When you first think of this word, it is with a slippery slope in mind.
I’ve been on a few of those in my time.
And while we’re on the subject, those inclines measured in degrees are very important if you want a train to get up and down the side of a mountain.
For the train, that’s an incline plane, the point where traction alone won’t get the iron horse up the hill.
Did I say ‘Iron Horse’? Sorry, regressed there, back to the mid-1800s in the American West for a moment.
It’s not that important when it comes to trucks and cars, and less so if you like four-wheel driving; getting up near-vertical mountainsides often present a welcome challenge to the true enthusiast
But for the rest of us, not so much if you find yourself sliding in reverse uncontrollably into the bay. I’m sure it’s happened more than once.
Then…
Are you inclined to go?
A very different sort of incline, ie to be disposed towards an attitude or desire.
An inclination, maybe, not to go four-wheel driving?
There is another, probably more obscure use of the word incline, and that relates to an elevated geological formation. Not the sort of reference that crops up in everyday conversation at the coffee shop.
But, you never know. Try it next time you have coffee and see what happens.
Hang about. Didn’t I read somewhere you need to plan your novel, create an outline setting the plot points, and flesh out the characters?
I’m sure it didn’t say, sit down and start writing!
Time to find a writing pad, and put my thinking cap on.
I make a list, what’s the story going to be about? Who’s going to be in it, at least at the start?
Like a newspaper story, I need a who, what, when, where, and how.
Right now.
I pick up the pen.
Character number one:
Computer nerd, ok, that’s a little close to the bone, a computer manager who is trying to be everything at once, and failing. Still me, but with a twist. Now, add a little mystery to him, and give him a secret, one that will only be revealed after a specific set of circumstance. Yes, I like that.
We’ll call him Bill, ex-regular army, a badly injured and repatriated soldier who was sent to fight a war in Vietnam, the result of which had made him, at times, unfit to live with.
He had a wife, which brings us to,
Character number two:
Ellen, Bill’s ex-wife, an army brat and a General’s daughter, and the result of one of those romances that met disapproval for so many reasons. It worked until Bill came back from the war, and from there it slowly disintegrated. There are two daughters, both by the time the novel begins, old enough to understand the ramifications of a divorce.
Character number three:
The man who is Bill’s immediate superior, the Services Department manager, a rather officious man who blindly follows orders, a man who takes pleasure in making others feel small and insignificant, and worst of all, takes the credit where none is due.
Oops, too much, that is my old boss. He’ll know immediately I’m parodying him. Tone it down, just a little, but more or less that’s him. Last name Benton. He will play a small role in the story.
Character number four:
Jennifer, the IT Department’s assistant manager, a woman who arrives in a shroud of mystery, and then, in time, to provide Bill with a shoulder to cry on when he and Ellen finally split, and perhaps something else later on.
More on her later as the story unfolds.
So far so good.
What’s the plot?
Huge corporation plotting to take over the world using computers? No, that’s been done to death.
Huge corporation, OK, let’s stop blaming the corporate world for everything wrong in the world. Corporations are not bad people, people are the bad people. That’s a rip off cliché, from guns don’t kill people, people kill people! There will be guns, and there will be dead people.
There will be people hiding behind a huge corporation, using a part of their computer network to move billions of illegally gained money around. That’s better.
Now, having got that, our ‘hero’ has to ‘discover’ this network, and the people behind it.
All we need now is to set the ball rolling, a single event that ‘throws a cat among the pigeons’.
Yes, Bill is on holidays, a welcome relief from the problems of work. He dreams of what he’s going to do for the next two weeks. The phone rings. Benton calling, the world is coming to an end, the network is down. He’s needed. A few terse words, but he relents.
It was one of those beautiful Autumn mornings, blue sky with a smattering of clouds, but a sunny day all the same. It’s Sunday, so there is not as much traffic on the road.
Anyone with any sense would be going to their favourite coffee place and settling down to their choice of coffee and perhaps a toast or muffin to accompany the conversation.
This is what’s happening at the cafe where we go for coffee. 9:00 in the morning, it is packed. But great coffee is hard to find, and this is apparently great coffee.
It’s that in-between time before it gets windy, cold and wet, with the sort of chill you can feel in your bones, whether it’s the time when you have a barbecue in the mid-afternoon and get home before the cold sets in or take the kids to the park for some healthy exercise.
Today I have to take a drive from one side of suburbia to the other, taking a network of main roads with rather anonymous names such as North and South
We travel through the older suburbs, those with a collection of red or white bricks and timber dating back to the fifties and sixties. They are not, for the most part, in a good state of repair, and rather than looking ramshackle, it’s more like they are slowly decaying.
Fences are rotting or falling over, extensions are like they have been glued on rather than added by an architect, and paint is either fading or missing. For the most part, people are struggling to keep up with the cost of living and are too busy to worry about maintenance.
Some have been bulldozed and replaced, blocks are cleared awaiting new development, and others are being renovated. Any way you look at them, they are still worth a great deal of money being relatively close to the city. But it’s a double-edged sword: worth a lot, but costing more to keep.
