Creating a Fantasy World

The difference between writing fantasy and writing realistic fiction is straightforward in essence and a lot of work in practice. Fantasy writers start with a blank slate. You’re in sandbox mode. You have no context, no rules, no world, and no people. The process of world building can be overwhelming …

Why books are magical…

You may wonder why I’ve named my blog ‘Magic Writer’. As a child, I loved reading books. I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t read. My earliest reading memories relate to library trips, where I would take out three Topsy and Tim books every week. For me, the ability …

Feline Meditations

A short soliloquy from a cat coping with a toddler: Escape at last! The human spawn will never find me here. Are all my whiskers intact? The fiend was in fine form this morning. Not a moment’s peace. Chased all round the house. Tail pulled, ears mauled. Oh, how sore …