You recently reviewed a fictional essay of mine, so I wanted to return the gesture. This title and the award pulled me in. I'm sure you've read some classic and famous authors. All stories are family.
I could feel Lynn's tension in my chest and hoped she'd escape unharmed, but trauma stays with us, as did the effect on Lynn's reflection. It's a thought-provoking piece. If you write about this mirror again, I'd enjoy it.
Thank you for this grateful meditation written while the world was reeling with fear of the unknown. It reminds us that peaceful moments are an opportunity to learn about ourselves and find comfort in our individuation.
You recently reviewed an Essay of mine and encouraged me to keep writing. I wanted to read something you shared from the heart as well. Like you, I'm grateful for silence. Our world is loud. I embrace the early and late hours to write, to center myself in the values I cherish and rise armed to face the noise.
I felt at home in this space traveler's mind. The planet's desolate, harsh, and unwelcome atmosphere painted a picture of homesickness. The journal entry added an emotional element that readers can relate to. The passage of time pressurized the suffering. We've all felt helplessly alone in an unfamiliar or challenging space. I wanted them to survive.
I struggled a bit with the journal entry's place in the structure. Was it being read aloud by the traveler to comfort himself? If so, I would suggest that it stand alone as a paragraph.
Otherwise, I look forward to reading more of your work!
This might be considered Comfort Content today, with its plot of loneliness thwarted by love and attention from friends and family. Your first line took me back to a time when I dreamed of other worlds. When I hoped fairies and gnomes were real (There was a cute cartoon I loved called David the Gnome back in the nineties!) Simple descriptions sprinkled throughout the story welcomed me into a quaint underground wonderland. From hook to resolution, your story flowed smoothly in under 2000 words.
My only disappointment was that the crystal's siblings were mentioned but did not visit as suggested. - Maybe you can write a sequel about them. :)
I found this thought provoking and honest. My mind recalled childhood playacting. That's the difference between wishing and living, and in turn the difference between fulfillment and anxiety. When we are little, there's no pressure. We only have to pretend. As adults, we are faced with the prerequisite that the Alchemy of transforming a dream into reality is hard work.
I appreciate your creative approach to the contest and that you seized an opportunity to share your values. In addition to the warm hug this entry gave my soul, I'm inspired to create more often and to be consistently grateful for the people I love. - Thank you for writing.
This was beautiful and drew me in. I enjoyed reading this a few times. I thought about the greed harbored in society that would use our curiosity and exploit our insecurity to trap us in their vice. - Not sure this is what you meant to write about, but our individuality filters our perception. - Write on.
I felt welcomed into your story. I enjoyed your prose, especially the second paragraph. It read like poetry. I sank into the language like the cushion of a chair that swallows you whole. My shoulders relaxed, and I felt my eyes use less energy.
Open-ended short stories excite me, but I hope you continue this one. I like where it took my imagination. Thanks again!
Printed from https://webx1.writing.com/main/profile/reviews/finelines
Generated in 0.07 seconds at 8:24am on Mar 14, 2026 via server WEBX1.
un: 
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Community Feed
Puzzle Hub
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
