Candles for the dark: thoughts on structuring novels

Understand gothic, uncanny, literary, and surreal fiction with these alternatives to traditional structure

Feb 14 • Lauren du Plessis

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January 2026

Lady Death | Short Story

A returning kitten, returning memories, returning bones

Jan 30 • Lauren du Plessis

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November 2025

On mast years in trees and writing craft

Thinking about nature and writing as winter rolls in

Nov 7, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

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October 2025

The scene(s) I almost didn’t write

The ending can be the scariest part, and not just because I'm writing horror...

Oct 30, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

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September 2025

On the publication of my debut novel...

Tender is available in UK bookshops and online!

Sep 25, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

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For the curious: All about Tender, my debut novel

A quickfire guide to my book before it comes out in late September 2025!

Sep 15, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

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The Branches | Short Story (Interactive Fiction)

An interactive sci-fi piece, now available on itch.io!

Sep 10, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

June by the Lake | Short Story

"She wanted only to watch the blithe body ahead of her, dancing through the grass as sunlight wove through her hair." A short story about healing...

Sep 3, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

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August 2025

How to write a book using my totally unique methods!

(Disclaimer: they are not totally unique, and might also be the unhinged ravings of a busy-brained art mum)

Aug 29, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

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Store me in a cool, dark place | Short Story

Self-preservation turns toxic in this (short!) short tale

Aug 22, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

May 2025

Same Instincts | Short Story

Short fiction. "For now I suggest you stick to watching Mother Nature do her best, and her worst, and stop getting in the middle of it."

May 30, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

"Personal Growth": How I wrote my debut novel

Get it?? Personal growth… And it’s a botanical body horror book? (sorry)

May 23, 2025 • Lauren du Plessis

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