Author: glar5

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Visualizing the Podcast – Video Production

Details in the Process

Capturing Footage – Equipment

For my recordings, I used my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to capture the footage. Due to my topic having to do with blue light, I found an old backup phone. It was my LG G8 ThinQ, which has a much worse camera, so I only used it as a prop. I asked my boyfriend to help with recording when I had to be in frame. Additionally, I offered him to play a part at the end which he gladly accepted.

Additional Visual Material

The additional material I chose included a couple of diagrams that explain the biology side of things. Then, I found one image to help show one of my points. Lastly, the remaining material is all videos that visually support the audio from my podcast.

Basis for the Video

My Shot List

Click to View
Narration Visuals 
Background noise of an alarm blaring, person pressing snooze, and shuffling with an audible yawn Record: person laying in bed then alarm and shuffling a yawn (sleep mask on person) 
Have your parents ever demanded your phone at night so you would actually go to bed? Find: stock footage of adults with hands out, beckoning 
Sure, it was probably because you like to doomscroll and would end up falling asleep around 3am. Record: person scrolling at night with phone on bright 
But the fear of blue light definitely plays a role. What if I told you that it might not just be blue light that keeps you up at night? Find: person looking shocked at blue light 
Within your retina are specialized cells called ipRGCs (intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells) which are like built-in alarm clocks. Find: diagram of ipRGCs 
They measure the amount of light so they can set your body’s master clock. Find: high cortisol alert diagram but with high vs low light 
Morning light signals cortisol to keep you awake and simultaneously your body starts a 16-hour countdown and once this hits zero, it releases melatonin to make you sleepy. Find: clock ticking by on fast forward 
This is exactly why blue light should be considered a myth. Though ipRGCs are most sensitive to blue light wavelengths, scientific studies have shown that total light intensity matters almost as much. Find: guy wearing glasses bluelight filtered 
A 2011 study published by The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism states “As a result of this exposure to electrical light between dusk and bedtime, presleep levels of melatonin were reduced by 71.4%, and total daily levels of melatonin were reduced by about 12.5%.” Make: text on screen of the quote 
Background noise of another alarm going off, myself saying “Hey! I’m not done yet,” Record: turn around (like a 4th wall break) and say that 
The solution isn’t about the color of light coming out of the screen. Rather, it is about the amount of light. Find: wavelength diagram and intense light plus dim light 
If you want to use your phone at night, the best solution is to dim your screen and keep the phone further away from your face. You might want to keep your body clock in check!” Record: dimming the screen, moving it away from the face

Recorded Footage

Video Project Footage

Posted on

Bluest Myth Out There – A Podcast by Glar5

A person's hand holding up a phone with the camera app open with a blue start in the background that illuminates everything in blue, including picture frames.
CC0 Public Domain

The Blue Light Myth

Transcript (Click to View)

Transcript

Speaker 1 is Glar5

[introduction music]

[alarm blaring, then a yawn]

00:00:11 Speaker 1

Have your parents ever demanded your phone at night so you’d actually go to bed? Sure, it was probably because you had a habit of staying up till 3am. But the fear of blue light definitely plays a role. What if I told you that it might not just be blue light that keeps you up at night?

00:00:27 Speaker 1

Within your retina are specialized cells called iPRGCs, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, which act like built-in alarm clocks. They measure the amount of light so they can set your body’s master clock. Morning light signals cortisol to keep you awake and simultaneously your body starts a 16-hour countdown and once this hits zero it releases melatonin to make you sleepy.

00:00:54 Speaker 1

This is exactly why blue light should be considered a myth. Though iPRGCs are most sensitive to blue light wavelengths, scientific studies have shown that total light intensity matters almost as much.

00:01:07 Speaker 1

A 2011 study published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism states, “As a result of this exposure to electrical light between dusk and bedtime, presleep levels of melatonin were reduced by 71.4% and total daily levels of melatonin were reduced by about 12.5%.” While blue light is the hardest on melatonin production, other light sources can cause similar levels of harm to sleep.

[alarm blaring]

00:01:36 Speaker 1

Hey, I’m not done yet! Sheesh, that was jarring.

00:01:40 Speaker 1

Anyways, the solution isn’t about the color of light coming out of your screen, rather it’s actually about the amount of light. If you want to use your phone at night, the best solution is to dim your screen and keep the phone further away from your face. You might really want to consider keeping your body clock in check.

