How it all began
I write dark fantasy rooted in mythology, alternate history, and ancient lore. Over the past seventeen years, I’ve developed a writing process shaped by research, obsession, trial and error, and a deep love of medieval themes, hidden worlds, and stories that blur the line between reality and myth.
But where did it all start?
I started writing when I was super young—I want to say around ten years old, but I think I may have been a little younger than that. I entered a story competition at school. I don’t recall what I wrote, only that I won.
Full disclaimer: only two of us entered! But looking back, that tiny win—small as it was—planted a seed that was later to become my passion.
I toyed with writing after that. Nothing serious, but I knew I enjoyed it. Then one day, in my mid-thirties, my husband suggested I write a book.
I’ve mentioned many times that my personal encounter with the Hat Man was the inspiration for Augustine. But before the Hat Man, there was King Arthur.
I had a vague idea for a story originating from the legend of King Arthur. That version didn’t get very far, but I do have almost an entire notebook dedicated to it.
Maybe one day I’ll revisit it.
Creative Discipline
I have none.
I will happily spend hours in front of a computer, or hours with a notebook writing longhand—for one day or for several—then I might write nothing at all for days on end.
I have moments of intense inspiration (usually whilst out walking or doing something mundane where I don’t have to use my brain), following which I write furiously. Other times, a problem will suddenly present itself in book four—a book I haven’t even begun drafting yet—and I will spend hours trying to figure it out. Hours of wasted time, as it happens, because the answer rarely comes to me until I am once again pounding the pavement with my mind elsewhere.
Other times, I suddenly decide to start tweaking things that have no business being tweaked, then change them back to the way they were before I started tweaking. I know I’m doing this, just like I know the answer to the problem in book four won’t come to me until I clear my head, but that doesn’t stop me.
Another thing I’ve learned about my writing process is that it’s very scatty. I try to be organised. I devote hours to spreadsheets, notebooks, wall planners, and calendars, yet still my ideas are spread across all of them instead of one. I pity anyone who ever tries to decipher them.
However, I’ve come to accept my scatty, undisciplined way of writing. It’s how I work, and that’s it.
Edit like a (non)pro
When I decided I wanted to write a book, I had this insane idea that you could only be a writer if you’d gone to college and had a master’s degree. I soon realised what a ridiculous notion that was when I joined an online writing forum—a place that would give me the confidence to put my ideas out there, and confirmation that I could actually string a worthwhile sentence together.
I spent a lot (A LOT) of time learning the art of writing: how to critique, how to edit, how to use better words for effect, how to shorten sentences for more impact. I studied, and I practised, and I worked very, very hard.
I also learned that you should never, ever edit your own books or make your own book covers.
I ignored that advice completely.
If I’d had oodles of money to spend on editors and cover artists, then I might have hired them. It would certainly have saved me a lot of time and headaches. Instead, I decided to study editing too, and dabble in graphic design and cover design. I don’t even want to think about how many times I failed at all the above. But with each draft of Augustine (I think there were around seven in the end, maybe more), each pass of editing, and each book cover design I made (soooooo many), I finally had something I could be proud of. And a skill set that continues to grow.
That said, the final product would not be ready for publication without a little help. And there are so many tools available to a writer to assist with the final polish.
Below is my process once the book is completed to the absolute best of my ability:
No. 1 (and possibly the most important of all) – let it rest for at least a month. When you go back, you always find errors.
No. 2 – run it through ChatGPT. Now I know there’s a lot of controversy over AI programmes, but while I don’t agree with writing a book using Chat, or Claude, or whatever you like to use (and quite honestly, while they’re great as a critiquing tool, they lack the depth and emotional layering required to make a story truly compelling) I have no issue with using them as a tool. Chat is quite good as a developmental editor for picking up story discrepancies or checking whether a character’s motives remain true to their arc. It also helps to solidify that I’m on the right track … and that I haven’t called someone Bob when their name is Fred!
No. 3 – run it through ProWritingAid. This way, I can pick up any grammar mistakes or final typos.
No. 4 – play it back using any kind of narration software at hand. Word has its own version, and while the playback is super bland, it does the job. This way, if there are ANY typos left (and there always are), they should be picked up—unless you’ve dozed off (not unheard of!).
Research Research Research
Did I mention I like to research?
I think in another life I would’ve liked to be a research assistant. I love deep diving into topics (admittedly, topics I’m interested in) and getting lost down the rabbit hole. I have to rein myself in when I’m writing, otherwise I’ll never get the book finished and just end up with a cupboard full of notebooks and printouts. Oh, wait … I do have a cupboard full of notebooks and printouts!!!!!
Research is important to me, though. While my books are fantasy, they often feature real locations across the UK, and I want to be as accurate as possible.
Inspire me
This is the easiest part. Inspiration comes from everywhere: a gloomy day, a sunny day, a great line in a movie, a terrible line in a book, images, emotions, history (fake or real), mythology, fear of what hides in the shadows, fear of what hides in the light, music (especially music), and so on and so on. I write dark fantasy because that’s what I enjoy the most, but I enjoy other genres too.
I was sitting in a random café in the middle of (almost) nowhere once, and suddenly had this crazy idea to write a murder mystery set in a ski lodge where everyone is trapped inside by an avalanche. The café was nothing like a ski lodge, and it was the middle of summer. But as I looked around the gloomy space and the distracted faces, the story began to formulate. I made notes (of course I did!). I may even write it one day.
I also have an idea for a children’s book that came from a 1000-word short story competition I once entered. We were given an image to work off—I think it was a picture of a young girl’s feet and raffle tickets scattered all over the ground. I didn’t win that one (I came joint second), but it did give birth to the idea for an entire book about a young girl and a garden troll. I even started writing it. It also has its own notebook!
And finally, the why of it
I may not have discipline, and my organisational skills may be somewhat lacking, but I do have dedication and passion, and a deep-seated love of the whole creative process.
I’m fascinated by ancient mythology, the Anunnaki theories, fallen gods, alternate history, and the possibility that our world is layered with stories older than recorded time. Medieval settings, hidden portals, and other realms allow me to explore those ideas—but I always anchor them back to Earth. I want the magic to feel possible.
Simply put, I looooooove fantasy, and mythology, and aliens, and things that go bump in the night. I especially love them when they blend with reality. Which is what I’ve tried (am trying) to do with the Animus Mundi Legacy.
Until next time …
EMERSON LAINE 
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