Today we experiment with another writing exercise: A Crunch.
In the Writing Gym, a Crunch will be an exercise where I take a prompt and have to write something compelling in 250 words. Other kinds of exercises are forthcoming!
If you have ideas for Prompts, Crunches, or other writing exercises in the future, please leave them in the comments! If you would like to write your own take for this Crunch, please comment with a link so that I can 1) see what you wrote and 2) support your work, maybe even share your version with my subscribers. Please let me know if you have any thoughts, comments, or constructive criticisms as well!
Enjoy!
Crunch: Write about an Android just trying to blend in with their human companions. (source)
I analyzed my photoreceptor inputs. I could identify n>=30 individuals in the alley ahead of me, all busily examining items held up by individuals standing behind booths. A force was applied to my back as another individual pushes past me—I stumble and regain gyrostatic equilibrium. The individual says gruffly, “Watch it, bud.”
Bud. That is my name. I am Bud.
I need to get out of the way. I need to go unnoticed.
I take a tentative step forward. I follow behind an individual who is walking slowly, looking around at the transaction booths. Initiating walk-cycle analysis. Three-thousand data-points are gathered over three seconds to analyze this individual’s gait, and I begin to replicate their walking style. After a moment, I reroute to look at something in one of the booths.
This booth had many small bowls, filled with fine powder. The other individuals at this booth were holding the bowls up to their nose, and when they pointed to one the person behind the booth would pinch some into a bag and an alphanumeric piece of paper would be passed between them.
As I reached to pick up a bowl, a siren sounds:
ALERT. ALL CITIZENS DO NOT BE ALARMED. THIS IS SHINDAR POLICE. PLEASE STAY WHERE YOU ARE.
Dozens of police wearing helmets with glowing orange eyes appear at the entrance to the street, where I was standing moments ago. One of them makes eye contact—the game is up. New Command: Run!
(246 words)
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy! Come back next week for another writing exercise!
God bless!