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march 1st - daily

154 words

Welcome, leaders, campers, fairies, and trolls, to the March ‘24 session of SWC! We hope you're as excited as we are for the exciting month ahead of us. To start us off, introduce yourself to your fellow writers and jot down your goals for this session. Who's your favorite author? How long have you done SWC? Give encouraging messages and compliment each other's intros - some of this might just come into play in tomorrow's daily. Have fun, and happy writing!

Hi everyone! I'm Niko, I use they/he pronouns and am co-leading hi-fi this session with Rae and May <3 I love rock climbing, gardening, crocheting, and playing Stardew Valley. I also love reading with my favorite author being Leigh Bardugo and most fantasy series. I have high hopes for this session and have a few things I would like to achieve, my first goal being to simply write which seems like and obvious goal but from my past experiences in SWC I've noticed that I very often get caught up in the idea of perfection and that everything I write has to be my absolute best but all that causes is me to get burnt out. My second goal is to enter the writing competition in both fanfiction and the normal competition. My last goal would be to leave my comfort zone of writing and try out some other genres. Woo Hi-Fi!

march 2nd - daily

453 words

Hello, swc-ers, and welcome to our second daily of camp! Yesterday was world compliment day, and we all exchanged compliments on our introductions. Today, we'll use them in our writing! Take someone else's compliment and integrate it as a focal point of your story. How does the main character react to these compliments? How does it affect other people?

I used a comment I got on one of my assignments from my History teacher

——————

First Grade

I’ve now beaten all the kids in my class at once in math. While they play board games I’ve found myself reading the books in the corner of the classroom by myself. At the dinner table that night I triumphantly announce my accomplishment. While my mother smiles I notice my father stare angrily at my older sister. She slams her fork down and stomps into her room. I’m not sure what I did.

Third Grade

“Your teacher just called me, she said you’ve been doing great in class so you’re being moved up to the fourth-grade math level!”
My heart warmed with pride as I was showered with compliments by both of my parents and given gifts for doing so well. I breezed past third grade spending most of my time with the fourth graders and began spending all of my time learning.

Fifth Grade

We’ve just finished taking a tour of the nearby middle school. I hear my friends whispering happily about how excited they are to go to this school next year and make plans to walk to school together every day. I will not be joining them. A week before the tour I got a letter accepting me to a magnet program half an hour away from my house. I don’t know anyone else who’s going.

Seventh Grade

I’ve found myself struggling in school recently. I still don’t have many close friends even after almost two years of going to that school and everybody else seems to simply absorb the information and fly past the tests. I haven’t been able to do that. Classes have become dull and I don’t really remember what I found interesting about school anyway.

Ninth Grade

I didn’t get into the magnet high school most people from my last school are going to and my parents are disappointed. They say I’ve wasted my talent because I’m lazy. I don’t see any more purpose to school anymore. Chloroplasts and supplementary angles are simply words that float in my head now. The second semester hasn’t even started and I’ve already missed more than thirty percent of the school day. I’d much rather stay in my bed and sleep rather than go to school.

Eleventh Grade

I’ve switched to a half-day schedule. After lunch I leave school and go to work, now I only have four classes. I’m failing all of them. But my English teacher has been really nice. My last essay was one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. It’s the only assignment I’ve gotten an A on in the past two years. He wrote a comment on it for me. “You did a great job.” I think I actually really like English.

march 5th - daily

230 words

Additionally, here's a mini-activity: read one chapter of a book, then write a continuation of it—perhaps Percy refuses to go to Camp Half-Blood, or Elphaba and Galinda defy gravity together! Write 200 words for 100 points, and an extra 50 for sharing proof <3

