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Calliope’s Prisoner

Official Site of Author Marcel M Du Plessis

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Time to Learn
Cruel and Unusual Punctuation, How to Write Posted on16th July 201823rd July 2018

How to Use a Comma

Let’s eat, grandma! Commas can be tricky things. In this post, I will give you a crash course in using a comma in your writing. […] Read More

Writing Journal Posted on15th July 201815th July 2018

Novel Progress Update (July 2018)

Finishing my novel, The Silent Symphony Dear Readers, The past few months I have been hard at work on my novel, The Silent Symphony. I am rewriting […] Read More

Wanderer above the sea of fog, by Caspar David Friedrich
How to Write Posted on5th June 201819th September 2018

How to Write a Successful Backstory

How to Write a Successful Backstory Few stories start with a backstory, unless it is a dull info-dump. Page one, chapter one, you find characters […] Read More

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frans_Snyders_(Attr.)_-_Concert_of_Birds.jpg
Poetry Analysis, Poetry Analysis Examples, Understanding Poetry Posted on17th April 201817th March 2020

Poetry – Emily Dickinson: “Hope”

The Magic of Poetry The idea of analysing and understanding poetry might seem daunting or even coldly scientific. The moment someone says the word “poetry” […] Read More

Photo by Gabriel Matula on Unsplash
How to Write Posted on13th April 2018

A Sure-Fire Way of Creating Tension

Creating Tension in Your Fiction There’s a lot of advice out there about creating tension in your writing. As far as I can tell, quite […] Read More

Movie Reviews Posted on3rd April 201819th September 2018

Review: The Dressmaker

Review: The Dressmaker  Sewing together a murder Cast: Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Hugo Weaving, and Liam Hemsworth Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse Producer: Sue Maslin Screenplay: Jocelyn […] Read More

Writing Journal Posted on10th March 2018

What I am Working on

The Work I am currently working on a novel. It has been under construction for the last three (and a bit) years. It has been […] Read More

By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56471822
How to Write, Series Reviews, Writing Analysis Posted on28th February 20187th March 2018

Altered Carbon, or How Not to Start Your Story

How Not to Start Your Story Lessons from the Pilot Episode of Altered Carbon I went into Netflix‘s cyberpunk extravaganza, Altered Carbon, as blind as […] Read More

https://allevents.in/aberdeen/the-book-of-dust-la-belle-sauvage-publication/2006918069544416
Book Reviews Posted on3rd February 201811th December 2019

Book Review: La Belle Sauvage by Phillip Pullman

Review of La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust #1) by Philip Pullman Twenty years after the publication of Northern Lights, Philip Pullman returns to his parallel […] Read More

Short Stories Posted on29th January 201811th February 2021

Short Story: Heart Storm

Heart Storm by Marcel M du Plessis Rain filled the café. Droplets fell from the spaces between the ceiling tiles and splattered on the floor. […] Read More

How to Write, Writing Journal Posted on18th January 201829th January 2018

Creating Characters for Fiction

How to develop characters for your novel Getting to know the voices in your head As a budding writer you might feel pressured into plotting […] Read More

Entries & Topics, Flash Fiction Posted on12th January 201829th January 2018

Flash Fiction Friday Prompt #1

The First Flash Fiction Friday Prompt! This is the first prompt with Calliope’s Prisoner’s weekly flash fiction Friday. Each Friday I will post a topic, […] Read More

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Flash Fiction, Writing Journal Posted on12th January 201829th January 2018

What is Flash Fiction?

