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Calliope’s Prisoner

Official Site of Author Marcel M Du Plessis

  • Marcel’s Books
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Stories in Games
Game Reviews, Inspiration, Writing, Writing Analysis Posted on12th September 20198th January 2020

Writing Lessons from Games (Top 8)

This post is not about writing games, rather games that have good stories or structures that writers might enjoy. Please note that there is a […] Read More

Reaching New Worlds
Dungeons & Dragons, RPG, Writing Posted on5th September 20195th September 2019

Creating Worlds

Worldbuilding and Playing Games Whether you are writing a fantasy epic or creating your own RPG campaign setting, Worldbuilding is an important aspect. The adventures […] Read More

Ambush by Giovanni Battista Quadrone
Writing Journal Posted on24th June 201924th June 2019

On Submitting and the Infinite Wait…

This waiting time should not be waiting time at all. Instead, you should keep working. Whether you are improving/editing the submitted manuscript or starting a new one, the important thing is that you keep working.

Dragon Heist Review
Book Reviews, Dungeons & Dragons Posted on20th March 201917th March 2020

Waterdeep Dragon Heist – Review

Behold! An Urban Adventure I was lucky enough to receive Waterdeep: Dragon Heist for Christmas. Having read it cover to cover and run the first […] Read More

What Writers can Learn from Umbrella Academy
How to Write, Series Reviews Posted on8th March 20198th March 2019

What Writers Can Learn from the Umbrella Academy

Each of the characters in Umbrella Academy is lonely in some way. Each of them fights an internal conflict. The reasons for their isolation and the reasons for their internal conflict are linked to the various mysteries in the series.

Valentine's Day
Inspiration Posted on14th February 201914th February 2019

Letters for your Valentine

Words are the best gift for Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day – the most romantic day of the year. Valentine’s Day – a day of heartbreak. […] Read More

The Eye of the World
Book Reviews Posted on27th December 201817th March 2020

The Eye of the World – Review

A lot of work went into this novel. While the broad strokes of it feel like The Lord of the Rings, the worldbuilding is unique. One becomes aware of a living, breathing world with a rich history and a complex magic system. There are many secrets to pull apart and hidden agendas to guess at.

NaNoWriMo 2018
How to Write, NaNoWriMo Posted on16th November 20182nd November 2020

Making the Most of NaNoWriMo

Learning from the Challenge NaNoWriMo is at its halfway mark! This 50,000-word novel writing challenge can be a tricky thing to beat. I’m not here […] Read More

Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons Posted on10th October 201810th October 2018

Discovering D&D

Diving into the world of Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon and Dragons have been around for a long time. I’ve always been aware of it (pop […] Read More

The Lie Tree Review
Book Reviews Posted on16th September 201817th March 2020

Book Review: The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

Let your lies bear truthful fruit Here is my review of the Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge. Title: The Lie Tree Author: Frances Hardinge Genre: […] Read More

Books
Writing Journal Posted on6th September 201811th September 2018

Bookish Terms & Bookishness

This post is about books I love books. Real books. Those you can touch and smell and page through. From brand-new glossy ones to old […] Read More

Novel
Writing Journal Posted on6th September 2018

Novel Progress Update 2

Writing the Silent Symphony I am three chapters up since my last novel update. Three out of the four movements (yes, movements, not acts, this […] Read More

Rewriting and asking for help
How to Write, Writing Journal Posted on20th August 2018

Symphony and the Benefits of Rewriting

Many, many, many drafts The Silent Symphony is progressing well. I’ve just finished rewriting Chapter 24 of 33, and I believe that I am on […] Read More

Unusual Latin terms in English Writing
How to Write Posted on8th August 201817th March 2020

How to use Latin (Part 3)

Latin words and phrases in English writing – the final round This time we look at some slightly unusual Latin terms. They might not be […] Read More

Using Latin
How to Write Posted on6th August 20186th August 2018

How to use Latin (Part 2)

More Latin words and phrases in English Writing Welcome to Part 2, where we discuss more Latin words and phrases you might encounter (or need […] Read More

How to use Latin
How to Write Posted on31st July 20186th September 2018

How to use Latin (Part 1)

Latin words and phrases in English writing. There are many Latin words and phrases floating around in everyday prose and academic writing. Understanding what they […] Read More

Patreon Launch
General, Patreon Posted on27th July 201827th July 2018

Patreon – Become a Patron of Calliope

And so the Patreon Campaign begins… I have finally launched my Patreon page for Calliope’s Prisoner! I love creating and I love teaching people how to […] Read More

Cruel and Unusual Punctuation, How to Write Posted on23rd July 201823rd July 2018

How to use a Semicolon

More than a wink The semicolon is a stifling little piece of punctuation. In fact, it makes some of us uncomfortable. If you’ve only used the […] Read More

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Marcel M. du Plessis's books on Goodreads
The Curse of Balar The Curse of Balar (Balar, #1)
reviews: 14
ratings: 29 (avg rating 4.07)

The Bright Report The Bright Report (Bright Report, #1)
reviews: 6
ratings: 13 (avg rating 4.69)

The Silent Symphony The Silent Symphony
reviews: 3
ratings: 15 (avg rating 3.73)

