Author Blog | Sarah Kate Ishii | Fantasy Author

Feb 192 min read

What every writer needs: the idea notebook

Brilliance doesn't announce itself.

Feb 193 min read

Building Creative Muscles: Embracing the Whole Journey of Writing, Breaks and All

Creativity and writing are not destinations but gradual journeys. Embrace imperfection, forgive yourself, and build your skills.

Nov 22, 20231 min read

[Come back to this] in Writing

Ever get stuck searching for the perfect word while writing? Maybe it's a character's name or place name, a creature or piece of magic,...

Nov 21, 20232 min read

The Power of Small Actions in Life and in Storytelling

In a world that often celebrates grand gestures and huge achievements, it's easy to overlook the impact of small actions. It's like we're...

Oct 20, 20233 min read

The First Time Will Be Bad: The Creative Journey

Your first time will be bad. But that's normal of learning. You've got to do it to reach your hundredth time.

Oct 17, 20235 min read

Where Are the Female Friends? Creating Authentic Female Friendships in Fantasy Literature

One of the joys in my life is my friendships with other women. These people provide great conversations, laughter, fun, support, and give...

Oct 10, 20237 min read

On Female Protagonists: The Need for Real Women in Fantasy Literature

One thing I love about fantasy is that it’s a realm of limitless possibilities. Writers can make their own worlds, and imagination knows...

Oct 9, 20236 min read

Embracing Mistakes: The Path to Unleashing Your Inner Writer

I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve watched the late Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” (which...

Sep 12, 20235 min read

The Snack Thief: A Fantasy Short Story

It started with a snack. I’m sure I didn’t finish it all. Only a bite or two, but now it’s gone. Perhaps I ate it without realising. I’ve...

Sep 8, 20233 min read

The Sandman’s Awakening: An Urban Fantasy

I can see people’s dreams and nightmares. Dancing lights and shadows playing above their heads in 3D, like a movie without a TV. I first...

Sep 7, 20232 min read

The Knight Who Can’t Remove Their Helmet — Fantasy Story Ideas

Thinking about that scene from Shrek where he doesn’t want to remove his helmet and makes some excuse about helmet hair. But what if...

Sep 6, 20232 min read

Breaking the Mold: Why Fantasy Needs Flawed Characters

We need to stop making our fantasy characters perfect or superficially flawed. Humans are messy, and that’s glorious.