CONTROLLER OF THE WIND

Penny was no ordinary girl. In fact, she was the furthest person from ordinary imaginable. She had a unique talent, and that was controlling the weather.
One morning, she woke up early and saw the beautiful sun rise before her. It didn't amaze her, it was her doing after all. When the sun rose in the sky, Penny willed it to stay there, and it obeyed. She wanted it to be sunny because she felt like it was going to be a good day.
As she was walking to school, a few clouds approached the sun. Penny wasn't pleased. With the snap of a finger, and a mischievous grin, she arranged the clouds as she liked, purposely leaving the sun to shine.
She was quietly walking on the sidewalk when her foot hit something hard. She lost her balance and almost tripped, when a gust of wind came from behind and lifted her up, preventing her from falling.
A man sitting nearby in a parked car almost spit his coffee. “Wait- what?” he said, puzzled. “”What just happened? The wind… an-and it just stopped you from falling. How?“
”Oh, it's nothing“ Penny said, which wasn't much of an answer. She preferred to keep her powers hidden because she had convinced herself that others knowing about her special talents would only lead to trouble. And she was right.
The man who had witnessed only a fraction of her powers went and told everyone he knew about Penny the wind master. Then the people he had talked to told more people and so on. The rumors of the girl who could control wind spread so fast that by the time Penny was walking back form school, dozens of people gathered around the path she took to see her use her powers. Many had cameras with them.
Penny didn't understand why everyone was gathering around the road all of a sudden. ”Is someone famous visiting?“ she asked.
”No“ replied a stranger. ”We came to see you control the wind!“
Penny shifted uneasily. ”Me? What makes you think I can do that? I'm not some sort of wind-controlling freak!“
”Oh yes you are“ replied another stranger.
Soon sirens could be heard in the distance. A police car pulled up and a cop stepped out of the car. ”What's going on here“ he asked. His voice was deep. ”Are all the supernatural activity reports correct?“
The crowd nodded. Penny didn't. The cop must have sensed something different about her because he told her: ”Get in the car.“
”Wait- but I didn't do anything wrong!“ Penny shouted.
”It doesn't matter."
And with that they drove off to investigate. Penny was terrified.

KICKING A PEBBLE

Reyna was quietly walking through the park. She hid her freezing-cold hands in the pockets of her hoodie. But it wasn't only her hands which were cold, the the thoughts about her future were as cold as ice, cracking and shattering everywhere she stepped. It was as if she was walking on a fragile path of ice doomed to crumble to pieces.

A cold autumn breeze drifted behind her, picking up a small pile of wrinkled, amber-colored leaves from the ground. The breeze made them swirl in the air for a moment, before it suddenly vanished. The puny little leaves, no longer having anything to hold on to, fell down.

Watching these leaves, Reyna pulled down her cap, obscuring herself from the judging eyes of others. Everything falls down, she thought, I'm not the only one.
She lowered her gaze. The thoughts of her failures, the opportunities she had missed and the feeling of impending misfortunes troubled her greatly. She was in an inescapable bad mood because of the awful day she had experienced. Who knew a bad day would lead to such a desolating view of the world?

As she stared down, a large pebble caught her eye. It stood on the ground, motionless. This was Reyna's big opportunity. She kicked the pebble with all of her might, channeling all of her frustrations into it. She somehow found herself angry- angry at herself and everyone who made her feel like she had no value.

After the mighty kick, the pebble shot into the air with great speed. For moments it flew straight ahead, until it abruptly changed direction and came back to Reyna's feet. From its return, she understood that it had hit something.

She took a few steps forward and saw a plush toy that lay on the ground. It was a teddy bear. It was as if it looked at Reyna with desperate eyes, pleading to be picked up. Reyna, finding something that looked almost as sad as her, picked it up and patted the dust off.

Suddenly, she found herself five years old, standing in a busy toy store. Customers walked in and out, triggering the bell on the door to ring. It was a happy place, kids cherished when they received their favorite toys as presents.

She saw an uneasy father looking at his watch and tapping his foot impatiently.
“Uh, I'm going to be late” he said with distaste.
His son was oblivious to his complaints. “Look dad!” he said. “This car is amazing! Vroom- vroom!” He imitated the sound of an engine.
“Yeah, it's alright” the dad said. “But we got to get going, I'm going to be late for a meeting.”
“But dad!”
“Next time, Billy.” And then they left, Billy crying on the way out.

At Reyna's side stood her father who was holding her hand. Five-year-old Reyna picked a cute teddy bear from the shelf. “I want this one” she said. It was almost identical to he one she had found in the park.
“Okay sweetie” Reyna's father said.

At the checkout, they saw a mother who was struggling to pay for the toy the boy wanted.
“Oh, mommy, mommy!” the little boy cried enthusiastically as he held a toy helicopter. “Can I please have this?”
The mom looked at the boy apologetically. “I'm sorry, but… you can't.”
“Pretty please with a cherry on top?”
“I am so sorry, Gabe. But you… can't have it.”
Reyna's father stepped in between them. He handed the cashier some money. “Here” he told Gabe and handed him the helicopter he wanted.
“Thank you” the mother said.
“No problem.”
Then the mother left with her son beside him as they spoke about all the cool things the boy's new toy helicopter could do.

Reyna's father stepped closer to her and whispered: “What goes around comes around. I believe doing good always has a way of coming back to you, one way or another.” He smiled warmly and crouched to become the same height as five-year-old Reyna, and handed her the teddy bear she had wanted so badly.

And now, in the park, she held a teddy bear that resembled the one of her childhood in her freezing- cold hands.
What goes around comes around her father's words echoed in her head. Reyna understood what her father meant, and she knew what her father would have wanted her to do.

She inspected the plush toy and found that the name JACK was written on a nametag in a childish writing with an address right next to it. She also found out that Jack lived out of city, but she had set her mind on finding him. She wasn't going to give up easily. She hopped on a bus and made it to the suburbs where Jack lived.

When she arrived, she timidly stepped up the stairs and rang the doorbell.
Ding Dong It rang in a medieval tone.
Reyna started to have second thoughts about coming. After a bit of hesitation, she built up the courage to ring the doorbell for a second time.

“Okay, I'm coming!” answered a politely annoyed voice from inside. A tall woman with blonde hair and a pearl necklace opened the door.
“Hello” she said companionably. “What brings you h-” the teddy bear in Reyna's hand caught her eye. “Oh.”
“Is Jack here?” Reyna asked. “I think he forgot this in the park.”
“Thank you for bringing it back” the woman said appreciatively. “Jack has really missed his teddy bear lately.”
“Teddy bear?” shouted a childish voice from inside. A boy who looked about four or five years old ran to the door. He was wearing a dinosaur-themed t-shirt and he had curly dark hair.
Reyna smiled and crouched to be his height. She handed him the toy.
Jack smiled widely. “Thank you!” he said gleefully.

The teddy bear had made Jack happy. Seeing Jack happy made Reyna happy. Her dad had been right all along. What went around came around. Happiness was just what Reyna needed…

HELLO.

I was so close. To the end, or to the beginning— I didn't know. But I was close; close to unlocking a new door. An enormous wooden door which seemed to reach the sky loomed before me. I held its keys in my hands. Why was I hesitating, wasn't this my plan all along?

I had been eager to do whatever it took to earn this oh-so-precious key. Success felt abnormally normal. Was this normal? No, I told myself, I have to go on. Tears welled in my now glassy eyes just by looking at the key. Everything I had sacrificed was for this moment. My grip on the key tightened, and I reached out for the lock. A ray of light beamed on the golden key, but it didn't gleam. The key was smudged with dusty stains. The imperfection of the keys outer appearance made me remember what I had endured to obtain it. The smudges were from the battles I survived, they reminded me of everything.

***

I was held hostage in the king's dungeon guarded by knights and dragons that were cruel to me. They tortured me and made me fear them every waking moment of my life. Then, one day, I had built up the courage to run away. That night, as I climbed onto the prison window's rocky sill, ready to leap out and regain my freedom, I said ‘farewell’ to the knights and dragons that imprisoned me. It was the last time I saw them. In my miserable days in the dungeon, I felt as if thick harnesses suffocated me in the darkness. Or were the knights and dragons my doubts and my bravery what set me free? Had it all been imaginary? Were they nothing more than tricks of my mind? The memory started becoming blurry and a new one made its way to replace it, flooding my mind like a massive tidal wave.

A group of strangers befriended me. I was delighted upon learning this. They fought beside me on my—no, our quest of obtaining the key, for the mere reason that I was their friend. We all had our differences. Yet despite what one might assume they did quite the opposite of tear us apart; they brought us together like delicate pieces of a puzzle. When unified, we were the definition of unstoppable. But now I was leaving them because of my own selfish reasons. I just wanted to see the other side of the door. But it was a mystery. There was no guarantee I would like what I saw. So was the risk worth it?

I kept asking the same question over and over again. It echoed in my head as a faint but prominent voice. I clenched my fist over my dull, golden key and squeezed it as hard as I could, taking out the entirety of my anger on the innocent key. If the past was bearable, why should I let go of it? The past was stable, familiar and most important of all, it was over. With nothing new to add, there was no risk. It was a cozy, safe haven. Why would I want to give it up?

There was light leaking through the corners and edges of the gigantic wooden door. Light meant hope. And what better move to make than cling to the bright and shiny hope that leaked through and embrace it? I was done dwelling on the past. I mustn’t linger anymore, I told myself. I would be leaving my friends behind, but I would always know that they supported my intentions. They helped me get here. They wanted me to reach my goal of getting the key. If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t have been here. For this reason and many others, I am eternally grateful for them.
With a swift, determined movement of the wrist, I unlocked the door. As I slowly pushed the door open to its full extent, I knew there would be no going back. But that was okay. When the door was open, and the other side gleamed with a blinding colorful light, I decided to greet my future with the wonderful greeting I had intricately crafted and composed in the most elegant manner possible. Mustering the pieces of my masterpiece, I readied myself to let it out, anticipating the graceful flow of the eloquent speech. My mouth formed the word with a smirk.
“Hello.”

