We cannot recover lost seconds or souls smashed into splintered bone, reckless, cruel and savage. A smooth stone buried in the muck pretending to be a jewel, becomes wasted beneath trees shattered by wind and fire. Time, born from nothing, descends into the grasp of weathered breaths, alone and weak. Lives lost drain into the … Continue reading TBD

For some, the most intimidating part of writing a novel happens well before pen ever hits paper: Planning, or plotting, as those in the business like to say. The trick is finding a plotting, or outlining, style that works for you. In my experience, one of the most effective ways to plot a novel is … Continue reading The Puzzle-Piece Plotting Method: Using What You Know to Build What You Don’t

The Death of Sturla Hvamm, July 23, 1183CE The light of day was long, the sun almost never slept. Every day brought the warmth of summer, the smell of things growing, sheep and cattle grazing in the dale and I was new at Oddi. My father was dead, as if punished for giving me away … Continue reading Chapter 78 – The Death of Sturla

The Seven Basic Plots The meta-plot The meta-plot begins with the anticipation stage, in which the hero is called to the adventure to come. This is followed by a dream stage, in which the adventure begins, the hero has some success, and has an illusion of invincibility. However, this is then followed by a frustration stage, in which … Continue reading There Are Only 7 Stories

1183 CE Thingvellir, Iceland I, Snorri Sturluson, remember as clear as if it were yesterday. Most people have no such memories from that young an age, but I do. I was there, at the Althing, among the rocky crags of Thingvellir, with my brothers Thordur and Sighvat and our father. I was too young then … Continue reading Chapter 77 – 1183 CE