[outro music]

Production of the Podcast

Equipment?

I used my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra voice recording app to record the audio. The audio from my prior blog post wasn’t as high quality as I had liked so I rerecorded and took testing samples to ensure there was no background noise like fans or too much movement. For the editing, I did that on my laptop which involved transferring over the audio files.

Editing Software?

The software that I used is called Soundtrap. It is free to use and was extremely easy to learn. I really enjoyed the editing process. First, I added all of the audio files to the editor and then began splitting them to trim out several seconds of silence. After that, I was able to organize everything, such as putting the intro at the beginning and outro at the end. I had to trim down some sections so that I was exactly at 2:00 minutes.

Sources

Research for the Podcast

Melatonin and Sleep – NIH

Exposure to Room Light before Bedtime – JCEM

Melatonin Suppression by Light – NIH

Circadian Rhythm – Sleep Foundation

Melatonin – Mayo Clinic

Attributions

Phone Photography of a Very Blue Room

Intro and Outro Music

Posted on

A Very Blue Myth: Planning a Podcast

Topic Explanation

My topic is about how only blue light having an effect on sleep is a myth. The truth is that other wavelength color of lights can also have a strong impact on sleep and melatonin production. The purpose of my podcast is to educate others about this topic.

Script Outline and Recording Plan

My plan for recording is to do it in my bedroom but to turn off the fan in my room so that the audio is clear. To record my audio, I will be using my phone voice recording feature because it produces high quality audio while already being in my possession.

Script (press to view)

Introduction

“Thinker of Thoughts” [in a deep, deep voice] 

Background noise of an alarm blaring, person pressing snooze, and shuffling with an audible yawn 

Topic Introduction 

“Have your parents ever demanded your phone at night so you would actually go to bed? Sure, it was probably because you like to doomscroll and end up sleeping around 3am. But the fear of blue light definitely plays a role. What if I told you that it might not just be blue light that keeps you up at night?” 

Background 

“Within your retina are specialized cells called ipRGCs (intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells) which are like built-in alarm clocks. They measure the amount of light so they can set your body’s master clock. In the morning, these cells signal for cortisol to be released so that you stay awake. While this is occurring, your body starts a 16-hour countdown and once this hits zero, it releases melatonin to make you sleepy.” 

Explanation 

“This is exactly why blue light should be considered a myth. Though ipRGCs are most sensitive to blue light wavelengths, scientific studies have shown that total light intensity matters almost as much. A 2011 study published by The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism states “As a result of this exposure to electrical light between dusk and bedtime, presleep levels of melatonin were reduced by 71.4%, and total daily levels of melatonin were reduced by about 12.5%.” 

Importance 

“While blue light is the hardest on melatonin production, other light sources can cause similar levels of harm to sleep.”  

Background noise of another alarm going off, myself saying “Hey! I’m not done yet,” 

Conclusion 

“The resolution isn’t about the color of light coming out of the screen. Rather, it is about the amount of light. If you want to use your phone at night, the best solution is to dim your screen and keep the phone further away from your face. You might want to keep your body clock in check!” 

Acknowledgements (aka sources) 

  • Glar5 (creator) 
  • “Special thanks for today’s research go to the National Institutes of Health, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Journal of Biological Rhythms, the Sleep Foundation, and the Mayo Clinic.” 

Outro 

“Thinker of Thoughts Out!” [in a deep, sleepy voice] 

Background noise of snoring 

Summary of the Process (Thus Far)

The equipment that I used for recording was my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. It took a testing take and then a couple of drafts before I was able to get my most recent recording, which is linked below. This process began with planning, creating the script, practicing without recording, then testing the audio quality, and lastly recording takes.

Recording

This recording is just over the exact 2-minute requirement. Therefore, it will be cut down and edited during production.

DGST101 Recording

Posted on

Digital Image Creation – What will you make?

© 2026 Glar5. All rights reserved.

Why These Images? And What are They?