•Author’s note: I hope you liked my story! It’s about now wanting to let go of the past and fearing the unknown, which is the future. We all have our moments when we want to remain in a cozy place with no risks. But if we want to achieve something, we need to take a step forward and not be glued to the past. I feel like everyone has felt or will feel like this sometime in their life. Our past is important, but we can’t live in it. Otherwise we’d miss the wonders of the present and future. With this piece of writing, I intended to show you how we have to greet our future instead of hiding from it. If there’s light at the end of the tunnel, you have to take a step forward and leave your familiar spot behind, no matter how much you like it. The light of the future might be unpredictable, but you can mold it into whatever you like.
-Rea

A BOOK REVIEW
DAVID COPPERFIELD
David Copperfield is a contemporary novel written by Charles Dickens in 1849. It follows the journey of the main character from childhood to adulthood, including all of the highs and lows of his life. After his father dies when he is a mere child, his mother marries a man who is cruel to David. He sends him to a boarding school where children are beaten up in order to be ‘'disciplined’' Showing not a sliver of remorse for his step-son, David's step-father sends him to work in a wind bottling factory at ten years of age. Many kind people helped David throughout his life even though they didn't have much to offer. He finally finds shelter in his mother's aunt's house. His life spirals in many different directions, yet in the end, after facing many tragedies, he finds happiness.
Before reading, I thought it would be one of those cliché life stories where the main character does nothing but suffer, but I was wrong. This book exceeded my expectations greatly.

written by zaine

Emotion through written prose (description and word choice)

Choosing themes and specifying (preparing emotions)
When writing to convey emotions, you need to direct your attention to a specific emotion. The more specific your emotion is, the easier it is to demonstrate this emotion through your writing. Avoid using vague and overarching emotions, and instead, branch off from this starting emotion until you have a particular focus.

Let’s look at an example. Here’s an emotion that I’d like to be more specific about: nostalgia. Now, there are many forms of nostalgia, so how does nostalgia apply to the scene I’m looking at? Here’s a bit more specificity to my original emotion: nostalgia over the loss of a previous impactful relationship. Notice how I’m beginning to focus on my point, and this will make it much easier to describe the emotion!

Let’s increase the specificity even more; why is there nostalgia for this relationship? Why was this relationship impactful? How does the nostalgia make the character feel? Ask yourself questions to hone in on the emotion in this scene; you might have the scene envisioned in your head, but pretend for a second that all the information you have is how you’ve described the emotion so far. Add more details until you the description of the emotion embodies the scene. Here’s me honing in on my initial emotion: “Mourning nostalgia over the character-planned loss of a long-term relationship in which the character holds onto the joyful memories and finds it hard to let go because this relationship helped the character through a difficult time in their life, developing into a mix of regret and yearning not to return to old times but to relive the best memories again.” This is a bit run-on and redundant, but it definitely helps you focus on the point you’re trying to make! Your specified emotion doesn’t need to have perfect grammar and structure; after all, it’s part of your brainstorming. Writing out emotions this way can aid in making sure even you understand the emotion you want to convey. This is especially useful if you’re trying to demonstrate an emotion that you don’t have first-hand experience in.


Not all synonyms are the same (word choice)

We’ve all been there before. Reusing the same word over and over again to try to capture the emotion in a scene. What’s the quick fix to this? The trusty thesaurus site or a google search of “<insert word here> synonyms.” While this can definitely be useful at times, you need to understand the words you’re actually using. Every synonym brings different connotations and slight alterations in the definition, so don’t take the first synonym you see, and most definitely don’t take the most complex word because you think fancy words will lead to more quality writing. In most cases, using these words can be seen as pretentious and actually break the flow of your writing with a word that your audience can’t understand.

Let’s take the sentence here. “I was talking to Inky the other day. I was also talking to Moss at the same time.” I don’t want to use the word “talking” right next to each other, so here are some results I’ve hand-picked that searching “talking synonyms” gives me: speaking, giving voice, chatting, orating, running off at the mouth, palavering, confabulating.

Let’s start with wordiness: “giving voice” and “running off at the mouth” makes your sentence a lot longer, but longer sentences aren’t always better. It confuses the reader and doesn’t add anything to the scene.

Now, let’s look at “orating,” “palavering,” and “confabulating.” Orating is the least complex of the three, and even then, using that word in context doesn’t make sense. If I’m trying to convey an informal conversation, why am I using a formal word such as “orating”? Stories are not research papers. Even more complex words, such as the other two, are pretentious and take away from any emotion or investment into the scene because the audience can’t understand what you’re saying. You shouldn’t only focus on conciseness but also on clarity.

“Chatting” and “talking” have different definitions and usage. If you simply plug in “chatting” in the place of “talking,” you get “I was also chatting to…,” which doesn’t make sense. You don’t chat to people. You chat WITH people. That’s why it’s important to understand definitions and usages before you try to use these synonyms.

“Speaking” is fine as a synonym. Out of all the options I selected, “speaking” is the best replacement. Even then, what does using the word “speaking” add? It doesn’t add much description to how the talking was done.


Now, what are some words that would be the best to use here? If I’m trying to convey an anxious tone, I might replace “talking” with “stuttering.” If I’m trying to convey a cautious tone, I might replace “talking with “pronouncing” (but because it’s important to check definitions and usages, I would rewrite the sentence as “I pronounced each word to Inky”). If I’m going for an annoyed tone, then “muttering” could work here instead.

Let’s look at an example of overusing synonyms in incorrect ways (not understanding definitions/usages + being pretentious + not adding anything to the scene). Don’t worry, this is my July 2021 writing competition entry. “As they traverse through a labyrinth of stone, aimlessly dotted yews and junipers provide a canopy obscuring parts of the ceiling. Scents envelop the landscape, mixing to form an indistinguishable aroma.” Notice how “traverse” makes the writing more formal, yet doesn’t add much to the emotion in the scene. “Provide” doesn’t add much either. Using the adjective “dotted” for the yews and junipers (plants that we didn’t need to know about) is also a misusage because are we trying to say that these plants were covered in dots, or are we trying to say that these plants were infesting the scene? A better word here could’ve been “invasive.” The second sentence is also wordy (aroma was clearly a synonym for scent, mixing was clearly a synonym for the envelop, so you could read this as “scents envelop the landscape, enveloping to form an indistinguishable scent.” This could’ve been rewritten as “the scents enveloping the landscape were indistinguishable”). Synonyms aren’t always the answer when you’re being repetitive! Combining information into a shorter sentence to be more concise might be a better approach.


Adverbs and linking verbs (word choice)

Pesky adverbs. It sneaks up unconsciously whether you like it or not. (Psst, unconsciously is an adverb.) Instead of using adverbs, it’s more beneficial to use a stronger verb. On occasion, there’s no other option but to use an adverb, but try your best to find a better verb before resorting to using an adverb!

If I have to name one of the simplest changes I’ve done to my current writing, it’s removing my dependency on linking verbs. You might know linking verbs as “is” and “are,” but linking verbs are also anything that’s not an action verb, so “feel,” “look,” “think,” and “seem” are all linking verbs. Any verb you can replace with “is/are/am” is a linking verb (this is important because verbs can be used as both action and linking verbs. Linking verbs are the issue, not action verbs).

Let’s look at an example from my July 2021 entry. “…each chunk of the necropolis's insides removed proving progress.” In this context, removed is a linking verb because you can rewrite this as “each chunk of the necropolis’s insides is proving progress” (ignore the fact it’s suffering from purple prose, which will be mentioned in the next section). What does “removed” add that isn’t covered with the word “is”? When you notice this in your writing, it’s usually a sign that you’re not effectively using your words to convey emotions. (Note: don’t get me wrong. Linking verbs have their uses and can be effective if done correctly. While “He is handsome.” can definitely be rewritten, at the same time, “He is the wilting rose from yesterday. He seems oblivious to the beauty he hauls, and that is clearly killing him inside.” is an effective use of linking verbs! Most of the advice in this workshop depends on context.)

Now, let’s rewrite my necropolis line. “Each chunk of the necropolis proves I’m making progress.” It’s concise now, and now it’s clear that there’s some editing I can do to make the writing more emotional. “Each chunk of the crumbling necropolis at least proves I’m accomplishing something. It’s enough validation to stab, and to stab, and to stab…” If you’re having trouble recognizing what needs to change in your sentence, rewrite it without problematic linking verbs, and it becomes clear what needs to change (and where you need to add)!


dangers of purple prose (description)
As stated previously, conciseness and clarity matter in your writing. Being in-depth with your description is perfectly fine as long as you don’t overdo it to the point it becomes redundant. When you over-express in your language in an attempt to showcase your writing skills, the emotion in the scene is completely lost. Let’s be clear— purple prose is not just using the biggest words from the dictionary. It’s describing scenes so elaborately that they don’t accurately reflect what’s going on. As the saying goes, you need to show in your writing, not tell. Showing is adding action and plot complexity to engage your reader. Purple prose isn’t this; purple prose is still essentially telling the reader what’s going on but in an overly embellished manner (and at that point, I’d rather you tell and not try to dress your “telling” in flashiness… or, should I say, capturing the commonplace essence of the insipid description in a labyrinth as to effectively forever wander between the lines of vintage, inscrutable, sepia pages formulated by the ostentatious performance of ink sheltered in a cylindrical abode, biding one’s time for release).

Let’s look at a different writing competition entry from March 2021 (again, no need to fret, this is my writing competition entry. I promise this workshop won’t be entirely self-deprecation, it’s important to view both the flaws and positives in your writing to improve!). Here’s the first line from that entry: “His distinct mind is intriguing, his peculiar essence almost… gratifying.” It’s… quirky to say the least. Is this showing me anything? Not really. It’s essentially telling me that whatever dude this character is talking about, he has a different way of thinking that makes the character curious. Writing it in such an elaborate manner didn’t really add anything to this line. What emotion was I trying to convey here anyway? Let’s rewrite this line to portray the emotion of discovering a new source of curiosity after months of soulless monotony, which becomes a chance for the character with newly-found motivation to commit to pursuing an objective for once (notice how I’ve honed in on the emotion I want). “It’s a sudden jolt to my long-untouched system. Dropping the connection, I’m already shoving the crowd aside before the world has a chance to unpause itself.” (A little context, this character can read people’s minds by temporarily pausing the world.) This rewritten version literally tells us that this character is running through a crowd toward some interesting goal. It doesn’t directly tell us the emotion though, but the reader can infer the mood that this scene is trying to set up. That’s the thing about showing and not telling– you can’t avoid telling (how else are you going to let the reader know the character is doing something?) but what’s important is that your telling shows something in addition. (P.S. a little bonus information, but I didn’t implement every aspect of my specific emotion in the scene. However, I implemented portions of the emotion instead because if I were completely rewriting everything, I would build up toward my specific emotion! I’ll talk about this more later.)


Sentence length and structure (structure)

I’ll keep this section short, or else I’ll be rambling about pacing which I don’t think I’m qualified to talk about (it’s the number one issue in all my writing xD). Generally, the longer the sentence, the slower the scene becomes. The shorter the sentence, the faster the scene. Pair this with the length of paragraphs (shorter paragraphs are generally slower, faster paragraphs are generally faster), and you’ve got the ability to express time-dependent emotions! Let’s take this simple emotion: the onset of sadness over the loss of food. Maybe this food was stolen quickly, and I could write it as:

I race to the table. I see the final grape. Awaiting. I lunge.

The cat pounces too.

I reach for the bowl.

The paw gets there first.

In a matter of seconds, it’s gone. No more grapes. My stomach rumbles, and I can only sigh and tell my stomach it’s fine when it’s not.

