Question

Is this creative writing?

I know this is long but I wrote 2 versions of the story each a little different which one suits best as the word limit is 300?

1.
I glanced at my watch to become so fixated on the time, it read 4:43pm August 23rd 2025. Being an ex military officer you see a part of the world not many get to see, the violent cold nature of battle. No one on the battlefield are really enemies, we are just pitted against each other, in the end we are just doing our job so that no one else carries that burden. We pity our enemies as they cry for help, the screams drive most insane but the ones that aren't shaken take it the worst. I hate war. In this world dictated by a paper note, you can get anything if you have enough money. Money creates greed and greed breeds hate therefore relationships shatter and nations fall into chaos. Well that's what got us into this mess 3 years ago when WW3 started with Ukraine and Russia, 3 years ago that was, and they managed to drag every nation into it. Little did anyone know a progessive bomb was created, which couldnt be disarmed and only grows in power, doubling every year. A weapon which gives full control over the world to one nation, to the individual who controls it. A threat which endangered every living being on the pale blue dot called Earth. The world bomb it was called, currently able to incinerate half the planet in an instant, soon to be capable of wiping 8 billion people off the planet. One would now say there's nothing we can do, yet as I stand before the fuse only one answer seemed to cross my mind. How could anything be more important than keeping humanity from being totally wiped out? You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain they said. As I pulled the fuse to be engulfed by the white light the words leave my mouth, “So, was I a hero or a villain”
I'm the same as you i didn't have a choice (not sure if i should add this last line)





2.
I squinted at my watch in the frigid dim lit bunker, it read 4:43pm August 23rd 2025. I hate war. In this world dictated by paper notes, you can get anything if you have enough money. Money creates greed and greed breeds hate therefore relationships shatter and nations fall into chaos. Well that's what got us into this mess 3 years ago when WW3 started with Ukraine and Russia, 3 years ago that was, and they managed to drag every nation into it. Little did anyone know a progessive bomb was created, which unable to be disarmed and only grows in power, doubling every year. A top secret nuclear weapon developed by Russia which gives control over the world to one nation, to the individual who controls it. Only a select few know of it, hidden from the rest of the world, it would look like a repercussion of war as everyone tries to hide the truth. A threat which endangered every living being on the pale blue dot called Earth. The world bomb it was called, currently able to incinerate a third of the planet in an instant, soon to be capable of wiping out 8 billion people off the planet. One would now say there's nothing we can do, yet as I stand before the fuse only one answer seemed to cross my mind. How could anything be more important than keeping humanity from being wiped out? You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain they said. As I pulled the fuse to be engulfed by the white light the words left my mouth, “So, was I a hero or a villain”
I'm the same as you i didn't have a choice (not sure if i should add this last line)

Answer 1

1.

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I find the "...in the end we are just doing our job so that no one else carries that burden." more intriguing, I don't know why necessarily, it makes the draft all the more put-together.

If I were you, I wouldn't include the last line you aren't sure about- I like the cliffhanger of “So, was I a hero or a villain...”

(Of course, if it doesn't fit 300 words without the last bit, keep it!)

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Good luck with the assignment! :)

~pinetree

Answer 2

I'd say 1 is better.