It’s a location we could never afford. Because we were not affluent, we were pushed out to the less expensive outer suburbs. This was, of course, 50 years ago, and now those outer suburbs are the new inner suburbs, and people are buying up to 50 km further out in the new estates. When I was young, these suburbs were farms and open land.
It also surprises me that people would want to live on the main road because, with traffic as it is heading into the city, it would be difficult to leave or return by car. At least for these people, public transport is better than in the outer suburbs.
Because it’s Sunday, my trip takes a lot less time, except for those unpredictable traffic lights, some of which I missed, and I took a while to cycle through the other traffic before it was our turn to move. It’s the only disappointment of the modern era: the fact that roads were never made to handle the traffic, and the fact that they now have to bulldoze homes to make way for roads.
Pity they didn’t lay down the foundations of a proper transport system, much like they have in major European cities.
How to Keep Your Writing Fresh – Ditch the Clichés (and Use a Few Sparingly, If You Must)
Introduction
We’ve all been there: you sit down to write a blog, a sales email, or a novel chapter, and before you know it your prose is peppered with phrases like “think outside the box,” “at the end of the day,” or “the sky’s the limit.” Clichés feel safe because they’re familiar, but they also signal lazy thinking, dilute your voice, and can even turn readers off.
So how do you keep your writing crisp, original, and engaging? And if a cliché is the perfect punchline for a specific moment, how can you wield it without sounding trite? Below is a practical, step‑by‑step guide to help you banish the overused and, when necessary, deploy a cliché with surgical precision.
1. Know What a Cliché Actually Is
Definition
Why It’s Problematic
A phrase, idea, or trope that has been overused to the point of losing its original impact.
It signals a lack of original thought, can feel generic, and often triggers “mental fatigue” in readers.
Key takeaway: Not every familiar phrase is a cliché. Idioms (“break a leg”) and widely accepted terminology (“search engine optimization”) are fine when they serve a clear purpose.
2. Identify the Clichés in Your Own Writing
Read Aloud – Hearing the words forces you to notice rhythm and repetition.
Highlight “Red Flags” – Words like obviously, basically, in today’s fast‑paced world, think outside the box, win-win.
Use a Cliché Detector
Online tools (e.g., Cliché Finder or ProWritingAid).
Browser extensions that underline overused phrases in real time.
Pro tip: Keep a personal “cliché cheat sheet.” Whenever you catch yourself reaching for a tired phrase, jot it down and replace it later.
3. Replace, Not Remove – Strategies for Fresh Alternatives
Cliché
Why It’s Overused
Fresh Alternative
“Think outside the box”
Corporate buzzword
“Explore unconventional angles”
“At the end of the day”
Conversational filler
“Ultimately” or “When all is said and done”
“The sky’s the limit”
Over‑optimistic hype
“The possibilities are endless”
“In today’s fast‑paced world”
Generic time‑setter
“In an era of rapid change”
How to Generate Alternatives:
Ask “Why?” – What’s the core idea? Answer that directly.
Swap nouns and verbs – Replace box with a concrete image relevant to your niche.
Use vivid sensory language – “The horizon expands before us” feels more poetic than “the sky’s the limit.”
4. Embrace Specificity Over Generality
Bad: “She was very happy.” Good: “She beamed, her eyes sparkling like sunrise on the lake.”
Specific details make the scene vivid, leaving no room for lazy shorthand.
5. When a Cliché Is the Perfect Fit – Use It Sparingly & Strategically
Sometimes a cliché can act as an anchor—a shared cultural reference that instantly connects you with readers. If you decide to keep one, follow these guidelines:
5.1. Make It Contextual
Tie it to your unique narrative.
Example: Instead of the generic “It’s a win‑win situation,” write, “Our partnership is a win‑win: you get a 20 % discount, and we gain a long‑term client who loves our eco‑friendly packaging.”
5.2. Add a Twist
Subvert expectations.
Example: “We told the team to think outside the box—but first, we built a bigger box.”
This acknowledges the cliché, then flips it, showing cleverness.
5.3. Pair It With Strong Imagery
Bolster the cliché with fresh description.
Example: “At the end of the day, the city lights flickered like fireflies caught in a jar, reminding us that even the busiest streets need moments of calm.”
5.4. Limit Frequency
One per paragraph, maximum two per piece.
This keeps the impact high without overwhelming the reader.
6. Practice Exercise: Rewrite the Cliché‑Heavy Paragraph
Original (cliché‑laden):
“In today’s fast‑paced world, businesses need to think outside the box if they want to stay ahead. At the end of the day, it’s all about delivering value and creating win‑win solutions for customers and shareholders alike.”
Revised (cliché‑free):
“In an era of rapid change, companies must explore unconventional strategies to maintain a competitive edge. Ultimately, success hinges on delivering genuine value and forging mutually beneficial relationships with both customers and investors.”
What Changed?
Replaced “fast‑paced world” with “era of rapid change.”
