

I'm Ashleigh Hattingh Macfie
A former paramedic with a borderline obsession with musical theatre and a love of books that started with 'A House on Pooh Corner read to me by my father Dave Macfie. I have been writing since childhood, focusing on High Fantasy and Steampunk with the occasional foray into Horror and poetry. I Debuted with a short story 'Last Hope' in the anthology; 'Ethereal'. and have since released a Steampunk inspired Novella Duology, 'Clockwork Renegades'. I draw and paint in my spare time and live with my wonderful wife and our clowder of cats.
Published Works

Looking Back
Looking back over this past year is quite a daunting experience. Life has changed so drastically for so many people.…
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Planner or Pantser, a Writer’s Guide to Plotting
This week I have decided to delve into the complex world of writer types and plotting. So What kind of…
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Accepting criticism and Beta Readers.
Beta readers. Those wonderful people that we love and dislike immensely in equal measure. Let’s face it, there comes a point…
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Breaking Through the Battle Scene Writing Barrier
Hi everyone, I have finally returned from a short hiatus, having battled with my health over the past few weeks.…
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Dissecting Dialogue
Dialogue; for some it is an absolute joy to write but for others, the bane of their existence. Primarily dialogue…
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Novelettes, Novellas and Novels, What is the Difference?
Writing a novel can be daunting, especially for someone attempting their first draft of their very first narrative. Many first- time…
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Character Roles and Archetypes in Fiction
Hi everyone. Previously we have spoken about the development of characters, but we have not yet spoken about the character…
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Amidst the Chaos of the Apocalypse
It’s hard to believe that we are barely three months into the year and already so much has happened. South…
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Demolishing Writer’s Block
Ah. Writer’s block. The dreaded affliction that all writers will suffer from at some point, if not at many points,…
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Getting into the Mood
Often confused, but quite different, both mood and tone are important tools in an author’s arsenal. They provide a platform…
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