The old Visitor House crouched at the edge of the woods like something half-forgotten. Cloudy windows, rafters lost in shadow, and brittle November light that died a few feet past the threshold gave the place the air of abandonment. It smelled faintly of dust and cold stone—an emptiness that made every footstep sound too loud.… Continue reading Fantôme Fatale first scene rough draft
As you can see, winter has arrived in Illinois. With it has come some changes to my writing. I had been doing the prep work for my third story (Fantome Fatale), when I suddenly realized that the isolated mansion/family curse scenario was being shoehorned into my impossible footprint ideas. Basically, I was trying to force… Continue reading December ’25 update
I'm working abnormally fast. It took me less than three days to get a full outline and I'm already writing the story. Killer Pete took forever to outline and even longer to write. This one is flowing. I've learned to be happy for small, good things like having a story flow. Once again, I have… Continue reading Madmen Prefer Blondes Scene One
The brain can find any way to question the life choices of its vessel. You could be happily skipping down the street without a care in the world and your brain might suddenly shout, “Hey! What if you’re a low-life piece of garbage? Have you considered that possibility?” Things like that often creep into my… Continue reading George Langelaan, Marie-Louise von Franz, and Self-Doubt
I'm still working on the automaton story, temporarily titled Pistol Pete. It’s about an inventor who’s found dead inside a locked room—one that’s constantly watched. No one else is inside, so suspicion falls on the only possible culprit: his cowboy automaton. I've also been mulling over a second story about a multiple murderer. This killer… Continue reading July 24, 2025 Update
James Scott Byrnside 