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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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Category: Random Fiction

image of a large simple stone house in the mountains, with cliffs behind it, surrounded by a luxuriant garden with vegetable crops and fruit trees AI image

A Stop Along the Road – Introduction

On May 8, 2024May 24, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn A Stop Along the Road, Random FictionLeave a comment

A new solo RPG - this is the introduction. The instalments, as they come, are prompted by tarot cards. Her Majesty has asked me to keep record of the travellers who spend a night beneath my roof. She says it would be useful. Helpful even. I don't know about that but she's a good girl, …

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Action shot of a fluffy grey tabby kitten playing with a red ribbon on a bare wooden floor AI image

Dash

On May 5, 2024April 6, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Misty dashed across the room, chasing the end of the ribbon Byron was flicking about. Reba was fairly sure the giggling farm girl who’d gifted him her apple-red ribbon at their last stopping point did not have this fate in mind for it. Or maybe she did, she cooed over the snarling kitten as so …

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A beautiful farmhouse style kitchen with a teapot, two mugs and a plate of biscuits on the table AI image

A Windfall

On May 1, 2024April 6, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn Random Fiction, StoryLeave a comment

A woman inherits a house from her estranged grandmother. Upon entering the house, she discovers a secret room. Describe the room. (note: I got nowhere near the point of describing the room...) I barely knew I had a grandmother. Mum hated her with a passion. Mum hates a lot of people, including me. Either way, …

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Corner

On April 28, 2024April 6, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Byron’s new cat crouched in the corner of their inn room and growled. It had been fine until the inn’s serving girl had waltzed in with (barely) warm washing water and a request to. “See the sweet little kitty.” Byron had nodded to his bed, where the cat, named Misty for reasons beyond Reba’s understanding, …

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Easter eggs in a basket on a kitchen table AI image

Clue

On April 14, 2024March 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

“It’s a clue!” Emma withered Stephanie with a look. “It’s an Easter egg hunt, it doesn’t have clues, it has chocolate.” Stephanie remained annoyingly unwithered. “Maybe for you, my Mum likes to put a twist on things.” Of course she did, Stephanie’s mum was one of those parents who did ‘enriching activities’ after school and …

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a plate with cheeses on it - brie, a nice gouda and an outstandingly stinky stilton AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 2

On April 10, 2024March 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

A quiet day today, my only excitement was a lively debate with Sir Scutterscarry, a mouse with delusions of chivalry who lives in the potting shed. He is something of a cheesie, which is a foodie, but – well – you can guess which particular type of food he focuses on. It seems this week’s …

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bedraggled angry wet kitten with grey fur in a forest AI image

Bundle

On April 7, 2024March 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

They were camping that night, set up in a roadside clearing used by trade caravans who’s plodding horses and bulky wagons couldn’t make the full run through the forest between dawn and dusk. It was a large clearing with a well-worn path to a wide, clear stream nearby. Tonight, the clearing was empty of everyone …

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A fresh loaf of home-made sourdough bread with a soft golden glow around it AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 1

On March 27, 2024March 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

I was in my office (upstairs, computer, back door) when Sarah, the twelve-year-old from the Holmeshallow Farm family came pelting up the driveway. Unusual. She used to be running and skidding everywhere but got in with a new crowd at school, I’m told, and now it’s all about ‘the look’ and never being enthusiastic. I …

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A pretty blonde young woman in an old-style ballgown, holding an ornate evening fan in gold and pale green AI image

Distant

On March 24, 2024March 9, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Anya’s mother poked her in the back. “Go and greet your favourite cousin.” “How can she be my favourite cousin when she’s barely one at all? She’s some sort of fifth cousin, twice removed; and claiming we’re related will make me look like the worst sort of encroaching mushroom.” Lady Charlotte Fontenbras, granddaughter of the …

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a farm with a cow for milking outside the old stone house AI image

Language

On March 17, 2024February 12, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

They went south. An easy decision since they spoke the language, although Byron was going to need to chisel the aristocratic edges off his accent. Not that Reba mentioned it. She just emphasised her way of pronouncing words every now and again, he caught on quickly. In the moments Bryon let himself be thirteen, he'd …

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