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Calliope’s Prisoner

Official Site of Author Marcel M Du Plessis

  • Marcel’s Books
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Tag: #amwriting

Writing Journal Posted on3rd March 202023rd March 2020

Silent Symphony – Done

I did a little something. After many years and many edits and rewrites, I finished the final draft of my novel. Now it’s time to […] 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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

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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