Ignoring the fact this example is quite nonsensical, notice how I use short sentences to indicate the speed at the beginning. It gives a sense of urgency. Then, I slow the scene down with shorter paragraphs. The short sentence still indicates speed, but the contrasting short paragraphs implies some time warp occurring. The sentence and paragraph lengths return to normal at the end, showing the urgency dimming down to a normal pace.


active voice vs passive voice (structure)

Active voice contains more direct language compared to passive voice. This can be beneficial if you’re trying to portray more concrete and assertive emotions during a scene; while passive voice is generally frowned upon due to its indirect language, you can use this to your advantage if you’re trying to demonstrate more vague and abstract emotions!

Compare these two examples, describing mostly the same scenarios:

“The concrete blocks are thumped hard. Every step is accompanied by a slight ascent up the tower. My eyes are pricked, the subtle sparks coming from sharp pinholes of light. Almost out of time, the watch has been cursorily glanced.”

What emotions does this excerpt imply? Notice the passive voice and how it brings a sense of mystery. The indirect nature of the language almost gives a sense of incompleteness, building suspense toward some inevitable revelation.

“My boots ricochet hard against the concrete blocks. Every step propels me quicker up the tower; the sharp pinholes of light above prick my eyes with subtle sparks. A cursory glance at my watch reveals I’m almost out of time.”

With more direct language using active voice, the demonstrated emotion goes from being mysterious and incomplete to a sense of purpose. Pairing this with word choice, it’s clear how active voice can help your writing to be more palpable.

Literary devices (description)


Setting and imagery (description)


Avoid cliches (general)


Build up emotions (preparing emotions)


Yourself (preparing emotions)

Lastly, one of the best tools you can use is yourself. Sometimes the best way to express emotions in your writing is to place yourself in the situation. This can definitely be challenging when you haven’t experienced the emotion you want to describe. This is where inspiration comes in! This isn’t a workshop on inspiration so I won’t go into detail on that, but here are some common methods I’ve heard (and some I personally use!) that can get you in the zone:

Listening to music (Definitely my favorite way! Make sure you’re listening with the purpose of trying to feel the emotion you want to convey. I’ve been guilty of listening to music because I just wanted to listen to music. xD)

Conversing with somebody (Talk to somebody! Everybody’s got a story to tell. Everybody’s been through different events in their life. We are a record of our successes and failures, of our memories and trauma. You might not know how to describe something, but hearing somebody else who may have more experience with this emotion describe it to you can definitely help you put it into words!)

Read other people’s work (Find your favorite authors and stories and pinpoint what techniques they use to express emotions. It’s important you find credible authors and high-quality stories because there are plenty of authors and stories out there that are… questionable writing-wise. However, while it’s okay to take inspiration, it’s not okay to plagiarize. Don’t copy somebody’s metaphors and word meanings, even if you’re using synonyms and restructuring the figurative language. Come up with your own metaphor and describe the emotion in a new way!)

Movies/mood boards (Movies and mood boards are great if you learn through visuals! They have similar benefits as listening to music and reading other people’s work. However, with movies, just be careful to avoid cliches and stereotypes. Most visual media is prone to misrepresentation and unrealism, so take that into consideration when taking inspiration from visual media.)

Journaling (I keep a daily journal, and I encourage you all to try it sometime. If you’re prone to never being able to recall memories and how you felt during situations, keeping a daily journal to look back on can definitely refresh you on the details!)

Seek experiences (Some emotions can easily be sought out. If you’re trying to describe some form of calmness, perhaps going on a hike in the wilderness, meditating outside in the sun, or strolling by the beach can inspire you. If you’re trying to describe some form of excitement, perhaps invite your friends out to a karaoke night, attend a birthday party, or organize a sleepover with various games!)


A final note on inspiration: do what’s comfortable to you. Some people write about triggering topics. You don’t have to jump on the bandwagon of these polarizing emotions if it doesn’t feel right. If it’s something you wouldn’t want to write about, then don’t write about it! Don’t seek inspiration for something you don’t feel comfortable writing. Seek inspiration because you want to write but don’t know how to. Don’t seek inspiration because you don’t want to write but you feel like you have to.

zai says he'll finish the incomplete sections soon ^^


written by cara

1/(title font) The Mechanics of Time Travel

2/ So, you want to write a story that includes some degree of time traveling, and you have no idea where to start. (Or when to start!) Luckily, I can help - soon you’ll be zooming confidently away into your own timestream. #or some better finishing line idk

3/ The Approach


4/ The very first thing you should plan is your method. Decide whether you want the method to be more technical, or more mystical. You could have exact scientific machines, supernatural spells, or a world where jumping through a timestream is as natural as breathing. It’s completely up to you - but do keep in mind the setting and theme of your story. Would a modern spacetime ship fit in with a medieval witch’s coven? (Maybe it would - but you’d have some explaining to do!)

5/ While you should know your method inside out, your reader doesn’t have to. Time travel doesn’t exist (yet) - no one’s going to complain that you weren’t detailed and realistic enough. Additionally, overexplaining can lead to you writing yourself into a wall later on. While a basic framework is a good way to ground the reader in an unrealistic concept, the minor attributes can be kept as your own personal lore.

6/ Consistency

7/ One of the most important things to do when writing your story is to keep everything consistent. Plot holes will be the bane of your existence, so it’s best to reference your planning consistently as you write.

8/ The rules you give your characters must stay the same. How can they interact with the timestream? For example, one version of time travel says that no matter what changes characters make in the past, the present finds a way to the same. But there are many different methods - take inspiration from other pieces of media if you’re struggling to think of something.

9/ The timeline must stay consistent. One way to do this is to plot out a chronological timeline and then reference it as needed when your characters move throughout the timestream. This is especially useful when you have many, contradicting timelines.

10/ Writing Tips

11/ Now that you have all the planning set up, it’s time to actually write it in! Here are some Top Tips (™) from me.

12/ Although as writers, we’re often told to start writing action straight away, I don’t recommend starting with time travel. It’s already quite a difficult concept for people to wrap their heads around, and you risk overwhelming the reader if the events you’re describing aren’t blatantly obvious. Instead, show your reader some buildup.

13/ Give your characters constraints. People want to read about people, not overpowered time lords. While time travel is an incredibly cool ability, make your characters suffer ()! Whether it’s limits built into your story (degradation of timestream, butterfly effect) or an unexpected setback (power degradation), these make your story infinitely more exciting.

14/ Always give yourself an out. You’re probably going to write yourself into a plot hole at some point. It happens to the best of us. Instead of rewriting everything, have an in-universe explanation ready. For example, in Avengers: Endgame, this explanation is that the Quantum Realm works in mysterious ways. Your excuse can be more or less elaborate, but having something prepared will speed up the process significantly.

15/ Activity #there’s probably an official name for this isnt there - sorry dt

16/ Now that you’re veritable experts, try your hand at writing one of the most classic methods of time travel: the butterfly effect. This is where things changed in the past affect the future - even small, insignificant things, like dropping a pencil, can cause drastic changes.

Describe three drastically different timelines, all caused by the outcome of one event in the past. The wilder, the better! Remember, a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a hurricane - or cause alien overlords to take over the Earth. #do i need a word min on here

17/ Thanks for reading! # put in an actual better message here

word war with @-Autumnx_Breeze-

I heard my name from the blaring speakers in the hallway. Why was I being called? I was elated, and even giddy. My excitement overtook my senses and I forgot to listen to why I was being called. I rushed down the hallway with fast steps, trying to keep my pace in check. About five or so other students had also been called. We got in line. They were going to give us prestigious awards! A big smile formed on my face as I was handed my award. I was extremely jovial. I felt as if sparkles of happiness gleamed in my eyes. The other award winners were unbelievably happy as well. I didn't know what to say. “Thank you!” The words left my mouth before I even noticed that they had. The others showed their gratitude by thanking them as well. Brightness caused by extreme joy shone in their eyes as well. It was an epoch in my life I would never forget. I smiled.

July 1st daily swc
Hey everyone! I'm Rea, a teen who likes reading, writing, art, basketball and cycling. I'm a member of so many fandoms that I lost count, but some are: Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Keeper of the Lost Cities and A Series of Unfortunate Events, but there are way more. This is my third time doing SWC and I'm super duper excited!! Fantasy for the win!

July 2nd 2022 daily

Does Carmen Sandiego secretly have magic powers?
-As I see it, yes
:0


Everything was ordinary. At least as ordinary as my life can be. We had just been to Canary Islands, a place of immense sentimentality to me, and were making our way back to San Diego. We unfortunately hadn't defeated VILE, but we had prevented them from harming anyone, which was a big gain.

We – Me, Ivy, Zack and Shadowsan – were on a ship, watching the serene ripples in the water a slight breeze that came from the north was causing. We rarely got the chance to experience such calm moments of peace. My entire life consisted of fighting; fighting the good guys in my childhood when I has a mere child who VILE had brainwashed, yet now, coming to my senses, I was fighting the bad guys.

The steel ground I stood on rumbled. The ship must have hit something, and that meant …Oh no… my eyes widened, water was filling the colossal ship and we were inevitably doomed to sink.

“Oh yes” a disturbingly familiar voice said, as mocking footsteps sounded from the captain. He took of his black fedora which obscured his face. This act was meant to tease my appearance and identity. The newly-revealed face was that of a cleaner – one of VILE's most sly members.
Without even a flinch, we he started his jetpack and blasted himself out of this soon-to-be-shipwreck. We were stuck, our moments were timed.
Zack and Ivy screamed, Shadowsan tried to come up with a plan but he simply couldn't. There were no escape boats.

I didn’t know what I was doing.
It was an instinct.

I grabbed everyone from the collar, shot a defiant look at the sky, and soared upwards, my red tren choat flowing in the wind. It was okay that my scarlet fedora was lost in the wind as was probably at the bottom of the water by now. My crew was safe and that was all that mattered.

Neither them nor I could believe what was happening. Shadowsan was dumbstruck, very un-Shadowsan-like if you ask me. Zack's Jaw dropped. “This is AWESOME!” “Whoa” was Ivy's only reaction. Mine came a bit delayed. Player was quicker.
His voice sounded in my earpiece disguised as an earring. “Wha– Red, how is this possible?”
I could here his keyboard clicking, probably doing research on how this was even possible. I couldn't believe it either.

“I can fly!” I shouted, “I CAN FLY I CAN FLY I CAN FLY!”



