Kassan Warrad 
Alright! The Muses sing, drawing you to the desk, pump your veins with hot blood and fill your mind with combustible imagination. You’re on fire and ready to write. The idea once tumbling in your mind is bucking with life and wants to breath words on your screen. It’s awesome. You’re awesome. All is good. … Read more
The last season of Game of Thrones has given me much to consider. Don’t turn away. This isn’t a spoiler, or a defense or an attack on the series, but an analysis of a key component of stories and why it can tear your darling to the ground. If story is a body then narrative … Read more
Dark Lord Darkington Darkingly frowned while stroking his chin. A thought came to him that was so devious, so devastating, that he had to share it with someone. A useless henchman stood patiently before his table. He would have to do. “I am going to destroy the world!” Dark Lord Darkington Darkingly shrieked. The henchman … Read more
I’m a fan of grit. Stories that occupy the space between dark and light call to me. It is here that we find failure, redemption, struggle and pain. It is here that the bright spots float in a vacuum, and are that much brighter for it. The Punisher is my kind of character. Since his … Read more
Name: Armor of Plot Invulnerability Bonus: +20 Armor Class, Avoid Death* Description: The physical appearance of this armor may be as trivial as a charm, as conspicuous as a sensationalized suit forged in the mind of an adolescent, or completely nonexistent. This powerful, yet cursed, armor cannot be found, bought or made. Rather, it is … Read more
So, you’ve completed your manuscript. Everything is clean. Pacing is solid. Tension is present. The plot is bulletproof. And, unlike my opening, you’re writing is mostly active. You’re ready for the big time. Ready to submit your work to agents or publishers, or both. Let’s do this! Hold up, young grasshopper. Rein in your enthusiasm … Read more
In a recent trip to Palestine, I encountered a ruin. Playing amongst the ruins were two children. They were indifferent to the blocks of shaped stone worn down by time and wind. Indeed, by the growth of weeds and the trash strewn about, most were indifferent to it. But a story lay within. I ventured … Read more
When The Last Witch Hunter first hit the theaters, the reviews were a mixed bag of complaints and acceptance. Many often stated that the movie entertained, but lacked the depth of a blockbuster offering. I have to admit, such reviews prevented me from watching the movie on the big screen. A recent international trip offered … Read more
Browse any writing forum and you’ll notice a pervasive question manifested in a myriad of forms. How do I keep the reader engaged? What is the correct ratio of adverbs to words? What plot structure works best? When should I use passive writing? What should be the make up of my cast? The kernel of … Read more
“And there among the lofty peaks of the Sanandrin Mountains were the tombs of the Founding Kings carved into the living rock. The angels guard their entrances as they guarded their lives, and shield their bodies from the churning rot of time. When the winter passes into spring, the fresh melt carries the blessing of … Read more