PROJECT PEN [SEASON II]

JUDGES REVIEW (BATCH TWO cont'd)

P.S. This is the Continuation of the Previous review, due to limit in word count.

013 The.mini.asthete

Prompt: "Everyday the same thing keeps happening"

Story Input:

Everyday, the same thing keeps happening. I sit down at my desk, ready to write. But nothing comes. My mind is a blank slate, a void of ideas. I look out the window, hoping for inspiration. All I see is the same view, the same buildings, the same people. Like a broken record, stuck on repeat. The blank screen stares back at me, mocking me. I try to think of something, anything, to put on the page but my mind is a wasteland, barren and empty.

I feel the pressure of time passing, each second ticking away, but I am stuck, suspended in the moment, unable to progress. I close my eyes, hoping to block out the world around me. But when I open them, I am still here, still stuck, still trapped in the same cycle.

As I sit there, lost in my thoughts, I notice a small bird outside the window. It's perched on the sill, its tiny body a speck against the glass. I watch as it flutters its wings, and I feel a pang of envy. If only I could be as free as that bird, able to fly away, to escape this place, this mental cage. But I am rooted to the spot, unable to move, my wings clipped. I watch as the bird takes flight, soaring into the sky, disappearing from view. And I am left behind, stuck in the same place, the same moment, the same cycle.

I leave my desk and my computer untouched and find something else to do. Sorting out my laundry, arranging my bookshelf, taking a nap, making lunch, eating lunch, washing dishes, scrolling through social media, making dinner, eating dinner, washing dishes again. Pretty much anything that isn't writing.

Hours pass and the sky starts to dim. Another completely unproductive day. With the deadline at exactly midnight, panic begins to set in. I stare at the blank page, willing the words to come, but nothing appears.

Out of nowhere, I get a sudden flash of inspiration. I place my hands on the keyboard to capture it but just as fast as it came, the inspiration leaves; the panic returns. I look at the clock, and I try to focus on the page, but my mind is a blur. I can't seem to grasp a single thought. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but it's no use. My heart is pounding, my hands are shaking, and the words just won't come. I feel like a failure, like I've let myself down, like I should be ashamed to even call myself a writer.

Just then, I hear a soft tapping at the window. I look up, and I see a small bird, the one from earlier, its beak pecking at the glass. The bird looks at me, and I feel a connection, a spark of understanding, like the bird is trying to tell me something, trying to help me break free from this cycle of frustration. I stare at the bird, and slowly feel my mind start to clear, the fog lifting. I put my hands on the keyboard and the words start to flow. I know exactly what I need to write, and I let the story take me where it wants to go.

Just as the inspiration begins to return in full force, the bird flies away and takes my inspiration along with it. I feel a moment of panic but then, I hear a sound from outside the window. I glance up, and I see a shape in the darkness, a figure watching me from the shadows. The figure steps forward, and I see that it is the bird, the same bird that had come to my window before. It came back. The bird looks at me, and I feel a sense of peace wash over me. I know that I am not alone, that I am being guided, being helped. I feel a surge of confidence, and I start to write, my words flowing freely, the last bits of the piece coming together.

Every day for the past few months, I would sit down at my desk to write and every day, I would struggle, and the words would not come and the blank page would taunt me and the silence in my apartment would mock me. I would try and try and try, but nothing would come out if it. So I did what any normal person would do, distract myself with anything and everything I could think of instead of trying to deal with the problem.

For these past months the same thing kept happening every day but today was different. Maybe it was the deadline or the biggest opportunity of my life on the line or even that little bird. Whatever it was, procrastination is evil and I'm never doing it again.

JUDGES REVIEWS

Judge Jk Rowling

I don't understand how this story seems to have so much happening but nothing happening at the same time.

The writer can use their words, that's for sure, but the plot of this seemed a bit too basic, in my opinion. I know what they were trying to do; maybe using procrastination to show the idea of recurrent 'I will do it tomorrow's' but, it didn't hit me the way the writer may have hoped it would. Not bad though. Still debating on what verdict to give on this.

Judge Karen Kingsbury

*Blinks*. *Blinks again*. Where were you going and where were you coming from? Guided by a bird? What sort of thing is that? The plot? The story flow? Were you writing the story of how you came about this story? Because, at this point, I'm just going to blink again.

Judge James Hardley Chase

I understood the message you were trying to pass. The story didn't impress me, I also believe you can do much better. This was okay, but if you make it to the next stage, I need you to step out of your comfort zone and make magic. You are a good writer, but I want to see that creative side of you.

Judge Maya Angelou

What in the world is this piece supposed to be about? If you were trying to be poetic with the whole bird thing, you missed big time.

Judge Acton Bell

"Everyday, the same thing keeps happening," but hanty, nothing happened in this story oh. The grammar and punctuation were okay. And it looks like you actually have something to say, but you just haven't found the right way to execute it.

Commentary:

You've heard the Judges guys! Did your favorite contestants rep you well? Or did the Judges Reviews wound you small?😂

Stay tuned with us tomorrow, for the BATCH THREE entries and Judges Reviews tomorrow! See you until then. Much love from Project Pen!❤️🔥