These images are built on some of my favorite things. Firstly, the key part of my logo is the deep, dark red heart with the spiked ends coming out of it diagonally. My favorite shape is the heart because it represents love and life, while the spikes coming from it represent defenses. Then, there are the crescent moons that represent eyes and are capable of carrying emotion. The speech bubble shows the power of speech and contains the name of my online persona, Glar5. The tear drops and spirals were fun little shapes that I wanted to include and the “3” used for the mouth is my favorite emoticon. I decided on the combination of all of these because these shapes have meaning to me, and together they become part of a bigger picture.

Behind the Scenes: Software and Processes

The software I used was Affinity, which was created by Canva. It was a really simple, easy to learn application that allowed me to create my entire logo and header in one place. Specifically, I used the shape tools to make the base of my idea. Then, I used the color tool to find the perfect colors for each shape. The text tool allowed me to add my name, Glar5. Further, I was able to use the grouping tool to combine all of the heart’s details for easy copy and pasting. Lastly, the tool that definitely brought it together the most, was the measuring tools to ensure that everything was lined up properly.

What File Types and Why?

For my file types, I chose PNG for my logo and WebP for my banner/heading. My logo is a PNG file because it is best suited for logos or icons, which is my primarily application for it. I want to use it as a branding, therefore the best choice was PNG. As for my banner, I used WebP because it is optimized to support higher loading speeds. This will help my website load faster which keeps users staying on the page longer since they aren’t waiting a while.

Dark red angry heart with triangles coming out of it and yellow crescent eyes. There are 3 deep blue tear drops and an even deeper blue speech bubble with the text Glar5 inside.
© 2026 Glar5. All rights reserved.

Sources

Affinity – Software

CRO:NYX Digital – Image File Type Guide

Posted on

Copyright and Attribution… But why?

3D broken copyright symbol with cracks and separating pieces on a black background
“3D Broken Copyright” by ccPixs.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Reflections on Copyright

Copyright is an extremely important legal protection that provides exclusive use of an individual work to the creator of said work. An interesting thing about copyright is that there is no registration required. As soon as something is created it is under ownership of the creator. There is such a thing as fair-use which protects those who use a creator’s work for education, criticism, and for the news. However, what if creators want their work to be used regardless of the purpose? Creative Commons allows creators to automatically provide permission to those who would like to use their work.

Why did I choose CC BY-NC-SA 4.0?

I chose a Creative Commons (CC) license rather than a full copyright because I would like my work to be able to be used by others. Why this particular license than any of the other CC ones? I would like my work to be credited to me so that I can stand by it and present it as mine. I don’t want my work to be commercially used because I don’t want others to use my creations for advertising or money-making purposes. Lastly, if my work is used in any way then that new work must be licensed under this same license. The 4.0 simply means that this is the 4th version of the CC license.

Using the work of others ethically

It is important to respect how others want their work to be used. As a creator and a viewer, it is your responsibility to know about copyright and CC licenses. One of the biggest challenges about fair-use is that it is acceptable for someone to use your work for criticism. While this can be frustrating, it is everyone’s right as freedom of expression. Overall, it is necessary for creators to understand their rights.

And who doesn’t want silly cat pictures??

A house cat with it's mouth slightly open and a pepperoni pizza in front of it's face with a kitchen in the background. There is a thin white box and then a black border around the image with the words "202" and below that "Accepted" in white letters.
“202 – Accepted” by GirlieMac is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Sources

3D Broken Copyright – Image

Cat with Pepperoni Pizza – Image

Posted on

Who am I on the Web? Her Answers:

"WHO IS SHE?" repeated in the background fading with a humanistic monster in the middle. Poster from a band called "I Monster" about their song titled "Who is She?"

Who am I on the web?

Everyone has their own identity, both inside and outside the screen. It is something to be valued and taken seriously. Therefore, on the web, I am Glar5 and I plan to use this identity for sharing my work, personal projects, and any silly thoughts I have. I want this blog to be a place for me to share my hobbies and interests.

Importance of identity on the web

I believe that having an identity on the web is as important as having an identity in the physical world. I prefer to call an online identity an online persona, or the person you portray yourself to be on the web. This is an excellent concept to think about because it could lead to many opportunities like employer recognition, online friends, an outlet for creativity, and so much more!

Why did I pick this domain name?

This domain name actually has a history! It goes back many years to when I played my first online game as a young child on the platform Webkinz. My parents created my account for me and that was the username that was automatically generated for me.

What made it stick with me?