Swapped “think outside the box” for “explore unconventional strategies.”
Substituted “at the end of the day” with “ultimately.”
Turned “win‑win solutions” into “mutually beneficial relationships.”
7. Checklist Before Publishing
Did I scan for common clichés?
Have I replaced every red‑flag phrase with a specific, vivid alternative?
If a cliché remains, does it serve a strategic purpose?
Have I added a twist or unique imagery to that cliché?
Is the overall tone consistent with my brand voice?
Conclusion
Clichés are the linguistic equivalent of fast food: instantly satisfying but nutritionally lacking. By actively identifying, replacing, and only strategically preserving a few, you’ll elevate your writing from “just okay” to “memorable.”
Remember: your words are a reflection of your thought process. The more original they are, the more credibility you earn with every sentence. So next time you feel the urge to lean on a tired phrase, pause, dig deeper, and craft something that truly belongs to you—cliché or not.
Happy writing!
Feel free to share your favourite “cliché‑with‑a‑twist” in the comments below.
Plotters vs. Pantsers: Why Even the Most Spontaneous Novelists Need a Series Bible
If you’ve ever reached book three of your epic fantasy or detective series only to realise your protagonist’s eyes magically shifted from piercing blue to emerald green, or that a character who died in chapter four just casually walked back into a scene, you aren’t alone.
Writing a book series is an incredible creative journey, but it is also a marathon of memory. When you live with characters for months—or years—at a time, details blur.
So, when writing a series, does it pay to have a plan for each novel, if only to maintain continuity?
In a word: Absolutely.
While the debate between “plotters” (those who outline meticulously) and “pantsers” (those who write by the seat of their pants) is fierce in the writing community, long-term continuity demands a hybrid approach. Let’s dive into why minor memory lapses happen, the hidden costs of ignoring continuity, and how a simple planning tool can save your sanity (and your readers’ trust).
The Anatomy of Amnesia: How Continuity Errors Happen
Human memory is notoriously unreliable, and when you are knee-deep in the throes of drafting, your brain is prioritising plot momentum, emotional arcs, and dialogue over trivial data.
Over the course of a multi-book series, several common continuity issues inevitably creep in:
The Shape-Shifters (Physical Descriptions): Hair colours darken, eye colours shift, scars migrate from the left cheek to the right, and heights fluctuate.
The Aging Paradox: Did timeline pacing get a little wobbly? Suddenly, a character who was supposed to be 16 in book one is acting suspiciously like a seasoned 21-year-old by book two, even though only six months have passed in the book’s universe.
The Lazarus Effect: Minor characters—or worse, major ones—disappear for a book, only for the author to accidentally reintroduce them with a different name, backstory, or worse, revive them from the dead without explanation.
Logistical Lapses: Geography and lore are major culprits. Did the journey from City A to City B take three days on horseback in the first book, but only an afternoon in the sequel? Did a magic system suddenly acquire a new rule (or lose an old one) just to help you write your way out of a corner?
Why Continuity Errors Cost You Readers
You might think, “Surely my readers won’t notice if a character’s eye colour changes.”
Think again.
Today’s readers are deeply engaged. They read with a fine-toothed comb, theorise on forums like Reddit, and discuss books passionately on BookTok and Goodreads. When they spot a glaring continuity error, it pulls them right out of the fictional dream.
Frequent inconsistencies signal a lack of polish. Worse, they break trust. If a reader can’t rely on you to remember basic facts about your own world, they may hesitate to invest their time and money into the next instalment of your series.
Planning Each Novel: The Blueprint for Success
You don’t have to outline every single plot twist, chapter by chapter, if that kills your creative joy. Many successful authors proudly write by the seat of their pants for the actual storytelling.
However, planning for continuity is entirely different from plotting a narrative. To maintain structural integrity across a series, you need a two-pronged strategy:
1. The Individual Novel Outline
Even if you hate strict outlines, having a loose roadmap for each novel ensures that your pacing holds up, subplots resolve, and you don’t write yourself into a narrative dead end. Knowing your destination doesn’t mean you can’t take scenic detours along the way, but it does mean you won’t accidentally drive off a cliff.
2. The Ultimate Weapon: The “Series Bible”
If you take away only one piece of advice from this article, let it be this: Create a Series Bible.
A Series Bible is a centralized, living document (using software like Scrivener, Notion, Google Docs, or a dedicated binder) where you track the immutable facts of your fictional world. It should include:
Character Profiles: Full names, nicknames, physical descriptions, birthdays/ages, key relationships, core motivations, and major life events.
The Timeline: A master chronological ledger tracking what happens on what day, month, and year across all books.
World-Building Lore: Rules of magic, geography, political structures, currency, and technology. Keep a running glossary of invented terms, town names, and historical events.
The “Loose Ends” Ledger: A list of unresolved plot threads or lingering questions you need to address in future books.
Strike a Balance: Structure Meets Creativity
Planning doesn’t mean chaining yourself to a spreadsheet. Think of a series outline and a continuity bible not as a cage, but as safety rails. They give you the freedom to drive fast and take creative risks, knowing you won’t crash into a wall of your own making further down the road.