411 words

Daily july 26th
Sammy gazed at the horizon ruefully. His blue tipped bangs made faint movements in the slight breeze. How had the world become this wasteland, what had they done wrong? Everything, he said to himself, with a restrained smirk. Barren red rocks stretched as far as the eye could see, tendrils of smoke curling into enormous clouds in the distace.
Once toby had returned, he held a bunch of stones in his hand. A group gathered around him, gasping and congratulating him. Fernand stole a quick glimpse of the stones, unimpressed. “Is this all you got? You were supposed to bring more! Are you hiding some and saving them for yourself? Empty your pockets this instant!”
Toby did as he said, and they were empty. “See!” he said, “I've got nothing to hide. I couldn't reach those stones, they were too far away. My oxygen ws running out and I had to get out of there. I am not a thief.”
“Yeah, right” Fernand said.
An argument erupted from the crowd. Some believed in Fernand, while some took the side of Toby. The group divided into two, Fernand's group significantly larger than Toby's. When Toby came to the realization that he was outnumbered, he clutched the stones even tighter. “You people don't know what side to pick!”
At that moment, a sudden burst of power surged through Sammy's veins. The crowd continued to argue, while the precious stones got buried deeper and deeper into Toby's clutches. He couldn't let those stones stay in the wrong hands. Toby was rightful, but he was angry thanks to Fernand, so he didn't think about the significance of the stones. He only thought about how to prove himself innocent.
Sammy abruptly snatched the stones and sprinted ahead. He couldn't lose those vital stones to an argument. Leaving his shyness behind, paying no heed to the judging stares of others, he ran. He ran like his life depended on it, he ran like he had no choice. He didn't. It was a milestone, an epoch of Sammy's life. If he hadn't found the courage to do so, the world would have been a horrible different place.

360 words

July 4th Daily
Vague conversation:
“You should come with us today, we're waiting for you!”
“Um… come with you where?”
“Near the café, dummy!”
“But which café? The one we always go to… or?”
“Not that one, the one in the city.”
“But Kate, there are dozens of cafés in the city, I don't know which one to go to!”
“We're in front of the on on the left side of the street.”
''What street?''
“4 Privet Drive''
”Okay, I'm there, I just arrived. But there are at least ten cafés on the left side of the street!“
”You know which one to go to.“
”No I don't.“
”Let me send you our– you know.“
”Location?“
”Yeah, that's what it's called, right?“
Ally checks her phone. ”You didn't send it.“
Kate sighs. ”Oh, right. It makes sense now. I just did the wrong thing. That explains it. I'm trying to do it again now. I'm sort of new to these gadgets. Did it work now?“
Ally checks her phone again. No message. ”Nope.''
Kate laughs. “Oooh, now I get it. The thing wasn't on. How did I not notice that? Hmm… it should work now. I think I finally sent it. Can you check your phone again?”
“Sure, of course” Ally rolls her eyes. “I didn't hear anything, so the message probably didn't arrive. I'll check anyway.”
“It worked this time, right?”
“Yup. I'll arrive at the place any moment now.”
“Cool, I can't wait for you to come! See you there, Ally!”
“Bye, Kate!”

250 words


Ambiguous conversation: (my main example here is Amelia Bedelia. I was obsessed with that series in kindergarten.)
“Amelia, run over the the dress with an iron please.”
“Sure! On it!”
“Why are there footprints on my lovely white dress! And it isn't even ironed, it's still wrinkly.”
“Sorry ma'am, I just did what I was told.”
''Forget that now and prune the trees, dear, they really look in need of it.“
”Okay ma'am I'll work on it.“
”Amelia! Why did you stick prunes on the trees in our garden with… is that superglue?“
”Indeed, Madame, don't they look good?“
”Amelia, that wasn't what I meant! Never mind, I have another task for you.“
”What is it?“
”Could you please go and by some macaroni and cheese from the supermarket?“
”Yes, of course!“
Amelia Bedelia rushes to the supermarket and buys a packet of macaroni and some cheese. She returns gleefully and places them one the kitchen table.
”I wanted macaroni and cheese, like an all-in-one thing, Amelia, not like this. Well, I guess this will do fine too.“
”Happy to be of service, ma'am“ Amelia smiled.
”There's one last thing I need you to do. Please call me a taxi as I will be going out of town soon. I'm going to pack my belongings and then I'll be on my way. “
”Okay. Taxi!“
”Don't call me ‘Taxi’, get me one so I can travel to town!“
''Yes I'll do that as soon as you're ready then.”
“Good.”
*a while later*
“Let's hit the road!”
SMACK
“Amelia, please tell me why you are hitting the road with a stick!”

252 words

CHARACTER: Carmen Sandiego.
Series continuing or ended: Ended

She/her - canonically straight, but the fandom thinks otherwise…- human,

Strengths: Clever, resourceful, sneaky, loyal to her friends, kind, empathetic, determined
Weaknesses: her past with VILE affects her a bit too much in terms of emotions, her physical strength is good, but not enough when in combat with stronger opponents

General view on life: not hateful


Relationships:
friends with Zack, Ivy, Player, Shadowsan (new member of team Red), Crackle (temporary), vile members (formerly)
Enemies: VILE, everyone except VILE (formerly)
Family: pretty mush unknown except father, Dexter Wolfe and mother, Vera Cruz
There are some love interests that the fandom firmly believes in but they’re not exactly cannon so I won’t include them.




Tendencies:
Tends to take on the role of a lone wolf and tries to get everything done by herself
Improvement: made new friends such as Player, Zack and Ivy who help her on missions
Tends to act reserved and and ambiguous
Improvement: opened up to friends a little bit, especially her long time friend, Player


Situations:

Face to face with a VILE member: Generally acts in a mysterious and mocking way, and is secretly resentful

Forced to make a hard decision of letting Crackle take the life of a random citizen or interfering: interferes; tackles Crackle and lets the man escape

Finds out that VILE is going to steal a historical artifact: steals it before them, and later anonymously gives it back to authorities

VILE threatens to hurt her friends if she doesn’t cooperate: cooperates until her friends are safe, then sabotages VILE’s missions

Scenario

“ Your character has just been framed for something they didn't do and is being interrogated by the police” this actually fits the series pretty well as it is very likely in the circumstances Carmen Sandiego operates under.

A faint lamp from above illuminated a cylindrical fragment of the room with a gloomy light. I could see dust particles serenely floating in the air, oblivious to how much I was suffering.

“You again?” Chief said, curling her lip with distaste. “ I though you were on our side now. I–I can't believe you tricked us, again.” Her tone became commanding. “ We have strong intel suggesting you stole the Rosetta Stone. We have footage, you can't deny it.”

I was strapped to an incredibly uncomfortable piece of metal that was meant to imitate the function of a chair. Chief leaned forward and shone the light right into my eye. She banged her fist on the table. “Admit it!”
“You ACME people are all the same, ” I muttered under my breath. "Yes, I did steal it, temporarily, then after VILE left the museum empty-handed, I returned it, like a always do.“
”And? There has to be more to the story!“
I displayed my best smirk under my red fedora. I would have crossed by arms to if they weren't tied. ”That's all.“
”I don't believe you. You're just keeping it for yourself. You're probably playing double agent, feeding VILE our secrets. Julia can defend you all she wants. Maybe she's in on this too. “
”Leave Jules out of this. “
”I know where your friends live. I know where your hq is. I can even have my agents track down your little online friend.“
My eyes widened. ACME was blind, but they weren't ruthless, were they? ”No. What do you want?“ I demanded.
”The truth.“
”You see,“ I said, tapping my fingers to the metal armrest. Chief finally realized that I was no joke. I could effortlessly free myself from the bonds that held me back. I had a retractable mini blade attached to the tip of my coal-colored gloves. Chief had evidently sensed that I was ridiculing her. I wanted to do so. My lips crept into an intentionally taunting smile.
” Tell me the rules and I'll play the game. It's pretty simple, actually. So what am I supposed to do in order to ensure my friend's safety?“
” Ah, the selfless hero. I am in awe of your heroics. But we both know that's not the real deal.“
I raised an eyebrow. ”Then what is?"
That old ACME agent didn’t know how desperate I was to keep my friends safe. But I never showed it. I couldn't afford to show it. I was a mastermind who worked in the shadows. I was Carmen Sandiego. And I wasn't afraid of some petty secret organization.

439 words

Character(s) used One One aka Sad One and Glad One from Infinity Train

When the spherical-shaped robotic form of life One One divides into two hemispheres, two split personalities form. Glad one, the optimistic hemisphere, tends to look at life through the lenses of rose-colored glasses. It always looks at the bright side of life and displays a highly positive attitude. It is relentlessly overjoyed and likes to sing and tell jokes. It makes up happy tunes to sing in even the most dangerous and hopeless situations. Sometimes his optimism makes it oblivious and naïve, but nevertheless, Tulip is happy to have it as her travel companion. It is in every way different from its sad counterpart Sad One.
106 words

On the other hand, the other split personality of One One is a hemispherical robot with a gloomy view of life. Sad One is immensely pessimistic and tends to think about the worst possibilities all the time. It always dismisses itself as worthless and makes subduing remarks. Its negativity can sometimes be insightful, but more often than not, it is depressing. With its emotionless voice and pessimistic attitude, it is the exact opposite of Glad One. It has no enthusiasm whatsoever in what it says, but it usually speaks the truth. It is hopelessly stuck in a state of despair in almost every situation, and may need Tulip's or Glad One's help.
112 words

From Glad One's point of view:

Ah, the Ball Pit Car, such a marvelous place we had entered. I was submerged in plastic balls all colors of the rainbow, oh the fun i was having! I got up and made my way to the slide once again.
“Weeeeeeeeeeee” I yelled as I was sliding down a lovely blue slide into the ball pit of fun. It stretched as far as the eye could see. I grinned. Sad One sulked, but I knew that even Sad One would get used to this exhilarating place. No one was beyond fun. Tulip, was looking around, obviously concerned. I didn't get her worry, so I decided to cheer her up with a nice song. “We're on our way to stop the Steward, stop the Steward , stop the Steward. We're on our way to stop the Steward! Stoooooooop, theeeeeee Stewaaaaard!”
Tulip put on a smile, while Sad One frowned even more. Was there no extent to Sad One's misery? Was there nothing in this world that made him experience a glint of happiness? Sometimes I couldn't explain how I was even related to that monotone piece of metal!
“The Stuart is going to show up any moment and pulverize us all” Sad One groaned. “There is no escape.”
“'Ello there Tulip I would just like to inform you that there is a way!” I said. “There always is!”
“I don't know…” Tulip's voice trailed off. She seemed hesitant. But I tried to assure her that there was no need to worry in this magnificent world.
The ground boomed, and a blazing blue-eyed Steward emerged from the ball pit. It sneered at us.
Tulip gasped. Sad one sighed. I chuckled.
“Oh, goody!” I yelled. “Welcome to the playground, buddy!”
Tulip slowly shook her head as if to say this isn't good.
The Steward started to fry its surroundings with its lazer eye beams.
312 words

From Sad One's point of view:

Ugh, the Ball Pit Car. The place of our doom. Glad One was gleefully squirming here and there in the ball pit, over-enthusiasic as usual. Tulip, sensible as she was, was staring at the ground, obviously doubtful. She was right. A feeling of impending danger crept upon me subtly. The Steward was definitely going to show up and crash the party Glad One thought existed.
Glad One then started blabbering about how we were going to stop the Steward and started to yell a hopelessly optimistic tune. Couldn't Glad One understand that there was nothing to be happy about? Happiness was just an unrealistic illusion that blinded Glad One's judgement. We were all totally insignificant to the world.
“The Steward is going to show up any moment and pulverize us ” I moaned.
Tulip stared in what I assumed was agreement.
Glade One went on with heroical words to convince Tulip that there was no problem at all, and that hope was an ubiquitous emotion. Tulip seemed to buy those words.
Wrong, I wanted to say, but then I remembered that my puny opinion was not worth listening to.
After an abrupt rumble of the ground the Steward appeared before us. I wanted to say I told you so, but the knowledge of how insignificant I was held me back.
The Steward locked its flaming azure eyes on us and started shooting scarlet lazer beams.
Tulip shot Glad One a look that I was glad I didn’t receive. She finally realized how much of a dire situation we were in. Glad One certainly didn't.
Glad One was too busy inviting the Steward to play with us, thrilled to find a new buddy. Oblivious to the danger as always.
“Run!” She yelled, and we scrambled to the door leading to the next car. It goes without mentioning that we barely made it.
311 words

The tropes I'm using here are crack fic, backstory fic, and canon divergent. Basically, it's going to be almost completely unrelated to the original XD. This is a Ninjago fanfiction.

