After publishing my last Wattpad story, I thought this draft of Discovery was already in the queue. But when I sat down to post it, I realized the most recent chapter had already been published, and this one didn’t have a finished draft. At first I toyed with the idea of kicking the story for later this month, but then I realized with everything else swirling in my mind, that wouldn’t have helped. So instead of procrastinating I grabbed the first draft and dove right into the editing process.

The saying, history rarely stays buried (that might not be an exact quote), is true for a reason...

After the dogs had their fill of the beach, I took in the ocean view one last time. In those quiet moments, I was reminded of how simple shifts in perspective can radically alter a scene’s beauty. As I reflected on that inner murmur, I heard the landscape whisper its message through faint changes in light, color, and even angle. The following pair of images emerged from that observation. Though they capture similar environments, the moods they evoke strike very different chords, each tugging at a unique emotional thread.

The first image lingers at the edge of stillness...

In Nick of Time, devastation looms over the Larian colony in this gripping sci-fi short. The undulating horde is on the brink of breaking through their final defenses. With hope dwindling and resources disappearing, the colonists have scraped together one last desperate strike. Whether it saves them, or just delays the inevitable, Tarian bets everything on a potential miracle...

Once again, my best-laid plans ended up getting tossed and forgotten. While my original plans had me revisiting the world of Transformation, I failed to flesh out that larger storyline. As a result, it’s been re-ordered in my ever-growing list of projects. However, in the meantime, I needed a second Wattpad story for publication, so I turned to my backlog of work. The other Wattpad entry I planned on writing was for Discovery, which left me with a single option to delve into Mounting Tensions. Despite having an alternate path to run, I was fortunate to have a rough seed available as a starting ground.

At this point in the series, I wanted to capture the last pilot’s unease with the escalating tensions around the planet. Armed with the seed I wrote so long ago, I dove into the story and crafted something I hope you enjoy...

Life rarely unfolds in a straightforward way. There’s a multitude of clichés that speak to the truth of those words. Sometimes, they’re life altering, while others end up being inconsequential. When I started examining my notes for this month’s micro fiction, I tossed the original idea in favor of continuing Lucas’s journey. Decision made, I returned to my notes on Lucas and Elouise. These two have a destination in mind, and each micro tale marks an important step in their arc.

In a quiet room lit by flickering candlelight, a pair of individuals sit together, one carrying the weight of many lives, the other standing at the threshold of something special. This story is an exploration of memory, magic, and the invisible burdens we choose to carry for others...

There’s something timeless about watching a dog play in the water, but a first trip to the ocean adds to the magic in leaps and bounds. It’s pure joy, relentless energy, and a sense of purpose that feels almost mythical. Throughout the entire series, we’ve followed Goose as he plunged into the surf, danced with the waves, and claimed each moment with fearless delight. These images don’t just capture a playful dog on the beach, they tell a story of movement, freedom, and connection.

As this series ends, the last two images bring his story full circle. Goose is no longer just a blur of fur and motion. He’s a force of nature, emerging from the tide with a sense of triumph...

In The Guardian of Bridges, a pair of children discover a strange stream governed by forgotten rules. What happens when they try to understand what they’ve found? This modern fairy tale is set against a snow-blanketed forest, and it follows two young friends who stumble upon an unfamiliar stream that shouldn’t exist. As they try to make sense of this new intrusion into their trusted sanctuary, something ancient begins to stir. The unsettling quiet, the thick snow, and the eerie atmosphere paint a world that feels both magical and menacing...

As the month draws to a close, I’m once more eager to delve into the world of comedy, with my duo of Sebastian & Jimmy. When I sat down to create a rough plan for the year, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy writing comedies. However, that’s definitely what’s happened, after realizing I could channel the dynamic of my favorite duo Abbott & Costello. As has been my wont when it comes to these stories, I asked ChatGPT for a few items to use as the seed for this tale, and it dutifully obliged, providing me with a trio of items that were a little more embellished than what I could get from my story cubes. I was given a rusted key wrapped in red thread, a mirror with no reflection, and a ledger filled with names and dates.

Immediately, an idea swirled through my mind, bouncing between some of their more fanciful movies. It didn’t take me long to find a basis for the tale. Sometimes, the best stories don’t start with grand adventures or epic battles...

