SWC Megathread ‧₊˚❀༉‧ July 2025

Duckily_the_Great

Daily no. 2: Motivational letter writing!
Written for: @ap0l0 ~ “goals: write, edit and share a new short story, outline a novel and write up to 10k words of that novel by the end of the session <3”

Word count: 280/250

Hi May!
I’m sure you don’t know me, but I’m Em! I don’t know whether this is your first session or your 15th (not sure if that’s even possible), but I’m certain that you will do amazing on your goals! A new short story will be a great way to share your writing skills and get words! I recommend starting a document with random story ideas that pop into your head at random times and starting there. For editing, many SWC members would be happy to critique your work. Submitting one of my writing pieces for critique made my story so much better and helped me grow and change as a writer! I definitely recommend it!

Writing a novel can be tough, but I believe in you! I tried once, and I failed, but don’t get hung up on the little details. Chances are, someone will read your novel and think it’s absolutely amazing, even if you think it isn’t your best work. I recommend organizing all of your work, making a plan with lots of little goals, finding a site to write on, and rewarding yourself! When I originally wrote my novel, one of the problems was that I didn’t plan enough- but planning too much can make the entire thing seem overwhelming. Depending on how you like to write, you might make a bare minimum outline, outline the plot with all the details, or even skip the outlining altogether and just write.

I hope that you do great this session, and I would love to read your work if you have any! One of my favorite things to do is read other people’s stories!

Good luck!

Em <3333

FairyAyla

Last edited by FairyAyla (July 31, 2025 18:00:12)

Zyzeryko

to luka (@butterpopcorn8) and im sorry its very cringe and doesnt make sense but i tried my hardest i was rushing 258 words

Hi luka!!!! I love your goals for the summer <3 i'm also doing summer school and its definitely a struggle to balance both swc and school as well as my hobbies, but as long as you remember to balance your responsibilities with getting enough rest and taking breaks, it will be great!! I know this is really rushed and I am also very bad at being motivational but you can do it!!!!

Okay so I don’t really know like what type of summer school you’re doing but for me, it’s the most motivating to try and be the best and do it as early as possible so you don’t procrastinate on it (which I’m definitely guilty of seeing as I’m writing this daily like minutes before the deadline)! Also just make sure to stay on top of it but you got this!! I believe in you!!!!! Just remind yourself like how many assignments left and stuff so you can keep thinking “i’m almost done” because school is not fun lowkey

Uh please dont write 60k because thats more than me and i don't want you to win /hj
But anyway!! I hope you find a really motivating project because that's always how I lock in and get all the words, by doing something fun or something really stupid really fast (its so easy to get words that way)

Anyway you got this!!! You can do all your goals because you’re super slay and good luck and dont forget that the main part of SWC is to have fun <3

puzz-ly

Daily #2:
Written for @-WildClan-
For @-WildClan- (Wild):
Wow, you're going to be busy! It's going to be super cool to look back at the end of the month and see all of the hard work and writing that you've done all organized nice and clean. <3 I considered doing artfight this month as well, but I thought I would be tired with everything else I have going on, so props to you for doing it and good luck! I'm sure all of your characters are stunning and that you'll have an amazing time. Good luck with starting college!! I can't say I'm not a *little* jealous (heading into my junior year and can't wait to finish high school)… I'm sure everything will go smoothly with all the preparations you're taking, I don't really know you but you seem like you'll do splendid, wherever you end up. Have fun cleaning and hanging out with your friends too! Minecraft is super fun, and it's even more fun to play with your friends.

I can relate to a messy Google drive, mine is *awful.* It's going to be so nice to have it all cleaned up and have all your files in order and everything where it needs to be. Making time for all of your hobbies is also relatable to me, it's so nice to be able to spend time doing the things you enjoy. (I like swimming and reading as well :3) World building goals are so cool!! I always get bored or caught up in the details of the worlds I try to create, so I can admire your dedication to detail. (Making your own maps is so COOL RAHHH)
I'm confident you can complete all of the goals you set your mind to. Good luck to you and have a lovely writing session <3
-Tyler (he/him/jelly/fish)

booklover883322

Date: 7/2
Daily: Share goals and write a motivational letter.
Recipient: @butterpopcorn8
Word Count: 291
Points: 150

1. balance swc and summer school 2. actually get through summer school with at least 85% 3. maybe hit 60k words by the end of the month

Hey Luka! Okay, here’s some encouragement for ya!

First of all, this can be incredibly hard, but I know that you’ll do it! Here’s some advice: Create to-do lists and schedule your days with blocks of time to work! Using the Pomodoro technique (I use Flocus) is also so helpful, although it doesn’t work for everyone.
It sounds so simple, but that’s how I’ve gotten through college classes. You’re going to do so well, and I don’t doubt that you will excel in whatever you do! I’m confident that you’ll do a wonderful job! SWC is so low stakes, so don’t be afraid to prioritize your school more!

Second, grades can be very daunting. I seriously doubt that you’ll get anything lower than your goal. However, remember that grades aren’t everything, and one 80% won’t take down your grade enough to ruin your life. You are so smart, and you’ll do a great job on summer school! Just work at each assignment at a time, and before you know it, it’ll all be over!’

Third, 60k words is a huge goal, but let’s break it down. That’s ~2000 words written each day, which SOUNDS crazy, but if I’m not mistaken, you’ve done it before. Each time you write a daily, try to make it much longer than the requirement. Each time you write an essay, elaborate on things a bit more than normal. Each time you work on a weekly, each part adds up QUICKLY, so take advantage of that!

TLDR, you will do SO well. I’m rooting for you, praying for you, and ready to hear about all your successes this July. Luka, you WILL be successful, I am sure of it! I’m sending all my motivation mangoes your way!

28thDimension

❱❱ SWC July 2025 - Daily #2

Dearest Thea (, also known as Lysithea Karamalis and User3 of @ERIS_official),

Why, hello there. Before anything, however—I must confess, I most definitely did not find your comment in the Main Cabin around five hours ago. Coincidence? HA. Those aren't real, are they? That (almost) every ERIS comeback is released on a full moon day? …Whatever, I'm quite obviously stalling. I suppose you'll only be getting around 200 words of an actual letter, then. I mean this is the most attemptedly hilarious way possible.

Completing every last daily throughout a session is no easy feat, but really, what is? You, of all people, should be quite familiar with the workings of dedication. From hosting the Bunmei Project here on Scratch to managing one of the most successful S-POP—I'd argue Scratch as a whole, even, being a member of said group as well as a whole list of others, hosting S-POP WEEKEND and its open beta, and all—yes, all of the above, while actively engaging in theater outside of this lovely website, you've had more than plenty of experience with having to commit to a given task. All of this only serves as real, proven evidence that if there's anyone who can set their mind to accomplish something big and complete it, I can't quite think of anyone better suited for the task.

But of course, I can't simply end the letter there and call it a completed daily. Word requirements aside, no motivational letter would be complete without at least a dash of advice. Although these dailies don't (realistically; more often than not) take too much time out of your day-to-day life, it'd be a shame to, in a way, waste them on something you'll never again visit. Don't force yourself to write on a certain topic if it doesn't pique your interest—the daily prompts are often quite specific, of course, but you're free to interpret them in any way you see fit. After all, camp is supposed to be enjoyable, hm?

Best of luck on your endeavour ;)

- Encryn
250702

-WildClan-

daily
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
642 words

Welcome to the first point-earning daily of the session—today, we’re going to send each other a bit of extra motivation as we prepare for the session. Post a couple of your goals for the session in the comments here, choose someone else’s goals, and then write them a related motivational letter or note of at least 250 words. Upon successful delivery of your letter to its recipient, you’ll earn your cabin 150 points.

(My goals were claimed by @puzz-ly, whose letter is here.)

Goals!!
Alright, Scratch goals first– Like always, I want to do every daily and weekly, but this time, I want to be more organized. I'm keeping a table of contents in the megathread so my posts aren't all over the place, and I strive to update it daily.
Art Fight goals– I'm not setting super high standards for myself since it's my first time, but I want to do at least 3 attacks, defend every attack on me, and update my character collection to include at least 10 characters.
IRL goals– I'm starting college in the fall, so I want to be prepared for that, including getting all the paperwork done, setting up my schedule, and making plans for transportation. I am also working on organizing my room so that I have a better workspace and all my hobbies/collections are arranged and displayed to my satisfaction. I just got a new laptop, and this month, I hope to play Minecraft for the first time, play games on call with friends for the first time, and make my Google Drive less messy. I still want to make time for the offline activities I tend to neglect, though, like swimming and reading!
Worldbuilding goals– While I don't necessarily have to do these this month, I'd like to prioritize working out the timeline of events and character ages. I want to develop the maps a little better– both the land map and the star map. Getting everyone's character designs down, and figuring out characters I haven't focused on yet, like the first 12 and the Epilogue crew, is an ongoing task. And, as always, establishing a stronger connection with Half-Canon is a major ambition of mine. I think I need to talk to Rain and Chervil more, especially. They're some of my most reliable sources of lore.