"Hey Kai, how did you manage to err– achieve that?“ Jay pointed at a ginormous stain on Kai's usual red ninja attire.
”That? Oh… haha… it's a long story.“
”Kai, why are you staring at the horizon like you're having a flashback?“ Jay asked, exasperated.
”Oh it's just…“
”There! You're doing it again!“
”Okay, okay. I'll tell you the whole story then, if that's what you want. So yesterday I was fighting some Vermillion. But I didn't understand how they regenerated again, I thought we had finished them off. Anyway, then Chen showed up. I know what you're thinking, how is that even possible? Well… it is, okay? Don't blame me!
Then he offered me a cookie, which I found weird, so I didn't accept it despite his hospitality. Then he said that he had just seen a Netflix adaptation of a popular book series, and in that series, it was undignified to send one's guests home without fortification. He didn't want to disrespect me, of course, so he offered me a bowl of fresh noodles. ‘Family recipe ’ as he had said. You know, they have a noodle company empire, so I couldn't say no. They were delicious. In fact, too delicious.
Then Skylor appeared before me as smoke and solidified into herself. She must have stolen Ash's shadow power, I thought. I remembered how she had manipulated and used me on Chen's island, but her charming beauty made me forget about it all.
Once her father, Chen, left the room to ‘instruct ’, or in simpler terms, ‘boss around and yell orders ’ at the workers in his noodle factory, Skylor shot me a glance.
I was beginning to get a little dizzy.
Skylor dissolved into the shadows and reappeared next to me.
'Hey, look at me.' She said.
'I am ‘ I slurred. My poor vision made me feel as if I was soaring in the sky on a collapsing roller-coaster.
’Listen, my dad put some kind of sleeping potion in those noodles. You shouldn't eat it!'
My eyes dropped to the empty bowl in front of me. I had practically inhaled those scrumptious noodles.
Scrambled words that even I couldn't understand left my mouth.
'Uhhhhh I wuess iss too laight'
'It most certainly is.' Skylor used another one of her stolen powers, turning invisible and dragging me along with her. At that moment, I lost track of almost everything that was happening.
When I woke up, Skylor and I were at Dareth's dojo.
'Heya fellow ninjas!' Dareth said, ‘What brings you here?’
There was so much wrong with that sentence. First of all, I was the only real ninja among them. Skylor had multiple powers but she wasn't an actual ninja. Dareth… Don't even get me started on him! He just thinks he's the brown ninja, but he isn't. I didn't bring it up because I didn't want to break his feelings. Plus, we needed the shelter of his dojo.
'We're tired' I said. ‘And we need the help of a ninja-like you!’
'Also, we need you to sing us a song' Skylor chimed in.
'Gladly' Dareth said and started to screech a particularly annoying song at the top of his lungs.
Before he had stared, I was partially awake. After he started, I was as awake as a person could get. His revitalizing, horrible voice had brought me back to my senses.
'What do we do now?' I asked when the song finished.
'I could sing another song! Dareth enthusiastically ventured.
Skylor smiled. ‘No need!’ She declared.
Dareth was less than happy to hear that.
‘We should get going soon’ Skylor said.
‘Yeah’ I agreed a little too quickly.
Dareth was upset, but not devastated like I thought he was going to be. That was a relief.
We made our way out of the dojo and into a coffee shop. Waiting in line was— wait was that— I couldn’t believe my eyes so I rubbed them and looked again. Garmadon???
That creature of darkness loomed before us, radiating a mixture of horrific awe and fear. This was a Starbucks, not a Cryptarium prison! He was ordering a latte with such an innocent smile plastered across his face that he even fooled me there too. Sometimes it was hard to believe he was Lloyd’s dad. I mean, he was a nice guy before he sacrificed himself to defeat the Anacondrai, but still. Maybe he had a heart after all.
I was wrong. When he turned towards us, he geared his great teeth and lunged on us, grasping his latte tightly with one hand. Then—”
“Kai, this doesn’t explain the stain!” Jay complained. “You’re just telling me random stories, dancing around the truth. HOW EXACTLY DID THE STAIN HAPPEN?”
“Oh, that? That’s just a result of my fabulous cooking skills. Here, have some noodles!”
Kai handed Jay an enormous bowl of ramen noodles.
Jay was crestfallen. “ Nooooooooooooooooooooooo” he yelled.

823 words

SWC Fanfic

The Main Cabin was a profound log cabin, large enough to accommodate more than five hundred people. Each session it took on a different guise. This session was one of plants and floral wonders. Campers, co-leaders, leaders, hosts and co-hosts alike were planting pine trees and all kinds of flowers around the Main Cabin. By the end of July, this place was to be the land of blooming saplings. The Main Cabin was where friendship, creativity and competitive team spirit triumphed over all!

Fifteen smaller log cabins were scattered about, all showcasing their unique themes and color schemes. The one that shone brightest of all, of course, was of mauve wood, with emerald-green ivies intertwined with the base of the cabin. Its roof was as if it had been dipped in the most delicate silver moonlight. The cabin's oracle had also predicted that Fantasy was going to win, and everyone knew that there was no arguing with an oracle. No one could deny it.

I, Rea, along with my friends Skye, Iris, Summer, Creaty, Cd, Violet and Twi, was sitting in the Main Cabin, eating breakfast. We were all delighted upon learning that we would be served mango cheesecakes for breakfast.
“Yum!” I said, savoring every bite of the wonderful meal. “These cheesecakes sure are something!”
Cd grinned. “Camp has been even better since they painted the Main Cabin in neon colors!” They exclaimed.
Summer nodded in agreement. “Definitely! Let's just hope that camp doesn't turn into a swamp again like last time.”
“Fun times” Violet said, in a nostalgic way which we all felt. “Anyway, when do you think the daily will be announced?”
“I believe it changes at midnight UCT” Iris said, stealing a quick glimpse at her watch. “That's in a couple of minutes!” She smiied.
“Aaaaaahh the excitement” Twi enthusiastically gushed. “I just can't wait!”
“Neither can I” Creaty said, getting her notebook and pencil ready for writing.
This time Skye quickly checked the time. “Only 30 seconds left. 29… 28…27 ”
We joined her in the countdown. But when we reached zero, nothing happened. After a fleeting moment of perplexity, a whistle sounded in the distance.
“Guys, come on!” I said. “The daily's being announced!”
We all scrambled outside where Birdi and Robin were announcing the challenge of the day. Soon after the speech and announcement, the crowd dispersed to their cabins and began to write like their cabin's fate depended on it. Quite honestly, it did.

411 words

Total: 2783 words

Main cast for the SWC fanfic:
@Willow_wonderful(me) @Isauree(Skye) @sunsetskies-(Summer) @S_theCreator(Creaty) @Buddie_Helper(Violet) @owlgoing-(Iris) @ForestPanther(Cd) @TWILIGHT_A(Twi)




So,,, um,,, yeah!
*Awkwardly bows, drops mic, and scurries off stage*

july 6th daily.
horoscope: Capricorn
I was on the verge of an internal explosion. But I just couldn't, I had to keep going. I had to protect myself, no matter how hard it was. Others could be their own saviors, but not mine. I knew that I could succeed without anyone else's help. I was my own savior. I had to look out for myself. It was simply necessary to be an independent personality, I had no other choice. I couldn't have another choice. That is why I am telling you this. I want everyone to hear my voice, I'm tired of keeping it bottled up. I was tired of sealing my thoughts and feelings in a safe and throwing it into the profound ocean of similar safes, watching a forced called gravity sink who I was to the bottom of the ocean. That notion was over. It ended today.
I was free know, free of the judging eyes of others, free of the judging eyes of myself, free of the imaginary captors that held me back. They could think what they wanted. I didn't care. I wouldn't care. I couldn't care. I told myself that I would not let myself fall for their trickery again. I would stand strong and hold my precious ground. Even though I was tired, I would not give up my dream. Dreams aren't dreamt to be forgotten. They are dreamt to live in the dreamer's mind forever. And when the time comes, those dreams will morph into reality if the dreamer works hard enough.
I had to stay true to myself. I had to. I had to. A twinkle of determination shone in my ever so determined eyes. No one could stop me from being myself. I was to embrace the world to its full extent. That was my goal. It was a goal I was not willing to change. It was going to remain my goal until I achieved it and then I would have to set another goal for myself.
I was done sidestepping and avoiding others because it was easier. The right way isn't always the easy way. I was writing my own story, in which I got to win. I was the wielder of the pen, and therefore the story. I was the wielder of everything to come. I might not have a complete control over the events but I could control my reactions. Yes, that sounded good. No one whom I didn't want to get passed me would be be given a chance to get past me. I was my own gatekeeper. The world wasn't exactly ready to hear me, but I was ready to make myself heard to the world. From that moment forward, no one was allowed to stand in my way. That would be a treacherous mistake, for I am to pass any obstacle that chooses to block my path. I am finally free, and as invincible as ever. My mission was to be unapologetically myself. That was who I was from then on.


503 words.

p.s. I don't really know what this is. please don't take this seriously as it is just a daily I did for fun. XD

The great pine tree's leaves rustled in the ferocious wind. A few pinecones fell to the ground as Lila sprinted straight ahead, dashing between the trees. She didn't know what she was running from, but she knew that she was being followed. A stalker perhaps? Or a wild animal?

