I realized a problem with my writing: I’ve reached a soft limit of how I can communicate. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s analogize with my cheap “pawn shop special” bass: it fulfills all my limited needs when it comes to learning the basics. I can pluck strings and learn chord progression. I don’t mind tuning it whenever I’m serious about playing it. Now if I wanted to play with others or even professionally…
Rather than adapt, the natural tendency when we encounter adversity is to retreat. Why? It makes sense if we’re exhausted. Having driven through adversity to achieve something impossible, it’s certainly wise to rest. In “The Story,” John [left] and Trishna [right] won’t get an easy pass. They’ll have to thrive in a world of strife, just like we all do. Let’s explore how driving our vehicles might help them, and us, learn some adversity tolerance.
Spoilers?: Minor (psychological character studies)
WANNA CONSIDER HOW LIFE IS JUST A SERIES OF EXERCISES IN TOLERANCE TOWARD VARIOUS ADVERSITIES? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
Just as I learn from my mistakes, I also learn from the mistakes of others. It’s not for petty reasons. It’s not to make myself look better than someone else. Rather: this person messed up in a way any reasonable person might act. Let me learn how they failed so …I don’t fail, too! I would like to think “The Story” main characters John [left] and Trishna [right] act similarly. But wouldn’t that be boring?
Spoilers?: Minor (character motivations, world-building)
WANNA CONSIDER THE VALUE OF LEARNING FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THE WORKS OF OTHERS? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
You can become a professional in any field… if you put in the work. There’s nothing glamorous here: you must develop the mental fortitude, discipline, necessary character traits, and endure through hardships to become qualified. Through college, you should be able to better yourself enough to get ‘the job’ on your own. No freebies! In “The Story,” John [left] and Trishna [right] have career aspirations. The “College Arc” explores their paths of developing career/life disciplines.
Spoilers?: Minor (studying character/life development)
WANNA CONSIDER HOW THE INADEQUECIES OF COLLEGE EDUCATION MIGHT BE BASED AROUND THE CONTEXT/FRAMING OF THE INTENT RATHER THAN CONTENT/COURSEWORK ITSELF? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
“College is a time for challenging your opinions.[1]” What if those challenges include the training you’ve been inflicted either by others or by yourself over perceptions over your self-worth, values to others, or overall sense of self-confidence? In “The Story,” John [left] and Trishna [right] are two characters facing constant adversity, but they also have a strong friendship and bond that enables them to work together. How will their opinions change after they attend college?
Spoilers?: Minor (college’s fiction/nonfiction character-building)
WANNA READ ABOUT HOW THE MORE YOU PUT INTO [X] THE MORE YOU GET OUT OF IT? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
How much do I want to accomplish with “The Story?” If it is a complete commentary on reality, the glitter and grime, then how much of that can be expressed from living in one spot? Within those comforts, you can develop your skills and perceptions, but to truly know the world, you must encounter it. Trishna’s family visit their relatives in “India” or “Ireland” annually. The year John arrives, their plans to flying to “India.”
Spoilers?: Minor (worldbuilding and self-improvement)
WANNA CONSIDER HOW IN ORDER TO TELL BETTER STORIES, ONE MUST EXPERIENCE MORE THAT CAN BE TOLD AS STORIES? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
A new ticket appeared at the top of the ticket system’s list. High priority! “obscura4 down!” The second-level computer repair technician tasked with managing the queue, Sammohini, read through the ticket details. In the private notes, the first-level technician noted “customer says venkat always fixes this. hes out sick. does we need 2 call him?” She assigned the ticket to herself. ‘No one’s here,’ she thought, ‘and Venkat’s out sick, poor guy… let’s find his notes!’
“Have you noticed any changes with me over the last two years?” “I’m not sure. I don’t have a very good memory about that sort of thing.[1,2]” It’s been two years since I started Better Zombie. Then, I inconsequentially wasted time and money for hedonistic reasons. Now, I constantly strive to better myself, my work, and my environment through each of my writings. I’m still hedonistic, sure, I just act with more purpose. Let’s time-travel:
WANNA READ TWO YEARS’S WORTH OF BETTER ZOMBIE IN JUST ONE ESSAY? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
If there were one day of the year to practice healthy self-respect, it’d be your birthday. We continually sacrifice ourselves for others throughout the year. Why not reclaim our autonomy on our birthdays? Do what you enjoy doing most, do nothing, or do something ambitious! In “The Story,” Trishna [right] and her family have that attitude toward birthdays, so when John [left] has his first birthday as part of “the family,” it’s a culture shock.
Spoilers?: Minor (just character building)
WANNA CONSIDER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARROGANCE AND CONFIDENCE IN REGARDS TO HOW YOU TREAT YOURSELF AND OTHERS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
I thought of all the compromises I’d negotiate as I ran toward the bus I certainly was missing. I’d realized I’d forgotten my wallet too late into my bus stop journey. After retrieving it, I thought of stopping to send correspondences with my status and apologies. Maybe what stopped me was not wanting to so easily be conquered by trivialities? I arrived at the bus stop just moments before my bus, and with something more!
