Art
The Monster. Content Warning.
The monster in my room. Have you ever woken up to find a monster in your room? I did, when I was four years old. It wasn’t your typical monster, it didn’t look like a monster but it was. It had taken over someone else. I was told by my parents to sleep in the same bed as the monster. This same monster had attacked several people. That’s what it did, it would attack one person and then that person would become the monster. Then that monster would attack someone else and then they would become the monster. Then when I was four the monster had attacked my sister and she became the monster. Then the monster attacked me. But for some reason no matter how hard the monster tried, I wouldn’t let it take over me. I would have dreams about myself becoming the monster and wake up terrified and shaking. But I didn’t want to be a monster, so I didn’t become one. And that’s when I realized that no matter what happened to the people before me, they weren’t forced to become the monster, they chose to. They were introduced to the monster and then they had to make a choice. Become the monster or defeat it, stop it from destroying everyone. The monster attacked me and it was bad but to me becoming the monster was so much worse because I would rather be hurt than hurt someone else. And that’s all it took, the way to defeat the monster was so simple and yet it had taken years for someone to stop it. All along all anyone had to do was stop being the same monster that had attacked them.
By Raine Fielder11 months ago in Critique
Flash of... Brilliance?
Flash fiction has never really been my “thing”. The type of fiction I tend to gravitate to is more extended, chapter-like fiction—gritty, lengthy stories, full of sub-context and side plots. So, flash fiction presents a challenge for me, one that I have started to tackle more frequently. I’ll be critiquing one of my most recent pieces Survival Rate. The goal was to end in a twist and subvert the reader’s expectations in some groundbreaking way. The side quest goal was to make it only five hundred words.
By Sarah Massey11 months ago in Critique
Breaking the Rules: A Bold Self-Edit of My Riskiest Writing Choice
Taking the Leap into Creative Uncertainty Every writer faces a moment of doubt when pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling. This article is both a confession and a guide—a deep dive into my own risk-taking as a writer. I will share an excerpt that I once considered both flawed and full of potential. Then, I will analyze my editing choices, the risks I took, and how they reshaped my creative approach. If you have ever hesitated before breaking a rule in writing, this exploration might offer the encouragement you need.
By Alain SUPPINI11 months ago in Critique
A Moment On My Soapbox. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
Pulls out soapbox. History never repeats itself, but it loves playing a good cover. When we cease to understand, and only imitate, we doom ourselves and others into repeating the same chords, the same notes, eventually writing off a cover as a different song entirely.
By Matthew J. Fromm11 months ago in Critique
What goes through the mind of an empty envelope?
Humans! Aah, the notorious ones gospelled with the prowess of pouring their hearts onto the folds of power, of unleashing the confinement of unsaid pain through the enigmatic flair of woven syllables through the crevices of their glistening minds.
By Hridya Sharma11 months ago in Critique
Raw to Remix- 53 & Me. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
The crows have landed, I see imperfection. Fifty times around the sun plus three more to rub my nose in it. Love yourself, they say, age with grace. But celebrities don't, so why should I? Botox and fillers- a facelift will do. Don't take age lying down, invoke skin resurrection. "You look good for your age." What the hell does that mean? Under eye bags, a deep forehead wrinkle leaves no secrets on my face. Social media spites me and forwardly invites me: To challenge Father Time with "Yeah, I'm about to get mine." Creams, potions, and diet, already tried it. So, I'm about to go in for hand assisted fixes and take a page from the famous. If you ask me later, know I denied it. This is all natural, don't you see; me at 53!
By Marilyn Glover11 months ago in Critique
The Salted Winds of New Shores
Beneath the endless sky, where the sea meets land in a fragile embrace, a small boat rocked violently against the angry tides. On board, a woman, her hands weathered by the storm of survival, gripped the oars with a desperation that only a mother could understand. Her child, swaddled in blankets of hope, slept in the far corner, unaware of the world unraveling around them.
By GoldenSpeech11 months ago in Critique
My own worst Art Critique
I have to be honest—- Critique is one of the most challenges that I have to try to keep tackle it. For years, I have always been my own worst credit or worst critique- no matter what creativity I was doing especially during my school life and even after graduation. I also couldn’t go to the art school or art college at all— it was quite expensive and other reasons (its very complicated to share). I thought I wasn’t going to be succeed anything due from my mental health, my conditions—my learning issues, mixed language disorder, and mixed development delayed since childhood. I always like making stories like imagination and be creative as an illustrator(my dream career), same thing when I want to be an artist. I have also been struggled if I am talented enough or not even quite at all…
By Meghan LeVaughn 11 months ago in Critique
Are Ukrainians prepared for concessions and a ceasefire? What the polls say is as follows:
The idea of a negotiated end to the three-year war has been put on the agenda and in the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin thanks to an agreement between the United States and Ukraine on a ceasefire proposal. However, the parties' positions are pretty clear even before Moscow responds.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique
