Retro Word, Timeless Stories: A Short Story Exhibition Created on Commodore Amiga Word Processors

Call for Submissions: Share Your Story, Written the Retro Way!

Are you a writer who loves vintage technology? Do you enjoy the charm of classic word processors? 
Retro Word, Timeless Stories is an online short story exhibition where every entry must be created using a retro word processor on vintage Commodore computers (be it real or emulated) such as AmigaWriter, WordPerfect, ProWrite, Final Writer, Wordworth, Personal Write, or any classic software of your choice that ran on a Commodore 64/128/Amiga computer!


This is more than a writing challenge—it’s an opportunity to
blend nostalgia with creativity, bringing vintage digital tools back to life in a modern storytelling space. These vintage tools provided a focused and tactile writing experience, free from modern-day distractions. Now, in this online exhibition, we celebrate both the artistry of storytelling and the charm of early digital word processing.

How to Participate

📖 Write Your Short Story Using a Retro Word Processor

Your story must be written using an authentic vintage word processor—such as AmigaWriter, Final Copy, Final Writer, WordPerfect, Personal Write, ProWrite, or another pre-2000s word processing software.

📖 Writing Topic
Write a retro computer game short story narrative for a text-based adventure game, RPG, or action game of your choice. The short story can be based upon a real game or a fictional game. You can also write a story based upon a game developed by BrigadierComputers.com. There are several from which to choose. 

📖 Writing Categories
There are two categories for this Exhibition:

  • Plain Text Short Story. These are stories that are text only. 
  • Illustrated Short Story. Written stories that include illustrations. Illustrations must have been created using a retro Commodore art program such as Deluxe Paint, Brilliance, Personal Paint, etc.
Any vintage word processor can be used to write a Plain Text Short Story, but, obviously, to include illustrations the use of a word processor that can include images is needed. 

💾 Submit Your Work in Retro Format
We welcome submissions in original file formats (e.g., .DOC, .TXT, .WPD, .PW, .AW). If needed, you can also provide a modern format (RTF or plain text) for accessibility.

💾 Register Your Participation
It is not a requirement, but please let us know of your desire to participate by emailing david@brigadiercomputers.com. In your email, please let us know which vintage word processor(s) you are thinking about utilizing. 

🎞️ Share the Process (Optional but Encouraged!)
If you have screenshots, videos, or behind-the-scenes photos of your vintage writing setup, send them along! We'll showcase the unique process of writing on retro word processors in our online exhibition. Include a short discussion, at the end of the short story or in a separate file, on the joys and challenges of writing using retro word processing. 

🖥️ Experience the Virtual Exhibition
Selected entries will be displayed in an interactive online showcase featuring:

  • A digital reading gallery for submitted stories
  • Screenshots and images of vintage writing setups
  • Author Q&A sessions discussing the joys and challenges of retro writing

Submission Guidelines


✔ Theme: Open! Your story can be any genre of computer game.  as long as it follows general decency guidelines.
✔ Rating: Keep story content on par with a PG movie rating. 
✔ Use of AI: You can use AI; however, please personalize its output to match your writing style.
✔ Length: Up to 12,000 words
✔ File Format: Preferably in its original retro format (or RTF for readability)
✔ Deadline: St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2025
✔ Rights: By submitting, you grant us the right to feature your story in our online exhibition, but you retain full copyright and may publish it elsewhere.
✔ Where to Submit: Send the story to david@brigadiercomputers.com
 
Start writing now. 

Why Join?

🕰️ Celebrate Retro Technology – Revive the beauty of distraction-free, classic word processors.
📚 Be Part of a Unique Literary Experiment – This is not just a writing challenge; it’s a historic creative experiment!
🌎 Connect with Like-Minded Writers – Meet fellow enthusiasts who appreciate vintage tech and storytelling.

Submit Your Story & Join the Exhibition!

📅 Submission Date Deadline: St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2025
🌍 Virtual Exhibition: Will be available on the BrigadierComputers.com website starting April 23, 2025. 
💾 Submit Your Work: Email your story to david@brigadiercomputers.com.

Get your vintage setup ready and bring the past into the present—one story at a time.

📌 Decide on a vintage Commodore-OS based word processors for your Short Story now and start writing!

#RetroWord #VintageWriting #AmigaWriting #WordPerfect #FinalWriter #ClassicComputing #ShortStoryShowcase

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