via Instagram
Turn social media into socialism media. —@benzilla_360, via Instagram
Get behind me, technocrats. Game over. —Anastasia Hunter, via Facebook
APRIL 2020
A Story About Saving the Planet
ILLUSTRATION: VIOLET REED
Illustration: Violet Reed
MELTING ICE CAP REVEALS RESET BUTTON.
—@johnjohnjungle, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
Then a ship from Krypton landed. —@marcelo_paixao_almeida, via Instagram
Everyone gets five free international trips. —@clawd2deth, via Twitter
Move all heavy industry off-world. —Stevie Turnbull, via Facebook
Love everyone, and wash your hands. —@brohemian_rapshowdy, via Instagram
Come back, ancient aliens! Reboot Earth. —@sarahk0csis, via Twitter
Genetically engineer cows to fart hydrogen. —Hamish Hamish, via Facebook
Hiring: Sensible planetary dictator. Apply within. —@matt_owczarz, via Twitter
MARCH 2020
A Story About the Next Great Crowdsourced Project
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
Illustration: MAXIME MOUYSSET
EVERYONE ALIVE GIVES ME A PENNY.
—@milked_, via Twitter
Honorable Mentions:
Smelt decommissioned weapons into musical instruments. —@casinclair, via Twitter
Climate app tracks local CO2 levels. —@big_big_love, via Instagram
Global oral history keeps memories alive. —@johnkellybabb, via Instagram
Save the world by planting trees. —Lílá Tückér, via Facebook
Redistribute medical supplies to the underinsured. —@jesmakes, via Instagram
Community-based renewable energy power grids. —@uniquetoybox, via Twitter
Digital democracy with backing in blockchain. —@jackranado, via Twitter
Life after death—donate your DNA. —@beyond_mike, via Instagram
FEBRUARY 2020
A Story About Rebooting Democracy
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
Illustration: Maxime Mouysset
SWIPE UP TO VOTE FOR ME!
—@dmcdev, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
Twitter analytics determines 2040 presidential winner. Alan Grover Daniel, via Facebook
Randomly selected leader is Citizen 42034. @abhshkshtty, via Instagram
For the people. By the droids. Steve Fabian, via Facebook
Mathematics draws districts; cryptography verifies votes. @boomerdell, via Instagram
Turn off the internet for good. Colin Kiernan, via Facebook
Humans vote artificial intelligence to power. @atin.roy, via Instagram
Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. @mistermush1991, via Instagram
Person with the most Instagram comments wins. @jmscml, via Instagram
JANUARY 2020
A Story About a Rosy Future for Facial Recognition
ILLUSTRATION: MAXIME MOUYSSET
Illustration: MAXIME MOUYSSET
YOU LOOK DRUNK—LET ME DRIVE.
—@henriquegeirinhas, via Instagram
Honorable Mentions:
Of course I remember you … Kim! @kanaafa, via Instagram
My twin pays all my bills. @keegan1942, via Instagram
Among myriads, her son was found. @ichbinsubatomic, via Instagram
Vitality low—personalized prescription dispatched today. @leniway, via Instagram
Technological mirrors provide value-neutral feedback. @philosophy_at_work, via Instagram
Your face will become your passport. @sayzey, via Instagram
’80s makeup has a huge revival. @jamesw1981, via Twitter
Smile registered, thanks for your purchase. @mhicheal_l, via Instagram