A Short Story by Lucy Brighton “I dare you to knock on the witch’s door,” I say. “And say what?” “Run away or she’ll turn you into a frog or summat.” “I think we…I don’t know, Lolly.” Rachel’s fourteen months older than me, almost eight, but you’d think she was younger. She’s yellow. That’s what Mum calls someone who is chicken. Her lip trembles and I know she doesn’t want to cry in front of me or I’ll call her Tiny Tears. Guilt gnaws in my belly, flooding my body and mak

Story Shapes “ For centuries there's been one path through fiction we're most likely to travel - one we're actually told to follow - and that's the dramatic arc: a situation arises, grows tense, reaches a peak, subsides!” (Meander, Spiral Explode by Jane Alison) Aristotle (384-322 BCE) suggested dramas should have a three-act structure, a beginning, middle and end. Beginning (Exposition/Protasis): This part introduces the characters, setting, and initial situation of the sto

As January comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back on the books that have enriched my reading this month. From thrilling...

Since the dawn of civilization, oral storytelling has been a primary method for transmitting history, cultural practices, moral lessons,...

I am alive.    I am sparked into being by our connection. Our touch is tentative at first, as lovers rekindling after a long time apart. We will sustain each other, you and I.    There is a voice, but it sounds distant, like a scream muffled by fog and sand.    “Can you hear me, Mrs Swift?”   We quicken and jump, it catches me off guard for a second, but I regulate, send you my steadiness through our intertwining tendrils.    Da dum da dum da dum.   “Yes,” you croak, parched

So, you've got this amazing story idea bubbling inside you, eager to burst out onto the page. But before you can dive headlong into the...

In storytelling, characters are the lifeblood that breathes vitality into narratives. Crafting characters that resonate with the audience...

Tip 1 Embrace imperfection For the perfectionists among us, allowing your writing to be imperfect can present a unique challenge. The...

Is AI coming for our stories? What is it about stories that endure? Stories have been around for over 50000 years. From oral storytelling...