Ballads of Beyond

Debbie Coll and Rebekah O’Donovan outsource to YA fantasy author Hadassah Waugh for advice on all things plotting! Hadassah lends us her wisdom on outlining, how pantsers are secretly plotters, writing twists, and ensuring your pacing is on point even as you’re writing your first draft.

Here are the links to learn more from Hadassah:

Some resources Hadassah mentioned:

Do you struggle to hold this much information in your head at once? Us too! On the Ballads of Beyond Patreon is a free visual diagram with all the main points Hadassah brought up.

And if you are in the plotting stage of your writing, sign up to the Guild of Bards tier for a blank plotting worksheet to fill in, and a copy filled in with her The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe example.

Now reunited, our accidentally nuclear found family travel the multiverse in a leisurely quest to give Kala an education, have a honeymoon, and settle into the perfect home. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss endings, writing humour, and share their ultimate writing advice.

(Season final.)

Don’t forget to go to the Ballads of Beyond Patreon Guild of Bards Round Table to meet other writers and enter our exclusive short story competition. And join our elite paid tier for: 

the ebook copy of the story of The Thief in the Mirror

the extra cuts, deleted scenes and bloopers from throughout the season

Henry and Viktorya's new "friend" claims that he can help them find Kala. Henry is calling her from across the void, but he's only another whisper to a lonely child in a crowded grave.

Later, Beks gives herself KIDNEY points for not breaking up the found family. She and Debbie discuss how to (and how not to) find a family, and a significant difference in how they each approach storytelling.

Extra on Patreon: What if this wasn't Viktorya's first found family? Who else has she left behind?

Henry and Viktorya are locked in a room, guarded by a gloating Clive, and time is running out around and inside them. Even if (okay, when) they escape, they still have all of time, and every world, to search for their lost little girl.

Later, Debbie and Beks have their romance masterclass, exploring compatibility, love languages and (crucially) when high-fives were invented. 

Wolf’s machine is gaining momentum, bringing Fractures from across worlds and times to fuel him. Kala is gathering herself to try to stop him, but she’s only one small girl against a Wolf and his army.

Later, Beks and Debbie discuss the challenges of writing climaxes, the role of control in evil, and seeing talent in your work.

If you want a spot of ridiculousness in your life, don't forget to head to Patreon for a taste of Beks' story featuring mad-hatter-inspired, clueless cousin, fake evil wizard named Steve, pirates and evil fairies story that she wrote when she was sixteen but thinks still holds up. 

Kala is trapped with Wolf and his fractures, struggling to come up with reasons why she shouldn’t take him to her time-rich world. Why care about anyone else, when they don’t care about her? 

Later, Debbie and Beks discuss writing (and living) complex arcs, and fight imposter syndrome with a little common sense.

Don’t forget to join our Patreon for Debbie’s “timey-wimey Remembrance stuff” theory about where Kala REALLY took Wolf. And comment your vigil to all those long-distance friends. We love you from afar, and will call you one day, I’m sure. <3

Henry, Viktorya and Kala pursue Clive back to Henry’s mirror room, but time is speeding up and the group is split up by another of Wolf's Fractures. Later, Beks and Debbie discuss avoiding the misunderstanding trope and when to have a villain monologue (and how to get around it).

Kala drags Henry and Viktorya out of time to escape from Wolf and his nefarious machine to steal time. But when Wolf pulls them back, a newly-retrieved villain is brought with them from beyond the edge of time.

Later, Debbie and Beks discuss writing cinematically (or not), showing Henry’s character arc, and pacing romantic arcs.

Henry steals a vehicle off the dead world and finds Viktorya, Wolf and a mysterious new world-hopper back on Viktorya’s world. Henry is rage-baited into forgetting who the real villain is, to Wolf’s advantage.

Later, Beks and Debbie unpack writing charismatic villains and the arguably much more unlikeable side characters.

Viktorya and Henry enter an old Remembrance burial ground in a race to find the commission first. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss Debbie’s continuity error, and they give a masterclass in worldbuilding, including finding inspiration, creating superstitions and understanding the depth of a culture.