(Goals by @Zyzeryko: my goals!!! write 15k, do at least half the dailies and all the weeklies, and make thriller win <3)

Hi, Zy!
Leading Thriller to the win, eh? C’mon, everyone knows the winning cabin is REALLY going to be… wait. This is the part where one normally inserts their own cabin name and jokes that they’re the best, but I… don’t have a cabin yet since I’m a backup. So sure, Thriller FTW! Until I get my cabin sorting… But for now, YEAHHHH totally unbiased support of Thriller WOOOOOO!! xDD
Okay, okay, silliness and banter aside, great job on setting specific, attainable objectives—15k words, that’s, what, 500 words a day for 30 days? Very reasonable! With a little bit of focused effort, you can absolutely reach that word goal, no problem! (I know, I know, July has 31 days, so it’ll actually be a little under 500 per day to reach 15k, but whatever; don’t make me do math in my head lol)
I know it can be a struggle to balance SWC with life’s unending obligations, but when you’re passionate enough about something, there’s almost always a way to make room for it in your schedule. SWC in particular is amazing for this, since it offers so many ways to contribute, from weeklies to word wars. It seems like there’s a niche for everyone’s writing habits here! With any luck, the dailies and weeklies for this session will spark your creativity in all the best ways. If you ever need inspiration to keep going, remember that there’s a whole community of unique and wonderful people writing right along with you. Together, we will fight off writer’s block with our mighty mangoes of motivation!
And don’t forget to take breaks, as well—Make time for hobbies and relaxation, especially after a long day of writing. Soon, you’ll be refreshed and ready to write some more!
I’m not great at writing letters, especially not motivational ones, but I sincerely do wish you all the best in the session to come. And I wish Thriller well, too… at least for now. When Cabin Wars rolls around, we’ll see… heheheh

—Wild

table of contents

Last edited by -WildClan- (July 5, 2025 00:25:32)

babyoda1546

☀ Daily 2: Motivational Letter ⊹ ₊

Dear Serrie,

Hey, Serrie! First off, sorry for making you clarify your goals (MY BRAIN WON’T DO ITS JOB). Secondly, I would like to start off by saying, I have absolutely no doubt that you will completely crush your goals. I haven’t got to know you as much as I’d like but I know that you are a hardworking and dedicated individual. I have absolutely no doubt in your capability to meet and even surpass your goals.

First off, writing more often. Serrie, I have absolutely no doubt you can do that. Even if it means just one hundred words per day, it still works! I think you could totally crush that goal no problem! Plus, if you ever wanted to have a little writing session and keep each other on track, I’d be totally down for that! I believe in you and you got this! Just remember to put health first. That means no staying up really really late to write (yes, I’m being a hypocrite. Sue me.)

Second goal: putting your ideas into stories that do the idea justice. Serrie, I may sound like a creepy stalker or something like that right now, but I have read some of your writings when comment stalking and I absolutely loved them. You are an extremely creative person and you definitely have that second goal in the bag. I’m sure your brilliant writer mind has so many wonderful ideas in there just waiting to be put into words and I can’t wait to read them. You are a wonderful writer and know that you will do every idea justice.

Serrie, you’ve got this. There is no doubt in my chaotic little mind that you have this in the bag. I have total faith in your abilities and you definitely should too. YOU GOT THIS!

ଳ 303 words ଳ

Hydro_TV

Welcome to the first point-earning daily of the session—today, we’re going to send each other a bit of extra motivation as we prepare for the session. Post a couple of your goals for the session in the comments here, choose someone else’s goals, and then write them a related motivational letter or note of at least 250 words. Upon successful delivery of your letter to its recipient, you’ll earn your cabin 150 points.

To Puzz-Ly:
I find your goals both reasonable and relatable, particularly the need for sleep–I get it, I really do, and I commend you for trying to manage your sleep. Related, trying to find a work/life balance is something I think everyone should pay more attention to.

I’m fairly new to SWC, so I’m struggling to find things to say, to be honest. It’d be hypocritical of me to assume that things would work out fine or whatever when I’ve got no experience with.. Any of this. But what I can assure you is that I hope the best for you. Genuinely. And at the very least, if you fall, we’ll fall together, because I know that I’ll inevitably falter at some point in this tremendous session, and if it’s any consolation I’ll be there if you do as well. But I don’t think you will, because at the very least, I think you’ve got your priorities straight, and that’s a lot more than I can say about many SWC’ers that I’ve encountered through my research of this place. You seem to be aware of your constraints, however–you recognized your limits in real life, and adjusted your goals accordingly. That commitment and awareness is commendable in itself.

I have two pieces of advice. The first: just be honest! Remember that the ground is well-trodden at SWC, as it is in life, so the ultimate objective should be for you to make your own path. Make this experience a voluntary adventure and explore what you’d like to write about in this session, without constraining yourself to the genius of the crowd. The second: beware the obligation to adhere to convention. You are unique. You don’t have to conform, you don’t have to cage yourself. Just let yourself run free.

Wishing you the best of luck,
-Hydro_TV

HippotheHippo

Weekly Part I (186 words)

Trey was a good student in school, but when he couldn't meet the bar he set too high, his own feelings of inadequacy caused him to draw into himself. This is a pattern that's repeated for his whole life, and he's terrified of disappointing people to the point that he'll do things that hurt his own success to protect them from his mistakes.

Recently Trey lost his scholarship to the private school all his friends went to.The loss was due to things Trey simply couldn't control, barely his fault, but Trey felt awful just the same. He often feels guilty about things that are the faults of other people's.

He was so desperate to be around his friends at school after he lost is scholarship that he started only taking part-time classes so that he could work as a barn hand at the school's stables. He's not willing to let people in his life go, even if it means sacrificing other things important to him.

Overall, Trey's a pretty good person. Mostly his flaws are internal and don't reflect much onto the people around him.

Weekly Part II (394 words)

A quick plot summary to make this make sense. Trey and the other characters exist at a wealthy private school (that has the stables Trey works in), where there's a summer weekday boarding program consisting of 18 students. During the summer, when the students are stuck on campus five days a week, secrets about each of the students on campus start to surface to the rest of the student body who's not there for the summer. Due to other stuff, it's understood that if your secret gets out, your life could be ruined, so the main character and her friends are trying to keep all the secrets from getting out.

Another character named Chloe is manipulating the boy who's interested in her, Aidan, into digging up all the secrets so that she can expose them. Trey's main character arc is mostly relating to the gossip Chloe will spread and has three basic phases: Neutral, For, and Against.

Trey starts the book in the Neutral category. He's never really given the private school's scarily-efficient gossip mill much thought, because he's never been in its crossfires. He hasn't really been in the loop since middle school anyhow, which is when he lost his scholarship.

Aidan starts approaching Trey to get some secrets about people who frequent the barn. When Trey is hesitant because most of the people he'd be turning on are people he knows somewhat, Aidan persuades him by telling him that people shouldn't do dumb things. If people didn't do stupid things, he adds, then there wouldn't be any issue, but since they do, it's really a sort of moral obligation that Trey has to feed the gossip machine. It's a lot more nuanced than that, but Trey agrees and even tries to dig some fresh dirt for Aidan, as opposed to the packed-and-dried secrets he's been keeping.

However, one of Chloe's secrets pertains to Trey's previous relationship with the main character, which is a sore spot for both of them. The secret is meant to hurt the main character, but Trey is collateral damage. He sees how people don't always keep secrets just to hide things, but because they're scared and don't know how to deal with what happened. This turns Trey against Chloe's gossip and he even helps the other characters figure out that Chloe is to blame for the gossip mess.

Last edited by HippotheHippo (July 4, 2025 00:43:22)

KF4500

i might just have an idea for what I'm going to do this month…
My SWC writing thread!

theawesomemarbler

return to main post

Weekly #1
MENTIONS OF BLOOD, SELF-HATRED AND OTHER SENSITIVE TOPICS. REFRAIN FROM READING IF YOU ARE DISTURBED BY THIS

Part 1: Creating a Flawed Character

The character would be named William Wang. William grew up in the typical Asian household, where there are a lot of expectations being placed on him and things that had affected William mentally. He feels like his family does not understand him and his struggles. Hence, he prefers to keep everything to himself and decides to distance himself away from the people close to him, mainly his best friend Mark Tay, in hopes that he will no longer be hurt by the people he loves.

As William doesn't feel like anyone relates to his struggles, he begins to suppress his emotions. Eventually, William had developed an emotional numbness inside him. Whenever he feels happy, or he feels like himself around the person he loves, Mark, he feels like he doesn't really feel happy inside anymore even though he truly liked Mark. Because of this attitude, William often overthinks if Mark secretly detests him as William is not being fully genuine with Mark unlike Mark with him. This behavior of overthinking makes William more anxious in making new friends.

Emotions are also not the only thing William is suppressing. Insults from his family, classmates and authoritative figures had punctured William's self-esteem. He doesn't feel like lashing out. His emotional numbness allows him to take it in and refuse to talk back, as from young, William was punished severely for talking back to his parents. So whatever lies or negative opinions about him that were tossed at his face, William had just taken it and starts to believe these lies himself. William wants to speak out to Mark about his suffering, but he is traumatized by the fact that he will be rejected by a close one just like what his parents had done onto him.

294 words

Part 2: Outlining How the Character Will Develop

William starts off as shy, timid, has many phobias and is emotionally broken. He also tends to distance himself from conversations and find a place to be alone. Not to weep or anything, just having some peace and quiet. Mark sometimes would accompany William and listen to him in the silence. William appreciates Mark, but he has no idea how to express these feelings to Mark. As the story progresses, William's life becomes worse. With his worsening mental health, he no longer finds interest to study, resulting him in failure. His parents insulted him more than ever, William still takes it in. But when he's alone in his room, he can no longer contain the anger he has held inside. He took it all out on himself, thinking he has let everyone down and can never be good enough. Throughout the story, Mark helps William to slowly rid of his fears. William starts feeling a bit happier than before, until it all gets taken away. Eventually things get worse for William, until he decided to overcome the last phobia he has, Thanatophobia, the fear of death. By the end of the story, William learns the most valuable gift of all. Unfortunately, things might be a little too late.