I gazed at the eternal horizon. Cities gleamed with their artificial lights in the night while street lamps shone their bright lamps on the empty streets. The lights flickered for a while, then eventually decided to remain lit.
A few night owls soared in the sky, their ominous hoots echoing in my ears. I stared down at the metal bars I was resting my hands on. Everything seemed to emit or reflect some form of light under the pitch-black sky.
Thick fir trees were planted on hillsides in the distance. I could hear a faint rustle coming from that direction.
The stars in the sky winked at me, their twinkles glowing serenely. An unintentional smile crept on my features. The landscape had such a calm aura.

-Rea's Realm, The Newspaper- ™

EDUCATION SHOULD BE FREE (AND A FEW MORE IMPORTANT POINTS)


An ongoing problem of our world is the inequality present in education. Many children want to go to school and get a proper understanding of the world yet their financial state holds them back. Knowledge shouldn't be kept in a safe that can only be opened by specific people. Doesn't everyone have the right to know? Or, at least, shouldn't everyone have the right to know? Knowledge is a fundamental part of our society. What people do with that knowledge is their choice, but shouldn't one have the opportunity to know, and then decide? There are invisible barriers preventing some people from getting the education that they deserved. Why should these people be left behind because of circumstances they can't control? Profit should not outweigh people. Profit should not limit the worldview and understanding of a person.

Schools should also offer better curriculums. Instead of making students memorize random facts that most likely won't be useful to them later in life, they should teach values that actually matter. Don't get me wrong, I love facts, but some are simply more useful than others. Schools have the potential to enhance a person's life. It has a chance to teach how to think instead of how to memorize for a fleetingly short period of time. Children shouldn't be underestimated. They are always taught was is right and what is wrong, but it isn't often that they actually stop to question why. If they know why, they are more likely to comprehend it better and incorporate the why into other events. What good would knowing to stop and look both sides before crossing the road do if you didn't know why? Schools should teach how to think, learn, and understand, not how to dryly memorize with no intention to question. Curiosity Understanding how to make an inquiry should be prioritized over forcing every single itsy bitsy detail of a random event into your head. That is why history is often proclaimed as ‘boring’.

History is a very controversial topic for many. While I think it is a topic of utmost interest that withholds the secrets of the past world, some label it as ‘the worst lesson ever’. I personally used to agree with this statement before I learned how wrong it was. This notion stems from the way this lesson is executed. History should be explained as delicate parts of a coherent story, not random pieces of knowledge you are obliged to memorize to pass the class. The past can be a gateway to the future, so why not utilize and embrace it? A majority of students regard this subject with an immense dislike because they are taught that they have to endure a tedious lesson to acquire unwanted, unnecessary knowledge. What they don't know, however, is that it can be an exhilarating journey to learn.

Rules at at school should have meaning. I am just so used to seeing rules with no thought whatsoever behind them (as if Dolores Umbridge made them). For instance, some schools only allow students to dress in a certain discipline, but to an extent that the rules are illogical. What is the point of making people wear ONLY navy blue socks in the winter, and ONLY white socks in the summer? These bizarrely strict rules can take a big toll people who forgot, or don't have enough of a specific-colored sock at home! I understand that some socks may not be suiting for school, but wearing a light-blue sock instead of a navy blue one once in a while is completely harmless. This, again, brings back the profound question of why. If there is a good reason against doing something, measures should be taken in order to avoid that. Rules can even be made to prevent inconveniences, but that doesn't mean rules should cause unnecessary inconveniences. The key word in the previous sentence is unnecessary.

Extracurriculars are a must. Every school should have them, as they provide a broad array of hobbies and activities to choose from. Students should be encouraged to discover their talents as much as they are encouraged to get impossibly perfect grades. Many long-lasting connections can form when a group of similar-minded people gather together for an activity. Sprinkling a bit of excitement here and there to our monotone routines at school really brighten our days.

By working together, we can overcome the problems listed above. Unison is the key to solving these problems and creating a better learning experience for students. The way students think in school shapes the way they think after it. We must think of this as an opportunity to ready children for life. A school's main role is to fulfill the need of knowledge students share and hold a torch to enlighten their path of life. And knowledge is that gleaming light which shines on that path.

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Fahrenheit 451 Review

I absolutely loved this masterpiece of a book. Its story follows the main character, Montag, who lives in a dystopic world in which all books are banned. Intended for older audiences, this book conveys important messages about how truly crucial reading is to our lives. In this strange world, firefighters start fires instead of putting them out. Their mission is to exterminate all forms of literature with blazing flames. The main character, Montag, is also a firefighter, yet after meeting a peculiar girl named Clarisse, he starts to question the morals of the world he lives in.

In the story's warped world, companies capitalize on people's short attention spans. TVs blare nonsensical chatter all day, every day. Forms of media (excluding mindless TV shows) such as movies are reduced to nothing but summaries. No one is willing to think, instead they are constantly stimulated by the enormous screens that stretch from one wall to another. Everyone is unaware, and doesn't care.

Montag was once one of them too. But one day, when he sees how vital books can be so he secretly takes one and hides it. Owning a book is a huge crime, but he is curious, so he does his best to hide it. Since people don't have the knowledge of books at their disposal, the language characters speak are simplified into mere words with minimal meaning. Some characters are even too lazy to construct proper sentences so they just blabber the words they think are important.

Despite all of the oblivious people, some still have unpolluted minds, such as Montag's neighbor Clarisse. Just one intriguing conversation with her is enough to leave Montag perplexed. Then his interesting companion abruptly vanishes, and no one knows why… until…

I don't want to give away a vast amount of spoilers but the ending was incredible. I can guarantee that it will stick with you. This book is just amazing. It's a pretty short read, but communicates so much in about two hundred pages. It blows my mind that this was published almost seventy years ago because it has so many forward-thinking ideas that you'll think it was written in the future.

Long story short, this is an outstanding book that really stuck with me since I read it a few months ago. I love how everything feels so real. The setting, the characters, the plot… It's a horrible horrible thing but this may someday be real if we don't work together to prevent it.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray Review

Oh, this book… the anger, the frustration, the awe… MORAL OF THE STORY: DON'T BE SELFISH.
When Dorian Gray is gifted with a beautiful portrait of himself, he wishes that the portrait ages instead of him. This wish of eternal youth magically comes true, but with a catch. Every time Dorian Gray does a bad deed (which is very often by the way) his portrait ages, becoming an ugly wreck of a person. He goes down immensely dark paths, and so does his portrait. It represents the horrors of his life, while he stays perfectly intact. The picture reflects his conscience. The end is dark but justified. I don't want to give too much away but this book is a great read.

Dorian's sense of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ is blinded by his eternal youth. On the outside, he is a perfect gentleman, yet in the inside, a frightful monster. This book, at the beginning, makes you question who the real Dorian is. Once you're a couple chapters in, of course, he shows his true wicket colors.

Anne Of Green Gables Review

I loved this book. When I first picked it up, I thought it was one of those lengthy dull books but I was wrong. So, very, wrong.
You should definitely read this wonderful book. It's a coming-of-age story that will warm your hearts, but you might also shed a few tears. Anne is a girl with such a strong and vibrant imagination that you will wish you visit her home, Green Gables, to talk to her. She usually looks at the bright side of situation, and her abundance of words can be rather insightful. She may make some silly mistakes here and there, but she is a great learner. You will experience all kinds of emotions with her. You will laugh, you will frown and you will think.

Her enthusiasm and outlook on life are so inspiring that I found myself thinking like her from time to time. At first glance, the characters seem one-dimensional, but as the story progresses, their complex layers are revealed. There are some great role models in this book.

Anne always insists that people either call her Cordelia, the name of a princess she aspired to be, or Anne with and e. She firmly believes that ‘Anne’ is such a plain name without the elegance of the ‘e’. This just goes to show how creative her personality is.

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NASA REPORTS CAPTURING THE DEEPEST INFRARED IMAGE OF THE UNIVERSE YET
Today, June 12th, NASA posted an article on their official website stating that they found the deepest infrared image of the universe. The galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, also known as Webb’s First Deep Field, has been photographed by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. In the picture, thousands of distant stars display colorful gleams of light in the otherwise dark sky. It is both the first full-colored image from the James Webb Space Telescope and withholds the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared.

This picture offers such details that have never been captured before. It shows the galaxy cluster as it had been about 4.6 billion years ago. It is said to act as a gravitational lens, magnifying many far-away galaxies that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Those galaxies have been brought into a ‘sharp focus’ as NASA states, offering an almost crystal clear view. Specialists have yet to learn more details about these clusters, but they aim to learn about features such as mass, age, history and composition.

The big question remains: what will this discovery lead to? Well, many researchers believe that this is a thrilling event. Quite honestly, I feel the same. This discovery could be a gateway to new worlds, perhaps. The image is truly awe worthy, stars glimmering like radiating beams of hope, the profoundness of outer space consuming it all. The image is an interesting one for sure, as I found myself staring at it for a long period of time, trying to comprehend its complexities. I couldn't of course. It looks as if a bunch of stars are swarming around the giant one present in the middle, showcasing all of their blinding brightness. The picture is a spectacular one, all of the vibrant lighted stars seem to be dancing around a larger one situated near the middle.

The telescope that produced this image, James Webb Space Telescope, is currently the world's ‘premier space science observatory’ as NASA states. The secrets of our beloved solar system may be solved using this device, which is capable of looking beyond and trying to figure out the secrets of the broad universe. Webb is a program that operates all around the world, led by NASA, with members such as ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).


NASA IS BACK AT IT AGAIN


Today, July, 13th, NASA reveals a breath-taking image produced by James Webb Space Telescope of cosmic cliffs, a sparkling landscape of star birth. The image is shown with such a clarity you feel as if you are looking through the lens of the Webb Telescope yourself. The appearance of the image reminds one of a mountain or valley shape. This is, in fact, the edge of a nearby new, star-forming region, called NGC 3324, present in the Carina Nebula.
This wowing image of star birth was detected with the help of infrared. The apex of the hill-like structure appearing in the image, a ‘cavity’ as NASA states, is said to be seven light years high. The ‘steam’ coming out of it is said to be of scorching, ionized gas drifting away form the nebula because of an immense, unabating radiation.

With every new discovery comes a possibility of of even more amazing discoveries. We must, as individuals, keep up with the latest science and learn as much as we can. The wonders of outer space sand stars may shed light on our lives. Science shall be our guide on thin long journey…

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~All of the information in this article was extracted from NASA's official website. I added my opinion about the image and changed the wording though~

ADVERSTISEMENT

Come one, come all, to our critically acclaimed, award winning Mango Farm! If you are the kind of person who adores mangos, you have come to the right place! Our farm provides mango plants with a natural environment where they can thrive. Additionally, our farm has a huge barn full of goat. Visitors are free to pet them and feed them as they want.
Our mangos are fresher and juicier than any competitor out there! Here at our wonderous farm, you have the opportunity to hand pick your own mangos. We can assure all visitors that they will love the results. Our mangos are the most delicious ones you have ever tasted!
Critics who have visited our magnificent farm have stated that this was the best mango farm they had ever been to. Some specialists stated that the flavor of our mangos was brilliant and scrumptious. They have also been kind to add that they thought our goats were cool. We couldn't agree more.
Come and visit our home, the Mango Farm, a place where your wildest dreams come true! You can't even imagine how fun our farm is.
We also offer mango cheesecakes, mango smoothies, mango milkshakes, mango ice cream, and many other treats in our bakery. To add, we have a movie theater where you can see all of your favorite mango movies! Don't forget to come soon, an all-time-favorite movie, “The Mango Faces The Goat” is coming to the big screen!