As the exclusive photo shoot for Man’s Best Friend collection continues, don’t forget that you can gain access to the full series over at DeviantArt. In this trio of images, we witness Goose’s joy as he charges through the water. As with last week’s drops, these shots highlight his vivid movement, energy, and excitement. There’s something special about a shoreline sprint, where motion meets rhythm, and instinct rushes to the forefront. In this brief series, we follow Goose as he delves through the water, embracing that magic. Each frame freezes that exhilaration, becoming a study of presence. How can joy take form? How can momentum turn a leash into a ribbon of celebration? And how can a dog’s run become a kind of art?

These aren’t just pictures capturing action. They’re visual echoes of what it means to move with purpose and pleasure. They’re alive, unburdened, and unashamed. Whether Goose is vaulting through the air, slicing diagonals across the surf, or rounding back toward shore, each moment is steeped in clarity...

In Crumbling Walls, we return to the Larian settlement, beneath a battered sky and behind a fractured wall. The tension amongst the defenders is coiled tight, ready to snap. Strange creatures mill about just beyond the damaged walls, regrouping their numbers as they prepare a fresh charge. Despite the dangers to his people, a lone commander clings to a fragile sliver of hope. Their resources are low. The morale is even lower. Yet they must hold the line to buy time for the soldiers who ventured into the forest in search of allies...

The moment I finished Invited Seat and Westward Trail, I turned my attention to the final story of the month for my patrons—a thriller. While I’ve created characters more naturally suited to lead this genre, I wanted to continue Samuel’s journey. Originally, I planned to pick things up further down the line, but a last-minute change to Westward Trail opened the door to a more satisfying thriller payoff, at least in my eyes. Since I only possessed a skeletal outline, I shelved the story to focus on projects with more pressing deadlines.

Once I finished or mostly completed them, I returned to this tale. While the core concept came together quickly with a bit of help from ChatGPT, it didn’t take long for me to crack that shell open and shape it into a richer, more suspenseful story...

When I finished the first picture prompt for the month, I turned my attention to the new image I wanted to use. You can check out the image on DeviantArt or scroll down to see the inspiration for yourself. While the image sparked my imagination, it wasn’t as focused as I would have preferred. My mind immediately saw the wolves, or hounds if you prefer, as summoned beasts composed of living shadow. While that would make for an interesting story point, the underlying story eluded my mental grasp. So instead of puttering along with an undeveloped concept, I shelved the idea and shifted my attention to other tales.

Yet as the month drew to a close, I knew I needed to write something for this image. Deadlines have a way of stirring creativity. With a trio of stories stacking up, ideas for each surfaced, including this one...

Once again, this past week’s drops were to my Man’s Best Friend collection, a premium gallery that’s available for a single purchase. The point of this little photo shoot was to capture the dog’s joy with the water. Unfortunately, in the beginning, both were indifferent to the ocean. However, after a brief exploration of the sandy shore, Goose braved the water. The resulting series of shots highlight a vivid exploration of movement, energy, and unfiltered joy.

The images themselves remain exclusive to patrons and my premium gallery. Yet these written glimpses offer a window into the playful, almost poetic, moments captured within each frame. With the careful use of watercolor effects, these images are transformed...

In Path of the Willow, a young girl awakens on Christmas morning eager for gifts, but instead finds a mysterious red thread. Rather than leading her to toys or treats, it guides her through a closet and into an enchanted forest. What begins as a joyful morning quickly transforms into a magical journey across snow-covered landscapes, where each step tests her courage and heart. In a world where animals speak and ancient magic sleeps beneath the snow, she must search her soul to discover her true self...

The moment I finished Invited Seat, I turned my attention to my patrons’ next story, a historical fiction. Thankfully, the last time we encountered Samuel and Anna, their story paused at a perfect moment for me to pick right up and continue their adventure. While this series takes place during the Old West era, I’ve blended in just enough fantasy to give myself creative leeway as I build their world, though I have and will continue to perform research to remain somewhat grounded.

Despite having a general idea in mind, I needed something more concrete to spark the next installment. So, I gathered my notes and tossed everything into ChatGPT for a bit of inspiration. The initial results gave me a decent springboard, but much of the finer detail clashed with the lore I’d already established...