208 words

Part 3: Understanding Character Motivation

Throughout his life, William has always been heavily judged by others, thinking he's selfish, irresponsible and untrustworthy. The truth is he is the opposite of whatever they say, but he is too timid to speak up for himself. Hence, William's main motive is wanting someone to understand him. Someone who knows how he acts, why he is the way he is, and is able to understand how he feels, speaks and thinks. However, William is also afraid of losing the person closest to him. Because his attitude becomes more distant, William is afraid that he is pushing Mark further and further away. That's why William wants to try to become better, because Mark is the only one who can listen to William, and William appreciates to have Mark by his side. Without Mark, William has no idea how to communicate with others, or how to even smile, or have fun. This also leads to William's final motive, to be with Mark. Mark has always been a kind person to William even though he also has his own struggles in life. But no matter what, Mark was always with William regardless of situations. Hence, William would want Mark to survive and be happy as if he were his own brother, like the missing part William has always been missing, if Mark truly feels the same way William has felt for him.

230 words

Part 4: Tying it All Together

Once again, overwhelmed with the amount of schoolwork he has yet to finish, William has to burn the midnight oil again. Mark was on the other side of the phone, complaining.
“Gosh, William. That's already the third assignment that you procrastinated this week… You sure things are fine at your side?”
“Mark, I'm fine. Just been busy a lot lately. I got this though.”
William could imagine the concern Mark has on his eyes as he responded, “Okay… don't hesitate to reach out to me, okay? But please focus on your schoolwork.”
William smiled, as Mark gave William tips and guidance to finish off the assignment he was stuck at for weeks. It feels nice to have someone comforting you.
“Hey, Mark…”
“Yeah?”
William had been waiting ages for this moment to happen, to be able to confide everything in his best friend, but the only words that came out were, “Thank you. I really appreciate your help in this. See you tomorrow.” Without realizing it, William hung up the phone.
What was he thinking? Everything would've been much better for him if he resolved it right there and then, right? Why delay it further?
It's okay… I will tell Mark eventually. I can still hold it in.

William was almost late to school the next day, rushing to put on his hoodie and backpack as he rushed into the classroom through the back door.
“Please don't notice me please don't notice me…”
“William Wang! Late again?”
“Oh no…”
The whole class was staring at William, who turned red at once.
“I-”
“William, this is the second time this week that you were late to class. And it's only Tuesday.”
“I know, miss. I'm sorry.”
“Why can't you do things earlier, William? Why are you so irresponsible?”
William couldn't answer, his eyes were fixed to the floor.
“I expect better from you, William. A student that received a college scholarship should not be this disrespectful. I expect you to answer me next time.”
“Y-Yes, miss!”
The whole class giggled and talked excitedly with one another. Embarrassed, William tried to find his friend, but Mark was nowhere to be seen.
“If you're wondering, Mark is absent today, William. Sit with someone else and make more friends.”
“H-Huh??”
There was nowhere else to sit, every seat was already taken. That is, every seat except the table next to Martin.
William gulped, and approached to sit next to Martin, who he avoided eye-contact with.
“Sup, loser.”
William didn't respond.
“What? Too awkward to talk to your ex?”
“Shut up.”
“Woah, I can't believe you learnt to talk back. Was it your new boyfriend who taught you?”
“SHUT UP!!”
William is now standing, his chair pushed onto the floor due to the amount of force William stood up.
“William, you're disrupting my class. If you don't want to learn, get out before you get another warning to invoke your scholarship.”
Eyeing Martin, William quickly packed his bags, and strode out from the backdoor.

William did not plan to return home. What will he say to his parents when they found out he got dismissed in class again? Mark is not here today either, but the wooden bench right under the big tree on the school grounds is empty as usual. William approached to sit, trying to reflect on life, the first time he met Mark.

“Hey, there. You're really cute. Wanna hangout someday?”
“H-Huh! I- uh NO THANKS.” William exclaimed, flushing terribly. He did not even processed what just happened as a group of girls ran off, giggling to one another.
“What was that about…” William sighed, trying to contemplate his life and the choices he made that led to this outcome.
“Hello~”
“WAH!!” William jumped, failing to notice there was someone right next to him on the bench.
“You look pretty lonely… And those girls seem to bother you…”
William couldn't help it, but the vibes this guy gives out kind of comforts him to speak out?
“Heh, it's just a prank like always. Martin always uses them to make fun of me, I learnt that the hard way…”
The other guy sat closer, William couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed by how close their proximity is.
“My name is Mark. I come around here just to relax and stuff. You see, I prefer to be alone, since I don't really like areas which are super rowdy. Peace and quiet is what I want. What about your name? Tell me about yourself!” Mark smiled, there was something William could not put that he liked about Mark, how genuine he feels?
“I'm William. I- uhh…” William shuddered. What if Mark was just someone else sent by Martin just to make fun of him? Or is he just being paranoid?
“Hmm, I see you're still pretty nervous.., Seems to me that we're both kind of the same huh…”
“What do you mean?”
Mark leaned back, and sighed. “I can tell by the way you respond. The way you avoid conversations, eye contact, feeble with your words. This is your trauma response, isn't it?” Mark turned to William and smiled, William could feel how red his face was to Mark, but he didn't look away.
“People in your life have been pushing you down, telling you that you aren't worth. And eventually, you start to believe it yourself.”
Moments pass in silence, William just stared blankly into Mark's eyes, which were tearing up. Is it pity? William couldn't tell.
“Eventually, you start to distance yourself away from everyone, because you no longer want to be hurt by those who you are closest with.” Mark said quietly, barely audible. “This is why you are like this, right? I know that feeling, I have felt the same way, and that's why I'm telling you the reason why things aren't going right for you right now, is because you don't have the right people to listen to you.”
Hearing those words, William felt every layer of defense has been broken down, leaving him emotionally vulnerable, and so seen and understood.
“I-”
“I saw myself in you, through your eyes. That's how I know, and I'm here to let you know I'll always be with you at your side, William. Let's get through this together, okay?”
William nodded, as Mark abruptly hugged William. That was what triggered it, what William was missing all his life. Acceptance. He finally broke down, still clutching in the position of the hug. Mark did not let go.
“I- I'm so sorry-”
“Don't be… This is a time to be vulnerable and come to terms with your grief.”
Mark pulled out his handkerchief and gave it to William, who used it to dry his eyes.
“Thank you… I- that was the first time I ever felt so understood.”
Mark smiled again, lighting up something in William. “It's okay! Let's exchange contacts so we can discuss more about this. My next class is starting soon. Bye, William!”
With Mark's silhouette running across the field, William couldn't help but smile for the first time in ages, with the Sun shining brightly on his face.

The next day. The next week. The next year. They studied together; they eat together; they play together. Mark and William became inseparable. Only they know how much they mean to each other, and only they feel themselves when they're together against the whole world.

“Willian Wang!”
William awoke from his reverie. He was back at home, in his room, scrolling through chat histories with his conversation with Mark. It's been a week since Mark was last seen or online. But his parents have been calling him for so long, and William knows the consequences of making them wait.
“Shoot!” William quickly rushed downstairs, his parents sitting at the table in the living room, where William had placed his report card.
“What is this nonsense, William? Are you telling me despite the scholarship you flunked every single subject?”
“Mother! I can explain-”
“Don't talk back to your mother, William! You are in no right to speak with atrocious results like these.”
“Father, please. I'm sorry, I-”
William froze in his speech. His struggles that he's facing right now is only a secret to him and Mark.
“You what? Speak up! Or else how are you going to be a man one day?!”
But I don't want to be someone you guys force me to be! is what William would've said if they hadn't gone through this exact same conversation for his whole life. William wants to speak out, but he's afraid.
“Why did you give me a son like this!? He's useless, he doesn't reply to my questions at all!”
“What do you mean? It's your fault for wanting a kid in the first place!”
“I didn't want a useless child like him!”
“What? You think I can change anything about that?”
“Hey, William! Come back down you idiot!”
William didn't listen, he cannot hold it back any longer. Rushing upstairs into his room, he locked the doors, ignoring his parents screaming that he just violated the rule of no locked doors, but William had enough.

Without realizing, William noticed his fist rose to his face, but couldn't react on time about the impact that landed. He was thrown to the ground, his cheek heavily bruised as seen in the mirror on his cupboard. The other fist rose and smacked down hard. Eventually, William didn't realize how much it hurt until he noticed the floor started to have bloodstains.
William stood up and looked at his reflection in the mirror. His face was passive, expression-less. But the bruises on his face were so serious, he wasn't sure if these scars could heal normally. William collapsed on his bed. He has plenty of assignments to finish off today. William tried to reach out for one, but his injuries pierced him like a bullet across his body. He curled up and tried to suppress his cries of agony and anguish. He stood up, and threw the papers away, coming back just to weep silently again. William didn't want to try to dial Mark, because he has been calling Mark for the past week, yet Mark never answered. It was odd for Mark to leave William alone with no answers.
What happened to Mark? Did something happen at his house? Or maybe… William did not like to think of the last possibility, he doesn't want to be friends with me anymore…? As much as William hates to admit it, this has been the case for every friend he made before Mark. Everyone abandoning him, leaving him alone to deal things by himself. William wants to speak up, and solve this problem. But nobody can help him, no one understands him as much Mark does, if Mark was even genuine to William at all.

“God!” William yelled, before collapsing into tears again, “why…” He unconsciously raised his fists towards his face. “WHY??” He landed the punch hard, a few teeth came flying out. “Why am I suffering like this,,, why…” He fell to the ground once more, dissolving into tears. There wasn't a point in living anymore, right? Everyone is against you, the only person who appreciates you for who you are is gone. You are all alone.

