Okay, I admit it: I sort of cheated this week. The story this week was partially written already, but I had put it back into storage for reasons I no longer remember. That, and it's a sequel to a previously written short story, so I have to include both of them for it to make... Continue Reading →
Author's Note: I told you they'd be back. * Mirror Bright by H. M. Snow “Eirian,” began Peter in a subdued voice. “Bertie wants you to come to town with us.” Eirian finished polishing the mirror he held before he bothered to look up at his old friend. Even when he finally looked, he said... Continue Reading →
Before the story, a confession: I am mildly obsessed with flashlights. They qualify as one of the things of which one can never have too many, in my world. It's light in a tube. What's not to love? Anyway, on with this week's short story. * Moonlight Creatures by H. M. Snow Julius Singleton hung... Continue Reading →
Week four already! Goodness, how quickly this is going. I just wanted to remark, before this week's story begins, that these characters will probably turn up again. When I say 'probably,' I actually mean 'most certainly.' Some things take on a life of their own... * Walter and the Children of the Day by H.... Continue Reading →
Of The Old Well by H. M. Snow I wish I could remember how long I’ve been down here. When I lift my hand to touch the mud-crusted wall, I feel deep gouges in a row. So many tally-marks to count the days, but I can’t tell how many. My fingers are numb, coated with... Continue Reading →
War of the Firefly Child When Master Malcolm returned from the battlefield at sundown, the household assembled to welcome him. He rode surrounded by his elite warriors, and at his side rode the priest who tended the master’s sacred relic. Among these hulking men in armor, the petite figure riding in the saddle before the... Continue Reading →
Here it is, as promised: a short story based on the idea presented by Jacob Baugher: Design a completely original magic system: no alchemy, burning metals, sympathy, name casting, ancient language, spirit casting, elemental casting, or anything else you’ve read. Also the magic is cast out of the wizard’s nose. And so we have Week 1's entry,... Continue Reading →
I have had this song running through my mind off and on for the past few days: Those who know me even slightly will admit I am no optimist, which makes this choice of songs all the more unaccountable. Nevertheless, uncharacteristic or not, I must say that the past several days have been rather lovely.... Continue Reading →
I have decided to set myself a challenge for the year 2014: to write a short story or essay each week. It will be not only a way to exercise my creativity, but also a way to hone my time management as a writer. As Monty Hall would have said, "But wait! There's more!" One... Continue Reading →
I'm not allowed to drink coffee for health reasons, so I only have this knowledge second-hand. A friend told me recently that you can get a smoother, richer flavor if you cold-brew the coffee rather than boil it. Cold-brew methods take longer, I'm told, but my friend assured me that the results were worth the... Continue Reading →
Trouble, trouble, trouble: the famous Edna St Vincent Millay quote does come to mind. The same worries, the same distractions, the same outcome: a withering of creativity. I'm reading now, not for the enjoyment of reading as much as for the temporary escape it provides. Writing stories would be a better escape, if I could... Continue Reading →
I was notified today that, due to a mildly disgruntled comment on this very website, OakTara has chosen not to publish any more of my Keeper series. Since I was waiting for them to respond one way or another, I'm glad to hear this, but I have this ominous premonition that I'm blacklisted as a troublemaker... Continue Reading →
Ugh... what day is it? How is it already the 28th? Oh, well. I met my word count goal for Camp NaNoWriMo, but I have one more chapter to complete in the rough draft of Traveler's Guide to Mythical Beasts. Now I'm back to simmering all day in a subtropical office. (87 degrees F and... Continue Reading →
Nearly to 40,000 words now, with eleven days left. I can give you the title of the sequel novella: Traveler's Guide to Mythical Beasts. The terrifying hag just told / made the narrator hallucinate a story. Things are going well. Further updates as the month's end draws nearer. (So... much... fun!)
I've been extremely sporadic in updating my blog during the summer so far. I admit it, and I regret none of it. If I must go for two months without pay from my day job, then you'd better believe I'll use those two months to indulge my creative side as much as is humanly possible.... Continue Reading →
H. M. Snow, Fantasy Novelist 