The Blog
The Gilded Archives
Field notes from the writing of Dustling.
Craft, world, and the long road to a finished book. Filed by hand, kept for the curious.
Romantasy Spice Levels Explained (and How to Find Yours)
What spice means, a 0 to 5 scale you can actually use, and how to check a book before it surprises you.
The Romantasy Trope Guide: Every Trope, Explained with Examples
Every romantasy trope in plain words, why readers chase it, and a book that actually does it.
I thought I was immune to billionaire romance. I was not.
The four Twisted books by Ana Huang, one by one, with the tropes in each.
On the Architecture of the Wound: What Story Genius Taught Me About Saelynn
I thought the problem with my first draft was the plot. Too thin, too scattered, too much happening without enough weight. Then I read Story Genius by Lisa Cron, and I understood I had it completely backwards. The plot was never the problem. The wound was.
Free Scrivener Template: The Scrivener Setup I Wish I'd Had at 30,000 Words
I wrote the first thirty thousand words of my novel in a single document. One file, one scroll bar, and a growing certainty that something was wrong that I could not name. It was not the writing. It was that I had no way to see the shape of what I was making.
On Writing in the Margins: A Record of Stolen Hours
The Archives have always been built in fragments - notes pressed between duties, sentences finished long after the fire burned low. Eve Matsdotter reflects on what drafting Dustling actually looks like when a full-time job takes the daylight hours, and why slow, unglamorous progress is still progress worth recording.
On the Counterfeit Enemy: Why Most Enemies-to-Lovers Never Earns the First Word
Mild inconvenience is not enmity. A cold shoulder is not a war. The Gilded Archives makes the case that enemies-to-lovers has been quietly mislabelled for years, and looks at three books that show what genuine ideological opposition between leads actually requires before the lovers part can mean anything at all.
If you loved Fourth Wing, read these next
Four books to read after Fourth Wing, with the tropes in each.
On the Architecture of Ruin: Writing a Villain You Cannot Fully Condemn
There is a particular discomfort in writing a villain and finding yourself nodding along. Eve Matsdotter opens the Gilded Archives on the craft of the antagonist, and examines what it costs to build a character whose logic is terrible, coherent, and uncomfortably human all at once.
Books with morally grey MMC's I keep defending (Spoiler: all stalkers)
Three dark romances with morally grey leads, and who they are for.
What Grief Needs That Reality Can't Give
When my father died, the world didn't pause. It just kept buying coffee and complaining about the weather. It felt far too small for what I was carrying; it didn't have the right rooms. So I built some. This is how the world I'm writing came out of loss, and why some stories can only begin in ash.
Save the Cat Beat Sheet for Dystopian Romantasy
This is a guide to structuring a dystopian romantasy novel with Blake Snyder's Save The Cat beat sheet. This guide has been specifically adapted to help you weave together two critical narrative threads: your high-stakes dystopian plot and your romance subplot.
How to Master Romance as a Subplot in Fantasy Novels
Let's talk about adding romance to your fantasy story as a subplot. I've been experimenting with it in my current work, and it's added a lot of depth without taking away from the main quest. If you're a fantasy writer looking to add an emotional layer to your story through romantic tension, these tips can help. It's all about balance, making sure the romance enhances the adventure.
Collide Telenovela Romance By Alannah Roberts
Let's talk about Collide by Alannah Roberts, a captivating indie contemporary romance filled with steamy tension and heartfelt drama. It's a great time to discuss it, especially since January is all about supporting indie authors. I've been reading it for inspiration for my dystopian romantasy work-in-progress, and the emotional depth of its love triangle has really caught my attention. The story shows how strong chemistry and personal growth can elevate any plot. For authors looking to combine romance with high stakes, Collide is a great source of inspiration.
Crafting Fantasy: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026 Writers
Let's explore the world of fantasy craft, where magic, adventure, and memorable characters combine to take readers on thrilling journeys. As I work on my WIP, I've discovered that breaking it down into smaller steps helps me stay focused and enthusiastic about my work. If you're an aspiring author wanting to create epic quests or magical worlds, this guide will help you turn your ideas into reality.
How to Plot a Dystopian Romantasy Novel for Writers Who Hate Plotting
Let's dive into plotting a dystopian romantasy story, a mix of high-stakes worlds and heart-pounding romance. Lately, I've been struggling with my own work-in-progress, feeling overwhelmed by the structure. But breaking it down into simple steps has made it enjoyable again. If you're like me and dread traditional outlining, this method can help you too.
Never miss a dispatch.
New entries from the archive, the chapters before anyone else, and a chance at a handmade pendant. Sent now and then, never noise.