Ring.

William's phone began vibrating. The caller reads…
“Mark??”
William picked up the phone, his hands trembling as he held the receiver close to his ear.
“H-Hello…?”
“Remember.”
Call ended.
Remember…
Remember what?

“William, what are you saying?”
Mark was flabbergasted at William's suggestion, William just stood in confusion. It was the day before William got dismissed from class, right before Mark went missing.
“I mean, no one really cares for me anymore. So maybe there's no point in-”
“William, that's not the right way to think! Everyone has someone they love out there, even if they don't show it correctly. I'm sure your parents love you, William. They don't understand you, but there are plenty of people out there who will. And remember, I am always with you too, William. When you're gone, I feel empty. I am nothing without you William.”
William felt it again. The same place under the big tree, the same bench they're both sitting on, with close proximity. Tears filled both their eyes.
Without realizing, William moved in. Mark's eyes widened with shock, but he didn't let go. They held in this position until they both gasped for air.
“Mark, I'm so sorry! Without your consent too, I-”
“It's okay, William… I wanted something like this to blossom between us…”
They did it again, this time passionate, not letting go. No one can break their bond, the understanding they had for each other in that moment.
“I love you.”
Mark smiled, the feeling overpowered William.
“I want to live forever, with you…”
“Life is the most important gift that we were given, William. Make the most of it, okay?”

William stood there, devastated, his phone still ringing for Mark to pick up. The phone Mark held was cracked, but still functioning as the display shows someone calling for him.

My Best Friend

Answer Hang Up

“Mark…”
The police had arrived at the scene, Mark's parents were arrested for domestic abuse, resulting in the murder of their child.
“I can't let my son date someone with the same gender!” Was all the father said before he got pushed into the police car.
“My son, I refused to believe it… He could've gotten so much money for us! He could've made us proud. He wasted this life, hanging around with you.” The mother said as she stared at William as though it was his fault.
William fell to his knees, the tears finally falling down from his scar-filled face, as it landed on the face too filled with bruises.
“I see myself in you. That's how I know, and I'm here to tell you, that you will never be forgotten, and there is someone out there who will love you for who you are.”
“When you’re gone, I feel empty. And I am nothing without you, Mark.”

2335 words

2967 words in total

Last edited by theawesomemarbler (July 9, 2025 17:13:22)

_midnight_rain_

Weekly

Part 1 (Flawed Character)
Rose Baeton has grown up unwanted her entire life. She is the child of Madison Faerie and Edward Baeton. After her birth, her father abandoned her, leaving her to live with her young mother. Unable to care for Rose, Madison entrusted her to her older sisters— Isa, Ivory, and Paige. They were her guardians up until she was two years old, which is when her father—recently married to Elizabeth Baeton, formerly Elizabeth Grend— came back and claimed custody for her. Elizabeth and her daughter from her previous marriage, Lucy, both hated Rose. You see, rose was a fairy. She had big, black, feathered wings and was a telepath. Because of her unnatural powers, they thought she was enstranged and tried to stay as far away from her as possible. From an early age, Edward and Elizabeth sent Rose and Lucy to boarding school far away from home. When Rose was in second grade, her father unalived, leaving her with her step-family. When she was sixteen, her aunts Isa and Ivory collected her to bring her to her mother. Even after this, she struggled with belonging.

One on Rose’s biggest flaws is mistrust. After being treated unfairly from her stepmother for years, she doesn’t trust anyone, no matter how good their intentions are. She won’t open up to anyone and keeps all of her secrets closely guarded. Due to this, she can seem anti-social and cold.
Another flaw is feeling as if everyone strongly dislikes her, this links with mistrust. No matter how kind someone is to her, she always thinks that they are analyzing her and want to take advantage of her. Tying together with mistrust, Rose never tells others her personal information, in case they find her weaknesses and use them against her. She always thinks that other think the worst of her, leading to her losing her temper frequently and lashing out at others.
Because of not wanting others to know anything about her, she tells untruths a lot. She will make up stories about herself which — ironically — makes others not trust her. Teachers always assume that she is not being completely honest in her ancademics —and truth be told, most of the time they are right. She builds up this whole reputation of her being mean and angry while this whole time she’s just really insecure.
I’m not sure if this makes total sense considering the fact that she is insecure, but she also is very rebellious. She openly rebels against her stepmother, and is always punished. However, she still feels guilty so it’s a bit of a paradox.

Part 2 (Growth)
Throughout the story, Rose experiences many different events that completely change her perspective on life. In the beginning of the book, her roommate, Paige, gets kidnapped. She (Rose) is forced to work with and at times to even rely on her allies and they help her learn to open up. She slowly begins to trust her friends more. As she trusts her friends. Ore, some of her other flaws become less evident. When she no longer needs to hide things about herself from others, she lies less and less. As she becomes more honest and open, she even earns a few new friends (Bella, Xyda, Avery, Cassandra, and Alexandra to name a few).
Also, when she meets her birth mother, she feels accepted unlike the way she did back with her stepmother. She does grow in a few negative ways too.
While she opens up and is honest with her close friends, she becomes more of an antagonist of sorts. Although her mother does love her, she does manipulate her, turning her into a thief and villain. Rose fights openly against the government and pickpockets to earn her keep. Due to this, her outward appearance also changes.
Before, Rose had long, curly red hair but as she slowly becomes more and more of an anti-hero, she cuts and straightens it, leaving her with sleek hair that ends just above her shoulder. She originally only had one piercing in her ears, but does and gets three more done. She starts to wear edgier clothing, mostly in dark colors.

Part 3 (Motivation)
Like many other under appreciated children, Rose’s main motive is to be accepted. The whole reason she becomes sort of an anti-hero was to earn her birth mother’s appreciation. After being scorned by her stepfamily her entire childhood, she finally found a person she could trust in her biological mother. Little did she know, that her mother was using this to her advantage.
However, even as she is described as ‘evil’, Rose still keeps a small bit of her goodness and that has its whole own motivation: her friends.
These friends are Rose’s first and only friends. She has entrusted them with her life multiple times and they have entrusted her with theirs. They have a special connection that not many have. In fact, her friends are the people who realize that Rose is being manipulated by her mother. Rose’s best friend, Bella, even tries to stop her mother, in order to protect Rose.
Beyond that, another motivation for her is doing the right thing. This seems questionable during the time where she is acting as a villain on her mother’s behalf, but you need to understand that in reality, Rose truly believes that she is working towards the greater good because that is what her mother has had her believe.
Later on, when her friends have removed the manipulative presence of her mother, and she truly starts to work towards the greater good of the world, does this become much more evident. Multiple times does she risk her own life to save the life of others. You can see that Rose truly does evolve throughout the story in both good news and bad.

Part 4 (Short Story)

“Rosie, dear, I’m going to need you to go slip this in poison into the ambassador’s drink.” Mother says, scrolling through her phone. “You can pick it up from Vicki and Joseph will get you there. We need to get you a dress for the conference…” Mother’s voice trailed off as her attention returned to something on her phone.
“No.” I say, silently at first. Mother looks up, alarmed.
“What do you mean, Rose?” She asked, her voice staying calm but Rose could hear the edge in her voice.
“I mean, I don’t want to kill anyone. I’ll steal, I’ll freaking break into government records, but I’m not evil.”
I think back to the previous night, the night when Bella had approached me about my mother’s motives.
She doesn’t have your best interests in mind. She just needs you so she will be on top. You’re just a liability.
“Rosetta Aurora Hawthorn-Baeton.” I flinch. Mother rarely uses my full name. She only uses my full name when she was really angry at me.
I stare into my mother’s eyes, her usually gray eyes turning the shade of amethysts.
“You will do what I say, Rosetta. If you don’t, then there will be serious consequences.”
Suddenly, my brain starts to think, do what she says. Do what she says. No! I tell my brain. I will not be manipulated. Not after what she made me do to Jayda.
“No.” I say, “I will not hurt another human being.”
Mother huffs. “You don’t get to tell me what you want to do.” She snaps, “You are just an insolent child—”
“I’m not a child.” I retort, “I’m seventeen years old. Not like you would know. You barely know anything about me!”
“Stupid girl!” Mother hisses, “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I do.” Says a new voice. I turn around to find a girl with long, black hair.
“Bella!” I exclaim, rushing over to hug her.
“Why, who are you?” Mother asks.
Bella smiles. “I’m the girl who’s gonna get your daughter then get the heck out of here.
“You can’t just do that!” Mothers eyes begin to turn a shade of purple again but i push her, and the gleam goes out of her eyes.
“Knock it off!” I yell, “You’re a creep! You hurt innocent people to get where you want to go.”
“You don’t get it!” Mother screams, “This is for you! We would be great together!” I feel a force knock me to the floor and I start to writhe in pain.
“Rose!” Bella exclaims and full-on tackles my mother. She screams and falls back. Bella helps me up.
“You okay?” She asks. I nod.
“Better than ever,” I reply.
“We better leave before old psycho wakes up again.”
“Wait.” I take her arm, “We need to get Jayda.”
It’s time to go fix what my mother has shattered.

Last edited by _midnight_rain_ (July 8, 2025 14:38:26)

taylorsversion--

Weekly 1 ⟢ 2073/1000 words ~ Character Development

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1┆Creating a Flawed Character ⟢ 235/150 words
Just before I get into Grace's flaws (Grace is the name of my character), I'd like to add that when I read the weekly I immediately thought of a high school setting - since this is something I'm familiar with - so this may seem a little stereo-typical. To sum it all up, my character desperately wants to become well-liked and well-known. She really wants to fit in, and feels like she has out-grown her old friend.

