The Snowflake Method

The Snowflake Method is a way of planning novels. It is based around the construction of a snowflake, and starts of simple, and keeps building.
Ever since I found it, I have used it to plan most of my major projects, although I haven't always done all of the steps.
It is really useful, and would recomended all writers checking it out here

Happy writing!

Forgotten Shadows Note

If you have been reading my online book, Forgotten Shadows I am just posting this to let you know that I will no longer be posting it on my blog.
Don't despair, because I will instead be posting it to my wattpad account. Updates there will be done quicker and in full chapters. I may still post chapters up here, but it will be quite slowly

You can check out my wattpad account here.

Forgotten Shadows Chapter 2

The next morning Holly shook Eldon awake. His eye's opened wearily and he stared at Holly.
He groaned, then murmured, "what is it Holly?"
"Come on, we need to collect some ... Firewood."
"What, Holly, it's probably 2 in the morning. Can't it wait." Holly rolled her eyes and gave him an over exaggerated wink.
"Some .... Firewood," then when Eldon stared at her she gave a huff of indignation, "come on, I need to tell you something, it's important."
"About what?" Holly gestured her head over to Elvrina, and Eldon finally gave a sigh of understanding.
They walked a few hundred meters away from the camp before stopping. Eldon performed small jumps, fighting the cold away, while Holly pulled her cloak around her.
"I talked to her last night, she doesn't seem dangerous," informed Holly
"Hol, I don't really think she'll be an assassin come to kill us."
"But you never know! I'll question her a bit more later, but I'm not sure she's telling the entire truth."
"Holly Charlotte Watson, for once, just give it a rest." He turned round and began to walk back towards the campsite, rubbing his hands together
"But Eldon-" called Holly after him
"Can't hear you!" Eldon shouted cheerfully. After a second, Holly followed him back to the campsite, muttering about assassins and stupidity, but just as she was arriving at the campsite, a screech interupted her thoughts, and startled Elvrina awake.
Holly's head snapped up and her hand felt towards her belt where her sling hung- a long strip of leather that had been hardened in the fire to form a small, round indent that coul hold a lead marble. Eldon reached into his bag and pulled out two daggers made from cold iron, he looked back at Elvrina and tossed her one. It spun through the air and landed at Elvrina's feet, she picked it up slowly, her fingers jumping at the cold and hard metal. Holly grabbed a round marble from her brown pouch and rolled it unconsciously in her hand, feeling the weight of it. Another screech sounded, this time closer. The three teenagers turned and ran down the hill, anywhere just to get away from the beasts.
"What is that?" Asked Elvrina warily.
"That, is a fracta."
"What's a fracta?"
"They're massive creatures similar to horses."
"I hate horses."
"Well then you won't like these. The tallest I've ever seen is 5 metres tall. These creatures are a cross between a lizard and a horse. " As if in response two giant horses stepped out of the trees. The taller one was nearly 3 metres tall, it had pale blue lizard like scales and pale fur on its belly. The other was considerably shorter, being 2-3 metres tall with brown scales shaped more like leaves. Their hooves trampled bushes and made a sound like an out of tune trumpet as they ran after them.
"Eldon, we're going to have to fight them! We can't outrun them!" Eldon nodded in response, in sync they turned around to face the beasts.
"Elvrina, stay back! Don't get involved unless you have to run!"
The beasts stopped running and looked at the teenagers, sizing them up for food. Holly and Eldon began to move apart so they wouldn't get in each others way.
"I call the blue one." Shouted Holly with a smirk toying on her lips, her large, dark eyebrows furrowed in concentration, as she prepared for the fight ahead, getting herself in the mental state.
"You always get the best ones." Complained Eldon, but despite his joking demeanour, his eyes were darting around, drinking in the soon to be battle ground.
Holly was the first one to attack. She put the heavy marble into her sling. She brought her hand back, then with a sharp crack she quickly swung it forward. The marble soared out of the fire hardened price of leather and it hit the scales of the blue fracta. The force of the trajectory, and the small distance between the hunter and the hunted saw that the round bit of lead tore through a small section of the beasts scales. Holly smiled at her small victory.
Eldon circled the beast, his dagger in hand, he ran beside the legs of the beast, hacking at its legs. The animal whinnied in pain and it kicked out at Eldon using it's back legs. Eldon darted back, dodging the attack. He continued to circle the fracta, dancing in and out. Eventually the Fracta managed to catch him as he was coming in. It's leg kicked out and hit Eldon square in the chest. He flew back and hit the trunk of a tree. He looked over at Holly, searching for help, but she already had her hands filled, as both fractas were coming at her at the same time. She shoved her sling back into her belt and drew a dagger. She continued to fight, but she was fighting a losing battle, as she was continuing to retreat. It was then that the bigger one smelt Eldon, who lay still unable to breathe. While the red headed girl might be bigger and make a better meal, the brown haired male was helpless.
The animal walked over to him, it sniffed the air before lowering its head down to Eldon. Eldon closed his eyes, unbelieving to the fact he was about to die.
Then it happened.
A yell sounded from across the clearing and Elvrina ran at the blue fracta. The dagger was raised above her head and she attacked the animals legs with wild cuts. Her body trembled as she continued to attack the animal, but she kept at it. Finally she fell over backwards as she was backing away from the fracta. It advanced towards her, hoping to kill the wild human that had attacked it. In a wild stab in the dark Elvrina threw the dagger at the beasts face. It hit the fracta hilt first right near its eye. It screamed in pain before cantering off back the way it came, the smaller one joining it like a sheep. Holly ran over to the pair of teenagers.
"Have you got any serious injuries?" She asked the pair. They both shook their heads. "Well, thank goodness for that, that's one thing we can be grateful for."
Elvrina lay in the snow, still quivering with fear. Her eyes filled with tears and her lip shook from shock of being launched into a life or death situation. Holly sat next to her and lay her hand on Elvrina's shoulder. A smile passed between them, then Holly moved back to the battlefield to retrieve the used weapons that had fallen to the ground.


