Skip to content

The DNA of Stories

Ideas and first drafts with a bit of analysis from time to time

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • Thrushbeard
  • 10 Minute Sprints
  • One Day at a Thyme
  • Story Noodling
    • Lyra
    • Arianna
    • Psyche
    • Calypso
    • Nightingale
    • Changing Lanes
    • Secrets
    • Greenwitch
    • Lost Island
  • Analysis
  • Kat Redfern Author Site

Tag: contemporary

A beautiful farmhouse style kitchen with a teapot, two mugs and a plate of biscuits on the table AI image

A Windfall

On May 1, 2024April 6, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn Random Fiction, StoryLeave a comment

A woman inherits a house from her estranged grandmother. Upon entering the house, she discovers a secret room. Describe the room. (note: I got nowhere near the point of describing the room...) I barely knew I had a grandmother. Mum hated her with a passion. Mum hates a lot of people, including me. Either way, …

Continue reading A Windfall

a plate with cheeses on it - brie, a nice gouda and an outstandingly stinky stilton AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 2

On April 10, 2024March 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

A quiet day today, my only excitement was a lively debate with Sir Scutterscarry, a mouse with delusions of chivalry who lives in the potting shed. He is something of a cheesie, which is a foodie, but – well – you can guess which particular type of food he focuses on. It seems this week’s …

Continue reading Woods Cottage – Day 2

A fresh loaf of home-made sourdough bread with a soft golden glow around it AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 1

On March 27, 2024March 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

I was in my office (upstairs, computer, back door) when Sarah, the twelve-year-old from the Holmeshallow Farm family came pelting up the driveway. Unusual. She used to be running and skidding everywhere but got in with a new crowd at school, I’m told, and now it’s all about ‘the look’ and never being enthusiastic. I …

Continue reading Woods Cottage – Day 1

An old stone barn in the woods, converted to a high end home with a lush garden Ideogram AI image

The Cottage in the Woods

On March 13, 2024February 12, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

My cottage is, of course, more than it appears. What’s the point of power if you can’t have a little fun with it from time to time? To start with, it’s not a cottage, it’s a converted barn. One of those huge old stone ones with walls two feet thick. If you come by way …

Continue reading The Cottage in the Woods

narrow. winding English country lane with high banks and hedgerows on each side AI image

Finding the Cottage in the Woods

On February 28, 2024January 29, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, Story1 Comment

When you’re driving out of Market Dingley, towards Wiggleswick, and take the next left after the Horseman’s Head, you’ll find yourself on a winding country lane. Just the type you see in any crime show set in rural England, just to remind you that, yes, you are in rural England, not downtown Los Angeles, or …

Continue reading Finding the Cottage in the Woods

Moody, misty moors

Apathy

On February 4, 2024January 15, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Sarah sighed as she looked at the mess drowning the sitting room. She just could not be bothered. That was the problem with long projects and unchanging days, apathy came to visit and refused to leave. She nudged a discarded jumper out of her way with one foot. Ennui would be so much more satisfying. …

Continue reading Apathy

Posts navigation

Newer posts

Categories

  • Story (568)
  • 10 Minute Sprints (115)
  • Random Fiction (96)
  • Thrushbeard (79)
  • Writing Exercises (58)

Tags

  • Fantasy (112)
  • 10 Minute Sprints (106)
  • Story Prompt (95)
  • contemporary (76)
  • Historical (59)

Year

  • 2026 (81)
  • 2025 (129)
  • 2024 (91)
  • 2023 (63)
  • 2022 (70)
Blog at WordPress.com.
Sackcloth and Sky by Kat Redfern
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    The DNA of Stories
    Join 127 other subscribers

    Have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.

  • The DNA of Stories
    View site in Reader
    Manage subscriptionsSign upLog in
    Report this content
    Collapse this bar