Tag: Creativity

Welcome to This Week’s AI Drabble Challenge

Welcome back to our weekly playground for curious humans and equally curious machines. Every Wednesday I share a new prompt, and together we explore what happens when we let AI join in the storytelling.

A Drabble is simply a story told in 100 words exactly, short enough to be playful, long enough to surprise us. You’re welcome to use any AI tool you like: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, NotebookLM… whatever you’re comfortable with. How you collaborate is up to you. Maybe the AI drafts the first version, or writes the whole thing, maybe you co-write, or maybe you use it to spark ideas. What matters is the process, and sharing it.

There’s no pressure, no “right way,” and definitely no grading. The goal is curiosity, collaboration, and seeing what strange or wonderful things the machines produce when we give them a nudge.

This Week’s Prompt

This week I thought I would continue with the theme of trying something different. I’m always intrigued as to how AI copes when asked unusual questions (have a read of The Prompt Experiment to see an example of this).

So, today’s prompt is to write a Drabble based on ‘The Voices in the Vending Machine‘

A vending machine starts giving out items the protagonist didn’t select, a child’s shoe, a house key that fits nothing, a handwritten list of fears. Each item seems to know them a little too well.

Feel free to interpret the prompt literally, loosely, mischievously, or in a way that makes your AI scratch its synthetic head. If it surprises you, it counts.

Example Drabble – ‘The Vending Machine’

I used ChatGPT 5.2 and the prompt was – “Write a 100 word story where a vending machine starts giving out items the protagonist didn’t select, a child’s shoe, a house key that fits nothing, a handwritten list of fears. Each item seems to know them a little too well.“

The Vending Machine

The vending machine whined like it recognised me. I pressed for crisps; it dropped a small child’s shoe, warm. Next, a house key clattered out, teeth worn smooth by doors I’d never owned. A handwritten list followed, folded tight, ink smudged with my fears: drowning, failing, being forgotten. The glass reflected my face, older than yesterday. Coins rattled inside, laughing. I tried cancel. The machine hummed my name. One last item slid free: a receipt dated tomorrow, itemised with choices I hadn’t made yet. I walked away lighter, missing something essential. Behind me, the lights blinked approval without asking permission.

How to Take Part

Joining in is wonderfully simple:

1. Choose any AI tool you like.
2. Ask it to write a 100-word Drabble using this week’s prompt.
3. Edit it if you want… or don’t. Imperfect is perfect.
4. Post your Drabble in the comments or publish it on your own blog and send a pingback.

If you’d like to share:

• which AI you used
• the prompt you gave it
• or a bit about your process

…that’s always appreciated and often helpful to others.

Community & Highlights

Each week I read every entry and spotlight a few that stood out, for cleverness, unexpected emotion, inventive prompting, or pure joyful weirdness. This isn’t a competition. It’s a conversation between humans, machines, and the imagination that connects us.

A Closing Thought

AI can generate the words, but only you bring the spark. So… how will you and your AI partner interpret the prompt this week?

Welcome to This Week’s AI Drabble Challenge

Welcome back to our weekly playground for curious humans and equally curious machines. Every Wednesday I share a new prompt, and together we explore what happens when we let AI join in the storytelling.

A Drabble is simply a story told in 100 words exactly, short enough to be playful, long enough to surprise us. You’re welcome to use any AI tool you like: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, NotebookLM… whatever you’re comfortable with. How you collaborate is up to you. Maybe the AI drafts the first version, or writes the whole thing, maybe you co-write, or maybe you use it to spark ideas. What matters is the process, and sharing it.

There’s no pressure, no “right way,” and definitely no grading. The goal is curiosity, collaboration, and seeing what strange or wonderful things the machines produce when we give them a nudge.

This Week’s Prompt

This week I thought I would continue with the theme of trying something different. I’m always intrigued as to how AI copes when asked unusual questions (have a read of The Prompt Experiment to see an example of this).

So, today’s prompt is to write a Drabble based on An Apology from the Universe, 100 words where the universe admits its mistake.

Feel free to interpret the prompt literally, loosely, mischievously, or in a way that makes your AI scratch its synthetic head. If it surprises you, it counts.

Example Drabble – ‘It Tasted Like Tuesday’

I used ChatGPT 5.1 and the prompt was – “Write a 100 word story where there is an apology from the Universe The universe admits its mistake.”

The Apology

The apology arrived quietly, folded into the morning like mist. The universe cleared its throat and spoke, not in thunder, but embarrassment. I’m sorry, it said, for the misplaced asteroid, the unnecessary cancer, the wrong turn of time. You were meant to meet her earlier. You were meant to sleep better. Several wars were clerical errors. That drought was a rounding issue. Even your lost keys were my fault.

I asked if it could fix things. The universe sighed. No, it said, but I can admit I was wrong. The sky felt lighter after that. For once, existence paused, listening.

How to Take Part

Joining in is wonderfully simple:

1. Choose any AI tool you like.
2. Ask it to write a 100-word Drabble using this week’s prompt.
3. Edit it if you want… or don’t. Imperfect is perfect.
4. Post your Drabble in the comments or publish it on your own blog and send a pingback.

If you’d like to share:

• which AI you used
• the prompt you gave it
• or a bit about your process

…that’s always appreciated and often helpful to others.

Community & Highlights

Each week I read every entry and spotlight a few that stood out, for cleverness, unexpected emotion, inventive prompting, or pure joyful weirdness. This isn’t a competition. It’s a conversation between humans, machines, and the imagination that connects us.

A Closing Thought

AI can generate the words, but only you bring the spark. So… how will you and your AI partner interpret the prompt this week?