Microfiction: Two Small Stories on Good and Evil

Love and Betrayal

The demoness protected love through betrayal.

Good or Evil?

Is a demon automatically evil once born? Or can a demon choose to be good or evil through their actions? I have heard of a demoness who betrayed her brother to protect the human she fell in love with. So I ask you, is she good? Or is she evil?

Yin-yang image

Author's Note:
Both the 6 word story and the 50 word story are inspired by the story in the Mahabharata about the rakshasi who fell in love with Bhima. She decides to warn him of her rakshasa brother who wants to eat them instead of bringing them to her brother. The two of them actually get married afterwards and have a child. I used this story to convey the idea that no one is born evil which I whole heatedly believe. This little message also happens to go along with my storybook which I found interesting when I originally read the story.

Bibliography:
Mahabharata by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.

Week 8: Progress

I feel the class is going well and I have most enjoyed the story and Microfiction blog posts. I am also enjoying the project (which is more stories of course). I have edited both the blog's layout and the sites layout some and I am happy with the way they look.

I might find things to change about the site or the blog post as the semester goes on (I mentioned a couple things I was thinking about in my previous week 8 post). I am most looking forward to the comments and thoughts I'll get in my storybook because it is mainly my own story that I've created for two rakshasa brothers. I have basically had it planned out from the beginning with a few things I didn't include so as to not ruin a surprise. I'm really curious what people will think.

Sometimes all you need is a good laugh to keep going:

Motivation meme

Week 8: Comments and Feedback

Overall I am really enjoying reading the comments and feedback on my stories. Though I actually only have a true feedback comment one one of my stories (2 on the same one), they were both helpful. They picked up on what I was trying to do with the story (make Lakshmana and Rama have more even roles) and they both had ideas that could help with that even more. If I was going to go back and edit that story I would definitely consider their suggestions. On the other hand, the feedback I have on my project so far has not been very helpful (except for Laura's feedback through email and the 3rd comment which I still wonder how best to give that info). The first two really make me wonder if they just skimmed the story or are they really that confused? So I've added some info to the home page (the info the 3rd comment mentions).

As for feedback I've given, I would like to think the writers would find it helpful. I've tried to be specific and point out anything that stands out to me (either by impressing me or by throwing me off a bit). I'd be interested to see what they actually do think of my feedback though so I might go read their Week 8 feedback post when it's up. Also, I really enjoy seeing all the different styles of writing and a few stories have given me ideas of things to try (like creating my own characters and putting them in a situation similar to one of the readings).

I'm sure my introduction does a good job of showing my character but I wouldn't actually care enough to go back and change it if it didn't. The required comments on people's intros are interesting to read but I don't much like writing them. I much more enjoy commenting on stories (and if I'm gonna do the comments on the stories I might as well comment on the intros and get the points for it).

I have considered changing my comment wall a bit. Maybe adding another picture that's more interesting as an eye catcher. Also I might add my synopsis like thing that's currently on the home page of the project.

Here's an infographic that I feel really shows the kinds of feedback and what is really useful:

Constructive Feedback

Week 8: Reading and Writing

I feel like I have gotten less detailed in my writing notes as the weeks go by. At first I seem to try and include the major plot points of the stories but then I move to only including plot points that sound interesting to me. The second is more helpful because they end up organized by possible story ideas. Although I will admit that I do not go back and read the notes when I'm trying to come up with an idea for a story unless I have no idea what I want to write about.

As for my stories I have tried a few different styles and I enjoy trying to write in a way that feels like the reader is right there watching the story happen. My favorite that I've written is either "The Brothers and their Battle" or "Demons at the Lake" (both include fighting and I always enjoy action). I'm not sure if I'll try and stick to one style from now on or if I'll continue to try different styles. It might depend on what my story is and what fits with it.

I've actually been having fun with the project and creating a completely new backstory for Ilvala and Vatapi (and creating Abhavi). I keep looking at the site and changing little things and I know there's still something I want to change. I want at least one more picture for the first story up and I think it would be helpful to have a link at the bottom of each page that goes to the next story (which is easy to do but just haven't done yet).

My favorite picture from my stories so far would have to be the one from "A Crew's Salvation" just because it fits the story so well with what the crew is doing at the end of the story. But if I include the project as well I also like the pictures I've found of the cave temples in Badami. If I have to choose I'll say the picture of the faceless statue on the Intro page because it really shows what the brothers see in the cave and it's easy to see where the hidden compartment is as well.

Faceless Statue in Badami Cave