World building is one of the essential skills of a fantasy writer. And yet, it can often cause so many problems: from issues with overwriting the world to inconsistent construction to terrible tropes in world building. I pulled five videos from various YouTube channels that I have found to be useful in not just understandingContinue reading “A Primer for World Building Basics”
Author Archives: imagineerratically
I forgot to add Basil!
I saw this today and, having just finished the first draft of a children’s horror novella, it did make me smile. I miss every single criterion from this graphic: my hero is very flawed, this journey is less than heroic, my antagonist isn’t ruthless – well, not totally amoral, and I apparently forgot to includeContinue reading “I forgot to add Basil!”
Subtext
Why is it so hard? When I am writing a piece of fiction, one of the things I find most difficult is drafting in the subtext. A character wants something, they ask for it. A character thinks something, they show or say it. I have always thought this problem lies with my straight-forward view andContinue reading “Subtext”
High Art?
WARNING: The last five mins of this video is an advert for a VPN platform. I skipped them. As I usually do. Apologies if you watch it by mistake! WARNING 2: Read on – I’m not just linking the video with no consideration or critique! Are games an art-form with the same credibility as NovelsContinue reading “High Art?”
Wise words!
Neil Gaiman is among my favourite authors for his fluid style and his amazing body of work – American Gods, the Graveyard Book and others being personal favourites. I have seen this image doing the rounds on Facebook and on Twitter and thought I’d share what those rules mean for me. 1. Write Wait… Isn’tContinue reading “Wise words!”
Lore
MYTHS, LEGENDS AND GODS – Terrible Writing Advice One of the many Youtube Channels to which I subscribe is Terrible Writing Advice. The videos are always on point, funny and have a charm that I can’t help but like. And the most recent video released is very pertinent to a current project: The Kingdom ofContinue reading “Lore”
Caged Fox – Chapter One published today (for free!)
Although delayed by holidays in the very top of England (or the very bottom of Scotland, depending on how you look at it), here is the final instalment of the first chapter of Kingdom of the Lion. Read about a poor chap, a victim of both circumstance and hopelessness, and the compatriots he is thrownContinue reading “Caged Fox – Chapter One published today (for free!)”
Let’s review: Noah (2014)
Sat in a caravan over the holiday, with the rain whipping down, Netflix was my friend. One of the films that piqued my interest was Noah. The film is more than a faithful retelling of the Judo -Christian Bible story or the Mesopotamian legend uncovered on cuneiform tablets by the British Museum. Instead, I takeContinue reading “Let’s review: Noah (2014)”
Let’s review: 13 Bullets
So first, an admission. I picked this book up for a quid in WHSmiths for my holiday and didn’t have high expectations. It was just something to fill the time while I waited to come home to my WiFi. I picked it up because it had a cool blurb and was on clearance. I amContinue reading “Let’s review: 13 Bullets”
Lets Review: The Dark Crystal
So it isn’t a book. I know. I have, in my few years upon this Earth figured out the difference between a movie and a book, but having recently watched this film again on Netflix, I really wanted to celebrate some of the things that I think the story and the production achieved well. IContinue reading “Lets Review: The Dark Crystal”
Imagine Erratically 