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Calliope’s Prisoner

Official Site of Author Marcel M Du Plessis

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Category: Writing

driving
100 Word Stories Posted on30th June 202011th February 2021

Nearly Forgot

Only when they were miles down the road did they realise their mistake. Rodger the bagman looked over to Greg the driver. Their wide eyes […] Read More

Short Stories, Writing Journal Posted on6th April 20208th February 2021

Short Story: Dead On

This is a short story I wrote way back in 2010. It’s probably not very good, but that didn’t really matter to me at the […] Read More

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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

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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