Skip to content

The DNA of Stories

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

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • Thrushbeard
  • 10 Minute Sprints
  • One Day at a Thyme
  • Story Noodling
    • Lyra
    • Arianna
    • Psyche
    • Calypso
    • Nightingale
    • Changing Lanes
    • Secrets
    • Greenwitch
    • Lost Island
  • Analysis
  • Kat Redfern Author Site

Author: Kat Redfern

Departure

On September 20, 2023September 3, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

She stood back. “Very well. Am I allowed to change? It would be a little inconsiderate to hand a man a wife and have her perish of the cold in the same night.” Her mother choked on a sob behind her. “Nora, darling.” She held her father’s gaze. He jerked a nod. “Be quick. I’m …

Continue reading Departure

The Tripartite Goddess

On September 17, 2023September 3, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Random Fiction, StoryLeave a comment

Let me tell you what I did. I took it, didn’t I? I took that damn stone and ran. Took the divine stone of the Kingslander kings straight out of the middle of their treasure vault and legged it. Should have known something was up when I managed to get out of the castle without …

Continue reading The Tripartite Goddess

The Wooden Egg

On September 10, 2023September 3, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, Writing ExercisesLeave a comment

An exercise to come up with three ways of looking at a wooden egg. One Sam unlocked the door to her apartment and slipped inside. Safe. She’d made it through another encounter with her family with nothing more than the usual emotional guilt-trips and had managed to not ‘accidentally’ bump into Wayne on the second …

Continue reading The Wooden Egg

The Kissing Tree

On September 3, 2023July 30, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Random Fiction, Secrets, StoryLeave a comment

Juliana hurried through the entrance to the station, weaving through the crowds with practiced ease. She kept her pace to a purposeful walk. It took effort, a lot of effort, but anything faster would have made her stand out, made people take notice and would make weaving more difficult. Her advantage right now was in …

Continue reading The Kissing Tree

Confrontation

On August 30, 2023July 30, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

When they reached home, Master Gent and Sebastian followed them inside instead of going on to their inn. Or had they been invited to stay here? Eleanor resisted the urge to stamp a foot and pout. She wanted some proper food, her book, her bed. She allowed her father to herd her into the front …

Continue reading Confrontation

Strange Developments

On August 27, 2023July 30, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Great Aunt Muriel's Bequest, StoryLeave a comment

It was her stomach that woke her, many hours later, reminding her she’d eaten nothing since the hurried slice of toast for breakfast. The chips and chocolate in the mini bar weren’t going to cut it, so Eva ordered room service, and ate at a table overlooking the lights of Hong Kong. She checked her …

Continue reading Strange Developments

Swamp Cottage – Round 2 – Day 4

On August 20, 2023July 30, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

I woke to unexpected cold, not cold by some people’s standards I’m sure, but cold enough for here that I lit the fire early and added a couple of extra layers to the day’s clothing. It’s strange to walk out and find the air in a swamp fresh and nippy but it did make my …

Continue reading Swamp Cottage – Round 2 – Day 4

Contradictory Character

On August 13, 2023July 30, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Random Fiction, StoryLeave a comment

James double-checked the address, and the house. It was not the kind of place he’d expected his ultra-efficient, super streamlined, precise to the point of painful project manager to live. This little fairy-tale cottage, with a garden overflowing with flowers of all shapes and sizes seemed more suited to some artistic type, who wrote out …

Continue reading Contradictory Character

Socialising

On August 9, 2023July 30, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

Before anyone could respond, a golden figure appeared in the main doorway. Cecily gasped, her hand fluttering to her chest. “Is that the Clearfall heir?” Eleanor snorted. “No, that’s Sebastian Gent.” Cecily turned wide eyes on her. “But you said he was awful. No one that beautiful could be awful.” She snorted again. “I’ll introduce …

Continue reading Socialising

A Graceful Exit

On August 6, 2023July 27, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Great Aunt Muriel's Bequest, StoryLeave a comment

The cheating cow was a blur of pale skin and red hair as she flew out of the bathroom and scrambled around Eva to gather her clothes. Stephen either didn’t hear Mia or ignored her. His mother’s voice was audible from wherever he’d retreated to and she was not happy. Eva zipped her case closed, …

Continue reading A Graceful Exit

Posts navigation

Older posts
Newer posts

Categories

  • Story (527)
  • 10 Minute Sprints (94)
  • Random Fiction (93)
  • Thrushbeard (71)
  • Writing Exercises (55)

Tags

  • Fantasy (87)
  • 10 Minute Sprints (85)
  • Story Prompt (69)
  • contemporary (63)
  • Fairytale (34)

Year

  • 2026 (1)
  • 2025 (126)
  • 2024 (91)
  • 2023 (63)
  • 2022 (70)
Blog at WordPress.com.
Sackcloth and Sky by Kat Redfern
The DNA of Stories
Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • The DNA of Stories
    • Join 123 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The DNA of Stories
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...