While this is not necessarily a bad thing, there are some flaws that can come out of this. Grace strives to be recognised and tries her hardest to copy the students deemed ‘popular’ (I'm sure everyone has seen something like this happen in real life) and this flaws her because she doesn't stay true to herself. She also blurs the line between lies and omission and prefers to be ‘sociable’ and ‘likeable’ over morality and this can lead to her doing wrong things. Grace fears being ‘left behind’ and won't think about the consequences of her actions thoroughly as long as they don't mean she is alone.

Grace, blinded by how much she wants to be accepted as a widely admired person, tends to push aside her own friends. Furthermore, Grace is extremely insecure on the inside and starts off trying to become popular in an attempt to seek comfort from people liking this other version of her.

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2┆Outlining How The Character Will Develop ⟢ 357/200 words

Grace is very outgoing, a huge contrast to her best friend, Sara. At the start Grace will spend more and more time talking to other people and disregarding Sara. One day, she comes into school and sits at a different table at lunch, next to some of the most well-liked people in her year. Grace will start talking to them and butting into conversations as a nervous attempt to have a good impression on them and will overthink this later.

Then, she will begin to mimic their style, how they talk and what they do until they finally ask her to come to the cinema with them. Grace is a people-pleaser and is eager to be invited to something by people who is not her best friend- proof of popularity- and so she accepts.

So that Sunday Grace goes to watch a movie, accidentally forgetting about plans she had already made with Sara, leaving Sara to go to a café alone. Grace doesn't have as great of a time at the cinema as she originally thought she would, but when she sees Sara the next day, Sara is mad at her for abandoning her and so Grace pettily pretends she did. After one lie, it becomes really easy for Grace to make another, and suddenly everyone thinks she is a celebrity/someone to highly admire for one thing that she said she was partaking in confusion.

Some things happen and she realises that being cool and ‘famous’ isn't really worth it and Grace discovers that she prefers genuine friendship, not the type where people want to get to know her just because they want to be ‘popular’ too- Grace has a true full circle moment and goes to find Sara to have lunch with her.

Since the compulsive lying ended up in a disaster, Grace becomes more honest, to everyone, to Sara, and to herself. After realising that being ‘popular’ and ‘cool’ felt super unnatural for Grace, she changes her motivations and tries to be friends with everyone because she genuinely likes them, not because she wants to be looked up to. She also values Sara highly again!

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3┆ Understanding Character Motivation ⟢ 757/200 words

I’ve mentioned this already quite a bit, but it is true that I am getting a little confused with Grace’s motivation for her actions, especially towards the end. So, at the start, Grace leaves Sara (her best friends- though let's hope you’ve already surmised so by now) behind because Sara is more quiet and Grace likes to be more sociable. This situation escalates and Grace ends up *accidentally* excluding Sara repeatedly in the excitement of creating new friends. But then she sits with some new people at lunch and they talk more. Since Grace is eager to make new friends, Grace likes this change and tries to talk with them as well, despite not knowing anything about the topic they were talking about. Heads up! These people are not the nicest and Grace accidentally ends up dissing Sara.

Grace keeps this to herself because her friendship with Sara has been quite strained lately and despite making new friends, Grace is still quite close to Sara. Grace is asked to go watch a movie with the new friends and she accepts eagerly. She forgets to go to a café with Sara because of this- by accident, again. After the movie, the friends ask Grace to buy everyone lunch, and because Grace was so glad to be included for lunch, and wants to leave a good first impression, she readily agrees. However, no one really talks to Grace except for telling her what their order is, and Grace feels upset.

When Grace and Sara argue the next day it's only because Grace is spiteful that she says she did, in fact have a great time. Sara advises Grace against befriending the people classified as ‘popular’ and Grace, infuriated, not only because she secretly thinks Sara is right but because she also thinks that as the more well-liked one she should be the one giving advice, not Sara, decides to completely ignore Sara from then on.

Determined to make proper friends out of what she has left, Grace tries her hardest to drive the conversation at lunch the next day. Grace remembers how Sara never found out about the rumours about her and jumps in in a conversation, claiming to be a professional voice actress and a talented singer. The New Friends are wowed by this and sign Grace up for the school talent show without her knowing. They start to be super friendly towards Grace
and Grace becomes one of them- but she doesn't enjoy it. However, she sucks it up because there's no one else to talk to and she'd rather feel uncomfortable than lonely.

On the day of the talent show, Grace stumbles on the stage and sings terribly, and all of her friends are upset. The lies come out and Grace goes from popular to outcast in one day. Grace realises what it feels like to be shunned away and makes up with Sara!

TLDR;
1) Grace starts hanging out with her best friend less because her best friend isn't always very sociable and Grace is a sociable person.
2) Grace sits with other people at lunch, eager to make friends.
3) Grace accidentally helps spread a rumour about her best friend to feel included with the people she is sitting with.
4) Grace doesn't tell Sara because she doesn't want Sara to feel upset. (Aww!)
5) Grace goes to the cinema with the new friends, happy to be included. She accidentally leaves Sara hanging.
6) Grace buys everyone's lunch and tickets which turns out very expensive. She does so because she wants to make a good impression and is a little bit of a people pleaser.
7) Sara and Grace argue. Grace gives Sara the cold-shoulder because she has too much pride to admit that Sara is right and that she needs Sara's help.
8) Grace starts telling lies because she thinks that's what she needs to do to fit in.
9) After the talent show, Grace briefly learns what it's like to feel like an outcast and so reconnects with Sara. She tries to be more empathetic and apologises.
10) Grace still tries to be friendly and well-liked but she learns to not make it her whole personality and she doesn't let herself be manipulated. Yay!

Sorry I feel like I've been ranting about the plot the whole time- the next section is where I actually write the story but idk it just feels quite hard to write a character with no backstory or anything XD at least I know what to write now!

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4┆ Tying It All Together ⟢ 724/450 words

September 1st. Yet another day back to school. I lean against my locker whilst waiting for Sara, trying to look busy- and not lonely. All the yelling and shoving and reuniting is making it hard to concentrate on the piece of paper in my hand. It’s sort of a tradition each year for me to write some resolutions for the following school year and previously, I’ve been focusing on academics, but lately I’ve been trying to make more friends. Extra-curricular activities, practically living in the library and only sticking to Sara hadn’t done lots for social recognition.. I skim over the list in front of me again. It’s about time for a change.

Grace’s Guide to Surviving School:

1. Make lots of new friends
2. Don’t do anything stupid
3. Don’t be left behind
4. Be true to yourself
5. Weekly meet-ups with Sara

A pair of familiar boots tiptoe into my peripheral vision and I look up, smiling as I greet my friend. Since we've seen each other nearly every day of summer break, there isn't that much to say, so as soon as I see someone I'm at least I little familiar with, I go up to them and chat with them about their holiday instead. It’s Jiya, and I try my best to keep cool. We were friends when we were younger, and while Jiya became popular and pretty, I sort of … went down a different road. When I get back from some small talk with Jiya, Sara offers an awkward smile at Jiya, who shoots a cold eyebrow raise back, and we head off.

“So…” I drag out the word as I look down at the list again. “I know we see each other enough already, but there’s this new coffee place across town, and I REALLY want to try it out. Do you think we could meet there every week or so?” I ask, avoiding her gaze slightly. Just because I know that Jiya and her friends will most likely be there too, doesn’t mean I’m doing anything wrong- right? Sara nods and I grin.

Later that day is lunch, which is great if you have people to sit with, but terrible if your best friend is off doing some club, and there’s no one else you’re close enough to sit with. My hands shake a little as I take my sandwich out of my bag and head towards the corner of the cafeteria. ‘Grace!’ someone calls my name, and I look up.

Jiya’s standing in front of me, all smiles. ‘Why don’t you sit with us?’

The world stops. Did. I. Really. Just. Get an invitation to sit with JIYA AND HER FRIENDS? a.k.a. the coolest people known to mankind? Or our grade, at least. Jiya fingers her hair, bored, pulling at a curl. ‘..Grace?’ Huh? Oh. I nod and say ‘Sure’ and so while my mind spins my feet take me where I need to go. I try to pat down my hair a bit. I stand half behind Jiya as she introduces me to the five other people at her table. There’s Jake, her boyfriend. Becky, her best friend, Oliver and Livia, the twins and finally, Rowan. I smile. ‘I’m Grace.'

The next day starts the same. Walking through the corridors with Sara, then rushing to lunch where I'm greeted again by Jiya. I'm not that interested in their conversation, so usually just zone out, but today Becky nudges me with a wicked smile. ‘So what do you think?’

I'm fairly sure that they're talking about some girl they all find weird, so I nod along, eager to fit in. ‘I agree! I try to be nice to everyone, but really, she’s just annoying.' There's a mixture of reactions to that. Someone tries to give me a high five while another voice protests. ‘That’s not cool' and ‘That’s so cool' merge with each other and I shake my head to clear the confusion.

Obviously, shaking my head vigorously quietens the table and I take a deep breath. ‘Sorry. What?’

'It's just.. I always thought you genuinely liked Sara.' Rowan says reproachfully.
'Sara!? I-' I stutter, my insides turning cold. This day can't possibly get any worse.

'Hey.' says a familiar voice. To the side, I can see a pair of boots.

Oh right- it can.

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That's all! If you want to read what I just wrote from Sara's point of view, head here.

