As October marches on, my blog’s unique stories were coming due. Up first was a picture post. So I went to DeviantArt and began scrolling through the artwork. Eventually, I stumbled upon a breathtaking landscape, a swirling vortex bearing down on two towers/keeps, with a solitary man striding between them. Even now, I can’t fully explain why this image captivated me. But I’m thankful I found it, because it sparked a story that took root deep within my mind.

There’s a particular kind of stillness that only exists before a storm, as though the world itself is holding its breath. The image below captures that stillness perfectly...

In Hunting Shadows, Caleb and his squad are dispatched into the dense forests beyond the settlement, chasing whispers of shapeshifters that have filled the colony with fear. What begins as a tracking mission becomes a deadly game of reflection and deceit. Where even your own face might turn against you. In this world, shadows aren’t always cast by light.

As the squad follows a trail through the fractured woods, the unseen grows ever nearer. Every step deepens the uncertainty, forcing them to wonder if they are the hunters or the hunted...

From the moment the genre poll closed, I knew the first story would be a suspense tale. However, for me, this genre is a little more difficult to write. It always felt too close to a thriller which made it hard for me to keep from drifting. During the drafting process, I went searching for a clear distinction between the two genres. According to some guy on the internet, while both genres share the same literary DNA, the key difference lies in how the author uses tension. Suspense makes you worry about what might happen. Thrillers make you fear what’s happening right now.

That insight finally separated the two in my mind, and gave me the footing I needed...

As the month continues, my attention turned to the micro-fiction stories that I wanted to tell. After examining my schedule, I knew I needed to pen a Shifter tale. While they are similar to the conventional shape shifters, my shifters can only alternate between their human form and a specific type of animal. Typically, I’ve focused on the bear, wolves, and deer tribes. However, I recently crafted a story with a shifter capable of becoming a bird, think eagle for scale. In that piece of flash fiction, I hinted at a larger conflict, as a result it didn’t take me long to orient my current micro-tale.

Beneath the hush of midnight skies, some battles are waged without banners. They rely on nothing but instinct and motion...

When October began its march, I turned to my schedule to see which stories were ready for exploration. This month, both Discovery and Mounting Tensions were slated for attention. Without hesitation, I pulled out the early draft of Discovery and dove into the weeds. Given the stage already set within this series, and knowing where it’s headed, it didn’t take long to shape this installment into something ready to share. Allow me to set the stage.

Tensions simmer between historical allies, and the cost of peace grows steeper with every failed negotiation...

In Wandering Stranger, a lone traveler braves a merciless snowstorm deep within the mountains in search of warmth and survival. When the faint promise of safety appears, desperation drives him to wager a gemstone of impossible worth for the safety of an inn. Inside its walls, he faces an innkeeper determined to cast him back into the storm to protect his patrons.

Every trade carries a cost, and every refuge hides the price it will demand. What begins as a plea for shelter becomes a dangerous game of trust and temptation...

In Investigation, Tarian presses the settlement’s scientists for answers as unease consumes the colony. Within the makeshift lab, the shapeshifter’s corpse offers more questions than solutions. When the scientist’s whispers of a potential solution raises the fragile line between trust and survival grows thinner.

This chapter deepens the tension at the heart of the colony...

After finishing Marked Map and Undying Legacy, I turned my attention to my patron’s final story for the month, a mystery. At first, I didn’t know who would take center stage. But as I thought about it, I realized highlighting Marcus and Benjamin would be a fun spin for my readers. Even without the next installment of their larger investigation fully fleshed out, this episodic tale came together without much thought, and crafting every word was such fun.

Sometimes the most telling discoveries aren’t loud or obvious. They whisper in the rain, scratch at the wall, or strike a chord that says something isn’t quite right...

As the month draws to a close, I’m reminded of how much this kind of story has become the bright spot of my month. Not long ago, I did everything I could to avoid writing in this genre, but somewhere along the way the script flipped. Now, these are the stories bring me great joy. They don’t always end up as my favorite pick in my newsletter, but they never fail to put a smile on my face. Part of the fun comes from watching them unfold in my head. Those raw and messy moments are magical before they’re refined for the general public. Trust me, no first draft is ever ready for publication.

Some jobs look simple enough, such as move item X to location Y. Others require a little more interpretation...

There are moments at the end of every journey when words fall away, leaving only the quiet press of a place and its time. After the cruise, I stood there above the docks, taking everything in. My camera didn’t linger for spectacle, but settled upon the truth of that moment. It was unhurried, understated, yet overflowing with a fullness you never expected to stumble upon.

The air was still, the colors softened by distance, and the land itself seemed to fold inward, as if drawing a curtain on the day...

In Fluttering Shadows, a king reels from the surrender of his army. Torn between rage and doubt, his advisor turns to the kingdom’s spymaster, whose network of uncanny informants reveals more than anyone wished to hear. Whispers become warnings, and secrets flutter on wings both fragile and foreboding.

What begins as the fallout of defeat deepens into a tale of espionage and looming catastrophe. As unique spies carry secrets across the land, the kingdom must reckon with truths that even victory cannot silence...

When I wrapped up Marked Map, my attention shifted to the next tale for my patrons, a horror. Naturally, my thoughts turned to Solomon, my relentless monster hunter. I wanted to continue his journey after Defiant Tests and began shaping an idea that could stretch into a long, evolving arc. Where it will ultimately lead, I can’t yet say, but I’ sure it’ll be a thrilling ride to write and share.

Some battles are fought in the open, under the clear light of day...

After finishing Verdant Breathes, I headed over to DeviantArt and began thumbing through images. I’m glad I didn’t start with my backlog of prompt material, because I stumbled upon Autumns Ghastly Ghouls of Haunting Visions by jeffdoute, check out below. While it seemed more unsettling than the images I normally gravitate toward, the scene called out to me. From the windswept leaves to the drifting ghost, everything compelled me to write a story. Though the artwork might look like it would spark a horrifying tale, that’s not where my mind went, and I hope you enjoy the results.

Art is always more than color and canvas. It’s a way of capturing what hides beneath the surface...

Just before the month started, I opened my digital notebook and reviewed the ChatGPT ideas for Magic Forest by postapodcast. However when I pulled up the list, it was surprising to find a single option left to me. Despite knowing the last generated seed would eventually come, I thought there were enough generated prompts to last through December. The lack wasn’t devastating, but it left me stunned. Not for a negative reason, but because working through this list has been pure joy

At first the following prompt left me searching for the right words...

After delving into the story of Discovery, check out the latest episode here, I turned my attention to the second Wattpad story for the month. With this tale, I wanted to explore Darren’s education. When I went to my notes, I had a brief description to use for the tale. This story centers around Wayne as he interrupts a study session with Darren and Lia. He pulls Darren aside and tries to enlist him in a special job to help position him with their family. Granted, it’s been some time since I last visited this blurb, but it was enough to give me some ideas on how to take the story.

Throughout the previous tales, I’ve highlighted that Darren wants nothing to do with the portion of his family represented by Wayne...