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 …
A writing exercise where you alternate positive and negative statements. Emrys opened his flat’s front door and scanned the interior, nothing disturbed, nothing amiss, he was home. His eyes narrowed and he pulled the recurve bow from the umbrella stand by the door, notching an arrow, drawing and firing in one movement. The arrow, fletched …
First part of an exercise contrasting the same place at different times of day, I didn't pay much attention to be honest... The light through the attic windows was fading, and Lana dusted her hands off on her jeans as she went to switch the overhead lamp on. The day might be nearly over, but …
A writing exercise around changing points of view within a scene. Marian looked around proudly. Her future daughter-in-law had done a wonderful job as always. The private function room at one of London’s top hotels was comfortably full of people chatting, laughing and enjoying the wonderful catering. It was a perfect engagement party. She turned …
My dearest Mabel I simply had to put pen to page and fulfil my promise to you. Yes, dear friend, I have news to report, Lord Tristain has proposed! But not to me. No, he had to go down on one knee, in the middle of the Duchess of Southerton’s ball and beg for the …
"I'm so sorry." He paused, swallowing hard. "Please Kati, how can I make it up to you?" She refused to look at him, refused to move from where she huddled on the bed, back to the wall, eyes swollen and nose red. No doubt that perfect princess cried prettily. The snotty bitch. Dylan knelt by …
The glass shattered on the cold, marble tiles, but nobody looked at it, or the girl who's nerveless fingers had let it slip. All eyes were on the man in the doorway, surveying the room with cool contempt. It was his cousin who broke the silence. "Stephen, you survived. Thank the spirits!" Stephen raised a …
Conversational maxims – quality, quantity, relevance and clarity – violate at least one in each exchange. Not sure I managed to stick to this exercise from the 100 Day Challenge but I had fun... A merry-looking older man, blue eyes twinkling under grimy brows, plonked himself on the bench facing Alec and Nathan. Alec leaned …
A Steering the Craft exercise where you try to weave a large lump of exposition into a story. The crowds stared and whispered, as they did every year. At least it was a different crowd this time. Country folk, gawping and gasping, instead of the sniggers of the city’s thieves and merchants. In all, Queen …
The DNA of Stories 