"Word Processor of the Gods" is a short story written by Stephen King. It was original published in the January 1983 issue of Playboy, and later included in King's own 1985 collection Skeleton Crew.
Summary
In the days when dedicated word processors were still popular, the main character, a middle-aged writer tired of his wife (a fat, bad-tempered tyrant), son (an amateur musician with an attitude problem), and life in general, gets a gift from his nephew (a teenage genius) – a custom-built word processor. Unfortunately, the nephew has recently died in a car accident (at the hands of his own evil, violent brother who was driving drunk), so the writer must figure out on his own how to use it. He discovers that, with this word processor, he can write things into existence, and also delete them – at least, as long as the rickety word processor can last. He erases his son and wife, and finally (seconds before the processor's demise) replaces them with his nephew and the nephew's kind, gentle mother. The story ends with the writer going inside with his new son.
Adaptations
The story was adapted into episode 1x08 of Tales from the Darkside, which aired on 25 November 1984. The episode was scripted by Michael McDowell.