Alina ended up having a restless night. She tossed and turned only to wind up in the same position, staring at the flying tent roof. Alexei's loud snoring filled the small room as she began to plot. She was only here for Mal and not there they were, possibly getting separated. It's not like she had even ever enjoyed being in the regiment. She had just wanted to go somewhere with Mal. But perhaps no more. They could leave, run away, they would be named deserters but they knew how to live without being noticed. They've been doing it all their life. Perhaps they would move to Novyi Zem and begin a peaceful life farming Jurda under different names. Hours passed and by the time the sun hit the horizon she had made up her mind. Slowly, quietly, Alina pulled herself up out of bed and gathered her things, Alexei rolled over and she paued, terrified. After a couple seconds and breathed again and walked across to the end of the tent.
Mal's tent was on the opposite side of the reserve but she made it there quickly. She peeked inside and was met with the view of at least twenty sleeping soldiers crammed into tiny sleeping quarters. Then she spotted him. Mal. Unlike everyone surrounding him Mal was not sleeping but instead sitting against the wall holding a paper.

march 5 - word war

132 words

prompt: sometimes doors don't go where they're supposed to.

She groaned. Dead end again. Left, right, left, for hours and hours on end and still it seem's most doors led to dead ends or small rooms with nothing to offer. She leaned against the cold wall and breathed. How many hours has it been by now? She had been exploring the labyrinth for what felt like ages and still nothing. No clues, no signs, nothing that could possibly help her get out of here. The worst part is that the labyrinth seemed to know exactly what she needed and when, the second she realized she was hungry food appeared and yet after so long of trying and hoping to get out. Nothing. Still she continued, shaking doorknobs, treading ground and still no progress was made. Perhaps she could always just try

march 13 - daily

353 words

Today, 13 happens to be a host's favorite number - for 350 points (and a bonus 100 for sharing your creations), you'll be writing at least 300 words using any line or comment from a host or daily team coordinator's profile as inspiration! Best of luck, and have fun <3

“friendly neighborhood vampire”

The moonlight cast a haunted look on the house as Julia peeked through the car window onto her new home.
“How about we just sleep in here tonight? It’s late and I don’t have enough energy to unpack the car.” Cade said, sighing deeply.
“How about we just take a look inside and then we can go back to the car?” Julia begged.
After hours and hours of driving through states across the country, she yearned to reach the house she had been dreaming of all this time.
Finally, after more arm twisting Cade agreed and the two of them found themselves at the front door.
Cade reached for the doorknob and twisted revealing a dark, dusty room. They walked in uncertainty as the door slammed behind them.
“Well… it’s a house?” Julia said tentatively.
They continued their tour when the door bell rang, piercingly, echoing through the house.
“Who in the world is visiting us in the middle of the night?” Cade whispered as he crept to the door, slowly unlatched it, and pulled it open.
A woman stood in their view now, she had ghastly white skin and dark eyes which bore deep down into her face.
“Why hello there, neighbors!” The woman exclaimed in a soft southern accent Julia had not been expecting. “Why, I just saw your car pull in a few minutes ago and I wanted to give you a warm welcome to our neighborhood. I live a couple houses down so feel free to come by with your need, in fact…” She paused, turning and searching through her bag, as the couple exchanged confused glances, “I just baked these cookies here, I thought you would like them. Here you go!” She said passing a tin of cookies to Cade.
“I suppose I’ll be off now, it really is a wonderful neighborhood, I hope you enjoy staying here.” She finished and began down the stairs, “Oh! And please come to me if anyone bothers you, there’s some people who don’t take well to newcomers but I have ways of dealing with them.”
Then she winked and was gone.