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total:2466 words

THE CAVE


The cave's crystals shimmer,
As the light of the stars becomes dimmer.
An owl soars in the sky,
Stretching its wings in the blink of an eye,
Every intricate, silver dipped feather glistening
In the dewy moonshine.
I step into the ray of light,
Illuminating the cave's stalagmites,
Only to come across an abysmal sight.

Fractured reflections encircle me as the moon rises,
Different shapes and sizes,
Cracked, distorted,
All varying in guises.
The pieces are shattered,
Battered,
Scattered,
All over the cave's rocky ground.

I stomp on them,
Begging them to disappear.
Tears trickle down,
My temper bad, my anger severe.

The moon's serene smile
Demolishes my frown,
Intends to make me calm down.
And I do.
Its gaze
Tugs my arm and pulls me away
From an all pervading dismay.
When I look into its real eyes
I realize
That I have been fed real lies
For my whole life,
Until the truth arose
And posed great difficulties for my foes.

I bitterly loathe them.
But who is it I condemn?
My mind blurs with possibilities.
Swarming with futility,
For I am not able to recognize
Who it is I despise.
Is it…? Is it…?
My confusion is exquisite.
I do not know.
I do not know.

A butterfly flutters past me,
Flapping its scarlet wings gracefully.
I question its calmness,
Its grace and its reticence.

With an abrupt burst of hope, I smile,
Studying the blinking specks of light we call stars,
Suspended in the profoundness of the eternal night we deem as ours.
From that very day forward I decide,
To follow the way of the butterfly.
No more disguising my agonized
Eyes with a smile,
Only the utter cry,
Of silence.

ty for critiquing, cae and soki

weekly 3

brainstorming


1underground setting
2countries ruled by children
3large, highly democratic country
4hard magic system
5soft magic system
6fruit is a symbol of wickedness
7bizarrely designed cities
8upside down world
9world ruled by fandoms
10rejection of people who like mangos
11scorn surrounding being unique
12contempt towards people who can't fly
13very weird sports
14mistranslation causes problems
15stigma around dancing
16isolated lives
17misinterpretation of words
18mole people
19shiny cities
20something mysterious happens to the main character
21copper the most valuable metal in the world

In a world where there is only under, no above, all people live luxurious lives underground. Those who like mangoes are frowned upon, as mangoes are seen as a symbol of wickedness. This bizarre idea was an ancient one. In fact, mangoes were once deemed marvelous, yet the land's language changed over time and mistranslations led to the common belief that mangoes are a source of wickedness. The world is seemingly run by children, but not entirely. The country is profound, and is ruled by highly democratic children who often participate in the creative art of thinking. The rulers are also known to be members of many fandoms, as having lots of interests was seen as a sign of virtue.
Cities are built of copper, a metal that is admired for how much it shines. With the difficulties being underground brings, buildings are built upside-down. Their bases are face up and they grow downwards. And yes, buildings grow to be large enough to accommodate the number of people living inside of it. Everyone is expected to be their finest, with no exceptions. You cannot, under any circumstances, step out of line, or you are considered an outcast. And being an outcast comes with many challenges…
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Chloe, a ruler of many fandoms, was elected to be one of the five hundred child-members of the senate. She was thirteen, and she had big dreams. She was strolling through the tunnel that connected her house to her school, admiring the gleaming copper the tunnel was made of. All routes in this underground world were direct, tunneling from one destination to another. Chloe entered her house and slammed the door shut behind her. She had had a bad day at the senate. The moment she set foot in the house, the copper building grew a tad bigger, just enough to accommodate one more person.

She stole a fleeting glance at a mango sitting on her desk, wondering how it got there. She brushed it off and buried her nose into a book, like to always did to relax. She thought about how she didn't want to attract too much attention at school, but being a member of the senate made that almostt impossible. She felt a sudden weight form on her lap, and as she peered down, she noticed that the mango had teleported there. Someone must be playing a prank on me, she thought.

Her little sister stalked into the room. “Ew… you like mangoes. Ew.”
“I don't like it, it just appeared in front of me.”
Her sister rolled her eyes. “Of course it did. You should throw it away. Now. I don't want people at school to avoid me because you own a mango!”
“Yeah, sure” Chloe sighed, and dove deeper into her never-ending thoughts as her sister left the room.
As a member of the senate, Chloe had access to a wide array of files from the country's archive. Out of curiosity, and fright she decided to check all files about mangoes. The mysterious mango that kept disappearing and reappearing in front of her unsettled her.
The archive building was an extravagant one of the most finest, copper that shone so brightly it blinded Chloe's eyes. The moment she entered the room, it expanded just enough to fit her and the other people who were browsing files. She was taught proper researching skills in school, as the underground people placed a great value on education. In a matter of minutes she gathered all of the files including the name ‘mango’.
After a bit more of research she came to the jaw-dropping conclusion that mangoes didn't use to be perceived the way they were. The word had gone through immense translation mistakes. Generations of misinformation flashed before her eyes. Mango didn't mean wicked, it meant noble or honorable. But she couldn't share this information with the others, could she? She would be accused of spreading false ideas that damaged order. This was a secret that she would bury inside of her, just like the city was.
470 words

What kind of magic is used in your world?
The magic used in my world is soft magic. It is used discreetly from the public eye and very few people have the ability to use it. It isn't exactly controlled at will, but the wielder still has some amount of control over it. The magic is a mysterious source of power not many people know about. It appears as clouds and blurry forms, and it is almost never publicly utilized. The enigmatic aura of this power strengthens the mysteries surrounding it. It is vastly unpredictable.
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How is the magic in the world used in the character’s everyday lives? What are the different abilities?
These magical powers are definitely not used in characters' everyday lives. It is a secret they withhold and only use when necessary. When you think about it, the power comes to them when it is absolutely necessary. There is an broad number of uncertain powers this magic can bring, but it doesn't exactly differ from person to person. Some might be better at mastering it though. It seems as if the powers are limited, but there still may be some unknown aspects of it the characters have yet to discover.
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What are the laws of your world, specifically about magic? Punishments?
Very few people are aware that this magic even exists! Only people who have the ability to use it, and the people they trust with this information know about it. For this reason, there are no punishments for using it ‘incorrectly’. The magic is powerful, so using it the wrong way can cause catastrophes, and or damage the wielder's wellbeing. Some people who know about the magic, yet don't have magical abilities try to take advantage of those who are capable of doing magic.
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What is an important symbol of your world?
There is no symbol of the world the story is set in because it takes place in the real world. Although, there is a certain color that represents magical powers, because almost all of the tasks performed by magic users are in a specific tone. The world itself is oblivious to the fact that magic exists, so no one bothered to come up with an actual symbol for magic. There is no need for it anyway. Magic is a last resort that only comes to those in need in their most crucial moments, not something the world capitalizes on. (They probably would if they knew it existed.)
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What is the origin of your magic?
The origin of magic in this fanatical world is unknown. Even the most experienced magic-users have no clue where it came from. They don't really want to know either. They use magic (or magic uses them) in their most desperate times of need. Why would they need to know where something they don't often use comes from? Even if a very small amount of people us magic constantly, they are the ones who are willing to pay no heed to its origin, they only want to use it to their advantage.
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How can your world’s magic aid character development?
The way characters use magic is firmly intertwined with their state of mind. Every hint of emotion they experience profoundly impacts the way their magic appears. If they don't feel a certain way they are stripped of their powers and left defenseless, so they are careful to keep themselves in check at all times. They even pour their heart out, the very act they most dread, to use their peculiar powers to their fullest extent. Characters who have access to these wonderful powers always loath to express their internal thoughts and feelings, yet their power leaves them no other chance.
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How common is magic, and are all characters aware they possess it?
Magic in this world in incredibly uncommon. Even those who possess these powers most likely don't know what great deeds they are capable of. Only a select few aren't in the dark regarding the truth, and most choose to keep it to themselves. Some already have enough problems to endure and don't want to mess up their already-difficult life, while others seal their lips about the matter to exploit it. There is even a character who practically enslaves someone due to their magical abilities, using this person as their personal hench-person.
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How can you ensure the magic in your story is realistic, and is written as a normalized part of your world?
The magic in my story is realistic because it doesn't obey the wielders every will with no consequences whatsoever. It is an immense force that can only be summoned when luck smiles upon a character and they are having intense struggles. Magic starts out as a supernatural power at the beginning of the story, but the characters who are able to use them are gradually eased into the notion that magic is normal, at least for them. The magic is unpredictable as well, and it is hard to master.
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What is a folk tale you have heard that involves magic, and how can you take inspiration from that tale?
Honestly, I did a vast amount of research and I couldn't find any folk tale involving magic that can fit my world. The world I created is a modern one full of possibilities, and I want to keep that theme going. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't find a fitting tale that matched my story. Literally all the results I could find were random tales that share no key motifs with my story, I couldn't find anything to incorporate into it.
83 words

