This is the Diary of High Imperial Supreme Sourceror, Sheikh, Sovereign, Suzerain and Ship Captain Maus. If lost and found, please return to: The City (capital of The Empire), 0000, Imperial Palace, Seat of the Empire, Throne Room. Any of them is alright, really. Upon return, you shall be rewarded, and promptly murdered for having... Continue Reading →
If you missed Part one of this chapter, click here. CREATING YOUR HERO ...is a complex process that requires a number of steps. The most important outlook you need to have is that you must build the character in layers. Step 1: Meeting the Requirements of a Great Hero Make sure that your hero meets... Continue Reading →
Another Monday, another Top Ten List! I've been reading and thinking about magical weapons, sentient swords, talking scythes and so decided to do another one of my favourite little lists! If I get an arsehole of a wielder, I'm going to pretend that I'm just your normal, every-day magical sword. No sign of sentience from... Continue Reading →
There are many ways to start the writing process. Some writers prefer to do it by breaking the story in its seven primary steps--to be explored in Chapter 3. Most begin with the shortest expression of the story as a whole, the premise line. The premise is your story stated in one sentence. As soon... Continue Reading →
Early on, when I first started sharing my writing, a number of people gave me the following advice: Show, don't tell. That's good advice, I thought; it helped me in identifying a particular weakness my writing had at the time. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that this particular piece of... Continue Reading →
How do we create memorable characters? Well, you'd need a dozen eggs, a bit of vanilla and seventeen cups of sugar to make your average Mary Sue; or you could whip yourself good old-fashioned one-dimensional characters by doing the same thing you'd do to get stale bread -- don't spend any time cooking them up... Continue Reading →
Continued from here. Diary Entry #0180 Four days it took me. Four days, to learn of mine wife's mysterious ways; or need I say her body's? 'Tis a treacherous thing, this vessel; and much more besides. Now at least, I have learnt a most incongruous skill to transform mine body into that of a worm's. If... Continue Reading →
Whenever I read Neil Gaiman's short-form fiction -- his poetry and short stories -- I feel as if I'm inhaling some alchemical substance, an aroma whose very essence is imagination, refined by years of study and hard work. Fragile Things is one of several short story collections which might very well be my favorite (althought that's arguable). ... Continue Reading →
Diary Entry #0175 I find my Ex-Wife standing in the ruins of an ancient temple not far from the center of town. Mine Librarians have, by now, subjugated all local authorities, and have made their base unto the small library in town. 'Tis a pitiful reliquary of knowledge but it shall feed their hunger for... Continue Reading →
I've always been a sucker for excellent dialogue. Snappy, clever remarks make for memorable characters, situations and so much more! Dialogue has brought me to tears, and laughter, and has infused me with a hundred emotions that I couldn't have expected would overcome me. Dialogue doesn't have to follow perfect grammar You want the characters... Continue Reading →
The Grimoire Reliquary 