By investing just a little bit of time upfront to track your characters, ages, and world rules, you save yourself hours of agonising developmental edits later—and you deliver a polished, immersive experience that keeps readers coming back for book after book.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? How do you keep track of your series continuity? Let us know your favourite tips and tricks in the comments below!
Brasília, the futuristic capital of Brazil, is a city of sleek modernist architecture and political grandeur. But beyond the iconic landmarks like the National Congress and Cathedral of Brasília (Catedral de Brasília), there lies a quieter, more authentic Brasília waiting to be explored. If you’re ready to venture off the beaten path, here are five unique experiences that will make your visit unforgettable.
1. Step Back in Time at Cruzeiro Velho
Tucked away in the Setor Habitacional Jardim Botânico, Cruzeiro Velho is a charming neighbourhood that offers a glimpse into Brasília’s origins. Established in 1959, this area was one of the city’s first residential enclaves, featuring traditional Portuguese-style houses constructed from adobe and wooden beams. Unlike the city’s geometrically modern structures, Cruzeiro Velho exudes rural simplicity and warmth. Stroll through its narrow cobblestone streets, visit the historic Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), and join locals at the community square for a slice of real Brasília life. Tip: Visit in the evening when the community hosts small cultural events, like folk music performances.
2. Admire Street Art in the Túnel das Artes
Hidden beneath Asa Sul, the Túnel das Artes (Arts Tunnel) is a vibrant canvas of local creativity. This 110-meter tunnel, once a utility passage, is now a kaleidoscope of murals, graffiti, and mosaics by Brasília’s most talented artists. The artwork reflects the city’s dynamic spirit and social narratives, making it a must-see for art enthusiasts. Since it’s a working-class thoroughfare, you’ll often spot locals enjoying the art amidst the hum of daily life. Pro Tip: Bring a camera and explore the tunnel during daytime when the lighting highlights the vivid colours.
3. Relax in the Tranquil Jardim Botânico de Brasília
Escape the city’s buzz at the Jardim Botânico de Brasília (Brasília Botanical Garden), a serene sanctuary housing over 2,000 plant species native to Brazil’s Cerrado and Amazon regions. While it’s a scientific institution, the garden’s peaceful atmosphere and scenic walking trails make it a beloved retreat for horticulturists and nature lovers alike. Don’t miss the Pavilhão das Orquídeas (Orchid Pavilion) and the Casebre (a replica of a traditional Cerrado house). Essential Info: Admission is free, and the garden is open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM.
4. Taste Local Flavours at Feira Central
One of Latin America’s largest markets, Feira Central, is where Brasília’s soul tastes best. This bustling hub, open Monday to Friday, is a sensory overload of sizzling street food, fresh produce, and handicrafts. Sample regional delicacies like feijoada (Brazilian stew), queijadinha (cheese cake), and quindim (egg custard in a caramel cup). The market is also a treasure trove for Afro-Brazilian art, leatherwork, and traditional cangaço-style jewellery. Traveller’s Note: Arrive early to avoid the midday heat and join locals for a lively pre-lunch tradition.
5. Discover Nature and Nostalgia at Parque da Torre de TV
Located in Asa Sul, Parque da Torre de TV blends history, nature, and fun. The park is anchored by the iconic Torre de TV, a 139-meter communications tower that once served as a vital link for Brazil’s media. Surrounding the tower is a scenic reservoir, walking paths, and a mini-zoo with native wildlife. Rent a paddleboat on the lake or hike the trails to the top of Morro da Mineirinha for panoramic views. It’s a family-friendly spot that feels worlds away from the city’s formal vibe. Insider Tip: Visit on weekends when the park hosts cultural fairs and open-air concerts.
Conclusion: Beyond the Blueprints Brasília’s true magic lies not just in its architectural masterpieces but in the stories whispered through its lesser-known corners. Whether you’re savouring street food at Feira Central or wandering the adobe streets of Cruzeiro Velho, these off-the-beaten-path adventures reveal a city that’s as rich in culture as it is in innovation. So let curiosity be your guide, and discover Brasília beyond the blueprints.
Final Note: Before you go, check local event calendars for festivals, farmers’ markets, and art exhibitions that add spontaneity to your trip. Brasília’s hidden gems are best discovered with an open heart and a willing spirit.
Yes, when you are going at it like a bat out of hell, it might be a good idea to take a pause and regroup.
That being a pause as an interruption to an activity.
In music, it’s a mark over a note.
Perhaps it’s a good idea to pause recording a TV show while the ads are on. Networks don’t like it, but it makes the show make more sense without the distractions of advertisements, sometimes quite inane or annoying.
What I just said might give pause to my opposite number in this debate.
Have you been in a conversation, someone says something quite odd, and there’s a pregnant pause?
How did the word pregnant get into the conversation? That, of course, usually means something significant will follow, but rarely does. But it can also be a conversation killer where no one says anything.