This username has stayed with me ever since then because my parents used it for other online platforms, like Animal Jam and Club Penguin. I’m not even quite sure what exactly “glar” means but it reminds me of glare (as in to glare at someone) which seems silly.

Sources

Who is She? I Monster Lyrics (Song in the Image)

Online Persona – Social Media

Posted on

The Internet: Is Anything Real Anymore?

Titled "Cake or AI." On the left side is a realistic looking cake made by AI and on the right is a cake made out of computer equipment and technology.

False and Inaccurate Information: Why?

Unfortunately, we live in a world where misinformation, disinformation, and scams are all over the place. There are various reasons why someone would want to participate in facilitating these behaviors. Firstly, misinformation is spread accidentally and happens when people don’t do their own research or fact-check. Disinformation is purposeful and can happen for a number of reasons, including by those trying to achieve their own personal agenda. Lastly, scams may be done for money, forced labor, and extortion purposes.

Reality and AI

AI is an extremely important thing to talk about, especially considering it will be a huge part of our lives. The most interesting thing about how AI is exploding right now is the parallels it shares with the computer boom around the 1980s. In relation to those who have already began to adapt to AI, CMIT Solutions says “they’re freeing up their human teams to focus on the high-value, creative, relationship-driven work that machines can’t touch.” While this might mean that we must verify all the information we see, perhaps that is better for improving critical thinking.

Nebula One

OpenAI Opened

This AI model provided two sources from Purdue University which is a very reputable website with helpful information and plenty of resources. Along with this, there is another repeat source that wants you to sign up for their services. These sources are more on the trustworthy side because they include scholarly and well known websites.

Tokens: 43,253

Conversation Title: Guidance on creative writing process and resources
Agent: ONEchat

[09/08/2026] (glar5):
Hello! I’m really interested in writing a story, something I have never fully been able to get into. I’m planning for a creative short story under 5k words. I already have the idea built in my head so don’t provide anything like details or characters. What I would like to know is how the creative writing process works. Please provide sources that will help me to get started.

Response:

A creative writing process is usually a cycle rather than a strict formula: prepare, draft, revise, edit, and—if desired—share. Different writers plan extensively, discover the story while drafting, or combine both approaches.[doc1][doc2]

1. Prepare without overplanning

Since your idea is already developed, begin by writing a brief statement of what the story is fundamentally exploring. This is not a synopsis; it is a private guide for keeping the story focused.

For a short story under 5,000 words, it helps to limit the piece to:

  • One central line of action
  • One main conflict
  • A small number of important events
  • A consistent point of view
  • A focused emotional or thematic effect

Short stories generally rely on compression, so plot, character, conflict, setting, and theme need to work together rather than operate as separate subplots.[doc1][doc2]

2. Choose how much to plan

You do not need a detailed outline. You can either:

  • Outline first: decide the major turns before drafting.
  • Discovery-write: begin writing and discover the story through the process.
  • Use a hybrid approach: identify only the opening situation, major turning point, climax, and ending.

The best method is the one that helps you continue writing without making the process feel mechanical.[doc2]

3. Draft for completion, not quality

The first draft is primarily an act of discovery. Avoid trying to perfect every sentence while writing; leave placeholders, skip difficult passages temporarily, or write scenes out of order if necessary.[doc2]

A useful first-draft goal is simply to reach the end. You may discover that the story’s structure, emphasis, or ending changes as you write. That is normal: drafting reveals possibilities that planning cannot always predict.[doc2]

4. Revise the story as a whole

Revision is more than correcting grammar. Start by asking whether the complete draft creates the effect you intended.

Read for:

  • Whether the story begins at the most effective moment
  • Whether each event contributes to the central movement
  • Whether cause and effect are clear
  • Whether tension develops rather than remaining flat
  • Whether the ending feels earned
  • Whether anything can be removed without weakening the story

Purdue describes plot as the meaningful arrangement of actions and emphasizes the connection between character decisions, conflict, and consequences.[doc1] Reedsy recommends examining narrative threads, removing unnecessary material, and checking that the ending is neither unexplained nor confusing.[doc2]

5. Revise in layers

Do not try to solve every problem at once. A practical sequence is:

  1. Structure: Is the story coherent and appropriately focused?
  2. Scene or paragraph function: Does each section contribute something?
  3. Clarity and pacing: Is the reader receiving information at the right time?
  4. Voice and style: Does the language create the intended tone?
  5. Sentence editing: Can the prose be more precise or economical?
  6. Proofreading: Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting last.