Part 4/4

Forgotten Shadows Chapter 2

The night was restless, and the shadows seemed to dance in the wind like a kite in the sky around the small fire. Around the camp birds and animals scuffled among the trees. Holly lay awake, her mind as restless as the night. Her thoughts were turned to the portal. What is Earthworld like? She wondered, it would be about 1768. It hasn't been that long since I left. Only a year. I wonder where everyone thinks I've gone. I hope they don't think I've been murdered... I wonder how Briar's going? She'd be about the same age as that girl who helped Eldon. I hope she's happy with Grandfather. She rolled over and stared into the fire and sighed. Why did I have to come here?
Opposite Holly lay Elvrina, her eyelids closed over her icy blue eyes. Her petite body was curled up underneath a spare brown cloak of Eldons. Holly would have let her borrow one of hers, but it ended up trailing behind her on the ground. So much has happened, thought Holly, would people back home even recognise me? Firstly, having a weapons. Mama would never approve of that. I'm not sure what Grandfather would say. He'd probably say to be myself, but behind the smiling eyes there would be some form of disappointment. Reed, he'd smile at me and pat me on the head, he would always underestimate me, he thought I was just a pretty face. But I am so much more than a pretty face now. I am no longer sweet, kind, elegant Holly Watson. I am a warrior. I am a friend. I am Holly Watson, and that is why I have to go back. I'll go back, find Briar, get her out of that stupid convent, and we'd make a life together. She is the reason I have to go back. She's the only one who doesn't care who I am, or what I can do.
Holly rolled over, and stared at the sky. Her eyes clouded and she didn't notice when Elvrina got up and sat next to her.
"Can't sleep?" She asked, her voice hollow.
"How did you guess?" Replied Holly, a touch of sarcasm intruding into her voice. Elvrina's lips upturned slightly and she gazed off into the distance.
"Listen, I don't know much about you, and you don't know much about me, so, to build some trust, why don't we tell the other a bit about ourselves. I'll tell you something, then, in return you tell me something. It doesn't have to be anything deep, just interesting quirks."
"Sure, sounds like a plan."
"So, I am allergic to nuts."
"Oh, that's unfortunate, I love nuts, mainly almonds. Um, I'm interested in mythology." Elvrina's eyes lit up, and she sat forwards a little more.
"Really?! Can you tell me something about mythology?"
"Um, well there's a myth in Isen, mainly Isgar though. Rani was brought up on a small island, but she was forced to flee to Isgar. Just before she left, her grandfather gave her a necklace, with the symbol of a winter cherry tree. She was told it would always lead her home. She was thrust into a new world, all alone, until she met a small squirrel, filled with remorse. Homesick, Rani wanted to find a way home Forgetting about the necklace, they traveled together, trying to find the way to get the young islander home. A new member of the group arrived, a beautiful wren that was more than it seemed, and before they knew it they were forced into a chase to the home of a magician, who always had the answers, while a war was happening. After many trials, they found the warlock, who told them the way home. After finding the way home, they joined in the war, fighting for freedom of Frish. But, it was soon over, and she went home, separated from both of her friends, finding her family dead from the soldiers that she had just fought with. Filled with regret, she wished to be back with her friends she had so cherished. But, she never did."
"Wow, that was ... Intense."
"Not the happiest of stories, is it?"
"No, it wasn't. Well, it was interesting. I never heard any stories like that in London."
"My older brother, Romeo, he loved to tell stories, mainly boring ones about political hero's though."
"You had siblings?"
"Yeah, 2 of them."
"I wish I had siblings," Elvrina said wistfully
"I wish I didn't."
"Why?" Asked Elvrina, curiosity entering her voice.
"It's a long story, not a happy one either," said Holly, a coldness entering her voice, and her eyes looking at the ground.
"Oh, what happened?"
"Nothing of any particular interest to you."
"Oh, okay."