The Bright Report Volume 3 The Bright Report Volume 3 (Bright Report, #3)
reviews: 4
ratings: 7 (avg rating 4.00)

Awkward Phrasing Awkward Phrasing (Bright Report, #0)
reviews: 3
ratings: 4 (avg rating 5.00)

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Last Argument of Kings - Review
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Stray Thoughts

#amediting #amreviewing #amwriting #dungeonsanddragons #SilentSymphony advice Amazon announcement author balar blog book launch book review books characters Dungeons and Dragons ebook fantasy fiction grammar horror How to Write instructions journal my work NaNoWriMo novel plot process reading review rewriting RPG share short stories short story stories story The Bright Report The Silent Symphony word count words world building writer writing

Marcel M du Plessis – Author Page

Marcel M du Plessis – Author Page

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Calliope’s Inspiration

Ambush by Giovanni Battista Quadrone
By Giovanni Battista Quadrone – Il Giro del Mondo, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45676144
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frans_Snyders_(Attr.)_-_Concert_of_Birds.jpg
Concert of Birds, by Frans Snyders (Attr.) (1629-1657) [Public Domain]
171934c30b47f79aeb554bee644b8afd
Red Seas Under Red Skies Review
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adam_Silo_(attr)_-_A_seascape_with_Tall_ships.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Man_Writing_a_Letter_by_Gabri%C3%ABl_Metsu.jpg
Man Writing a Letter by Gabriël Metsu [Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain]
Books
The Librarian (c. 1570) by Giuseppe Arcimboldo
Gods and Mythology
Aeneas and the Cumaean Sibyl (1646), by François Perrier
grzegorz-rutkowski-geralt-yennefer-size-1920x1200-en
By Johannes Vermeer - Unknown, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160013
By Johannes Vermeer – Unknown, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160013
Patreon Launch
The Muses, Urania and Calliope, by Simon Vouet [Public Domain]
Stuck at Home
After the Dance (1876), by John William Waterhouse
Wanderer above the sea of fog, by Caspar David Friedrich
Wanderer above the sea of fog, by Caspar David Friedrich [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
The Sorceress (1913), by John William Waterhouse Jr
The Sorceress (1913), by John William Waterhouse Jr
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436105
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436105
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALa_farandole_de_P%C3%A9trarque.jpg
By Marie Alexandre Valentin Sellier (19/20th century) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Using Latin
Saint Cecilia (1895), by John William Waterhouse
How to use Latin
A Priestess of Bacchus, by John William Godward (1890)
heraldry
With Copper Plate Lowered (c. 1651), attributed to Bartholomeus van Bassen
fc4d05df38af89e5d383ce9540749e6f
Valentine's Day
Pygmalion by Jean-Léon Gérôme [Public domain]
The Zaparozhye Cossacks Writing a Mocking Letter to the Turkish Sultan *oil on canvas *358 × 203 cm *signed b.c.: И.Репин 1880-91
The Zaparozhye Cossacks Writing a Mocking Letter to the Turkish Sultan *oil on canvas *358 × 203 cm *signed b.c.: И.Репин 1880-91
after Hans Holbein the Younger, oil on panel, late 16th century (1533-1534)
after Hans Holbein the Younger, oil on panel, late 16th century (1533-1534)
Time to Learn
Forbidden Books, By Alexander Mark Rossi (1897).
0aa9aa106de1c0ac4a24500a85632160
Deus Ex Machina
Oedipus at Colonus (1788), by Jean-Antione-Theodore Giroust
f481e0e85151b99091e335f311be3ad2
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nymphs_finding_the_Head_of_Orpheus.jpg
Nymphs finding the head of Orpheus, John William Waterhouse (1900) [Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain]
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAdolf_Eberle_Der_gelunge_Brief.jpg
Brief, by Adolf Eberle [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_Holbein_the_Younger_-_The_Ambassadors_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
The Ambassadors, by Hans Holbein the Younger (1533)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VanGogh-starry_night_ballance1.jpg
Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh [4512243112421514243341335331453324512253321125231545311314453234124245422]
The Lady of Shalott, by John William Waterhouse (1888)
The Lady of Shalott, by John William Waterhouse (1888)
Books
Still life with a lighted candle (1627) by Pieter Claesz
Unusual Latin terms in English Writing
The Tease (1901) by John William Godward
Now is the time to read
Antique Beauty by Stepan Bakalovich
Reaching New Worlds
Miranda – The Tempest, by John William Waterhouse
Starting something new
By J. M. W. Turner – The Athenaeum (http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/detail.php?ID=20906), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1511781
The Lies of Locke Lamora Cover
Rewriting and asking for help
Consulting the Oracle (1884) by John William Waterhouse
d0f4928e056fd108a5d20d65491ef1ed
Learning at Home
Drawing lesson *oil on panel *69 x 60,3 cm *signed b.l.: A. Van Strij
Novel
Orpheus and Eurydice (1862) by Edward Poynter
Romeo and Juliet by Frank Dicksee (1884)
Romeo and Juliet by Frank Dicksee (1884) from WikiMedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DickseeRomeoandJuliet.jpg

Recent Posts

  • My Year of Writing Recklessly – Month 3
  • The Evil of Balar – Book Launch
  • The Road Ahead – 2025 Update
  • Map of Balar
  • The Evil of Balar – Preview

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