Is that a wide eye in awe moment? You did WHAT?
Then there is the word pours, sounds the same but is completely different.
In this case, the man pours water from the bucket on the plants.
Or my brother pours cold water on my plans. Not literally, but figuratively, making me think twice about whether it would work or not. Usually not.
Or a confession pours out of a man with a guilty conscience. AKA sings like a bird. Don’t you just love these quaint expressions? It reminded me of a gangster film back in Humphrey Bogart’s day.
It never rains but it pours? Another expression, when everything goes wrong. A bit like home renovations really.
Really, it means to flow quickly and in large quantities, ie., rain pours down.
And if that isn’t bad enough, what about paws?
Sounds the same again, but yes, it’s what an animal has as feet, especially cats, dogs, and bears.
One use of it, out of context, of course, is ‘get your paws off me!’
And one rabbit paw might be good luck, but having two rabbit pows, I might win the lottery.
The novel ‘Echoes from the Past’ started out as a short story I wrote about 30 years ago, titled ‘The Birthday’.
My idea was to take a normal person out of their comfort zone and led on a short but very frightening journey to a place where a surprise birthday party had been arranged.
Thus, the very large man with a scar and a red tie was created.
So was the friend with the limousine who worked as a pilot.
So were the two women, Wendy and Angelina, who were Flight Attendants that the pilot friend asked to join the conspiracy.
I was going to rework the short story, then about ten pages long, into something a little more.
And like all rewrites, especially those I have anything to do with, it turned into a novel.
There was motivation. I had told some colleagues at the place where I worked at the time that I liked writing, and they wanted a sample. I was going to give them the re-worked short story. Instead, I gave them ‘Echoes from the past’
Originally, it was not set anywhere in particular.
But when considering a location, I had, at the time, recently been to New York in December, and visited Brooklyn and Queens, as well as a lot of New York itself. We were there for New Year’s, and it was an experience I’ll never forget.
One evening, we were out late and finished up in Brooklyn Heights, near the waterfront, and there was rain and snow; it was cold and wet, and apartment buildings were shimmering in the street light, and I thought, “This is the place where my main character will live”.
It had a very spooky atmosphere, the sort where ghosts would not be unexpected. I felt more than one shiver go up and down my spine in the few minutes I was there.
I had taken notes, as I always do, of everywhere we went, so I had a ready supply of locations I could use, changing the names in some cases.
Fifth Avenue near the Rockefeller Centre is amazing at first light, and late at night with the Seasonal decorations and lights.
The original main character was a shy man with few friends, hence not expecting the surprise party. I enhanced that shyness into purposely lonely because of an issue from his past that leaves him always looking over his shoulder and ready to move on at the slightest hint of trouble. No friends, no relationships, just a very low profile.
Then I thought, what if he breaks the cardinal rule and begins a relationship?
But it is also as much an exploration of a damaged soul as it is the search for a normal life, without having any idea what normal was, and how the understanding of one person can sometimes make all the difference in what we may think or feel.
Exploring Buenos Aires Beyond the Tourist Trail: 5 Unexpected Adventures
When most travellers picture Buenos Pride, they think of the tango‑filled streets of San Telmo, the grand avenues of Recoleta, and the bustling cafés of Palermo. While those neighbourhoods are undeniably iconic, the Argentine capital hides a wealth of lesser‑known gems that reveal a more intimate, quirky, and authentic side of the city.
If you’ve already checked off the classic attractions and still have a craving for something different, these five off‑the‑beaten‑path experiences will take you deeper into Buenos Aires’ soul—without the crowds. Pack a reusable water bottle, wear comfortable shoes, and get ready to wander where locals love to roam.
1. Stroll Through the Hidden Gardens of Jardín Japonés at Night
Why it’s special Most visitors see Jardín Japonés (the Japanese Garden) during daylight hours, but the garden transforms after sunset. The soft glow of lanterns, the gentle hum of koi swimming under moonlight, and the occasional echo of a distant saxophone from a nearby jazz bar create a magical, almost cinematic atmosphere.
What to do
Evening tea ceremony – Join a 30‑minute tea‑ceremony workshop (offered on Fridays at 7 pm). It’s a quiet, meditative experience that includes a short talk on the tea’s cultural meaning.
Night photography – The garden’s bridges, stone lanterns, and the iconic tea house make superb low‑light subjects. Bring a tripod and experiment with long‑exposure shots of the koi pond.
Moonlit stroll – Follow the moss‑covered stepping stones along the tea garden’s “Shinrin‑yoku” (forest‑bath) path. The silence is punctuated only by the rustle of bamboo and distant traffic, offering a rare moment of urban tranquillity.
Pro tip – The garden closes at 9 pm, but the surrounding Barrio de Palermo’s quiet side streets remain lively with hidden speakeasies. Grab a late‑night empanada from a local bakery and head to Bar Los Galgos for an after‑hours gin cocktail.