Leaves rustled in the autumn air and crunched below Ciaran’s boot. Her lantern radiated a soft light, illuminating the beaten path. A squawk echoed through the woods as a crow flew through the thick branches landing stiffly on her shoulder.
“Patience Kav,” Ciaran said in a low whisper, “Just a little farther.”
The crisp, cold air of the night provided little comfort to ease her growing worry. The letter gave little information for Ciaran to decipher and the writing was not like Jadu’s familiar style. She found herself desperately hoping it was in fact Jadu who sent her the message. Despite labeling herself the lone witch it had been months since she had been able to speak to her fellow witches in person. At least half of the coven had been killed in the past year and most of the rest were too deep undercover to be able to risk communication.
A loud squawk brought Ciaran back from her deep thoughts, “What is it Kav?” She asked reaching for her staff. Then she saw it.
Rhododendrons. Blasted little flowers. The pink ones, common all across the country but the yellow ones, a symbol of the Circle of the Divine. Witches gathered from across the globe hoping to reunite the land despite its catastrophic consequences.
“Go, Kav!” Ciaran ordered, pulling out her staff as figures surrounded her, enclosing her in a circle. Her eyes flew over their robes, examining the intricate designs which showed their power.
All Green Witches. Powerful enemies in the midst of the forest but she still had the night to her advantage. The witches wore their flowers as crowns, high atop their heads, shining in the light.
They would be resilient enemies.

weekly 2 - 1287

part 1

Leaves rustled in the autumn air and crunched below Ciaran’s boot. Her lantern radiated a soft light, illuminating the beaten path. A squawk echoed through the woods as a crow flew through the thick branches landing stiffly on her shoulder.
“Patience Kav,” Ciaran said in a low whisper, “Just a little farther.”
The crisp, cold air of the night provided little comfort to ease her growing worry. The letter gave little information for Ciaran to decipher and the writing was not like Jadu’s familiar style. She found herself desperately hoping it was in fact Jadu who sent her the message. Despite labeling herself the lone witch it had been months since she had been able to speak to her fellow witches in person. At least half of the coven had been killed in the past year and most of the rest were too deep undercover to be able to risk communication.
A loud squawk brought Ciaran back from her deep thoughts, “What is it Kav?” She asked reaching for her staff. Then she saw it.
Rhododendrons. Blasted little flowers. The pink ones, common all across the country but the yellow ones, a symbol of the Circle of the Divine. Witches gathered from across the globe hoping to reunite the land despite its catastrophic consequences. They had been after Ciaran for years, trying to recruit her or simply get rid of her.
“Go, Kav!” Ciaran ordered, pulling out her staff as figures surrounded her, enclosing her in a circle. Her eyes flew over their robes, examining the intricate designs which showed their power.
All Green Witches. Powerful enemies in the midst of the forest but she still had the night to her advantage. The witches wore their flowers as crowns, high atop their heads, shining in the light.
They would be resilient enemies.

part 2

Constellation: Cassiopeia

“Fix your hair, Cass!” Mother reprimanded watching over her in the mirror. Her cheeks flushed as she tucked the loose strand behind her ear.
“One of these days you’ll learn that to receive their attention you must perfect yourself, do you really think men like your father would pay attention to us women if we looked like the commoners?” Mother asked, “Now, stand up straight and go get changed.”
Casseopia grabbed the blue dress that was set out for her, tulle covered most of her bodice with thin satin ribbons that danced across it. It was dreadfully unlike any of the clothes she liked and yet there she was slipping into its itchy fabric ready to be shown off to the world.

– – –

The idea of dressing up has been spoiled for her now, just barely into her teens Casseopeia finds herself souring whenever the idea of getting dressed up is brought up. The extravegant dresses that her mother decides for her reveal more then she would like and wearing them were never comfortable. The product splatered on her face had an odd smell and the feeling of it on her skin made her want to claw it off. The complicated styles her hair was forced into was too tight and too uncomfortable. But she knew one day she would have to wear it every day and would have no choice, no matter how uncomfortable.

