Daily Short Stories from The Penned Sleuth

I’ve been talking about some specific genres a lot lately, neglecting others, so let’s fix that. I am going to give you 10 tips that will help your writing no matter who you are and what genre you work with. These are tips I gather from my top articles and blog posts, the tips that will help anyone ready to try them out. Let’s get started! https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/my-top-10-tips-for-writing-anything-inspiration-productivity-and-improving

One can’t sum up fantasy with world types and magical systems; there is a lot more to talk about. In this second part, we will be discussing creatures, races, deities, world structures and plot types. I go through some of the best methods for writing these fantasy elements, as well as different examples and which ones suit your story best. With that said, let’s begin! Your FREE Course: https://matthewdewey.newzenler.com/courses/writing-a-better-main-character The Writer's Workshop: https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/writers-workshop.html My Website: https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/ Article: https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/the-fantasy-story-writing-toolkit-tips-and-ideas-part-2

A couple of years ago, I realised that I would always be in a state of learning. I would always be disappointed when I looked at my old writing. I would always find a new technique or writing style that I would like to assimilate into my own. I would be writing, editing, studying, rewriting and repeating all these steps. As the years go by, I will have more books with my name on them, but more than that, I would be better equipped for writing the next book. However, if I could send some writing advice to my younger self, this is what I would tell him! https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/advice-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-started-writing-tips-for-young-writers

Writing a novel you can be proud of is a difficult task, made more difficult when you lack the tools to overcome the challenge. I will be talking about the fantasy genre, giving you some ideas and tips, as well as useful tools you can use to construct your story, characters and world. This will be a series of posts and in this one, we will be talking about world types, naming methods and magical systems. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/the-fantasy-story-writing-toolkit-ideas-and-tips-part-1

Metro 2034 by Dmitry Glukhovsky, the sequel to Metro 2033, follows a new expedition through the metro and its many dangerous tunnels. Sebastopol, a station often attacked by monsters and bandits, is often requesting more ammunition and supplies, but communications are down. Every party of soldiers sent to investigate never returns. Luckily, a grizzled soldier takes up the task and requests the help of a story-teller named Homer. Article: https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/metro-2034-by-dmitry-glukhovsky-book-review

Last week, I discussed worldbuilding, especially techniques that have helped me overcome my worldbuilding problems, as these are the techniques I have the most experience with. Yet, I failed in one major respect in that article as I didn’t provide written examples of these scenes, rather I only discussed the scenes and their core elements. It was a missed opportunity, but it won’t be missed now. In this post, I will be writing example scenes and underlining why their simplicity goes a long way in worldbuilding. Let’s begin! https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/worldbuilding-example-scenes-you-can-write

Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky is best described as a surreal, post-apocalyptic adventure, centred around life beneath the ground in the metro tunnels after nuclear weapons devastated the planet with their destructive force and worse still, their lingering radiation. This is not a story of how or why the bombs dropped, but the exploration of one’s will to live in the face of many strange dangers that assault the body, mind and heart of the main character, Artyom. Here is my spoiler-free review of Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/metro-2033-by-dmitry-glukhovsky-book-review

Cat Cat was not a cat. She was a woman that worked a boring job in a corporate hell. Catherine, or Cat to her friends, wasn’t a sociable woman. In fact, she actively tried to avoid people as much as possible. However, her time came to move from one company to the Company. A new job in a new city. She was alone in a townhouse that didn’t seem to fit her. She often left it in a mess the same way she used to leave her apartment, however, it wasn’t a mess of clothing or junk food wrappers. It was a mess of books. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Worldbuilding is a lot of fun when I’m dreaming of my story, or writing down a bunch of complex and interesting lore. I can do both for hours, but when I am writing, I’ve noticed a big problem with relating this information to the reader; I don’t. Either it skips my mind or my style is too straightforward, I just end up moving past opportune moments to add depth to the world space. Solution; I took some time to research and put methods into practice. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/worldbuilding-best-descriptions-and-scenes-to-write