2. Take a Mini‑Cruise on the Río de la Plata in a Historic “Patache”
Why it’s special While most tourists imagine the Río de la Plata as a massive, industrial waterway, a handful of small, restored patache vessels (traditional Argentine sailing boats) offer intimate tours focusing on the river’s ecological and historical narrative.
What to do
Eco‑tour (2 hours) – Departing from Puerto Madero’s Muelle 1, this guided cruise visits the “Isla de los Pájaros” bird sanctuary. A naturalist points out native herons, cormorants, and the occasional shy black‑skinned swan.
Historical storytelling – On select evenings, a local historian narrates tales of early 19th‑century smugglers, the 1880 “Golden Age” of river trade, and the river’s role in shaping Buenos Aires’ identity.
Sunset salsa – Some night cruises feature impromptu tango or milonga lessons on deck, letting you sway to the river’s gentle lull while the city lights flicker in the distance.
Pro tip – Book the “sunset salsa” cruise for a Wednesday or Thursday—mid‑week sails are less crowded, and you’ll enjoy a complimentary glass of Malbec from a boutique vineyard in Mendoza.
3. Explore the Street Art Labyrinth of Colegio Nacional de Arquitectura (CNA)
Why it’s special The façade of the National School of Architecture (CNA) is a living canvas. Since 2015, a rotating collective of local and international muralists has turned its concrete walls into a kaleidoscope of political commentary, surreal imagery, and whimsical cartoons.
What to do
Guided “Graffiti Walk” (45 min) – Follow a self‑guided QR‑code trail that links to short video interviews with the artists. Learn the symbolism behind the giant armadillo, the floating books, and the hidden QR‑code that unlocks a secret Instagram filter.
Hands‑on stencil workshop – Every Saturday at 11 am, the school’s community art space offers a free stencil‑making class. Produce a mini‑poster to take home—a souvenir you actually made yourself.
Evening “Light‑Up” show – On the first Friday of each month, the building’s façade is illuminated with projection mapping, syncing the murals to a live DJ set. The resulting visual symphony is a must‑see for night‑owls.
Pro tip – Bring a reusable tote bag for the workshop supplies and wear comfortable shoes; the CNA campus is a sprawling, cobblestone‑strewn complex perfect for a leisurely wander.
4. Savour a Secret Supper Club in Barrio Chino (Little China)
Why it’s special Buenos Aires’ Chinatown, nestled in the heart of Belgrano, is often overlooked by tourists who flock to the more famous “Chinatown” of Buenos Aires (the restaurant strip on Avenida Corrientes). Hidden within the narrow alleys is a rotating supper club run by a collective of Chinese‑Argentine chefs who fuse traditional Sichuan flavours with Argentine ingredients.
What to do
Reserve a seat – The club operates on a “by invitation only” model. Sign up on their WeChat group or follow their Instagram (@secretchinasabado) to receive a secret code for reservations.
Taste the “Chimichurri Dumplings” – A standout dish that blends Argentine chimichurri sauce with delicate pork dumplings, served with a smoky paprika‑infused broth.
Cultural exchange – After dinner, the chef hosts a short talk about the migration story of Chinese families arriving in Buenos Aires in the early 1900s, followed by a live erhu (Chinese violin) performance.
Pro tip – Arrive a few minutes early to explore the nearby Plaza de la China, a tiny garden with a bronze statue of a dragon. The surrounding streets are lined with hidden tea houses where you can enjoy a post‑dinner té mate infused with jasmine.
5. Ride the Vintage Tram and take a short walk to the local Museum in La Boca
Why it’s special Most visitors associate La Boca with colourful houses and the famous Caminito street. Few know that a vintage 1920s tram line still operates on a short, scenic route that ends at the Museum of Industry—a former meat‑packing plant turned interactive exhibition space.
What to do
Tram ride (20 min) – Board at the historic Tram Station Plaza de la República (a modest brick building with a tiny ticket booth). The tram clatters through cobblestone streets, passing hidden murals and small workshops.
Museum tour – Visit the museum that showcases local history.
Coffee at the café.
Bonus: How to Weave These Experiences Into One Seamless Itinerary
Day
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
1
Night stroll in Jardín Japonés (7 pm)
Late‑night empanada & cocktail in Palermo
Rest
2
Mini‑cruise on Río de la Plata (2 pm)
Walk along Puerto Madero
Light‑up show at CNA (9 pm)
3
Graffiti walk at CNA (10 am)
Stencil workshop (11 am)
Dinner at secret Chinatown supper club (8 pm)
4
Tram ride and walk to La Boca Museum
Museum tour & coffee
Free night – explore local bars in La Boca
5
Free day – revisit favorite spots or relax in a park
Optional bike ride along the Ecological Reserve
Celebrate with a tango show in a hidden speakeasy
Final Thoughts
Buenos Aires is a city of layers—each neighbourhood, street, and riverbank offers a story waiting to be discovered. By stepping off the traditional tourist map, you’ll uncover hidden gardens that whisper at night, historic vessels that glide through the river’s heart, and culinary experiences that fuse continents.
