Articles by Corvus Raaf

Why is more important than what...please hold that thought. In 22 days, Corvus will be one-year old on this site. I wasn't planning a party - the last time I offered my place on the boards for a rendezvous, it got crashed. But my time on the boards is relevant. Those that know me (yes, I can...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCnf46boC3I After last week, I suggested to a couple of people I rather enjoyed the cathartic nature of the blog but I subsequently promised my favourite writer that I wouldn’t simply rant ever week, and that I should also write positive things. So… It’s...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xysaxKscJNM I originally wrote this blog a couple of weeks ago. At least in my head. It was following a conversation on Skype with someone I trust. I mention that because they felt safe enough to share with me some advice that I didn’t necessarily like or want...

I’m aware there are specific sections on the main boards for writing tips, but the aim of the next two or three weeks is to simply share thoughts on one specific topic before returning to my usual ramblings. So why this particular subject? Because it’s one I rarely follow the tips I’m...

I’ll start by sharing the notion that you can have too much setting. Stephen King is a writer that likes the idea of giving the reader the bare minimum in terms of description. He feels that too much and you force the reader to see your characters and settings in your way. He wants the reader...

CHAOS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jja5iWRp1w I have many, many phrases that I trot out on a regular basis. Facts are facts, opinions of facts are just opinions is one. And the other is that we see things not as they are, but as we are. What am I waffling on about? You see I do actually read...

OK, this is the final instalment and given it feels like telling rather than interacting, next week I’ll be controversial again! But since I’m here…nature and settings. Seasons The time of year may be incidental to your adventure, but even so, you may be able to use it to dramatic effect...

OK, I’ve been good for three weeks, so time for some good old-fashioned opinions again. And this week I thought I’d talk about likes – in their various forms. First of all there’s that little ‘Like’ button we all know and love. Personally I think it can be a marvellous thing. It...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1qQuSuQaHY I’m not one to plan my character’s development — which I know surprises some people — who think many of my threads are staged in advance. In truth I simply role-play situations and see where the posts take me. But my latest character has me...

It’s the way that you do it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0hYN20a7Jc First blog of the new year. And I’m keen to continue the vibe I’ve had going about different folks and different strokes. I remember saying a while back that your character is your character. Sometimes people bothered...

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The best things about this site is the lack of rules. And the worst thing? The lack of rules. Now I am 100% not advocating we abandon rules – or even contemplate ignoring them. Far from it. Nor am I advocating a raft of new ones. That would be...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_QBC_pDkeU IC. Two letters. Just two. Yet what trouble they can cause. At least OOC has three and can be excused slightly as it’s 33% bigger. Those who were eagle-eyed might have noticed a Corvus status update Sunday morning (my time). It felt — to me — the...