Creativity in Sharp Focus
High-Concept. Speculative. Grounded.
I specialise in 'high-concept' speculative - but grounded - dystopian literature. I write stories that ask an unsettling 'what-if' and follow the consequences into the deepest corners of the human psyche.
The core of my work involves the use of creativity - and the creative process itself - to examine the mechanics of our reality. This is then heightened by an uncompromising and rigorous plot that drives these concepts to their limits.
The Case for Colour
My novel, Spectrum, serves as the blueprint for my narrative philosophy. It utilises the speculative device of the 'colour mushroom' to explore the ancient friction between enforced conformity and individual creativity.
By applying the 'chase' and 'conspiracy' mechanics of a thriller to a world governed by Attitudinal Science, I aim to create a reading experience that is as intellectually stimulating as it is visceral.
Multiple Perspectives on the Contemporary
Speculative fiction is most powerful when it acts as a lens for the present:
- PRISM: Refracting contemporary concerns - from bureaucratic control to institutional inertia - into a sharp, speculative focus
- ARCHITECTURE: Designing rigid social systems and their determining scientific rational to explore the inherent friction between order and the individual
- LITMUS TEST: Placing human motivation & emotion at the centre of these systems to witness the moment they reach their limits - and see how they come through
I do not just build worlds; I build systems. Then, I challenge the human spirit to find its own place within them.
Plot, Character, and the Woven Idea
The essential tapestry of my work is a three-fold commitment:
- BLUEPRINT: A highly creative, 'what-if' idea that challenges the status quo
- JOURNEY: A meticulously structured plot that respects the reader's intellect
- SOUL: Compelling characters whose desires drive the narrative forward
In my world, there is a time for the Mixology of theory and a time for the Cultivation of action. My creative process ensures that every layer of the story serves a purpose, leading the reader from the 'grey' of logic to the 'vibrance' of a lived experience.
In this section you will also find links to the full text and transcripts of the novella The Tailor - which is used to illustrate a range of creative writing techniques.
Spectrum
What is Spectrum?
One valley. Seven Fraternities. A thousand forbidden hues. In the shadow of the Last Mountains, a disgraced Examiner and an unlikely group of rebels must navigate a monochromatic conspiracy to retrieve the truth. Spectrum is a story of hidden records, dangerous dyes, and the courage required to see the world in full light.
The Transporter halted his cart where the track began its steep descent into Wetledale. The mist still sat in wisps over fields that edged the river as it flowed along the valley floor. Even though the mist had nearly lifted, everything the Transporter could see beneath him remained grey, white, brown, or occasionally, the raw sienna of rusted iron.
Spectrum is a high-concept speculative thriller exploring the clash between industrial stability and visceral emotion.
Explore SPECTRUM
Creative Writing Techniques
These three sets of creative techniques are an essential toolbox for the writer. Here are three techniques that help you create great ideas (Mixology), three techniques that help you develop those ideas into a first written draft (Cultivation), and lastly three techniques that are cornerstones of writing compelling fiction.
Additional Writing Techniques
From the spark of an idea to the final polish - whether you are producing new work or in search of fresh ideas - find everything here that you need to write creatively. This section pairs creative theory with a wide range of illustrated techniques.
The Tailor
This 14,000-word novella, 'The Tailor,' serves as a practical example demonstrating the application of Creative Writing Techniques. Those that have been used in the development of ‘The Tailor’ will have a link through to the relevant page.
Overview
'The Tailor' follows the journey of Anjali, a gifted seamstress in a grey, rain-swept valley town in Briardale. While she comes from a lineage of traditional tailors who focus on repair and utility, Anjali possesses an artist's soul, viewing clothing as a medium for psychological influence and transformation. The story explores the tension between practical necessity and creative ambition, culminating in a choice between staying in the safety of the valley or following the 'river' of her ambition to the sea.
Architecture
- Uses 'Switchblades' to distort reality
- Makes extensive use of metaphors and similes
- Uses 'Cascades' to explore the underlying themes
- Uses 'Cultivation Techniques' to do the heavy lifting