Hello readers! I have been thinking about the journeys taken by characters in fantasy media, and how they often follow a similar environmental route. Stories tend to start in “green” locations, such as meadows or forests, before sending the hero to foreign lands which have a more “yellow” hue, such as deserts or wastelands. This … Continue reading The “Green-to-Yellow” Fantasy Journey
Category: Miscellaneous Waffle
General life updates, descriptions of cool rocks, barely philosophical musings and the occasional smattering of music theory from someone with no authority on the matter.
The Odyssey (2026)… and the dangers of re-imagining classic stories
Hello readers! I was going to write a review for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, but then I went on holiday – and now that I’m back, everyone seems to have seen it already and formed opinions of their own. The internet is swamped with reviews, and I doubt that I can offer any new insights. … Continue reading The Odyssey (2026)… and the dangers of re-imagining classic stories
Disclosure Day (2026): Did Spielberg steal my story?
Hello readers! Apologies for the incendiary title of this post. The simple answer is no, obviously not. The likelihood of Steven Spielberg having read my book is effectively zero, even if I have sold more copies of than I ever expected. So, rather than using this post to launch some grand conspiracy with potential legal … Continue reading Disclosure Day (2026): Did Spielberg steal my story?
Highmoor series update
Hello readers! I recently finished the first draft of the fourth and final instalment in my Highmoor series. If you have been waiting to read the end of this saga, I can now inform you, very tentatively, that the e-book should be available on Amazon by the end of this year. Enjoy a photo of … Continue reading Highmoor series update
The ever-shifting “cringe window”
Hello readers! Today’s post will be a little more introspective than usual. I’d like to discuss the way that creators perceive their own work (be they writers, artists, musicians, game developers, you name it). Specifically, I was wondering whether anyone else can relate to a concept that I have dubbed the “cringe window” – a … Continue reading The ever-shifting “cringe window”
Blog plans for 2026
Hello readers! Happy new year! I’d like to post a quick update regarding upcoming projects on this blog. I’m not planning any major overhauls of its structure: all posts will remain related to science fiction and fantasy (sometimes tangentially). But last year, some of my favourite post formats were underused, with only two six-minute summaries … Continue reading Blog plans for 2026
The Highmoor paperback is nearly here…
Hello readers! I’m going to hold back from going on another Microsoft Word rant this week, but let it be known: I have been pushing that program to its limits, and it has been pushing back. Turns out that Word has all the flexibility of a wrought iron fence, charged with 10,000 volts. Can you … Continue reading The Highmoor paperback is nearly here…
How is Microsoft’s grammar checker still so ineffective?
Hello readers! This week’s post is a bit of a rant, I’m afraid. I’m working on a new edition of Highmoor that will be published in paperback form at some point in the next few weeks. My original plan was to release the third edition on the third anniversary of Highmoor’s publication, which was in … Continue reading How is Microsoft’s grammar checker still so ineffective?
Why do witches fly on brooms?
Hello readers! Have you ever wondered where our modern concept of a “witch” comes from? I’m sure we all have a similar image in our heads: one of a woman with a pointy hat and a broomstick. The woman is probably wearing a black skirt, and she might also have accessories such as a cauldron … Continue reading Why do witches fly on brooms?
Attempting to understand “romantasy”
Hello readers! Have any of you visited a bookshop lately? A few weeks ago I was browsing Amazon, and I ended up scrolling through an endless stream of “romantasy” novels. I wasn’t seeking these titles intentionally (far from it), but as soon as I entered the fantasy section, Amazon assumed that romantasy was what I … Continue reading Attempting to understand “romantasy”
C. W. Clayton 