February 4th 2024: Write a One Pager

February 4th 2024: Write a One Pager
A diary game by Daniel Green
Itch.io cover image by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash.

Format: Digital, browser-based with meta textual elements.

In World

You hold a pen whilst writing in a notebook. Suddenly you are prompted to write, furiously. Almost in an instant, a whole page of text appears in the notebook. Then a buzzer sounds. Standing back from a distance, anyone reading the notebook would notice that none of the written text makes any sense. You are oblivious - the task is complete, thus they are satisfied.

Later, a phone slowly moves into your field of vision. You put all of your energy into avoiding the distraction, but the phone somehow maintains its pursuit of your gaze. Successfully avoiding this feels like an achievement in itself.

On Screen

The player can see the words "WRITE A ONE PAGER" flash before them. Instinctively, they repeatedly press the action button until the game signals that they have completed the task. An unseen digital avatar furiously writes nonsense text and scribbles in a crudely rendered digital notebook. It does not matter that the text in the notebook doesn't make any sense - the task is complete, and thus you are satisfied.

Later, the player sees a hand drawn image of a phone move in from the left-hand side of the screen. The prompt "STOP LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE" appears on screen and, instinctively, the player repeatedly presses the action button until they have completed the task. Somehow, this is an easier activity to complete virtually than in reality.

In Reality

You are sitting on a train writing a document that may or may not be presented to your class. The train is about to pull into New Cross Gate, and you have spent the entire trip either writing this document or distracting yourself with today's Duolingo activity. You never just sit here. You never look outside. What are you missing?

It doesn't matter, you're late for class. Time to get off the train.