THE WRITING ASYLUM

Should I Terminate My Blog?

By Tannille on October 26, 2022 • ( 4 )

Should I Terminate My Blog? It feels like a virtual reality padded cell in here… Should I save my time and sanity by quitting? There are never enough hours left in the day to do everything I want to do…. Read More ›

Recent Posts

Story Pieces, Plot Weaving, and a Slap Forehead Moment

By Tannille on October 21, 2022 • ( 4 )

Working on a novel is never easy. NEVER. Parts will trick you and come like a breeze. Maybe for some, it’s easier than others, but for most of us, there is a lot of head-banging. I’m surprised my walls aren’t… Read More ›
Do Writers Need to be Avid Readers?

By Tannille on October 10, 2022 • ( 0 )

Do writers need to be avid readers? Now here is a loaded question. The first time I heard the question was during my first year at university. Some poor girl dared to ask the question and admitted she didn’t like… Read More ›
Muse Kryptonite

By Tannille on September 28, 2022 • ( 3 )

Faulty Muse Alert Why is The Muse, my creative self, so fragile? There are a lot of writers out there pumping out novels, and it feels like being left behind. I haven’t finished a manuscript in Yoda knows how long…. Read More ›
How To Develop Characters and Worldbuild: Free-Flow Writing, Interviews, Oracle Cards

By Tannille on August 15, 2022 • ( 1 )

The Snips (aka free-flow writing/stream of conscious writing) I started writing snips set in my novel world a few years back. Every main story player received a snip — a piece of free-flow writing written in the first person. My… Read More ›
Writer’s Block: Character Playlists

By Tannille on July 26, 2022 • ( 0 )

Somehow, I landed on another writing hiatus. Thanks life, much appreciated. The clouds of life eventually cleared and the will to be creative returned. However, The Muse did not. She didn’t get the memo. Revisiting the story world… cold. Re-reading… Read More ›
Hyphens, En Dash, Em Dash — Oh My!

By Tannille on May 30, 2022 • ( 0 )

Hyphen, en dash and em dash — oh my! I mentioned these to my writing group over the weekend and was surprised no one was the full bottle. I shouldn’t have been surprised because I only investigated dashes a couple… Read More ›
Writer Collaborations: The Tears, The Joy

By Tannille on May 27, 2022 • ( 0 )

Lately, opportunities to work as a writer on collaborative stories have popped up. My initial reaction was hesitant. I’ve worked as a screenwriter and have seen my scripts come to life. An amazing opportunity, no argument. Some projects were a… Read More ›
Story Basics 101: Show Don’t Tell

By Tannille on April 25, 2022 • ( 0 )

The golden writing rule ‘show, don’t tell’ is etched in every writer’s mind, and if you’re new to the wonderful world of writing, it will become ingrained. Pretty much all of us start out writing as ‘telling’ stories rather than… Read More ›
When to Recast Your Characters

By Tannille on April 13, 2022 • ( 2 )

The Silent Character The muse has thrown an awesome plot your way. You both get excited. The plot dictates the character. Like people, their life experiences (aka the plot) shape their personalities. However, every so often a character doesn’t “speak”… Read More ›

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Flash Fiction: Tannille

Flash Fiction: Little Monsters

Ben and Beth were on the run, fleeing from monsters. They found the perfect place to hide in the bush with no electricity. The couple brought along with them some old fashion fun; guitars, cross-word puzzles and books. The sound of silence was comforting. “Do you hear that?” “No.” “Isn’t it grand?” Ben nodded as […]

Flash Fiction: The Disappearance of Ellie Watson

The store accumulated junk. Items the fairies stole. Silly items to mess with humans. To make the humans think they lost their minds. A fairy sport. They say you should never do deals with fairies or witches. A newspaper sat next to the till. The disappearance of a local child dominated headlines. Ellie WatsonAge: 7Hair: […]

Flash Fiction: Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red decided to stop by the playground on the way to her grandmother’s house. Her gum boots stomped through the puddles and created ripples. The rain aftermath was a delightful solace. The water mirrored an image of a man. He towered over Little Red, his shadow engulfing her. Every town has a wolf. The […]