3/4

Minimalist Profiles

Minimalist profiles is something I use when I am first coming up with a character. It is often useful to me when I have an idea for a character, but can't put down any solid ideas.

For these profiles I draw a picture of what they look like, without filling in any main details. I put in a simple idea of what they wear, their hair and general build. Then, down the side, I write words that describe them. These could be personality traits, jobs, a weapon they use or flaws, generally a combination of the above. 

This especially helped me with the character of Karena, as I had changed her a lot; her mind set, personality and even name. Pretty much everything. This helped me to stop thinking of her as the last character and start thinking of her as her own character.

A profile for Karena

A profile of Skylar

Chapter 2 Part 2

After Eldon had been bandaged up, the two began to inform Elvrina, with Eldon still lying down, his head resting on a tree branch.
"We're trying to find a portal pretty much," summed up Eldon.
Rolling her eyes, Holly spoke, "like you I came from Earthland."
"Earthworld," said Elvrina, "I don't quite understand."
"Where did you come from? England? That's where you seem to have an accent from?"
"Yes, I'm from York."
"I grew up in England as well, in London to be exact. I was taken by a portal from my home after..."she left off trailing, before brightening up again, "I was taken from a portal to here, Isen."
"So, what has all this stuff you're blurting out about England got to do with the Earthworld you were talking about?"
"England is in Earthland, its just a small part of that world, that is named Earthworld. But Isen is made up of four kingdoms: Isgar, Frish, Misuke and Galta. Each of these different countries was born from a different element. Isgar is the land of water and snow, Frish is the country of fire, but they're in a civil war right now, so you don't want to go there. So you have been transported to another world. A world with...magic. Do you need some time to take all that in?"
Elvrina nodded hastily, thoughts rushing through her head. Her bony cheeks flushed from the sudden news before she began to pale.
"So," Elvrina began slowly, "Frish is the country of fire, but its in a civil war and-"
"It has nice soup though." Eldon cut in, "Frish I mean."
"Yes, it does have very nice soup, but it's still not worth going because of the civil war." Cut in Holly with a superior tone.
"It's debatable." Eldon cut in, again.
"Don't listen to him," Holly informed Elvrina, "all he thinks about is food. So, moving on, Misuke is the country of air and wind. They're a pit posh there, well in the cities they are, but once you get to know them they're nice enough."
"Again, it's debatable." Eldon cut in, then ducked to avoid a slap over the back of the head from the red headed teenager.
"So," cut in Elvrina, wanting to stop a potential fight between the two almost siblings, "that would make Galan or whatever it is the land of the earth."
"Galta, and yes, it is the land of earth. That's where most of the portals have been appearing. We came to Isgar to see if the portal would be better- you know, stay open for longer, but no, it was open for a shorter period of time, so we will be heading back to Galta soon to see if we can catch anymore." Responded Holly before Eldon could cut in, but he didn't this time, just remained still, his lips pursed.
"Well, thats all nice and good, but what I don't get is how a country can be born out of an element."
"Well according to the history books, well, legend, the people of Frish first appeared after a huge wildfire burnt across their land. Apparently they came after the fire, and rose from the red hot rocks. That one is the only one that is legend. The others are pretty believable, and are commonly regarded as truth. The people of Misuke were originally half elves and half orcs -tall, humanoids with claws, then there was a tiny percent of the population that was human, all of these creatures interbred, and now, there are no full blood anythings. Most people are part Orc and part elf. Then Isgarians were sea nymphs- naiads. They swum-or, well washed- to the land after a tsunami. Then Galta was-"
"Galtans were born from the trees, well dryads and wood elves ." Eldon put in, finally pulling himself together from his short walk down memory land, "the tree people had children with merchants, so here we are now."
"Okay... I think I've got all that." Muttered Elvrina, an eyebrow lowered in concentration.
Holly rifled through her bag and pulled out a map, to instil the information into Elvrina's mind. The map showed the whole of Isen. It was relatively new, and had been printed onto a sheet of white parchment. As depicted on the map, Isen was made up of one big island, there was of course small islands of the mainland, but no other major land masses. In the west lay Frish, the country of fire, currently in a civil war. To the North was the sprawling land mass of Galta, the land of the earth. In the SouthEast corner was Misuke, the kingdom of the wind, Misuke was most well known for its city's- as the biggest city's floated above the ground. Then, in the east lay Isgar, kingdom of ice and water. This was by far the smallest country, as it was nearly half the size of Frish.
"Now, if we've finally finished our geography lesson," stated Eldon, emphasising the word finally, "shall we depart?"
"What have you got against geography?" Holly asked
"My teacher in my 5th year. You don't even want to know." In response both Holly and Elvrina raised their eyebrows at him, a smug smile cloned across both of their faces.