What are the limitations of your world’s magic?
The limitations of magic step from its uncontainable unpredictability. First of all, the amount of people who have powers are limited. Second, most people who have powers are unaware of it. Thirdly, the unknown force of magic has yet to be fully discovered. It comes in random burst of energy. They can be directed, or channeled, but the control one has over magic is tiny, if not non-existent. Since it's a soft magic system, there are no strict rules, it just happens.
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How is magic viewed in your world (ie. as a boring normal, as a fascinating element of their life, or as a curse on society etc.)?
Those who aren't oblivious to the fact that magic exists want to either a) save themselves from an ever-impending danger, b)want to learn how to use it to be as powerful as they can or c)abuse people with power and get them to do their dirty work. The main characters view it as fascinating but slightly haunting, yet when they advance in knowledge about their powers, they begin to appreciate their life-saving abilities more. There is no stigma surrounding magic-users as they are unknown to the public.
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Compared to our modern society, what do the characters do differently in your world, now that magic is incorporated?
It doesn't affect them that much, but they start to think differently. While the world of magic emerges into their life, a world of chaos and danger doesn't fail to arise along with it. Only the confined group who are aware of magic are in immediate danger. They are troubled with the feeling of impending danger every waking moment of their life. The rest of the world has been um… how should I say it… deactivated? The main characters suffer so much because of their magic, but it is their magic which saves them and help them survive their trials and ordeals.
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Are there any sensations the characters feel when they are using magic? Describe these sensations using their five senses.
Characters feel as if their energy is being drained, which is true. They concentrate, focusing all of their energy on a particular object, or channeling their strength to perform a particular task. They feel weary and drained, and they always faint afterwards. The entirety of their energy is channeled to their powers, so their bodies collapse and fall into a deep slumber soon after they finish using their powers. Sometimes it happens when they haven't even finished, causing even more problems.
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Describe the popular infrastructure in your world.
It is basically the same with our normal world's infrastructure, with a few exception. Many, or rather a few, secret organizations work in the dark, some doing good some doing evil. There is one organization which tries to reverse the horrible actions of the other one, while the other one causes chaos and destruction in spite of the former one. The founders of these organization are long time acquaintances who despise each other for their past actions. They are in a constant battle.
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How is the education system in your world? What do your characters learn (or hypothetically would learn)?
The education system is, again, the same. Children are always bored with their lessons, and some even sneak out of class. Long story short, everything is ordinary. Characters learn the same old basic things, with a few exceptions. Sometimes, out of nowhere, members of secret organizations show up to their school and teach them information that isn't in the standard curriculum. It is a huge mystery how they manage to infiltrate public schools… In these secret lessons, the main characters learn a lot of random facts that will come in handy later.
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What happens when magic gets out of control in your world?
When magic gets out of control, it means the characters went crazy. Because magical powers are so heavily related to a character's state of mind, losing control of their powers would have a great impact on a character, possibly leading to their demise. Other than harming the character, the misuse of magic can harm everyone around them including their loved ones and random by passers. It would just cause an extreme amount of damage and destruction, leaving everyone and everywhere in ruins.
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What are some slang terms or other words used in your world that are related to magic?
There is a special name I use for magical crystals, or myristals. They are used as power sources for huge, futuristic projects. There are also many technical terms used to name magical items and abilities, but let's not get into that because the list is pretty long. There are also lots of names used to identify staffs, swords and other weapons, along with powers such as levitation. Most of these terms are made up by the characters so they aren't that professional at all.
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Does magic affect the government of your world? If so, how?
Yes, it does. Because of magic, the whole world is uh… deactivated. And it is up to other people with magic– people who want to secure their future and stop the bad guys– to stop the people who created this mess. Governments have no idea that magic exists, but it seems as if they would ban it if they knew. The heroes are safe this way. Also, the villains use their magic-y machines to rob banks, and that also has an effect on the government of this world.
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What are some noteworthy examples of problems (in your world) that characters solved with magic?
The main characters are chased around, and terrorized by people with magic, so they use their magic to defend themselves. They open portals to escape the clutches of the tormentors. The bad guys also have powers, so they follow the main characters and the cycle continues. The main characters would have any chance to survive the villains if they hadn't had superpowers. Superpowers save their lives countless times, but they are also the reason they are in danger. But they have no choice.
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DYSTOPIAN FANTASY

May hid her ice-cold hands in the pockets of her tattered sweater while walking down a doomed street. People glared at her from all directions, their crooked faces radiating hatred. May reached for her hood to pull over her head, then her hand came to a trembling stop. Her hoodie had been torn the day before in a street fight. She shivered in the cold, covering her face with her greasy hair to maintain some warmth.

She soon came a cross a log cabin with smoke curling off the chimney. As if in a trance, the heat drew her in. Without giving it a single thought, she knocked on the door. When there was no response, she tipped the open door with the edge of her finger. Once its weight shifted out of balance, it opened with a big old creak.

“Well hello there dear” an oddly familiar face said, “Come in, you must be cold.”
May gave him a firm nod of gratitude as she rushed inside, letting out a sigh of relief when a gust of warm air hit her face.
“What brings you here?” The man asked.
May pointed at the crackling fire burning in a hearth in the corner.
“Ah, I see. And you would be?”
“May.”
“Nice to meet you May. I'm Baldwyn. Would you like to see a trick?”
May didn't respond, but Baldwyn took this as a yes. He snapped his fingers, and a ball of flame appeared in his hand, its blaze dancing as he wished.
“Wow.”
“I'd expected more of a reaction, but that will do fine.” Baldwyn smiled.
May's pupils abruptly dilated with horror. She froze. Baldwyn's face was subtly morphing into different shapes, that was why she found it familiar. First it resembled her father, then her brother, and now…
a monster
Noticing May's sudden change of mood, Baldwyn scowled. “Follow me, May. Now.”
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URBAN FANTASY

Ah, the city of Cloudlandia , what a wonderful place it was. Suspended in the air, floating on a massive cloud, Cloudlandia was a supposed city of peace. Everybody lived and breathed peace, or so the oblivious part of the crowd thought. For a majority of the population, there was peace, but for an invisible minority, there certainly was not.

A common belief was that the Orb Of Peace provided its owner and their surroundings with eternal peace, until another person obtained the orb. So it wasn't really as eternal as they thought it was. The current owner of the orb had a large following, this meant a large group of people were at peace with each other. But some weren't that fortunate.
The only reason the owner of the orb was at peace with their surroundings was because when they had their precious orb, there was no need for a tremendous struggle to get it. The not-so-fortunate group was experiencing a huge internal battle to decide who would try to conquer the orb.

Paul was a member of the oppressed group. Since they lost the orb a few months ago, they had been constantly fighting with each other to determine who the new leader would be. Since the orb had been lost under the past leader's reign, they had decided to get rid of him and replace him with a stronger figure of authority.

Paul had joined the group at the apex of their prosperity, just before their demise. As a newbie, he wasn't allowed to run for leader. The group was already destructive enough. He was taking a stroll through their impoverished headquarters when a ruby-colored orb fell to his feet out of nowhere. The moment it hit the ground with a thump it vibrated for a split-second and stopped. Paul realized that a tiny crack had formed where it had hit the ground. He traced it with his thumb. The barely visible crack mark would cause even more chaos and destruction, and this time not only to his group, but to the whole city. But who should he look out for? His weakened group, the greedy group that were relishing in prosperity, or neither? Either way, he was destined to be the villain.
375 words

HIDDEN WORLD FANTASY

My fingers lingered on the handle of the door that stood in front of me. I was eager to open this mysterious door which seemed to be hidden behind a large bookcase at the far end of the library. I gripped it's tiny handle and carefully turned it counterclockwise. I hadn't set any high expectations for myself, I was merely looking for a spare room to read privately in. I hated being watched by the judging eyes of others at all times, even in a library.

Behind that bizarre door was a lush meadow. Birds chirped, tulips swayed in the breeze, the leaves of towering oak trees peacefully rustled in the wind. It was as if it had sprung out of a childish fairy tale! The sun was shining all of its brightness down on the green meadow, but then abruptly swapped its place with enormous clouds and it started to rain all of a sudden. I think winter coat appeared before me. It had a fluffy, warm hood which I adored greatly. I put it on and took a deep breath of the crisp, winter air.

A creature with abnormally large, pointy ears appeared in front of me. It had pale skin and was about my height, wearing a flowery dress.
“Greetings visitor” she said, “I am Eillia, and what must I call you?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Nice to meet you Eillia, I'm Peg!”
“Welcome Peg” Eillia said, “You must be a great mind, or else the door wouldn't have let you in. I give you my sincere congratulations.”
“Um… Thank you.”
“You, my friend, are one of the many chosen people who have a liking for knowledge. Only you can save us elves from the dragon lurking in the Haunted Forest.”
“Really?” I couldn't believe it! It was as if I'd entered one of those amazing fantasy books I kept reading.
“There's one problem though” Eillia said, “I am the dragon!”
Her face elongated and her fingers grew talons. Colorful scales suddenly formed on her back. She took a step back and breathed gust of fire into the air.
“Oh no” Was my only reaction.
358 words

Total: 3,488 words!

daily july 18th
“Rapunzel Rapunzel, let down your hair!” A prince shouted from near the base of Rapunzel's tower, which seemed to reach the sky.
“Coming!” Rapunzel yelled back. "Oh, never mind. But I'll be there in a few minutes. The daily just updated and it's something I'm actually good at!“
The prince tried to hide how exasperated he was. He rolled his eyes and sighed. ”Very well, but come down soon.“
”Yup!“ Exclaimed Rapunzel, ”But wait– I got a great idea! I'll war someone while doing the daily. This is going to be intense.“
”I'm sure it is,“ The prince practically hissed.
A few long hours later, Rapunzel leaned on the window still and said, ”I'm ready! Let me check my messages one last time and I'll come down.“
The prince didn't bother to respond.
”Wow. Oh, oh no no no.“
”Are you going to start talking about that Bruno again? The one you heard about at camp? And please, don't tell me that you're longing to ‘experience the wonders of a magnificent swamp’!“
”Nonsense. Cabin wars started and I'm currently the only active member of my cabin!“
”So?“
”So… I have to write like, a million words until they come online. It's my responsibility to protect our beloved cabin right now!“
”And how long will that take?“
”I don't know!" Rapunzel yelled shooting the prince a look, as if to say, how is it even possible for me to know? I don't know what time zone everyone is in. For all I know, it might be the middle of the night where they live. Well… it's not like that stops anyone from writing anyway. After that looked that implied a whole lot of things, Rapunzel sat at her desk and started writing like her life depended on it.
The price stared tapping his boot impatiently on the grassy ground. He then thought that it was a shame to crush the innocent little strands of grass so he stopped. “Are you done yet?” He demanded, tired of idly passing time by staring at random strands of grass.
“Almost done!” Rapunzel shouted, “I just have to finish this… oh, wait. There's a new weekly. I have to do it! It's over five thousand points, this is the best they get. I can't let my cabin down.”
“So are you going to come down or not?” The price asked.
“I'm way too busy to come down, maybe you could climb up and help me here?”
“Definitely beats waiting around here” The prince muttered under his breath, and started to climb the steep tower.
Noticing that he was struggling, Rapunzel let down a sturdy bunch of hair to let the prince hold on to, all the while writing a whacky fanfiction about her favorite characters.
The prince soon discovered that it was immensely fun to write. He soon joined SWC via backup camper signups and got a taste of the SWC experience. Along with Rapunzel, he completed plenty of dailies, weeklies and even improved his wpm and won a word war. Together, they lived happily ever after. The end.

my vision blurred, beads of sweat streaming down my cheeks. What was happening? I hadn't the faintest idea. Sandy dunes blew in the wind, tiny particles of sand reaching my eye, just enough to irritate me. I could see camels roaming the distant lands, I wondered how they survived so long without water. Water. Just then, I realized that my mouth was dry, and I was in desperate need of a tiny drop of fresh water. The world seemed to slow down, and my vision blurred once again. In the hazy sunlight, particles of sand shimmered as if they were made of glass. Then I remembered that sand actually was made of glass. I looked around, perplexed. What had happened? Why was I here? I had yet to answer those two important questions. But a more prominent urge took over my mind at that moment. I needed water. The desert was no place for rain, and I was in the middle of nowhere. How was I going to obtain my precious water. The sun beamed on. I remained exhausted.