These five “road‑less‑travelled” adventures give you a taste of the city’s creative, industrial, and multicultural spirit, inviting you to see Buenos Aires not just as a destination, but as a living, breathing tapestry of stories.
Ready to explore? Pack your curiosity, charge your camera, and let the hidden corners of Buenos Aires become your personal playground.
This case has everything: red herrings, jealous brothers, femme fatales, and at the heart of it all, greed.
See below for an excerpt from the book…
Coming soon!
An excerpt from the book:
…
When Harry took the time to consider his position, a rather uncomfortable position at that, he concluded that he was somehow involved in another case that meant very little to him.
Not that it wasn’t important in some way he was yet to determine, it was just that his curiosity had got the better of him, and it had led to this: sitting in a chair, securely bound, waiting for someone, one of his captors had called Doug.
It was not the name that worried him so much; it was the evil laugh that had come after the name was spoken.
Doug what? Doug the ‘destroyer’, Doug the ‘dangerous’, Doug the ‘deadly’; there were several sinister connotations, and perhaps that was the point of the laugh, to make it more frightening than it was.
But there was no doubt about one thing in his mind right then: he’d made a mistake. A very big. and a costly mistake. Just how big the cost, no doubt, he would soon find out.
His mother and his grandmother, the wisest person he had ever known, had once told him never to eavesdrop.
At the time, he couldn’t help himself, and instead of minding his own business, listening to a one-sided conversation that ended with a time and a place. The very nature of the person receiving the call was, at the very least, sinister, and, because of the cryptic conversation, there appeared to be, or at least to Harry, criminal activity involved.
For several days, he had wrestled with the thought of whether he should go. Stay on the fringe, keep out of sight, observe and report to the police if it was a crime. Instead, he had willingly gone down the rabbit hole.
Now, sitting in an uncomfortable chair, several heat lamps hanging over his head, he was perspiring, and if perspiration could be used as a measure of fear, then Harry’s fear was at the highest level.
Another runnel of sweat rolled into his left eye, and, having his hands tied, it literally made it impossible to clear it. The burning sensation momentarily took his mind off his predicament. He cursed and then shook his head, trying to prevent a recurrence. It was to no avail.
Let the stinging sensation be a reminder of what was right and what was wrong.
It was obvious that it was the right place and the right time, but in considering his current perilous situation, it definitely was the wrong place to be, at the worst possible time.
It was meant to be his escape, an escape from the generations of lawyers, what were to Harry, dry, dusty men who had been in business since George Washington said to the first Walthenson to step foot on American soil, ‘Why don’t you become a lawyer?” when asked what he could do for the great man.
Or so it was handed down as lore, though Harry didn’t think Washington meant it literally, the Walthenson’s, then as now, were not shy of taking advice.
Except, of course, when it came to Harry.
He was, Harry’s father was prone to saying, the exception to every rule. Harry guessed his father was referring to the fact that his son wanted to be a Private Detective rather than a dry, dusty lawyer. Just the clothes were enough to turn Harry off the profession.
So, with a little of the money Harry inherited from one of his aunts, he leased an office in Gramercy Park and had it renovated to look like the Sam Spade detective agency, you know the one, Spade and Archer, and The Maltese Falcon.
There’s a movie and a book by Dashiell Hammett if you’re interested.
So, there it was, painted on the opaque glass inset of the front door, ‘Harold Walthenson, Private Detective’.
There was enough money to hire an assistant, and it took a week before the right person came along, or, more to the point, didn’t just see his business plan as something sinister. Ellen, a tall, cool woman in a long black dress, or so the words of a song in his head told him, fitted in perfectly.
She’d seen the movie, but she said with a grin, Harry was no Humphrey Bogart.
Of course not, he said, he didn’t smoke.
Three months on the job, and it had been a few calls, no ‘real’ cases, nothing but missing animals, and other miscellaneous items. What he really wanted was a missing person. Or perhaps a beguiling, sophisticated woman who was as deadly as she was charming, looking for an errant husband, perhaps one that she had already ‘dispatched’.
Or for a tall, dark and handsome foreigner who spoke in riddles and in heavily accented English, a spy, or perhaps an assassin, in town to take out the mayor. The man was such an imbecile that Harry had considered doing it himself.
Now, in a back room of a disused warehouse, that wishful thinking might be just about to come to a very abrupt end, with none of the romanticised trappings of the business befalling him. No beguiling women, no sinister criminals, no stupid policemen.
Just a nasty little man whose only concern was how quickly or how slowly Harry’s end was going to be.
Plotters vs. Pantsers: Why Even the Most Spontaneous Novelists Need a Series Bible
If you’ve ever reached book three of your epic fantasy or detective series only to realise your protagonist’s eyes magically shifted from piercing blue to emerald green, or that a character who died in chapter four just casually walked back into a scene, you aren’t alone.
Writing a book series is an incredible creative journey, but it is also a marathon of memory. When you live with characters for months—or years—at a time, details blur.
So, when writing a series, does it pay to have a plan for each novel, if only to maintain continuity?
