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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: Writing Exercises

Drawer

On December 3, 2023November 20, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Kit opened yet another door and ushered Eva into a room far too large to feel as cosy as it did. It was a lovely mix of a sitting room, library and study, with comfortable chairs and a sofa tucked around a fireplace at one end, bookshelves covering the back and side walls and a …

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Lawyer

On November 19, 2023October 21, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Eva strode into the glass and marble foyer of the offices housing her great aunt’s lawyers, she was very good at appearing comfortable in places designed to intimidate and the receptionist looked slightly put out at Eva’s breezy greeting. “I’m sorry, but Mr Harrison is not available this afternoon. He’s in very important client meetings.” …

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Friendly

On October 29, 2023October 21, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Summer opened the sliding glass door to the wide wooden terrace to find her husband having a heated argument with a magpie. Braedon clearly understood the bird’s trills and caws and was glaring at it in a way that would cow most other creatures. She put her coffee and breakfast down on the table, interrupting …

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Spontaneous

On October 15, 2023October 21, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

“It’s a beautiful day, let’s go on a picnic!” Braedon looked out at the golden sun and clear blue sky, then back at his beaming wife. “It’s already 30 degrees out there and it’s not yet nine. We’ll cook.” “We’ll go to the lake.” “Along with half the rest of town. The others will be …

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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 …

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Incompetence

On June 25, 2023June 4, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, Writing ExercisesLeave a comment

Imogen walked into her sitting room and halted. “Who let you in here?” Ingram smirked from where he lounged on a chair by the fire. “Now is that any way to speak to your future husband? I thought we should have a nice, cosy chat.” Imogen gave him a patently false smile. “What a charming …

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Night Scene

On May 21, 2023May 1, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, Writing ExercisesLeave a comment

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 …

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Shadowed Streets

On April 5, 2023April 1, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, Writing ExercisesLeave a comment

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. …

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The Fae of Kwong Wah Hospital

On March 12, 2023March 7, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, Writing ExercisesLeave a comment

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 …

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Impostor in the Swamp

On February 5, 2023January 29, 2023 By Kat RedfernIn Story, Writing ExercisesLeave a comment

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 …

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