Sentence-level polishing is most efficient after structural decisions are settled, because otherwise you may spend time refining material that will later be cut.[doc2][doc3]

6. Take distance and seek feedback

After finishing a draft, step away from it before revising. Time makes it easier to notice what is actually on the page rather than what you remember intending to write.[doc2]

When you share the story, ask readers specific questions instead of simply asking whether they liked it. For example: “Where did your attention dip?” or “What did you think the story was ultimately about?” Reader responses can show you what the draft communicates independently of your intentions.[doc2]

7. Polish and decide whether to share it

Read the story aloud to catch awkward phrasing, repetitive rhythms, and unnatural dialogue.[doc4] Then proofread the final version and, if you plan to submit it, check each publication’s guidelines before sending it.[doc2]

A simple starting routine would be:

  1. Write a one-paragraph private description of the story’s purpose.
  2. Make a short list of its major movements.
  3. Draft without stopping to perfect it.
  4. Leave it alone for several days.
  5. Revise for structure and focus.
  6. Revise for language.
  7. Read it aloud and proofread it.
  8. Ask one or two trusted readers for focused feedback.

Sources to get started

The most important thing is to separate creating from judging: let the draft exist first, then evaluate and reshape it afterward.[doc2]

Anthropic Analyzed

What stood out about this AI model is that it provided a concise but extremely helpful answer, allowing the user to jump into the writing process. A couple of the sources were clearly primarily advertising services, such as Grammarly. One of the websites was outdated from 2002 and extremely hard to read through due to lack of accessibility. Another source unfortunately appeared to use AI for its graphics as twice it says “outuiling” rather than “outlining.” Overall, this model had hit or miss trustworthiness with some of the sources having really helpful specific information and others were a pain to navigate with general, unhelpful advice.

Tokens: 55,228

Conversation Title: Guidance on creative writing process and resources
Agent: ONEchat

[09/09/2026] (glar5):
Hello! I’m really interested in writing a story, something I have never fully been able to get into. I’m planning for a creative short story under 5k words. I already have the idea built in my head so don’t provide anything like details or characters. What I would like to know is how the creative writing process works. Please provide sources that will help me to get started.

Response:

Great! Here are reliable sources to guide you through the creative writing process for your short story:

Core Process Stages

The creative writing process typically consists of five stages[doc1][doc2][doc3]:

  1. Prewriting/Brainstorming – Generate ideas, ask questions, and gather material[doc1]. You don’t need this since you already have your idea built, but it establishes the foundation[doc2].
  2. Outlining – Organize your ideas into structure[doc2]. Some writers skip this (pantsers), while others find even a light outline helpful: beginning, inciting incident, midpoint shift, climax, and resolution[doc1].
  3. Drafting – Write your first version focusing on momentum, not perfection[doc1]. Write fast, fix later[doc1]. This is where you get messy and incomplete work onto the page[doc2].
  4. Revision – Improve content, structure, clarity, and flow. Revise in layers: start with big-picture issues (argument, structure) before touching sentences[doc1][doc2].
  5. Editing/Proofreading – Fix grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Do this last, not first[doc1][doc2].

Key Insight for Short Stories

The process differs slightly for short stories. You’ll want to start close to the climax and maintain tight focus on a single conflict[doc4][doc5]. Keep exposition minimal and avoid subplots[doc4].

Recommended Reading

Study short story masters—particularly Chekhov, Raymond Carver, Hemingway, Alice Munro, and Tobias Wolff[doc5]. Reading established short stories will teach you more about the craft than any single guide[doc5].

Recommended Sources to Explore

  • The US Writers Guide[doc1] – Practical 8-stage workflow with emphasis on layered revision
  • Writing Forward[doc6] – Flexible, adaptive processes for different projects
  • Methodology Hub[doc2] – Detailed breakdown of all five stages with practical applications
  • Grammarly’s Writing Process Guide[doc3] – Clear, accessible overview of each stage
  • Writers.com Short Story Checklist[doc4] – Specific guidance for short story structure, characters, and submission
  • Jerz’s Literacy Weblog[doc5] – 10 practical hacks covering first paragraphs, character development, dialogue, and conflict

You’re well-positioned since you already have your idea. Focus your effort on drafting first, then revision.

