Think you can spot the difference between a human author and an AI? Put your instincts to the test!
Every week, we’ll post two ultra-short stories—one written by a human, one by an AI. Read both, then use the voting form right below the stories to cast your guess and see if you can outsmart the algorithm.
Story A
Title: The Quiet Draw
Dust rose as the stranger rode into Sundown. No one met his gaze, except old Sheriff Tate, who stood in front of the saloon with his thumbs hooked through his belt. The sun was a coin balanced on the roof of the general store.
The stranger slid off his horse and tipped his hat. “Heard you’ve been expecting me,” he said.
Tate nodded. “You Wyatt’s boy?”
The stranger smiled, a tight little grin. “I am.”
The town watched in silence as the two men faced each other, feet apart on Main Street. Hands hovered over holsters. The church bell started to ring, slow and mournful, as if warning the sky.
Just before the bell chimed twelve, a blackbird swooped down and landed between them. The sheriff flinched. The stranger didn’t. He reached into his jacket, but instead of a gun, he drew out a faded photograph. He held it up so the sheriff could see.
Tate’s jaw dropped. The photograph was of the two of them, younger, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, grinning at the camera. The stranger wasn’t there for vengeance. He was there for forgiveness.
Story B
Title: Invisible Girl
Sophie never spoke much in class. Her voice was a secret, tucked behind her hair and the thick glasses that kept slipping down her nose. Teachers often forgot to call on her. Students mostly left her alone, except for Leo, who once traded stickers with her at recess.
Today, the teacher assigned partners for a science project. Sophie was paired with Mia, the most popular girl in school. Mia wrinkled her nose but said nothing. They sat together, planning out an experiment about plants and sunlight.
As they worked, Mia glanced at Sophie’s notebook and saw page after page of wild, brilliant diagrams and notes written in careful script. “Where did you learn all that?” she asked, eyes wide.
Sophie only shrugged.
The next day, the project won first place at the school science fair. Mia took the mic and thanked Sophie in front of everyone, calling her a genius.
When Sophie got home that afternoon, she set her backpack down. On her desk was a letter. It was from Leo, who had moved away months ago. Inside, he wrote, “I always knew you were magic. People just had to notice.”
Sophie smiled, realizing maybe she’d never been invisible at all.
Check back on July 22, 2025 for the big reveal!
We’ll announce which story was human, which was AI, and highlight some of the best voter comments.
Challenge the Bot
Want to submit your work and see how it fares against AI? Please click on link below:
Submit Your Short Story
📝 About “Guess the Pen” Submissions
Thank you for considering sharing your story! Here’s what you need to know.
How It Works:
- Your story will appear anonymously alongside an AI-generated piece.
- Readers try to guess which one is human. After voting, the real authors are revealed and the best entries get extra spotlight!
- Whether you write solo or use AI as a creative partner, what matters is that the work has your unique voice and vision.
Why Submit?
- Grow your brand: Your story will reach a new, curious audience as part of the AIFWAA community.
- Be part of something special: Help define what “authorship” means in a new era of creativity and technology.
- It’s fun! See if readers can spot your work—and watch the votes roll in.
Your Rights & Privacy:
- You keep the rights to your story. We only ask for permission to publish it on the Guess the Pen site as part of the game.
- We’ll never ask or publish your real name, nor your email without your explicit permission—only your pen name will appear if you win or are highlighted.
- We do not sell or share your information.
Guidelines:
- All genres, styles, and backgrounds are welcome!
- If you use AI, give your entry your own personal twist—don’t just paste a raw AI output.
- No hate, violence, or explicit content (keep it fun for all ages).
- Word limit: Under 500 words
Ready?
Submit your story—and thank you for helping make this community something special!