2000 points

Last edited by taylorsversion-- (July 8, 2025 15:29:56)

Froggola

Weekly 1 <3 2016 words

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Part one: 290 words (i just started reading throne of glass- can you tell because of the kingdom name i chose lol)

Elena is a stuck up person because growing up, she was always told to believe that others around her were minor to her. That she always came first. Elena is the princess of the Eydarlan kingdom- a kingdom that has been led by one family line for thousands of years. This was a common belief for all of the people that had their blood- especially the main members of the royal family, which Elena is apart of. She eats up every word of praise that she receives and her ego is up in the sky.

She is incredibly out of touch with reality. Having grown up in the palace away from the streets and common folk, Elena has never had to experience a rough moment in her whole life. She is served towels on silver platters and her food comes with a price tag no one could ever imagine. But since this is the only way of living that she knows, she thinks that her casual day is just like anyone else's. If someone were to share the news with her that there were people outside of the palace that had to endure life without even a roof over their head, she wouldn't believe them.

Picture perfect and image obsessed are perfect words to describe Elena. She's a princess after all, and portraits of her are hung on walls all over the palace. Nothing but an eye blinding smile with white pearly teeth and doll rosy cheeks is accepted, even if it means faking joy. Elena would shove down any feelings she has just to snap the most gorgeous picture and keep her image sparkly clean to the public- even if it means dismissing big faults as just minor scratches.

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Part two: 489 words

Elena's strength is her charm. It's not surprising though, considering her life as a princess included etiquette lessons, and with her sky high confidence. She's also not afraid to speak her mind, since she grew up with personal maids, butlers and nannies that would always listen to her and constantly reply with a smile and a nod to earn a spot on the royal family's good side. While it may also negatively affect her because she might speak her mind too confidently even if it's wrong, she is still able to easily stand in front of a crowd without the shyness many would have. She doesn't feel worry when it comes to speaking or presenting or expressing herself or her opinion.
One of Elena's biggest fears is letting people down. This fear reflects on her people pleasing attitude and her need to always show her picture perfect side and maintain her image.
The main challenge that Elena faces is when she's nearing the age where she is expected to start learning how to take over the throne from her parents, since she is the crown princess. She is paraded around the kingdom and she shakes hands with the citizens that will soon become her subjects when a boy around the same age as her squeezes her hand harder to hold her back. He speaks just loud enough for her to hear and not her bodyguards. He says: “You and your family are all ridiculous. You come here to smile and wave as if all is well, but it's not. Because here's the truth you're hiding from. Tonight, you will go home to a palace of pearls and perfection, while the lot of us ‘common folk’ as you probably refer to us as will go home to dust as our bed and scraps on the table.” Normally, Elena would have kept her smile plastered on and would have ignored the frail boy. But his words stuck on her more than they should have.
She spends her next week sneaking out of the palace during times when she would normally be left alone in her sleeping quarters. Elena wanders the streets in disguise, only to realize that his words were very much true. She realizes the flawed and unfair system the kingdom ran on- the way her own family ran it. Elena will spend her next few weeks before her coronation date away from the palace, with the excuse that she's trying to get to know the subjects she will one day rule better. She dives deeper into the daily lives of those that don't get the luxury of sleeping on silk beds and will slowly uncover how horribly the royal family treated their subjects in the past. She will become more broken than she can imagine after witnessing life on the streets. Her whole life and the shiny stories that her entire belief system was built on comes crashing down.

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Part three: 290 words

Before she was shown the reality of the Eydarlan kingdom outside the palace walls, she always strived to be the picture of perfection. She never let her negative feelings wear her down, and never let a shade cross her face. Not one stitch in her fabric was out of place in the elaborate gowns that she wore (which were also always designed to the last perfect grain of material). Her motivation towards being this was was her mother. Stories were told to her every day when she was younger about how her mother was a gift from the gods because of her grace and wisdom. It was always about her mother and how incredible she was. Elena wanted nothing less than to please her mother and to gain her mother's approval. Becoming the next queen was something that Elena had dreamed towards since the moment she could think for herself, since it would finally mean that she had lived up to all her mother was said to be.

But now that her whole world that centered around one word: perfection, came crashing down, she couldn't think about anything but trying to learn more about the lives outside of her palace. It was her new purpose. Something for herself, rather than something that was mainly to please her mother. Her motivation was that she truly wanted to help Eydarlan's people. She didn't believe that anyone should live on scraps and hardly a real roof over their head. She had grown up with pearls. So many that every person in the kingdom could have their fair share of it while the royal family still had enough. So that was exactly what she was planning on doing. Giving everyone the riches they deserved.

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Part four: 947 words

Elena sat atop her marble throne that she had gotten personally customized. It was built on her balcony so that she could overlook the kingdom. By ‘kingdom,’ she meant the palace grounds that were cut off from the rest of Eydarlan by a barrier made of smooth white brick. It was all she ever knew. And it was also all she wanted to know. In fairy tales, the princess that was locked up dreamed of being free and seeing the outside world. But Elena was nothing like them. She did not yearn for anything past the walls. All she ever wanted or needed was right within her reach on the shiny side of it.
“Elena?” Her mother's voice called out. “Can I enter?” Her mother's voice was easily recognizable. It was like it danced through the air with utmost grace and it made you feel special when it spoke directly to you.
“Yes mother,” Elena replied. She got up from her throne and stood in front of her bedroom door. She flattened her hair and smoothed out her gown before setting a smile on her face.
The door opened, and her mother stepped out from behind it. The queen beamed when she laid eyes on her daughter.
“Perfection at it's finest, as always,” the queen said, as she tucked Elena's hair behind her ear. “I expect nothing less from my own child, of course.”
Elena couldn't help but smile even bigger. A compliment from her mother was the perfect way to begin her day.
“I'm here to let you know that you have a big day ahead of you. We're leaving the palace today!” Her mother pushed the curtains wider to let in more sunlight. “Aren't you excited? Today is going to be the first time you get to meet the common folk- and step outside the walls!”
“Oh! Yes! Today's the day!” Elena replied with her usual high pitched voice. She even threw in a twirl to make it extra believable. The truth was, Elena didn't look forward to it. The common folk were blessed to have such a perfect princess. And she thought that the most they should see of her was through portraits and paintings. She thought that real life interaction was far too much.
The queen left Elena alone in her bedroom once more, to get ready. Elena sat still as she could for her lady royal to touch up her makeup.
By the time she was all done, a carriage awaited her at the entrance. The walls that surrounded were slowly opening before her. One would think that it would be fascinating to lay eyes on a whole new world, but Elena's expression stayed the same. She was smiling, of course, just in case her photo was snapped- but she could not think of a single joy in her current situation.
As her carriage rode out of the palace grounds, Elena held a stiff hand up to wave to the people. Some were joyful, but she was surprised to see that a few faces looked as if they couldn't be more sad. It angered her when she saw dull eyes glaring at her. It stained her pride. The carriage skidded to a stop, and Elena stepped onto the cobble road. She could already feel her skin reacting to the poor air quality. She couldn't wait to get back home. Elena walked along the road, stopping every now and then to shake hands with the people reaching out desperately to her. She clenched her teeth and smiled, forcing herself to stay focused. She had to stay perfect- the folk would not see any less of their future queen. So she continued on. It was all the same- people grabbing her hands and begging her to bless their family with health. She smiled and nodded to each and every one of them, though in her mind she was thinking about how horrid their outfits were. But it changed when she shook hands with a boy around the same age as her. He started off with a smile, but his hold on her hands slowly got stronger. Elena tried to pull free, but he wouldn't let go. The boy leaned forward and whispered just loud enough for only her to hear: “You and your family are all ridiculous. You come here to smile and wave as if all is well, but it's not. Because here's the truth you're hiding from. Tonight, you will go home to a palace of pearls and perfection, while the lot of us ‘common folk’ as you probably refer to us as will go home to dust as our bed and scraps on the table. Your ‘perfect’ world is more flawed than you think, princess.” He let go of her hands and disappeared into the crowd when he finished. Normally, Elena would have forgotten his words a few seconds later. But there was something about his tone that made it stick to her.

After an entire day of shaking hands and smiling, Elena was finally back in her sleeping quarters. She was out of her uncomfortable gown and laying peacefully in her silk bed. She was trying to fall asleep, but she couldn't shake off a thought. The boy's words were still fresh in her mind, and they were clawing at her. By then, she had repeated the words to herself so much that she fully believed him. Elena finally allowed herself to think what she was blocking off: “What if it was all fake? What if the perfection behind the walls was only a mask to hide the real world?” In that moment, Elena's world came crashing down on her.

