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The DNA of Stories

Ideas and first drafts with a bit of analysis from time to time

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historical fantasy image of a large bathing house with wooden tubs as baths, in one tub is a young man with tousled brown hair and stubble on his jaw, in another is a young woman with long brown hair. The woman's hair is being combed by another young woman, this one with blonde hair Ideogram image

Home safe

On April 12, 2026March 22, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

The dim, golden warmth of the bath house was almost painful after their trek. Sarah shooed them towards the mid-heat tubs. “Strip and in.” Evan was tending the fire. He made a point of turning his back to them and focusing on feeding wood to the flames. Eleanor was grateful for the courtesy but still …

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a country road at sunset, with a sudden dip, then swerve alongside undergrowth and a large stream Ideogram image

Dip

On April 5, 2026March 16, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

It was the dip that did it, it always was. The dip in the road just beyond the Mitchells’ place, the one all the locals knew to watch out for, the one that all but disappeared when the setting sun fell just so and the road before and after stretched out in a smooth, level …

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an old map of a city, with a waterfall at the top, a lake at the bottom, an old, medieval/renaissance style city on the right, and country estates, villages, and farms on the left Ideogram image from an Inkarnate map

Wandering the City

On March 29, 2026March 16, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn Random Fiction, StoryLeave a comment

A new solo journaling RPG - Wandering ... in City WonderFull - where a visitor explores the neighbourhoods of a new (to them) city. I've turned mine into more of a guided tour. Introduction I have to wonder what Their Majesties were thinking in sending me here. I’m not the most senior diplomat in the …

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Old-fashioned library in a grand English country house at midnight, vast dark room lined with towering bookshelves, four deep brown leather armchairs facing away from the viewer arranged around an unlit stone fireplace, cold silver moonlight streaming through tall mullioned windows, sharp beams of light cutting through dust in the air, strong chiaroscuro lighting, heavy shadows swallowing most of the room, faint glint on polished wood and brass details, dramatic cinematic composition, ultra-detailed, realistic, 16:9 aspect ratio Chat GPT image

Midnight

On March 22, 2026February 14, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

I was supposed to be asleep, along with the rest of the guests at the Duchess’s house party. From the sounds I heard behind several doors I passed, other guests were also awake, and many in rooms other than those allocated to them. If what I had to do had been less important, less urgent, …

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cinematic photo of a grand and beautiful English county house with landscaped gardens. It's a bright, sunny day, but something feels a little unsettling in the scene Ideogram image

Writing Exercise – Home

On March 15, 2026February 14, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn Story, Writing ExercisesLeave a comment

I can't even remember what this exercise was supposed to achieve... The house didn’t like her, Susanna was sure of it, which was upsetting, because it was a lovely house. And yet, its dislike of her dogged every moment of her stay. The way the hallway rug seemed to fold itself up, just enough for …

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a beautiful, detailed illustration from a children's book of a mother bear and baby bear curled up together, sleeping, in a warm cave while a storm rages outside Ideogram image

Active

On March 8, 2026February 14, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

James had known kids, especially little boys, were active, but in the way he knew crocodiles were dangerous without ever actually encountering one. Now he was not only encountering a young boy, he was supposedly parenting the poor kid. Although, maybe typhoon would be a better descriptor, one that merged with a tsunami at bath …

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A cinematic wide-angle view of a charming medieval stone teashop nestled in a moonlit meadow between dirt road and a gently flowing mountain river. The small building features rough-hewn granite walls, a thatched roof with dormer windows, and arched wooden doors, with warm golden light spilling from diamond-paned windows on the ground floor. Ethereal mist drifts across the grass and swirls around the building's foundation, while the dark silhouettes of towering mountains loom in the background under a star-filled night sky. The river reflects the shop's inviting glow and the silver moonlight, creating a magical atmosphere of refuge and warmth in the wilderness. Ideogram image

The Last Teashop

On March 1, 2026February 14, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn Story, The Last TeashopLeave a comment

This is a solo journalling RPG with a bit of a darker bent. I am the proprietor of the last teashop. Not the only tea shop left in the world, simply the last one. My clientele is made up entirely of the newly dead, pausing for one last brew before crossing over into whatever comes …

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young woman with dark hair, wearing a long, midnight blue gown sitting in a medieval-style sitting room in a tower of a stone castle. medieval setting and she is the lady of the castle. Ideogram image

Bitter

On February 22, 2026February 14, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Rowena sat in her solar, satisfied but nervous. The Dowager Duchess of Gransmere had arrived, and was getting settled, along with her various servants and adjuncts. She would be joining Rowena for herbal tea and sweet-cakes shortly. Mistress Blackwood had quailed at the task of preparing for such a visit in less than a day, …

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A squat, square stone tower in a winter forest clearing, inset at the top storey, providing an open walkway around it at the same height as the treetops. Ideogram image

Sent to Town

On February 15, 2026January 17, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

Matthew bumbled in before Cadan could speak. “Now lass, I don’t know what that’s about, but we’d miss you sorely if you didn’t come home.” Sarah added. “And Martha needs practice and guidance before we’ll be sending her to trade on behalf of the village.” “And yet you’ll send me.” Matthew looked confused. “Aye?” “I’ve …

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A dramatic, cinematic portrait of a young woman with dark, wavy hair in a long plait, standing in the great hall of a formidable medieval castle. She is the "Lady of Blackwood Keep" and wears a flowing, midnight blue dress. Sunlight streams through arched windows high above, illuminating her pale skin and the intricate carvings on the stone walls, while a busy medieval courtyard is visible through an open door at one end of the hall. Ideogram image

Stay

On February 8, 2026January 17, 2026 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

This continues a story I was playing with a while ago: Wave and Source Rowena headed for the stairs to the solar, to summon the housekeeper, Mistress Blackwood, and to start packing. The sound of horses hooves in the courtyard made her pause. Had Geoffrey returned? Had he remembered his wife after all?  She moved …

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Sackcloth and Sky by Kat Redfern
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