Mistrial Mystery

This model used the least trustworthy sources because while it provided the most sources, 8 of them had page not found errors. Another source was purely a quote that was irrelevant to the prompt. One source was advertising an AI writing agent. Overall, there is only one source that has in-depth, helpful information. The trustworthiness of these sources is pretty low given the significant portion of invalid pages.

Tokens: 4,114

Conversation Title: Hello! I’m really interested in writing a story, s
Agent: ONEchat

[09/09/2026] (glar5):
Hello! I’m really interested in writing a story, something I have never fully been able to get into. I’m planning for a creative short story under 5k words. I already have the idea built in my head so don’t provide anything like details or characters. What I would like to know is how the creative writing process works. Please provide sources that will help me to get started.

Response:
I’m sorry, the AI model is not responding. Please try your query again.

[09/09/2026] (glar5):
Hello! I’m really interested in writing a story, something I have never fully been able to get into. I’m planning for a creative short story under 5k words. I already have the idea built in my head so don’t provide anything like details or characters. What I would like to know is how the creative writing process works. Please provide sources that will help me to get started.

Response:
Here’s a clear, actionable breakdown of the creative writing process for a short story, along with authoritative sources to guide you. I’ve focused on the stages most relevant to your goal (under 5K words) and included practical tips to keep you moving forward.

1. Pre-Writing: Planning Without Over-Planning

Since you already have an idea, this stage is about clarifying and organizing it without getting stuck in endless outlines.

Key Steps:

  • Core Idea Refinement
    • Write a one-sentence summary of your story (e.g., “A reclusive clockmaker discovers his creations are counting down to his own death”).
    • Ask: What’s the emotional core? (e.g., grief, fear, love) and What’s the central conflict?
  • Character Sketches
    • Jot down 3-5 key traits for your protagonist and antagonist (if any). Focus on:
      • Desire: What do they want?
      • Obstacle: What’s stopping them?
      • Flaw: What’s their weakness?
    • Tip: For short stories, limit characters to 3-4 max to avoid clutter.
  • Structure Touchpoints
    • Use a simple framework to map the story’s arc. For short stories, try:
      • Freytag’s Pyramid: Exposition → Rising Action → Climax → Falling Action → Resolution.
      • The “5 Key Scenes” Method:
        1. Opening (introduce character/setting).
        2. Inciting Incident (disrupts the status quo).
        3. Midpoint (character commits to action).
        4. Crisis (all seems lost).
        5. Resolution (change or revelation).
  • Setting Notes
    • Describe the time, place, and mood in 3-5 sentences. Ask: How does the setting create tension or reflect the theme?

Sources for Pre-Writing:

  • Book: Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway (Chapter 2: “The Writing Process”).
  • Article: “How to Write a Short Story: 10 Steps” by Reedsy Blog.
    • Read Here (Focus on the “Planning” section).
  • Tool: One-Page Outline Template from Save the Cat! Writes a Novel (adapted for short stories).
    • Free Template (Ignore the “beat sheet” if it feels too rigid).

2. Drafting: Writing Freely

The goal here is momentum, not perfection. Short stories thrive on efficiency—every word should serve the core idea.

Key Steps:

  • Set a Word Count Target
    • Aim for 1,000–3,000 words for your first draft. You can expand or trim later.
  • Write Out of Order
    • Stuck on the opening? Start with the climax or a scene you’re excited about. Fill in the gaps later.
  • Silence Your Inner Editor
    • Use timed sprints (e.g., 25 minutes of writing, 5-minute break) to stay focused.
    • Tip: If you delete nothing in the first draft, you’re doing it right.
  • Dialogue as a Driver
    • Short stories often rely on subtext (what’s not said). Write dialogue that reveals conflict or hidden emotions.

Sources for Drafting:

  • Book: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (Chapter: “Shitty First Drafts”).
  • Article: “The Secret to Writing a Great Short Story” by The Write Practice.
    • Read Here (Focus on “Write Fast” and “Start in the Middle”).
  • Podcast: Writing Excuses (Episode: “Writing Short Stories”).
    • Listen Here (15-minute episode with actionable tips).

3. Revising: Shaping the Story

This is where you refine the draft into a polished piece. For short stories, revision is about precision.

