This story is (very) loosely based on the Greek legend of Calypso (of Odyssey fame), the setting inspired by a group exercise at a Mythology course at CityLit. The course itself wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it got a new story going and that was the point of the exercise. Calypso sat at …
Door 1 - Beach Conference They took seats at a table in the beach bar and ordered - cool refreshing drinks and simple food to nibble as the world went by and plans were made. The stories of how they'd each found themselves roving the corridor, finding and leaving places, were set aside for another …
Sariya looked up from the study of Mt St Helens on her laptop as the bookcase opened to a frazzled and fuming Marcus. "Oh dear, what now?" "A royal ball if you please. Attendance compulsory for all dragon-tied, the night after we were supposed to leave for Drakkenspire." "We could still leave as planned, or …
A week passed with little to remark. Kid improved, although Nora reported nightmares. Alec managed to avoid private conversation with Lady Mellisande, although he was part of the bodyguard squad accompanying her on visits to the local villages to check on the well-being of local residents. He was amused and impressed by Her Ladyship's choice …
New story starting today. I did a CityLit course on telling and retelling fairy tales and thought I'd give the less-well-known story of King Thrushbeard a go. I would also like to make very clear that the opening of this story (in italics) is lifted directly from one of my all-time favourite 'new' fairy stories, …
Connor sat, stiffly awkward, holding Sophie as she sobbed. Soon, though, concern won over terror and he hauled her in closer and ducked in to try and see her face. "Don't, I'm red and puffy and blotchy." "Seen it before." "Not since I was eight." "Ten." He managed to win a watery smile, a deep …
"If you want to make things clear, why not write out a list of the things this person needs to be, or have, and get a couple of other people to check it, so you know you haven't missed anything important?" Lorsan nodded at Lydia's suggestion and fetched pen and paper, relieved he had someone …
This started out as a challenge to see if I could do the opposite of the first instalment of Secrets and write entirely without dialogue. It's running away with me as well. In the Year of the Jackal, under the third moon, a strange convoy left the desert city of Ibram to chase a legend. …
Alec returned to his office, having dumped the armful of lavender on the nearest available table in the solar and walking out, determinedly oblivious to the cries of dismay over the mess he'd supposedly made of the embroidery threads spread across it. He arrived just in time to head off Nathan's search for him and …
Writing exercise - three doors, fifteen minutes per door. Door 1 It was a nondescript, wooden door, greyed with age but not cracked. It opened into a fog. Walking through she found herself in a dimly lit forest. The trees half veiled by the mist that settled across everything, weaving translucent ribbons over branches and …
The DNA of Stories 