Fiction
Professor Andrew's Self-Editing Epiphany Experience
Professor Andrews left the gothic artistic designed lecture hall whose sole delegated epiphany task instructed, ‘remind the future about being sincere and trustworthy’. Stepping outside the collegiate building, adjusting the trench coat, making sure the overbearing jacket representing adulthood respect, could handle engaging the elements.
By Marc OBrien11 months ago in Critique
Artificial Intelligence: Revolution or Threat to Humanity?. AI-Generated.
Introduction Itelligence (AI) is at the heart of global technological and economic transformations. From virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to self-driving cars and AI-assisted medical diagnostics, AI is everywhere. Some see it as a revolutionary advancement that will make our lives easier, while others worry about its implications for employment, security, and ethics. Is this technology a major asset for humanity, or a threat that must be strictly regulated?
By AB Channel11 months ago in Critique
A Catch-and-Release Critique
In this self critique I’ve decided to take a recent short story that was entered in a writing competition and reflect on my revisions to the piece. This story is one that didn’t exactly do so well. In fact it was the worst I’d ever done in this particular writing competition. So I "caught it up", made some necessary revisions, and released it back into the wild (published it on Vocal).
By D.K. Shepard11 months ago in Critique
Feeling a God Cry. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
In the excerpt below the enslaved servant of the Goddess Elyria, the warrior-scholar Baj Expatrianis asks the Goddess why she would not accept a mortal female as an acolyte nor take one as a forced servant.
By Everyday Junglist11 months ago in Critique
The Path of Hearts or Pentacles
“Hey man.” Warren grabbed the forearm of his friend Matt, who was the beer bearer for the 40th birthday party. “So, what’s on tap tonight?” queried Warren. Always proud of his artisanal beer, Matt was keen to explain his choice of hops and malts to anyone willing to listen. He had pursued his dream and had landed on his feet, as head brewer for a local pub. He was always pleased to strut his stuff. As they spoke other friends celebrating their spring birthdays joined the party on the last day of May, 2025.
By Katherine D. Graham11 months ago in Critique
Not The Editor I Wish To Be . Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge. Top Story - April 2025. Content Warning.
I am by no means a professional editor. All I can do is alter what I’ve written until my eyes see it has something which isn’t a disaster. So, what I do now, don’t just take it with a grain of salt – take it with the whole damn salt farm!
By Euan Brennan11 months ago in Critique
Picking the Right Moment to Start. Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge. Top Story - March 2025.
You’ve likely heard some of this conventional writing advice before: Start “in media res” A reader can tolerate proportionally as much exposition as the plot has achieved momentum – Stephen King (I think) Begin in the moment and feed the reader details as the plot progresses
By Stephen A. Roddewig11 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
A Prologue Breakdown. Top Story - March 2025.
Prologues. They’re a difficult thing to write and are often unnecessary, as you will hear so many writers say. But when prologues are done correctly, they ground you in the story without being redundant or giving anything away.
By Amethyst Champagne11 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