In a word: Absolutely.
While the debate between “plotters” (those who outline meticulously) and “pantsers” (those who write by the seat of their pants) is fierce in the writing community, long-term continuity demands a hybrid approach. Let’s dive into why minor memory lapses happen, the hidden costs of ignoring continuity, and how a simple planning tool can save your sanity (and your readers’ trust).
The Anatomy of Amnesia: How Continuity Errors Happen
Human memory is notoriously unreliable, and when you are knee-deep in the throes of drafting, your brain is prioritising plot momentum, emotional arcs, and dialogue over trivial data.
Over the course of a multi-book series, several common continuity issues inevitably creep in:
The Shape-Shifters (Physical Descriptions): Hair colours darken, eye colours shift, scars migrate from the left cheek to the right, and heights fluctuate.
The Aging Paradox: Did timeline pacing get a little wobbly? Suddenly, a character who was supposed to be 16 in book one is acting suspiciously like a seasoned 21-year-old by book two, even though only six months have passed in the book’s universe.
The Lazarus Effect: Minor characters—or worse, major ones—disappear for a book, only for the author to accidentally reintroduce them with a different name, backstory, or worse, revive them from the dead without explanation.
Logistical Lapses: Geography and lore are major culprits. Did the journey from City A to City B take three days on horseback in the first book, but only an afternoon in the sequel? Did a magic system suddenly acquire a new rule (or lose an old one) just to help you write your way out of a corner?
Why Continuity Errors Cost You Readers
You might think, “Surely my readers won’t notice if a character’s eye colour changes.”
Think again.
Today’s readers are deeply engaged. They read with a fine-toothed comb, theorise on forums like Reddit, and discuss books passionately on BookTok and Goodreads. When they spot a glaring continuity error, it pulls them right out of the fictional dream.
Frequent inconsistencies signal a lack of polish. Worse, they break trust. If a reader can’t rely on you to remember basic facts about your own world, they may hesitate to invest their time and money into the next instalment of your series.
Planning Each Novel: The Blueprint for Success
You don’t have to outline every single plot twist, chapter by chapter, if that kills your creative joy. Many successful authors proudly write by the seat of their pants for the actual storytelling.
However, planning for continuity is entirely different from plotting a narrative. To maintain structural integrity across a series, you need a two-pronged strategy:
1. The Individual Novel Outline
Even if you hate strict outlines, having a loose roadmap for each novel ensures that your pacing holds up, subplots resolve, and you don’t write yourself into a narrative dead end. Knowing your destination doesn’t mean you can’t take scenic detours along the way, but it does mean you won’t accidentally drive off a cliff.
2. The Ultimate Weapon: The “Series Bible”
If you take away only one piece of advice from this article, let it be this: Create a Series Bible.
A Series Bible is a centralized, living document (using software like Scrivener, Notion, Google Docs, or a dedicated binder) where you track the immutable facts of your fictional world. It should include:
Character Profiles: Full names, nicknames, physical descriptions, birthdays/ages, key relationships, core motivations, and major life events.
The Timeline: A master chronological ledger tracking what happens on what day, month, and year across all books.
World-Building Lore: Rules of magic, geography, political structures, currency, and technology. Keep a running glossary of invented terms, town names, and historical events.
The “Loose Ends” Ledger: A list of unresolved plot threads or lingering questions you need to address in future books.
Strike a Balance: Structure Meets Creativity
Planning doesn’t mean chaining yourself to a spreadsheet. Think of a series outline and a continuity bible not as a cage, but as safety rails. They give you the freedom to drive fast and take creative risks, knowing you won’t crash into a wall of your own making further down the road.
By investing just a little bit of time upfront to track your characters, ages, and world rules, you save yourself hours of agonising developmental edits later—and you deliver a polished, immersive experience that keeps readers coming back for book after book.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? How do you keep track of your series continuity? Let us know your favourite tips and tricks in the comments below!
There was something about this one that resonated with me.
This is a novel about a world generally ruled by perception, and how people perceive what they see, what they are told, and what they want to believe.
I’ve been guilty of it myself, as I’m sure we all have at one time or another.
For the main characters, Harry and Alison, other issues are driving their relationship.
For Alison, it is a loss of self-worth through losing her job and from losing her mother and, in a sense, her sister.
For Harry, it is the fact that he has a beautiful and desirable wife, his belief that she is the object of other men’s desires, and, in particular, his immediate superior’s.
Between observation, the less-than-honest motives of his friends, a lot of jumping to conclusions based on very little fact, and you have the basis of one very interesting story.
When it all comes to a head, Alison finds herself in a desperate situation, and she realises only the truth will save their marriage.
But is it all the truth?
What would we do in similar circumstances?
Rarely does a book have me so enthralled that I could not put it down until I knew the result. They might be considered two people who should have known better, but as is often the case, they had to get past what they both thought was the truth.
And the moral of this story, if it could be said there is one, is that nothing is ever what it seems.
Thrills, Spills, and just a dash of Romance 