Part 2 of 4

Chapter 2 Part 1

The centre of the portal was a whirl of light dancing to a constant ticking that was emitting from the very middle. The light moved to form a circle, made all the brighter by reflecting off the thin layer of snow. All of a sudden a gush of wind ran from the portal. A flash of orange shades whirled on top of the wind, riding it like a ghostly rider whose horse had been spooked.
Holly shook her head and moved against the wind in jerking movements, but she made as much progress as a rowboat moving up a river- none. Her hand gripped to a trunk of a large oak, her knuckles turning white. She pulled herself up and braced her back against the bark that was wet with snow. She looked back at Eldon. He waved her on.
"Go!" He shouted, his voice only just travelling to her ears, "It's you who wants to get there not me!" His voice was cut off when the orange ribbon that had been riding the wind landed on top of him, knocking him down to the ground before rolling a few metres away down a slight hill. It was then that the pair realised that the orange cloud was in fact a girl of about 13. Eldon looked at Holly, his eyes panicked, his hand raised and continue to wave Holly on.
"Someone's come out," He shouted, "You go! I'll take care of her!" Holly looked between the portal and Eldon, between her home and her best friend. She longed to go home, to see her family again, her grandfather, her sister. But she couldn't leave the girl stranded in this world. She shook her head and moved backwards away from the portal towards the girl. Eldon looked at her, eyebrows furrowed and nodded.
"I have to take her back, Eldon! She'll want to go back as well!" He nodded and moved back with her.
Holly grabbed the girls arm and began to pull her with her, however she made even less progress than she had before. Eldon grabbed the girls other arm and also began to haul her up the slight slope. The girl's auburn hair flew behind her, tangling with the branches behind them that were getting slightly further away.
It was Eldon that stumbled first, his foot rolled on an outcrop of rocks. He tumbled to the ground. As his momentum pushed him down the hill his leg caught on me of the rocks and a few drops of blood spilled onto the pure, white, snow.
"Eldon," Called out Holly, but Eldon continued to roll down the hill and was only stopped when his body hit a tree with a loud crack.
Holly dropped the girl ceremoniously, and ran down to Eldon, the wind pushing her down towards where he lay. She turned him over and her head began to spin at the sight of blood on Eldon. There wasn't a whole lot of blood, but enough to make her queasy. Swallowing her fear, she looked at his leg.
The cut wasn't huge, but it was coated in a thin layer of blood that the leg of his trousers had stopped from spilling onto the snow. The wound would heal fine with correct care, but it would probably leave a scar behind.
A series of popping reached Holly's ears. She turned round to witness the ball of light closing, sucking in on itself like a black hole, until it eventually turned black and disappeared with a final pop, leaving behind the smell of burnt toast and a pile of wreckage. Holly's shoulders sagged as she turned back to Eldon.
"I'm sorry Holly." He wheezed.
"It's ok," She replied softly, but her tone implied the opposite. Eldon tried to sit up, but only caused his leg to spurt more blood.
"Maybe I shouldn't sit up." Eldon said, his voice light with wooziness.
"What are we going to do about it then? I'm no healer. The best I can do is to treat a cold with a cup of coffee."
A small voice began to speak," If you tell me everything, I can try to heal him."
"We don't need your help," snapped Holly, "we're fine on our own."
Eldon rolled his eyes before answering to the voice's question in a shaky voice, "sure, can we tell you everything after though, I'm not really in the mood right now," he said, finishing with a laugh wobbling like an inexperienced tightrope walker.
"Okay," the voice, who was actually a girl with thick brown hair framing a bony face, "do you have any herbs?"

Hey guys. This is the first part of the second chapter. The other parts will be up in a few days :) please give me advice on what you liked and what you didn't. 
- Caylpso