Category Archives: Article

Some Wise Words on Perfectionism (By Someone Else)

I actually watched this video over the weekend already (I think I should as a rule take Deadline Week At The Day Job off from blogging because goodness me it gets intense!). Anyway, he makes some extremely valid points that I took to heart – and, let’s face it, he says it far better thanContinue reading “Some Wise Words on Perfectionism (By Someone Else)”

Reading & Listening Update: Research, L’Morte d’Arthur Lectures, and More

Besides sitting with a nasty head cold while writing this (oh the joy of the changing season — hello there, autumn, my second-favourite season who’s not being very friendly this year), the past two weeks have not been too bad. The one highlight (oh, and what a highlight!) was finally seeing a-ha live on stageContinue reading “Reading & Listening Update: Research, L’Morte d’Arthur Lectures, and More”

Worldbuilding Wednesday: Building on the Ruon Magic System, Part 1

Last time I looked at the four branches of “Nith” or magic in The Ruon Chronicles. This week I’m going to look a bit deeper at the magic system that I’m building for the Ruon specifically. Okay, so while the main charms are worked in embroidery, there are also other forms of needlework and weavingContinue reading “Worldbuilding Wednesday: Building on the Ruon Magic System, Part 1”

Thoughts On Writing Outside Your Genre

If you’ve been following the blog, you probably noticed that most of my stories are fantasy, sci-fi or some form of speculative fiction. So you can understand my trepidation when I learned that the genre for the Jozi Shorts Anthology is contemporary fiction. Well, colour me challenged. The last non-genre story that I wrote wasContinue reading “Thoughts On Writing Outside Your Genre”

Worldbuilding Wednesday: The Magic System of The Ruon Chronicles

In the world of Airtha-Eyrassa (the world in which The Ruon Chronicles takes place), magic and magical abilities are called Talent or Nith.

Of Working Two Months Ahead, Looking After Yourself, and Fiction Writing News

The last we saw our intrepid writer, she was busy outlining the whole of The Ruon Chronicles and taking Sir Tristan the Wonder Cat for walkies in the garden. Since then… well not much has changed and yet a lot has changed.

Worldbuilding Wednesday — Worldbuilding a Beginning

I guess worldbuilding a beginning to the world of Airtha-Eyrassa really only started after I read The Silmarillion (which is also one of my favourite books of all time). While I did not start the world by writing the beginning and creation, it was soon apparent once I’d started that it was a necessary partContinue reading “Worldbuilding Wednesday — Worldbuilding a Beginning”

Of Stuff You Realise After Rereading, and Crocheting Nests

Good news! Especially for me — I at last realised what is wrong with the beginning of Grove of Graves and how to fix it. Apparently my subconscious had been thinking about it the whole week after I reread the story to see where any changes are needed. Turns out I only need to moveContinue reading “Of Stuff You Realise After Rereading, and Crocheting Nests”

Worldbuilding Wednesday — Worldbuilding the Ruon Chronicles Series

Author David Farland, in one of his writing emails (sign up here) notes the following elements that make up a successful series when it comes to story: Have a persistent world and persistent characters Don’t change the settings too much Have a persistent conflict that builds and escalates A central conflict will bind the seriesContinue reading “Worldbuilding Wednesday — Worldbuilding the Ruon Chronicles Series”