Recently, I visited an island with no cars or motorized vehicles at all. Everything was done with horse-drawn wagons and carriages. It was like stepping back into the 19th century (except, luckily, for the air conditioning). Still, it was charmingly anachronistic.
An anachronism is anything that doesn’t fit in the current time period, either because it’s too old or too futuristic. Soldiers fighting with swords in a battle now would be an example, as would jet fighters 2000 years ago.
Anachronisms in fiction are often because of time travel or something similar, but don’t have to be. There could be a perfectly mundane reason for something old to still be in use, even if it’s not normal (there is, however, no mundane reason for future technology to be in an earlier time. If your story has machine guns in a Roman era or plasma rifles now, it’s science fiction).
Story Prompt: July 7, 2025
Write a story about an anachronism.
The good thing about this type of prompt is that it gives you permission to be very creative, or off the wall, if you prefer that term. 🙂 Try writing something you wouldn’t normally write.
If you write a story with this prompt, send me a link to your story on your own site, either in the comments or at info@greenwalledtreehouse.com. You can also submit your story here for a chance to have it published on the site next week.
Stay cool out there.
The Green-Walled Treehouse 
What a great word and one you never hear very often.
Was just thinking about Teddy Roosevelt who rode horseback through Rock Creek Park while he was President.
Imagine no cars. I think I may have preferred it.
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yeah, that would have been nice, back in a simpler time, although it does have a certain smell with so many horses around. 😉 Of course, cars have their own smell, so there’s that.
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That’s true…they always describe it as dung. Now there’s a word alright.
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PS Love the lady graphic!!! 🙂
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Thanks! I liked that picture too.
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The Hubby Brigade | Thru Violet’s Lentz Here’s my story. Thank you for the wonderful prompt.
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Thanks for participating, Violet. I’m slow this week on comments, but I’m going to go read yours right away. 🙂
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Here’s mine, David. Thanks for a great prompt.
https://theelephantstrunk.org/2025/07/12/timeless-connection/
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Thanks, Nancy! I’m a bit slow on comments this week, but looking forward to reading it. 🙂 Thanks for participating.
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No worries! I participate when I can. Thanks, David.
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