Analyzing the First HIS Writes Champion: Pen Pal — A Creative Writing Model-Text Analysis

by Taylor Kim

"Pen Pal" was written by Aina Nishi-Strong and Hana Katayama and it became the first winning HIS Writes story.

“Pen Pal” by Aina Nishi-Strong & Hana Katayama, our first HIS Writes champion ever. The story of Pen Pal follows the perspective of two of our characters, Halia and her mother. The story follows a dilemma between our two protagonists about the death of someone they care about. Where our characters try to deal with the situation in their own way. We will be looking into the great tension & conflict between our characters, where the relationship or character web shifts between our characters, and finally, the true choices that our characters make throughout the story. These factors make up a story and build up the story of Pen Pal, which makes it our first-ever first ever champion. So let's dive into the story of Pen Pal.

Tension & Conflict

In the story of Pen Pal, our character faces tension and conflict. Throughout the story, we find our characters in the middle of a tension where they seem to be in some sort of conflict with each other. They both view and handle the situation differently, and they both disagree over the choice that has been made. Where our characters must overcome the tension to Kaizen (改善). It shows how conflict is important to grow, their relationships cannot advance. And maybe that's what it means to be a family, it means no matter how much conflict or tension may arise, the bond of a family is stronger than anything, even in the hardest situations.

Character Web

A Character Web is the relationship and tension that is built around our characters in a story. In the story of Pen Pal, we have two characters, Halia and her mother. The story is focused around these two characters, and where the world is also built around them. Halia’s perspective is very different from her mother'smother on the situation of Nana. Where their relationships shift due to the way our characters handle it. As Halia tries to separate herself from her mother, we realize that relationships between our characters shape the story. 

Character True Choice

Everyone has a choice in life, no matter what that may be, for our characters in the story of Pen Pal, the choice may greatly affect their relationship. In the story, we find that one of our protagonists, Halia, makes a choice: she wants to move away from her mother without her mother knowing. ThisThese choice reflects on the choices that our characters can make;, it reflects on how one decision can create a domino effect and how it can force our characters to break apart or affect them. This choice is a great representation of a character’s true choice because Halia’s decision shifts the story, builds tension, and changes the flow of the story world. And through that, our story of Pen Palpal is built. It shows that no matter the hardest situation, everybody has a choice.

Read more about the choices the characters make in “Pen Pal” and then go make your story!