It’s fine to be a plotter, planner, or pantser, a bit of this and a bit of that, a gardener or an architect. The labels don’t matter, nor does the process. Pros and cons abound for every process, and the problems with one can be a benefit in another, but none are the be-all and … Continue reading Changing the Process to Keep the Progress
Kaoticat
"You talkin' to me, punk?" That's the cat, whose name was once Slinky. He's a real spy-cat, a super-hero who can leap tall bookcases in a single bound - especially late at night when the walls vibrate with human purring, and he thinks they should either be quiet, or - the better option - get … Continue reading Kaoticat
Actions and Verbs
A character in a story does things in order to get, do, or become something. Actions require verbs, and these verbs need to both characterise the do-er, and show the action taken to achieve a goal. This is a focus on how verbs characterise the players in the story. What am I talking about? Well, … Continue reading Actions and Verbs
Country Pub Temping
[A Short Story] The first stop for Lily in a new town wasn't the pub she'd be working and living in. It wasn't the cop-shop or supermarket, nor the facilities for medical or sporting pursuits. All important, but not the most important. The pub provided accommodation, and she should check it out - but she'd … Continue reading Country Pub Temping
3 Levels of Subtext
The first and most obvious is body language. Bodies and faces speak volumes. It's not easy putting that into a story, though, so the body language needs careful construction to convey the subtext. Next would be the things left unsaid. Sometimes, it's in the thoughts of the POV character, which makes it more accessible to … Continue reading 3 Levels of Subtext
Short Story: Reflection
Photo by Drais Pereyra on Pexels.com "I've got a ticket!" Sandra bellowed across the crowded platform. "I hear you," muttered Ben. "Everyone hears you." Damn. Hundreds of people vying for tickets, and Ben desperate to get away, but Sandra gets the ticket. Sandra. Why her? Why not someone deserving? That woman - Ben glanced at … Continue reading Short Story: Reflection
Author Interview: Matt Hults
How did you decide to write Horror? Have you always pursued this, or did it crystallise as your writing developed? I write horror fiction for several reasons. First off, it’s a safe scare, and safe scares are the best. That’s why we go on rollercoasters and visit haunted houses where some dude in rubber mask … Continue reading Author Interview: Matt Hults
INTERVIEW: DARK FANTASY AUTHOR TRACIE MCBRIDE
Today's guest is dark fantasy author Tracie McBride, renowned for her reality-twisting short stories. What do you enjoy most about writing fantasy fiction? The license to make stuff up! How would you describe the flavour of your fiction in five words? An Amazon reviewer gave me the first three adjectives – disturbing, surreal, otherworldly. I … Continue reading INTERVIEW: DARK FANTASY AUTHOR TRACIE MCBRIDE
Short Story: Cup of Wine
In vino veritas, isn't that what they say? From wine comes truth. From the drunk comes enlightenment. Bullshit, in my view. Absolute bullshit. What I said last night wasn't truth, wasn't enlightenment. Nothing more than sludge emerged from the drunk slug I'd been. Not as bad as that idiot, Jon, though. Jon the Judas, the … Continue reading Short Story: Cup of Wine
An Interview & Review: The Garden Black by Frank Prem
Hello, Frank. I thoroughly enjoyed The Garden Black and I’m wondering what the inspiration behind each piece was, and how you created the relived moment? Frank: All the poems in the Garden Black collection come from the same root – an idea of fantasy and broader speculation. They are also rooted in a mood – … Continue reading An Interview & Review: The Garden Black by Frank Prem
Cage Dunn - Fibber, Fabricator, Teller-of-Tall-Tales 