Key Steps:

  • Let It Rest
    • Step away for at least 24 hours before revising. Fresh eyes catch more.
  • Big-Picture Edits (Macro)
    • Plot: Does every scene advance the story? Cut or merge scenes that don’t.
    • Character: Are their motivations clear? Do their actions feel consistent?
    • Pacing: Is the climax too rushed? Is the ending satisfying?
    • Tip: Read the story aloud to spot awkward phrasing or pacing issues.
  • Line Edits (Micro)
    • Trim redundancies: Remove filler words (e.g., “just,” “that,” “very”).
    • Show, Don’t Tell: Replace abstract emotions with concrete details (e.g., “She was nervous” → “She chewed her thumbnail raw”).
    • Dialogue Tags: Use “said” or action beats (e.g., “He slammed the door. ‘You’re late.'”).
  • Feedback
    • Share with 1-2 trusted readers (not family/friends). Ask:
      • What confused you?
      • What felt emotionally flat?
      • What did you love? (Keep these parts!)

Sources for Revising:

  • Book: On Writing Well by William Zinsser (Part III: “Forms”).
  • Article: “How to Edit Your Short Story” by The Creative Penn.
  • Checklist: Short Story Editing Checklist by Now Novel.

4. Polishing: Final Touches

  • Title: Brainstorm 10+ options. A great title hints at the theme or conflict (e.g., “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson).
  • Opening Line: Rewrite it last. It should hook the reader and set the tone.
  • Formatting: Use standard manuscript format (double-spaced, 12pt font, 1-inch margins) if submitting to journals.
  • Proofreading: Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to catch errors.

Sources for Polishing:

  • Article: “How to Write a Killer Opening Line” by Writer’s Digest.
  • Tool: Hemingway Editor (for clarity and conciseness).

5. Sharing Your Work

Recommended Workflow for You

  1. Day 1-2: Pre-write (one-sentence summary, character sketches, 5 key scenes).
  2. Day 3-5: Draft (write 500–1,000 words/day; don’t edit yet).
  3. Day 6: Rest (step away).
  4. Day 7-8: Revise (macro edits first, then line edits).
  5. Day 9: Polish (title, opening line, proofread).
  6. Day 10: Share (with a reader or submit).

Bonus: Mindset Tips

  • Embrace Imperfection: Your first draft is for you; revisions are for readers.
  • Set Small Goals: “Write 300 words today” is less intimidating than “Write a story.”
  • Read Like a Writer: Study short stories you admire. Ask: How did the author build tension? End the story?
    • Suggestions:
      • “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe (unreliable narrator).
      • “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway (subtext in dialogue).
      • “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu (emotional depth in few words).

Reflections as a Human

These models provided decently well-rounded information that did fit the creative writing topic and would help people new to the idea begin to write their own short story. Some sources were better than others, some were trying to advertise, and others just didn’t load. Placing myself into the shoes of a beginner, I believe this would be helpful. The model that worked best with the assigned topic was Mistrial because it formatted the information well, gave sources assigned to each step (even if majority of them didn’t work), and it provided a daily workflow.

Sources

CMIT Solutions – Parallels of AI and the PC

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Exploring Openness and Accessibility on the Open Web

This is a decorative image. Picture at night with complete darkness. There is a light illuminating a plane wing. Below the plane wing is a lit up city that also adds light to the image.

Openness

Why?

One might want to make their work and content open to the web so that they can spread information that they believe is important. Or, perhaps to gain traction and popularity to make money.

How?

A method you can use to make content open is sites for posting stuff such as YouTube for videos, Tumblr for blogs, Twitter (now X) for conversations, and many more!

Accessibility

Why?

A person might want to make their content and work accessible for a variety of reasons, such as to bring more users to the site, make it easier to navigate, and likely to avoid being sued.

How?

There are many tools you can use to make your content more accessible. For example, color contrast is a really important thing. Users should be able to actually read the information you are sharing. Another way is to use alternative text to describe any images that appear on the screen to help with those using a screen reader. Listed below is a website that has a few tips to aid in making an accessible website.

AskEARN – Tips for an Accessible Website

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glar5

Juli is a sophomore at the University of Mary Washington. She has 2 cats at home and is hoping to get a kitten in the near future. Her favorite color is purple and she enjoys writing plus dueling in her free time.

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