Well, what is it? Flash fiction is extremely short pieces of writing. Some form of development (character or plot) needs to take place for the […] Read More

How to Write Posted on9th January 201829th January 2018

Rewriting a Manuscript

Rewriting, or saving your manuscript from obscurity. Writing is rewriting. It is an old adage – almost overused. Unfortunately, this is an inescapable part of […] Read More

Short Stories Posted on31st December 201724th February 2021

Short Story: Jargon

Jargon by Marcel M du Plessis Otto Linton met his killer at the Blue Sky Leadership Training Workshop in Johannesburg. It was held on a […] Read More

Writing Journal Posted on1st December 2017

My December Writing Challenge

Dear Readers, Believe it or not, we’ve entered the final month of 2017. While many of you are looking forward to rest and holiday madness, I […] Read More

NaNoWriMo, Writing Journal Posted on28th November 201728th November 2017

NaNoWriMo 2017

Dear Readers, November is drawing to a close and – for many of us – it was another year of chasing the NaNoWriMo word count. For […] Read More

General, Writing Journal Posted on27th November 2017

First Blog Post!

Dear Readers, Welcome to my new website! Here you will find some of my work, my blog, some reviews, and other information about me and […] 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
Poetry - Emily Dickinson: "Hope"
Before They Are Hanged - Review

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Stray Thoughts

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Marcel M du Plessis – Author Page

Marcel M du Plessis – Author Page

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Calliope’s Inspiration

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_Holbein_the_Younger_-_The_Ambassadors_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
The Ambassadors, by Hans Holbein the Younger (1533)
The Lies of Locke Lamora Cover
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]
171934c30b47f79aeb554bee644b8afd
How to use Latin
A Priestess of Bacchus, by John William Godward (1890)
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)
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
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]
Novel
Orpheus and Eurydice (1862) by Edward Poynter
The Lady of Shalott, by John William Waterhouse (1888)
The Lady of Shalott, by John William Waterhouse (1888)
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f481e0e85151b99091e335f311be3ad2
Books
Still life with a lighted candle (1627) by Pieter Claesz
d0f4928e056fd108a5d20d65491ef1ed
Using Latin
Saint Cecilia (1895), by John William Waterhouse
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAdolf_Eberle_Der_gelunge_Brief.jpg
Brief, by Adolf Eberle [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Stuck at Home
After the Dance (1876), by John William Waterhouse
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
Reaching New Worlds
Miranda – The Tempest, by John William Waterhouse
Learning at Home
Drawing lesson *oil on panel *69 x 60,3 cm *signed b.l.: A. Van Strij
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frans_Snyders_(Attr.)_-_Concert_of_Birds.jpg
Concert of Birds, by Frans Snyders (Attr.) (1629-1657) [Public Domain]
Gods and Mythology
Aeneas and the Cumaean Sibyl (1646), by François Perrier
fc4d05df38af89e5d383ce9540749e6f
grzegorz-rutkowski-geralt-yennefer-size-1920x1200-en
Unusual Latin terms in English Writing
The Tease (1901) by John William Godward
Valentine's Day
Pygmalion by Jean-Léon Gérôme [Public domain]
Red Seas Under Red Skies Review
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adam_Silo_(attr)_-_A_seascape_with_Tall_ships.jpg
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
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
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.
Rewriting and asking for help
Consulting the Oracle (1884) by John William Waterhouse
Deus Ex Machina
Oedipus at Colonus (1788), by Jean-Antione-Theodore Giroust
heraldry
With Copper Plate Lowered (c. 1651), attributed to Bartholomeus van Bassen
Patreon Launch
The Muses, Urania and Calliope, by Simon Vouet [Public Domain]
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436105
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436105
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VanGogh-starry_night_ballance1.jpg
Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh [4512243112421514243341335331453324512253321125231545311314453234124245422]
Ambush by Giovanni Battista Quadrone
By Giovanni Battista Quadrone – Il Giro del Mondo, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45676144
Time to Learn
Forbidden Books, By Alexander Mark Rossi (1897).
The Sorceress (1913), by John William Waterhouse Jr
The Sorceress (1913), by John William Waterhouse Jr
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
Now is the time to read
Antique Beauty by Stepan Bakalovich
Books
The Librarian (c. 1570) by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

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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