Last edited by Froggola (July 3, 2025 08:35:41)

indigo----

A Professional’s Guide to Perfect Procrastination . 07/03/2025 | 496 words

Procrastinating is an important life skill to learn. For example, if we did everything right away like we are supposedly supposed to do, who would be there to make us remember that we have so much more time? Who would tell us that we have all the time in the world to work on our projects? And then everyone would sit there, stewing silently, angry at themselves for not realizing that magical time bubbles exist, and it would only cost a moderate amount of fifty million dollars to purchase one from Costco.
Now, many people do not realize that the key to procrastination is to simply forget about the task at hand. Find something else to do, whether it may be reading a silly comic, binging your favorite Netflix shows, or earning the world record of fastest time to steal your sibling’s bright pink socks. Whatever your decision, distract yourself and step away from your work. That way, you’re not motivated to work on it.
Secondly, understand that procrastination is often overlooked as one of the best strategies for completing your writing. While many people like to power through their writing and finish their ten thousand words early (and that’s okay! In fact, it is another highly encouraged strategy that compliments procrastination. The people working at Procrastination Inc, recommend that as well.), another thing to keep in mind is that you could be writing so many other things than writing about, for example, the section of your novel that involves YOU coming up with clever and tricky riddles for the characters to solve. Instead of facing this hurdle right away, turn around and explore other genres of writing, or instead write something silly.
Finally, the last step to procrastination is to begin working on your task right before its deadline. Procrastination wouldn’t be complete if there was no frantic struggle and panic to finish on time! That being said, an unfortunate side effect of procrastination is staying up past your recommended bedtime, and instead modifying your sleep schedule to a more horrifying version in which you only receive three hours of sleep. However, this pays off in the end, for the ultimate goal of procrastination is to finish your work on time!
A truly amazing thing, procrastination is used worldwide by writers and other talented people alike. As a professional, I find that procrastination is truly the superior strategy to getting things done. While you are stealing your sibling’s bright pink socks, coming up with a TV show trailer with a fellow writer, and simply eating tiramisu, you will soon realize that procrastination has one again helped you in your writing! By procrastinating, your writing becomes even better due to your frantic words to finish on time.
Buy a full copy of A Professional’s Guide to Perfect Procrastination at your local Costco or Target. Any complaints about procrastination are not Procrastination Inc.’s problem. All rights reserved (or something…).
Written by a professional in perfect procrastination!

—-
so sky can critique <3

Last edited by indigo---- (July 3, 2025 10:39:58)

theleapingleopard

Weekly #1 Character development
1269 words

Part 1 - creating a flawed character

My character’s (lets call her Raven) main flaw is that she feels like she deserves more than what she gets, and can never be satisfied until everyone knows her name and associates greatness with it. It is, in many ways, arrogance, jealousy and over-egotistical pride. But in her eyes, she puts so much into different things and gets nothing in return (in terms of celebration or reward) whilst others do. This then causes her to wish on the downfall of others, or wish that if she doesn’t get recognition, then nobody should. She doesn’t realise that respect or admiration comes from more than just statistical success, because that is what she thinks is the most important. This is coupled with an intense ambition and desire for greatness, although it is unclear whether this is for her own personal fulfilment or (perhaps more likely) just for others to celebrate and know her. Her ambition is too far out of control, and probably for the wrong reasons.

(161 words)

Part 2 - Character development

At the start, Raven wants success. Winning has always motivated her, and this makes her a strong team player and always encouraging others. Her biggest fear is letting other people down, but even more, letting herself down. Yet there is an underlying hunger for success, and others notice how she shuts down when a team loses, or she doesn’t come top of the class… Her pride and joy is the track team, and she gives it everything because to her, winning is the only goal. Yet at an event one day, her team is running the relay. Her fellow team member stops to help another team who has fallen and is hurt. This member is then celebrated and congratulated by everyone, completely taking away from Raven’s success. And instead of feeling compassionate, she is livid that (in her eyes) a win was taken away from her. She becomes more self-centred, and drives herself away from teamwork and collaboration in everything, believing that she can’t trust others to help her achieve her (very self-centred) goals. She doesn’t realise anymore that there is more to sport than winning. Others notice this change and no longer include her, as she is becoming colder towards everyone. She becomes jealous of their friendships and laughs, but tells herself that they mean nothing, when she will have success that they will envy and admire her for. Her only goal becomes winning - whether that be in sport, academically, or just anything she tells herself is a competition and others will celebrate her for. But they don’t, because in becoming a ‘success’, she has taken away what used to be her biggest success: her enthusiasm and kindness. She seeks so much for celebration and recognition that she doesn’t actually know what she wants anymore, other than to win. Now, she fears failure more than ever, but now has a twisted and unrealistic view of what success is. A small part of her, however, fears that this was all for nothing.

(332 words)

Part 3 - Motivations

I’ve already touched on this in the other sections, but Raven’s biggest motivation is success - or that's what she believes. Really, she wants to be admired and envied. Her daydreams are of people almost worshipping her. This all stems from wanting a legacy - perhaps her biggest motivation is a desire to be remembered. For her, memories aren’t enough for this: she wants physical things, titles, medals… She cares more about being respected than being loved and believes (though eventually she will realise this isn’t true) that she can be fully happy if she blocks everyone else out and focuses on her own success. Her ambition drives her, due to a fear of failure that only intensifies over time as her self-worth becomes solely linked to her achievements. Another motivation is to be better than other people. She wants to be the most successful in the room, not realising that success is subjective. Raven has been somewhat neglected by her family in terms of being celebrated, and her parents aren’t successful - so this all stems from both a desire to be better than they were (and in turn, be better than everyone), and to be seen as she wants to be. Overall, she just wants to be celebrated and remembered.

(209 words)

Part 4 - short story

Bang.

That’s it - the race has started. That’s it - I’ve just got to rely on my team to bring the baton to me and then we can win. And why wouldn’t I rely on them? Together, we are unstoppable. Together, all our dreams can come true: medals hanging around our necks, glittering in the golden sunlight, our names engraved in cold, hard, solid metal for eternity; cheers and chants of our names and arms thrown up in the air in celebration, hugs and pats on the back and congratulations and everyone looking at us and going ‘look, there’s the girls who won nationals’.

Emma has a fantastic start. Her golden curls fly behind her with our team ribbon - the red and gold one we all have in our hair - as she powers onwards. Her face is the picture of determination as she stretches ahead of everyone else.

Celeste’s arm reaches out behind her as the crowd cheers. We’re winning - of course we are. She glides along the track with her goddess-like stride. Her toes barely skim the red surface below her, and she flies along - a gazelle enchanted by the gods. Still, she’s not as fast as me - nobody is, and if I have my way, nobody ever will be. Looking at her sprint, my chest is flooded with golden fire: there’s no reason we shouldn’t win. As long as I do my job. I can’t let them down - the very thought shoots ice through my veins.

Next to Celeste, a girl falls. Too bad - just one less team to beat.

That looks painful, though… But there’s no time to feel sorry. I have to get my head in the game. She’s a competitor, but she’s no longer the competition.

Wait. What? Why is she slowing down? Why has she stopped?

Celeste - what is that pathetic look behind you?

Before anyone could say anything, Celeste has stopped. Her long legs jerk to a halt. And she’s crouching on the floor next to that girl with blue ribbons in her hair and crystal tears in her eyes. She’s hugging her, helping her up, talking to her.

And the other teams run past me.

And the other teams pass the finish line.

And everything was for nothing. I don’t know what I am without that medal, those cheers. Nobody else does anyway, and they never will now. I will just fade into the background. But… I’m not a failure. I can’t be…

‘’Why, Celeste?’’ I mutter under my breath, anger bubbling up inside me as people applaud her and congratulate her. For what, for losing?

That’s the moment I realise I can’t trust anyone. They don’t realise that success is what matters, what defines you, what people will remember you by. They don’t get it like I do. So I don’t go to see Celeste or that pathetic girl who fell. I walk off the track, my legs still itching to prove themselves, and I start to plan how I will become who I want to be without that team. There’s a place on my medal rack that needs filling and I won’t stop until it’s so full that you can’t ignore it.

One day, they will wish I was a part of the team still. But they’ve blown that.
One day, everyone will hear the name Raven and think of success.

If they don’t, what is the point?

(567 words)

Last edited by theleapingleopard (July 3, 2025 11:01:08)

Queen_Bee_12

Part 1

My character, Lila, struggles deeply with the constant need to be in control of everything around her. She doesn’t trust other people to do things the “right” way, so she takes it upon herself to handle every little detail, even when it becomes too much for her to manage. Group projects? She’ll do the entire thing by herself, convinced it’ll be easier that way, even if it leaves her burnt out and resentful. Making plans with friends? She insists on deciding every single detail, down to the time, place, and even what everyone should wear. It’s not that she wants to be bossy or controlling on purpose, it’s more that she gets intensely anxious when things don’t unfold exactly how she imagined them in her head. The more she tries to micromanage, the more people around her start to feel frustrated, excluded, or even hurt, and that only reinforces the loneliness she already feels. Deep down, Lila is terrified of things going wrong or people disappointing her, so she clings tightly to control like a life raft. But in doing so, she ends up pushing people away, the very people she wants to feel close to. Her greatest fear is chaos and vulnerability, yet ironically, her obsession with control creates exactly what she’s trying to avoid.

(262 words)

Part 2

Lila needs control. Being in charge makes her feel safe, like nothing can go wrong if she plans everything herself. It makes her reliable, always the one with the schedule, the checklist, the backup plan. But underneath, she’s afraid—afraid that if she lets someone else take the lead, everything will fall apart, and she’ll be the one to blame. People start to notice how she takes over every group project, how she panics when things don’t go exactly her way. Her pride and joy is organizing the school’s talent show—something she’s dreamed of running since sixth grade. But on the big day, things don’t go as planned. The lights mess up. Someone forgets their cue. Lila is about to break down when a classmate gently steps in and helps fix the problem without her. To her surprise, it works. Everyone cheers—not just for the performers, but for how the team worked together. Lila feels something she hadn’t in a long time: relief. And pride—not in herself alone, but in everyone. For the first time, she realizes that letting go doesn’t mean losing control—it means trusting people, and being trusted in return. After that, Lila starts to change. Slowly, she learns to ask for help, to share the spotlight, and to find joy in seeing others shine too. She still loves being prepared, but now she knows that teamwork makes the best things happen. People start to feel closer to her again, and she starts to feel lighter, happier. She still wants things to go well—but now she knows success isn’t about doing it all alone. It’s about doing it together.

