The vivid, intense blues of Sydney Harbour, reflecting the delicately cloud-dotted sky above it, looked like someone had applied some Photoshop filter to real life. The sun danced off the waves, refracting diamonds across kilometres of water. Ferrys, yachts and kayaks skittered across its surface, while gentle waves lapped at the white-gold sand of the …
He gazed wearily at the furious woman before him, "I suppose you're here for vengeance too?" She blinked, "Yes?" "You're not sure?" "Well I want my bill paid. If you count that as vengeance, then yes, if you count it as a very stupid way of doing business, then no." He sat up, suddenly interested, …
An exercise from Steering the Craft by Ursula Le Guinn that looks at the same scene from a bunch of different points of view... Rose bent for one final check in the dressing table mirror, adjusted an earring that had somehow twisted, then joined her godmother, Mariana, at the door. Mariana gave her a fond …
Another exercise from Ursula Le Guinn's Steering the Craft book. This time, to write something gorgeous. To play with the language and not worry about getting too ornate. Calypso arrived at Bondi as the early morning exercise crowds left for work, while the backpackers were still in their bunks after another night of beers and …
This is an exercise taken from Ursula Le Guin's Steering the Craft. To write a piece with no punctuation. It's a terrifying thing to do, but the result is unexpectedly interesting... The air is filled with the sounds of people calling to each other and calling to get out of the way and berating those …
I woke to unexpected heat. The weather had decided to take a turn back to mid-summer and I had to dig out something cooler to wear to visit one of my forest neighbours as planned. The unseasonal weather was not something she’d welcome. As a mushroom sprite, Amanita prefers the darker, cooler weather we’d been …
Exercise using a single word prompt Simeon opened his eyes to darkness. He was lying on what seemed to be a bed, quite a comfortable one, and his surroundings held the soft hush of fabric and wealth. There were no drips or draughts or strange creaks to be heard. While this was welcome in one …
I woke one morning with no plans other than a consultation with a new client. Someone had seen fit to turn the town mayor into a badger and he’d asked for my assistance. For no other reason than to hear the story behind it, I agreed and further agreed to wait on him at his …
The Crossing Guards: The crossing guards at a busy intersection of the city do more than just help the living humans walk across the street. It was the quiet moment. You know, that time when the day seems to pause, take a breath and think, before breathing out again and hurrying on exactly as before. …
The room was spacious and shaped like an L, with windows on the two long sides. From what he could see, the furniture was simple, well-made and well-used. A bed, a small table next to it with a lamp and a book, a larger table that seemed to serve as a desk under one of …
The DNA of Stories 