Hello, fellow wonderful Scholars and Scribes! Welcome to the weekly picks! This is where we go over which pieces were submitted to the Scholar and Scribe community that stood out and made an impression. I will give my subjective review on each piece selected in hopes of stimulating creativity and reaching our ultimate goal - becoming better writers.
This is a purely prose selection. No poetry I'm afraid.
All selections are placed in terms of release order - these are not rankings.
With that being said, first off we have @virgoxsy with Shattered Dreams and Mended Hearts.
The opening lines of this piece set you in the fairy-tale mindset. But it's a modern-day fairy tale. As the different sectioned-off bits of the story made me feel like I was reading a theatre play. I could clearly visualize each new set, and how the characters would act. š It's a win any time you can invoke visualization in the reader.
Once upon a time in a charming town nestled between rolling hills and a serene lake, lived a young girl named Lily. With her radiant smile and boundless enthusiasm, Lily was the embodiment of happiness. She had a heart full of dreams and a spirit that soared higher than the clouds.
Not only is @virgoxsy's structure inspiring, but her writing is as well. Her use of the English language is top-notch. With great vocabulary and great grammar. Well-strung-together sentences, and good pacing. It is a simple tale, but that serves its purpose. Well told, well thought out, and well executed. Kudos!
They became fast friends, spending countless afternoons exploring the woods, sharing secrets, and laughing until their bellies hurt.
Next up we got @fermentedphil with Paralysis - A Philosophical Short Story.
First off, Phil, I hope I can call you Phil, showed off his photography skills as well as his writing chops in this article. Speaking of which, @fermentedphil uses a lot of descriptive language, not settling for your imagination to do the work. The dialogue tags are also unconventional, as Phil manages to string them together more like a script, or a play, than a novel.
He turns his head to look at her, not realising that someone was standing next to him nor realising that he spoke out loud. "You know, I do not understand why they give us all these choices. I just sometimes feel so overwhelmed by what to do."
Phil uses third-person omniscient as his perspective. It works, especially in these pieces that are more thought-provoking. This perspective limits surprises as the reader is strung along for the ride. But it is used in its correct purpose here.
All in all, it's a very specific story that might not appeal to everyone, and that's ok. It accomplishes what it sets out to, and that's what's important. Not to mention the creativity is evident. š Kudos!
She pointed to the oval-shaped bread with odd cracks here and there. It looked like dried clay that broke when not enough rain fell. He could see the weeds trying to grow through the cracks and it sent a strange feeling through his body he could not place.
Third on the chopping block is @atyourservice with Run, Milly, Run.
This was a Dreem-WOTW entry based on the four elements, and how Mrs. Sugar managed to incorporate each into the harrowing story was masterful. It reads more like a horror piece than anything else, with uncomfortable imagery and set pieces that leave you gripping your seat - begging that little Milly makes it out okay.
The wind caressing her skin served as a reminder of the tender touch she never received. She loved the wind. it was her friend when nobody else came. Even now, at her most serene, the wind pushed her forward. It was as if it approved of Milly's plans. And God knew she needed approval. What she was about to do could be classified as stupid - and would be classified as dangerous.
The characters are also well fleshed out considering how little time we have with them. This is done through great characterization. From the determined Milly to the disturbing father. This tale is filled with soul and passion, like most of @atyourservice's writing. š Kudos.
As she ran she could hear the wind howling, supporting her even now. She could feel it pushing her westward - towards the barn. Milly turned.
And finally, we have @whywhy with [Beyond Doubt: Whispers of the Unseen - Chapter 37]h(@whywhy/beyond-doubt-whispers-of-the-unseen-chapter-37).
I was debating whether to put serialized fiction in these, but it made no sense not to. So here we are. I have no idea what's happening here but I don't have to - because the writing is so captivating. šÆ Very broad, very interesting style that @whywhy uses to paint this world. And it definitely feels like its own world, which is very captivating when reading a novel.
Time crawls by as if the sun doesn't want to leave the sky, making waiting difficult for me. Unfortunately, there's no other option. Going to work isn't possible because the mixtures need to be made and administered multiple times a day.
The piece feels very mythological. Even though I have no idea what's going on I feel compelled to start from chapter 1 and catch up. Which is the marking of a well-written project. It's told in the first person which is always nice as it puts the reader right in the story, makes the writing feel more personal, and amplifies the tension.
Our host laughs heartily, unaware of Numico's complete honesty. āI'll make sure, boy, that the animal gets well-treated in its old age. Especially considering it's been a loyal companion for years.
āļø Hope the Scholars found something to read and the Scribes discovered something new about the craft. Thank you for stopping by and see you all next week!