Seasoned Creative Writing Student Taylor Kim Analyzes HIS Writes Finalist: "Landlocked"!

Creative Writing analyses are designed to be companions to HIS Writes stories and other model sources. 

Please enjoy the 2023 HIS Writes Silver-Medal Story: "Landlocked" by Zachary Cheng and Ava Vaeth. 

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Landlocked by Zachary Cheng and Ava Vaeth, one of the finalists and runner-ups for His Writes 2022~2023. The story of Landlocked follows two protagonists, Amber and Josh, two friends living in a world of a pandemic. The story uncovers when our protagonist learns the secret and the truth behind the lies of the world they live in. Where our characters undergo self-revelation, character arc, and make up their True Choice. This makes this story compelling and interesting as our characters try to make a difference in this world, and Kaizen改善 to try to uncover the truth.

Character Self-Revelation

During the story of Landlocked, our characters are set era of a pandemic. Both our protagonists live in the pandemic era, where our characters miss their old life. They missed the freedom they used to have and the sense of joy that being outside brought them, but now all that is gone. However, throughout the story, Amber discovers the harsh truth behind everything. She discovers that she has been lied to this whole time, and she finds out that even uncovering the truth may lead her to danger. As our second protagonist, Josh, learns from Amber the truth, they are led to think about themself. It raises the question of what one should do when they are faced with an unpleasant truth.

Character Arc

A story is a message that tells us that anybody can Kaizen 改善, even if the whole world may be against you. For our protagonist in the story of Landlocked, it tells us that what matters the most in life is the truth. Amber and Josh both uncover the truth about the pandemic, and they may be scared in the beginning. However, as the story progresses and moves, we see our characters grow. We them tryna make a difference in a world like this. As they grow as a individual, we realise that character growth comes when we are in the hardest and difficult times, and when we face it is when our character grows. It reflects that everyone can be scared, because we are all humans.

Character True Choice

A character’s true choice is determined when faced with challenges. A person's true color shows in the hardest times. In the story of landlocked, our characters' true choices are shown when they are faced with a harsh decision. Our protagonists, Amber and Josh, have a tough decision: to tell the truth or lie. Depending on their choice, their life may be in danger. It makes our character choose between what is right and what is wrong. Which makes the story of Lanlocked truly appealing. As our characters are faced with a tough decision and the story reflects on the decision they make. And the choice of what they decide to do with it is in their hands, because everybody has the right to choose in life.