Evald Smilskaln

Serial Progression Fantasy author🧙‍♂️| Helping writers & DMs master storycraft — from worldbuilding to habits that finish books.

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Is it me or describing rooms for some reason isn’t as easy as it reads?🙃

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

As a writer travel is a cheat code.

Travelling makes you richer, no matter the spending.

Each new corner is just waiting for you to stumble on your next idea, character, etc.

You don’t have to travel far either, just visiting neighbouring towns or villages can do this too 😉

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

For those who come after :
https://t.co/6LDKb3RFb2
Let's make this happen #claireobscure #expedition33

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

@Poor__Old One of those things, that if it happens once it'll never happen again🫡

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Still typing on Android? Fix that. Join the Flow waitlist. Win stuff 🚀‍https://t.co/O3sk2VEw3a

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Still typing on Android? Fix that. Join the Flow waitlist. Win stuff 🚀‍https://t.co/O3sk2VEw3a

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Team-ups in Fiction!!

When it comes to stories with a vast number of characters, it’s always enjoyable to see characters who are on the same side finally unite.

These team-ups always feel amazing to watch, like:
• With the first Avengers movie,
• When Aragorn joins the hobbits in LOTR
• What happens at the end of the Way of the Kings

Because your heroes are facing greater odds, and together they will have better chances of surmounting them.

Plus, who doesn’t like a cool team-up?

Let me know which team-up is your favorite in the comments below.

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Using actions in the story to build an illusion

Yesterday, I discussed how if we don't know how to convey an emotion on the page, then describing an action can be our next best option.

However, we as writers can use this option differently. And this is where the beauty of writing comes in. You can create illusions of characters through their actions as well.

Knowing how to portray a character through actions allows you to make the reader believe one thing about the character.

Then slowly throughout the story, reveal small things about them that will change our minds completely.

As in slowly learning about a possible antagonist or murderer in a mystery story.

Try it yourself, and don't forget to have fun!

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

We humans have a hard time understanding our emotions; we can find a similar struggle on the page.

But you can tell a fair amount about the person's state when they behave in a certain way:
• A happy character won't sit alone in a corner hugging himself
• A calm person wouldn't punch their fist on the table
• A sad person wouldn't smile and laugh out loud.

Next time you're having a hard time expressing your character's emotions, let them act it out, and trust your reader to pick up on it.

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

New chapter out on Substack!!

Still a quiet period in the Warden's keep, who knows what will happen next.

Zilinad Chronicles - Part 13 https://t.co/a5JWpZJ51U

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Flat dialogue? Give each character a goal—and put something in the way.

Why this works

Readers lean in when two clear intentions collide. Even a tiny snag (misread, delay, competing priorities) creates subtext, what’s said vs. what’s wanted.

Set it up in 30 seconds
• Define Goal A (what Character 1 wants from this exchange).
• Define Goal B (what Character 2 wants—often different).
• Add Friction: misunderstanding, time pressure, a secret, a third person, or a resource limit.

Let this tiny clash shape the word choice, pacing, and who interrupts whom.

Simple example

Dinner choice.
• A wants quick + cheap (long day).
• B wants sit-down + splurge (celebration).Now the same small talk has stakes: budgets, expectations, feelings. Every line pushes or blocks.

Now write the scene with both goals in mind.

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Increase tension with the Antagonist learning about the Hero's weakness.

Here is a little idea for a scene with high tension.

Let the Antagonist learn about your Hero's weakness, and make him use it against your Hero.

This action could force a few reactions from your Hero:
• Flee, because he is unable to beat the enemy
• Try to continue confrontation at a higher cost
• Start negotiating to get out of this trouble
• Give up and live to fight another day.

Each of these decisions could make for a good story, as each involves a conflict for the protagonist to resolve.

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Have you actually paid attention to what you like?

Have you actually paid attention to what grabs your attention?

Because if you did, you would know what kind of stories and plots attract you. If you didn’t, then it’s time to explore and be surprised.

Explore your interests, and then study them, who knows what you will come up with😉

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

Escalating conflict grabs us!

It makes us grab the edges of our seats, we wanna see what will happen. Especially if we see small echoes and shadows that foreshadow bigger troubles on the horizon.

This is why Marvel's "The Infinity Saga" was so satisfying to follow and watch. Over 10 years, we saw tidbits of what was to come, until the grand finale arrived.

So if you have a chance to do that for your story, do it. And trust your reader to pick up on these things. Because they will, and they will wanna see how things play out.

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

I am slowly discovering the new classics of the SFF genre.

At the moment, I'm reading The Name of the Wind. I'm impressed:

With the prose,

How Rothfuss is building the backstory of Kvothe in front of our eyes,

How he depicts trauma as well.

I can see why people are impatient about the 3rd book. And I hope that the current rumours that are circulating signify that it will be coming out in the near future

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

After reading Daggerheart rule book, I can see that this was a game designed by people who love stories, and that don't want to be slowed down by clunky rules.

There is minimal math, even if I love math, combat seems weird for now but also fluid. And there are a bunch of cool rules for other type of interactions.

It's still a new system for me, but I'm loving discovering it.

[Evald Smilskaln @EvaldSand]

The act of writing is a complex one; it doesn’t end on the page.

To write you have to:
• Think about your story
• Dwell on it
• Journal about it
• Create theories
• Discuss it with friends or a partner
• Sleep on it
• Look for inspiration
• Sketch locations
• Get to know your characters
• Reviewing your past drafts
• Playing with sentences
• Learning new skills
• ...

I could keep on going, but it’s not the point of this tweet.

If you do any of what I mentioned above…

You are already a writer!