The Cabin There would often be a misconception when it came to the cabin. The cabin was not haunted or attacked frequently by an axe-wielding psychopath. The cabin was, in fact, a paradise for all those who went there. I used to work there as a camp counsellor. So many kids would run up and down its stairs, back-and-forth, screaming and laughing. Now, when the world seemed to have ended, it was empty as my fridge. I sat in this cabin waiting for Death to come and take me, but of course, he never did. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Redwall by Brian Jacques - Book REVIEW The Tales of Redwall is a series written by Brian Jacques and was started in the late 80s. It is a medieval fantasy series where the characters are semi-anthropomorphic beings that follow a hierarchy similar to their counterparts in nature. There are several books in this series and today I will be reviewing the first; Redwall. With that said, let’s start the review! https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/blog/redwall-by-brian-jacques-book-review

I Am Your Host I have worked in the industry for a good fifteen years. My father worked in it before me as a cameraman, but I one-upped him by becoming a director of sorts as well as a cameraman. I run a two-man recording studio inside the facility where all the broadcasts are made. I run lights, film and audio as well as provide scripts and give direction. Safe to say there is a lot on my plate already. The last thing I needed in my line of work is mental patients to play the host to my local news show. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Red Door “Name?” I did not answer. “Sir, I need your name for the register.” Still, I did not answer. Why should I? “Sir, give me a name, it doesn't have to be yours, or you will be ejected from the building.” https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Disappearance III I hid in a far corner of the room, out of sight, but I knew it would only take a moment for the killer to find me. Once hidden I waited for the approaching steps to reveal the face of the murderer. Sure enough, the light gave me the answer I sought once the well-featured face was brought to the surface from the dark. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Disappearance II Upon entering my home I noticed there were a few things amiss. For one, there was a noticeable smell in the air. It was the smell of burning, but not the sweet smell of burning wood, but the terrible smell of burning foliage and plastics. I could not pin it down, but I had smelt something like it before. What mattered most however was why this smell was coming from inside my home. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Curtain Call “How much time do I have?” she asked. “Twenty minutes, Miss Susan,” the stagehand replied before rushing off to climb the scaffold and manage the lights. The theatre was filled to the brim with people. An audience awaited the famous cast to begin their opera, At the Helm, an epic tale of bravery and treachery. Susan had the lead female role of ‘Eliza’ and on most nights she would feel a lot more relaxed, but not tonight. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Loss of Sanity “Can you please, just for the briefest of moments, shut up?” the Doctor yelled. Yes, we were being loud during this session, but what did you expect? I prefer silence as well, which is why I don’t speak, but how am I supposed to enjoy my silence in a place of mentally ill degenerates whose only logical thought is to prance around the place and if the mood hits them dive towards an orderly and attempt to remove a vital organ with their teeth? There is no way, absolutely no way, no way in this life or the next will I ever forgive those that ruined my peace and now the Doctor was ruining mine. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Fighting the Tide The waves crashed dramatically on the shore. However, once you have been stuck on a small island such as mine you get used to it. That night there was a storm that was fierce and the waves drew in close, crashing into palm trees now and then, but mainly the beach was belted with the massive waves. The wind is what did the most damage further inland. The doors and walls rattled and creaked, which was again something I got used to. I had made most of my home out of squeaky bamboo and palm after all. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Red Fox II I rested back in the chair, my eyes seeing stories I had just heard. The fox spoke in such a familiar voice and it was calming to me. I felt my warmed feet slide against each other as I only became more immersed in the fantastical pleasure that was the stories. The fox took a moment to look up from the endless tome and eye me curiously. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/

Runner It was just doorways and hallways. All that Jackie could see was the same mess of emptiness that he had already searched as he ran home. Behind him, he could hear the rapid footsteps of one of the undead running after. Still, he was pushing it hard. Eventually, he heard the sound of the dead man’s legs breaking under the constant running and there was a sickening flop and crunch behind Jackie. https://www.thepennedsleuth.com/