– – –

Fifteen years of age now Cassiopeia found herself in front of a mirror again, her face covered in powder and her cheeks filled with color. Women flitted around her tightening her corset and pulling strands on her dress.
She was to replace her mother and today was the day when she was going to be shown off to the country and take her mother’s place in government. As she grew older more and more people began to call her the “most beautiful lady in all of the land” and while it was not the title she dreamed of she wore it, her head high. If she could not hold a position of high power in government she would earn the love of the people until one day they would eventually be forced to be ruled by her.
Unfortunately that is not the fate that she gets in the end.

part 3

part 4

Alarm bells sounded through the square awaking sleeping artists and arousing suspicions between the groups. Musicians creeped out of their quarters slowly, holding their instruments like weapons as the inventors, already awake, walked out on the other side of the square.
“What’s going on?” Anna asked looking around confused.
The leaders exchanged looks, themselves wondering that the answer to that question was.
Then a gasp, “The flowers! Look!” May exclaimed, pointing at the little yellow flowers that had sprouted all around the tall roofs of the houses they had emerged out of just moments before.
“Rhododendrons.” Rae said, stepping forward, “But that must mean…”
Another round of bells sounded, this time much louder forcing everyone to kneel and cover their ear to shut out the sounds out. A crash. The first attack. Figures popped out of the grounds holding staffs all entwined with leaves and flowers. Mist spread through the land shielding the attackers, campers combined together into a clump protecting each other from the strangers.
One figure stepped up, their voice distorted and their face hidden by a hood, “Time is ticking, campers,” They paused, “Get to work.”
With a snap they were gone
“What in the world was that?” Alaska asked, echoing everyone else’s thoughts.
“The war.” Rae answered.


The night had come and the moon shined ominously on the campers faces as they anxiously awaited the next attack, they had defeated the first of their enemies but many warriors were tired from fighting and many were too injured to continue. They had decided on an old tavern to rest and treat the injured.
Rae climbed onto a table and looked out onto the group the had gathered. “Another attack is sure to come so we must prepare our defenses. Niko?” She called out to a musician sitting in the corner.
“I’ve scouted out our area and set some traps around the perimeter but it won’t stop them for long so we need to be ready, I know many of you are tired so rest when you can but be ready to protect when the time comes.” Niko said before going back to healing their cuts.
“And us, inventors have come up with some prototypes for traps that shoudl help our case,” May announced.
“Well then everyone, lets get to work.” Rae finished.

Night crept by slowly with attacks coming back and forth with little rest in between, the campers took shifts sleeping and fighting, trying to keep spirits high. Finally, dawn broke and sunlight appeared over the horizon warming the campers broken feelings. Their defenses slowed the creatures down a little but not enough to help. Dragons, spies, warriors, came wave by wave each weakening their army more and more.
“Niko! I found something!” Alaska exclaimed, running across the cobbled path, waving a paper.
“What is it Alaska?” Niko asked, stepping away from their conversation.
“After the latest attack I went out and explored the surroundings near us and I found a wharf, apparently we can summon to help with these attacks.”
Murmurs spread through the tavern as they realised there was hope. More than half of them were too injured to keep fighting and they struggled to keep defeating the attacks.
“Where is it?” Niko asked.
“About two miles south of here it’s quite large, right where you first see the lake.” Alaska responded, accepting the glass of water offered to her.
“Alright then,” Niko nodded, “Anyone who feels up to the journey come with me and we’ll check it out, if it works then hopefully we’ll be able to make it out of this war.”

critique - 210 words

done with @sophcamps - piece

- - -

First of all, you do such a wondrous job of description and the way you wrote was so pleasing to read. I absolutely love how you painted the setting and I thought the way you did was so well done. The only thing that stopped me as I was reading is more of a personal preference and that was the way you repeated their names a lot, it could be just me but it felt a little more clunky and broke apart some of the sentences.
As for the ending, I really loved it and it was very emotional I think you executed it well but to me it was a bit confusing since these are characters I just met and it implies this happens every time but not why or really a lot about to if there’s any way you could expand on it, hopefully, that makes sense?

The line,

“backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards.”

I feel could be expanded on, it clearly has a lot of meaning but it doesn’t mean that much to the reader right now since nothing is really mentioned of it. Overall you do such a wondrous job with this and I had such a pleasure reading it, you’re writing is so beautiful and this a very engaging concept.