The house stood on a slope, the wide stone balcony commanding a wide view of the surrounding lands, now shadowed and silvered under the full moon. Near the house, the white gravel paths of the formal gardens glowed in the moonlight, surrounding dark flowerbeds, forming strange patterns. Runes perhaps, surrounding the house in a protective …
Ari kept to the shadows as she moved through the streets of the lower town. It was easy enough, this wasn’t the rich end of town, with its wide avenues and gas-lit street lamps. Here, a neighbourhood was lucky to boast a single, guttering lamp at the edge of whatever square held the communal well. …
The Lady of the Forests glided down the corridor of the hospital. She found it strange, the flat, hard, straight surfaces and unchanging colours that were barely colours. Why would people wish to come here when they were unwell? The soul must be healed for the body to get better and for that, nature is …
Prompt using Story Engine cards: An impostor wants to follow a path leading to a gilded court but they will have to break a personal rule. The setting is a growing swamp with carnivorous plants. Within it is a clearing shaped by mining activity, where a secret society is said to be gathering. Jestin swore …
The clock chimed out. The two watchers on the roof leaned forward to watch. “There she is, right on time. You’d think they’d do a bit of forward planning. Scarper at half eleven or so. That way they can get at least most of the way home in a half-dignified fashion.” “Did you spread the …
Another of the Steering the Craft exercises... Mellisande sat in the arbour of the castle’s rose garden, pretending to work on a delicate piece of embroidery. In truth, she was watching her guard. Why she was under the direct protection of one of the castle commander’s most trusted deputies was a question she dearly wanted …
From a writing exercise / prompt that started with - Gillian said that... there was an impossibly handsome man waiting in the lobby downstairs. "He has the most delicious accent too, I think he might be Italian." Rose frowned. "Can you describe him?" "Sweetie, I just did." She sighed. "I can think of two Italian …
The second part of an exercise contrasting the same place at different times of day. The other one is Attic / Dusk. As you can see, I was more interested in the conversation than the position of the sun... Jason straightened and stretched his arms over his head, “How about a lunch break, then we’ll …
Ari kept to the shadows as she moved through the streets of the lower town. It was easy enough, this wasn’t the rich end of town, with its wide avenues and gas-lit street lamps. Here, a neighbourhood was lucky to boast a single, guttering lamp at the edge of whatever square held the communal well. …
Prompt: An heiress is found dead in a shopping mall. Beside the body is a bikini and a puddle of vinegar. Can you explain what happened? Detective Sarah Michaels looked over the crime scene and heaved a sigh. This one was going to be a nightmare. Celebrity deaths always were, and this one was weird …
The DNA of Stories 