(371 words)

Part 3

Lila’s biggest drive comes from wanting to be in control of everything around her. She convinces herself it’s about staying organized and responsible, but really, it’s because she’s afraid—afraid of failure, of being overlooked, and of not measuring up. Instead of dreaming about fame or recognition, she imagines people trusting her and relying on her skills. Being dependable gives her a sense of worth and safety. Growing up, Lila often felt like she was lost in the background, her opinions dismissed or ignored by her family. That made her determined to prove she could lead and be heard. She wants to show that she matters—not through trophies or applause, but by being the person who makes sure things get done right. As time goes on, Lila starts to understand that control isn’t everything. Real strength comes from trusting others and working together. What began as a way to avoid being invisible turns into true confidence—one built on honesty and connection instead of perfection. She still wants to be reliable, but now she knows it’s okay to ask for help and share the load.

(216 words)

Part 4

The gym was alive with noise and motion. Tables were being set up, decorations hung, and volunteers hurried around, double-checking last-minute details. I stood near the entrance clutching my clipboard like a lifeline, my eyes scanning the scene. Every single piece of this fundraiser had to go perfectly. I’d been planning it for weeks — mapping out schedules, assigning tasks, organizing supplies — and now it was up to me to make sure nothing went wrong.

I glanced down at my neatly written timeline and checklist for the tenth time. Color-coded and highlighted, it was my safety net. If everyone followed it, the event would run smoothly. I just had to keep everyone on track.

“Lila, can you help me with these flyers?” Jenna asked, holding a messy stack of papers.

I took a step forward, already picturing exactly where they belonged. “Wait, don’t put those here,” I said, pointing firmly. “The welcome table is where they should go — near the entrance, not by the refreshments.”

Jenna frowned. “I thought they’d get more attention by the drinks. People always hang around there.”

“No, that’s not the plan,” I replied, feeling a familiar tightness coil in my chest.

She gave me a small shrug. “Sometimes plans change.”

Before I could protest, Maya appeared beside me, her hand gently resting on my shoulder. “Lila, you’ve put so much work into this. Let’s just see how it goes. Jenna means well.”

I swallowed, my throat tight. “Okay, but please let me know if anything else changes.”

The weight of responsibility settled heavier on me as I watched Jenna walk off, smiling and placing the flyers near the drinks table.

Throughout the setup, small things started to unravel from my perfect plan. The volunteer schedule was shifted without my knowledge, decorations were moved, and then the microphone began to buzz and cut out just as the opening speech started.

Panic bubbled inside me. I wanted to rush over and fix everything myself. But before I could, Carlos stepped forward and calmly fiddled with the wires. “Got it,” he said with a grin, “All set now.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

Later, I noticed that the drinks table was running low. One of the volunteers had forgotten to bring extra cups, and some snacks hadn’t arrived. Jenna was quick to notice and ran to the store, returning with a fresh supply.

I wanted to say thank you properly but felt awkward. I was used to being the one in control, the one who fixed problems. Letting others take charge, even in small ways, felt strange and unsettling.

During the event, I kept checking my clipboard, watching every moment, silently willing everything to go perfectly. Yet, the night was a success. People laughed, chatted, and we raised more money than expected. The energy in the room was warm and bright.

Afterwards, I found Maya near the exit, folding up decorations.

“I thought I had to control everything to make this work,” I admitted quietly. “But today… today I saw something different. When I let go a little, things didn’t fall apart. They got better.”

Maya smiled warmly. “That’s the truth of teamwork. You don’t have to do it all alone.”

The relief I felt was almost overwhelming. “I’m scared to let go sometimes,” I said. “I don’t want to be seen as weak or incapable.”

“You’re not weak,” she said firmly. “Trusting others is a kind of strength.”

That night, I lay in bed thinking about how much I had tried to carry on my own. I remembered times at home when I’d felt invisible—when my ideas were brushed aside or my voice went unheard. That fear of being overlooked had pushed me to control everything in my life. But now, I wondered if it was time to try something different.

The next day, I arrived at school with a lighter feeling. At our morning meeting, I looked around the room and realized I didn’t have to hold the reins so tightly. When my classmates suggested ideas for the next event, I listened. When someone asked to help with decorations, I said yes.

It wasn’t easy. I caught myself wanting to step in and fix things my way. But I remembered the fundraiser night and how much smoother things had gone when I shared the load.

Over the next few weeks, I started to open up more—to let people take the lead sometimes, to accept help without fear. Slowly, I felt the walls around me soften.

One afternoon, my friend Carlos came up to me with a question about the upcoming talent show. “Want to help me with the schedule?” he asked.

I smiled, feeling a new sense of trust. “Sure. Let’s figure it out together.”

That moment felt like a small victory.

Looking back, I realized that control had been my shield—a way to protect myself from feeling ignored or powerless. But real strength, I learned, came from connection. From letting others in, from trusting them, and from knowing I wasn’t alone.

I still want things to be organized and run smoothly. That part of me hasn’t disappeared. But now, I know success isn’t about doing everything myself. It’s about working with others, sharing both the burden and the joy.

And for the first time, that feels like enough.

(1,010 words)

Last edited by Queen_Bee_12 (July 3, 2025 18:50:57)

icebunny11

·̩̩̥͙＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚ Ava's Bookshelf ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊·̩̩̥͙

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

A̷b̷o̷u̷t̷ b̷e̷l̷o̷v̷e̷d̷ a̷u̷t̷h̷o̷r̷
◆::◇::◆::◇::◆
It is, somehow, my TENTH SWC session! Can you believe that? I've seen people come and go and grow and learn- I honestly feel like such a grandma. If you don't know me, now you do- I'm Ava! I am a (kind of) published author of a very short story, and like the rest of you, I love reading and writing novels. I cannot go a day without talking about some of my favourite books, some of them being Wings of Fire, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Maze Runner, Cruel Prince, Fourth Wing, Powerless, Shatter Me, etcetera, etcetera. Everybody in this writing camp holds a special part of my heart because you've all helped me through so many parts of my life. I love singing and dancing as well, and I'm part of the school choir, write my own songs, choreograph school dances, and more. Never feel uncomfortable to reach out to me for whatever- I hope we all get to know each other even better this session!

This time, I'm honored to be a co-leader for Dystopian <3
◆::◇::◆::◇::◆

. . . . . ╰──╮╭──╯ . . . . .

E̷v̷e̷r̷y̷ 2̷4̷ h̷o̷u̷r̷s̷
╔. ■ .═══════╗

◪ Noͦ 2: Motivation Letter
◪ Noͦ 3: 5 word story
◪ Noͦ 4: Word Wars!
◪ Noͦ 5: Mystery Add
◪ Noͦ 6: Percy Jackson Parody
◪ Noͦ 7: Forgiveness day
◪ Noͦ 8: Forbidden letter
◪ Noͦ 9 - 15 (missed due to scratch issue)
◪ Noͦ 16
◪ Noͦ 17
◪ Noͦ 18
◪ Noͦ 19
◪ Noͦ 20
◪ Noͦ 21
◪ Noͦ 22
◪ Noͦ 23
◪ Noͦ 24
◪ Noͦ 25
◪ Noͦ 26
◪ Noͦ 27
◪ Noͦ 28
◪ Noͦ 29
◪ Noͦ 30
◪ Noͦ 31
╚═══════. ■ .╝

. . . . . ╰──╮╭──╯ . . . . .

E̷v̷e̷r̷y̷ f̷o̷r̷t̷n̷i̷g̷h̷t̷

◪ 1: Character Shaping
◪ 2
◪ 3
◪ 4

. . . . . ╰──╮╭──╯ . . . . .

B̷a̷t̷t̷l̷e̷ o̷f̷ w̷o̷r̷d̷s̷

◪ silverlynx- ~ win/loss ~ mine ~ theirs (no proof provided)

. . . . . ╰──╮╭──╯ . . . . .

H̷e̷a̷l̷t̷h̷y̷ J̷u̷d̷g̷e̷m̷e̷n̷t̷

◪ person ~ mine ~ theirs

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

Last edited by icebunny11 (July 16, 2025 16:06:33)

icebunny11

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

◪ Noͦ 2
Wordcount: 259/250
Points earned: 150 (not earned)
Cabin: Dystopian

Welcome to the first point-earning daily of the session—today, we’re going to send each other a bit of extra motivation as we prepare for the session. Post a couple of your goals for the session in the comments here, choose someone else’s goals, and then write them a related motivational letter or note of at least 250 words. Upon successful delivery of your letter to its recipient, you’ll earn your cabin 150 points.

Since I was late on this weekly and I'm just doing this for fun, I think I'm gonna write this to myself <3

There are a few things in a glass that you have to fill. First, you must fill in big stones, five or six. Watch at they stack on top of each other haphazardly, creating spaces.

Then come the little stones. They slip through the gaps slowly, falling to the bottom, clattering.

After them come the small, small, smaller pebbles. Even easier than the littler stones they fall through the gaps, filling every nook and cranny. They compact the stones together.

And finally, we add in the cup of water- the liquid manages to make it past even the smallest of spaces, when we thought they were all full.

Like big stones, they represent bigger things in your life. Your family. Your closest friends. Your favorite reading websites.
Like smaller stones, they represent important yet slightly secondary things in your life. Your school, your classmates, your job.
Like the littlest of little pebbles, they represent everything else in life- hobbies, work life, food, sports, arts, anything of interest that takes up your worthy time.
And just when you think there's nothing else that can fit, nothing else that could ever happen, there's always place for something more, just like the cup of water.

If you had put your priorities in a different order, then cup would have overflowed. You have to learn to place what is dearest to your heart above anything else- never forget that.

Last edited by icebunny11 (July 3, 2025 13:57:36)

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