Stepan (Season 11 Runner Up)

Feedback for Stepan

1. Creativity and Originality (28/30)
2. Structure and Organization (22/25)
3. Engagement and Impact (24/25)
4. Grammar and Spelling (9/10)
5. Prompt Adherence (9/10)
6. Overall Score (92/100)

Communication- This is a confident and controlled piece of writing. The narrative moves cleanly between present and past, and the shifts in perspective are handled with assurance. Dialogue is one of the story’s strongest elements—sharp, believable, and revealing just as much through what is withheld as through what is spoken. The internal reasoning of both “Dan” and “Daniel” is clear, and the moral texture of their choices comes through without the need for overt explanation.The one area where communication falters is density. Several passages carry more internal commentary than they need, and occasionally the prose leans into repetition of emotional states already established. Trimming these moments would sharpen the pacing and further highlight the story’s strongest beats. But the command of tone and structure is unmistakably strong throughout.

Creativity- This story stands out for the sophistication of its central conceit: a man confronted not by his past actions alone, but by the mythology others have built around him. The decision to frame the narrative through a political lens—and to let the corruption be slow, ordinary, and almost inevitable—gives the piece a grounded and unsettling realism. The “possession” metaphor is particularly effective, leaving open whether Dan was overtaken by a crowd’s collective fervour or by something within himself he would rather not acknowledge.The world feels fully inhabited, supported by thoughtful details about media culture, state repression, and the psychology of influence. What impresses most is the restraint: the story avoids melodrama and instead leans into moral ambiguity and quiet dread. It’s inventive not because of any fantastical element, but because of its clear-eyed understanding of how people talk themselves into becoming what they once opposed.

Overall Comment
This is a mature and sharply observed piece of fiction. It demonstrates a sophisticated grasp of character, theme, and narrative tension well beyond what is typically seen in competition submissions. With minor tightening, it would not be out of place in a literary magazine. The writing is confident, thoughtful, and emotionally precise. An excellent submission by any measure!