Ballads of Beyond

Debbie Coll and Rebekah O’Donovan outsource to YA fantasy author Hadassah Waugh for advice on all things plotting! Hadassah lends us her wisdom on outlining, how pantsers are secretly plotters, writing twists, and ensuring your pacing is on point even as you’re writing your first draft. Here are the links to learn more from Hadassah: Her website: https://hadassah.nz/ Sign up to her newsletter: https://hadassahwaugh.myflodesk.com/xu64agp9se Find her books: https://hadassah.nz/my-books/ Some resources Hadassah mentioned: K M Weiland’s blog Helping Writers Become Authors is the GOAT : https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/ Do you struggle to hold this much information in your head at once? Us too! On the Ballads of Beyond Patreon is a free visual diagram with all the main points Hadassah brought up. And if you are in the plotting stage of your writing, sign up to the Guild of Bards tier for a blank plotting worksheet to fill in, and a copy filled in with her The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe example.

Now reunited, our accidentally nuclear found family travel the multiverse in a leisurely quest to give Kala an education, have a honeymoon, and settle into the perfect home. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss endings, writing humour, and share their ultimate writing advice. (Season final.) Don’t forget to go to the Ballads of Beyond Patreon Guild of Bards Round Table to meet other writers and enter our exclusive short story competition. And join our elite paid tier for: the ebook copy of the story of The Thief in the Mirror the extra cuts, deleted scenes and bloopers from throughout the season

Henry and Viktorya's new "friend" claims that he can help them find Kala. Henry is calling her from across the void, but he's only another whisper to a lonely child in a crowded grave. Later, Beks gives herself KIDNEY points for not breaking up the found family. She and Debbie discuss how to (and how not to) find a family, and a significant difference in how they each approach storytelling. Extra on Patreon: What if this wasn't Viktorya's first found family? Who else has she left behind?

Henry and Viktorya are locked in a room, guarded by a gloating Clive, and time is running out around and inside them. Even if (okay, when) they escape, they still have all of time, and every world, to search for their lost little girl. Later, Debbie and Beks have their romance masterclass, exploring compatibility, love languages and (crucially) when high-fives were invented.

Wolf’s machine is gaining momentum, bringing Fractures from across worlds and times to fuel him. Kala is gathering herself to try to stop him, but she’s only one small girl against a Wolf and his army. Later, Beks and Debbie discuss the challenges of writing climaxes, the role of control in evil, and seeing talent in your work. If you want a spot of ridiculousness in your life, don't forget to head to Patreon for a taste of Beks' story featuring mad-hatter-inspired, clueless cousin, fake evil wizard named Steve, pirates and evil fairies story that she wrote when she was sixteen but thinks still holds up.

Kala is trapped with Wolf and his fractures, struggling to come up with reasons why she shouldn’t take him to her time-rich world. Why care about anyone else, when they don’t care about her? Later, Debbie and Beks discuss writing (and living) complex arcs, and fight imposter syndrome with a little common sense. Don’t forget to join our Patreon for Debbie’s “timey-wimey Remembrance stuff” theory about where Kala REALLY took Wolf. And comment your vigil to all those long-distance friends. We love you from afar, and will call you one day, I’m sure. <3

Henry, Viktorya and Kala pursue Clive back to Henry’s mirror room, but time is speeding up and the group is split up by another of Wolf's Fractures. Later, Beks and Debbie discuss avoiding the misunderstanding trope and when to have a villain monologue (and how to get around it).

Kala drags Henry and Viktorya out of time to escape from Wolf and his nefarious machine to steal time. But when Wolf pulls them back, a newly-retrieved villain is brought with them from beyond the edge of time. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss writing cinematically (or not), showing Henry’s character arc, and pacing romantic arcs.

Henry steals a vehicle off the dead world and finds Viktorya, Wolf and a mysterious new world-hopper back on Viktorya’s world. Henry is rage-baited into forgetting who the real villain is, to Wolf’s advantage. Later, Beks and Debbie unpack writing charismatic villains and the arguably much more unlikeable side characters.

Viktorya and Henry enter an old Remembrance burial ground in a race to find the commission first. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss Debbie’s continuity error, and they give a masterclass in worldbuilding, including finding inspiration, creating superstitions and understanding the depth of a culture.

Henry and Kala finally catch up with Viktorya and confront her about the theft of the mirror. But when Kala steals said mirror, she accidentally transports them to a dark, dead world… the remnants of an old Remembrance graveyard. Later, Beks and Debbie discuss the characters’ fears, solve an unanswered problem from last episode, and share the creepiest villain they’ve ever read. Don't forget to check out our Patreon for the insightful discussion about the Chinchilla Melon Festival (Beks' life was changed).

Strap in for a WORLD-HOPPING EXTRAVANAGANZA as Henry chases the Will-o-the-Wisp across worlds, and uncovers an unsettling conspiracy along the way… Later, Debbie and Beks discuss showing a sensation a character would have no word for (Victorian jet-lag) and writing a believable passage of time. (P.S. Don't miss our best blooper: Debbie's dog makes a silent but unmissable cameo. Only on ⁠Patreon⁠ .)

Henry heads to the Athenaeum library on the hunt for the Will-o-the-Wisp and Kala is bored. Then, Beks and Debbie discuss writing dialogue (and how it’s changed over time), creating the right level of noticeability in your extras, and they ask good questions, like, why’d they make him naked?? As advertised in the episode, you can buy Debbie’s sci-fi novel, An Experiment in Time and Memory, at IndieBound , Barnes & Noble , and Amazon .

In this most STUPIT of episodes, Henry is on trial at the Atheneum for the kidnapping of a child. Complete with intergalactic bureaucracy, an ARCHIVE cameo and a twist worthy of any courtroom drama. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss naming characters (and the Athenaeum), using that as an excuse to procrastinate plotting, and writing to a prescriptive genre.

Henry tries to win his parents’ approval of his business endeavours, but, unfortunately, his brother Clive is there. Later, Beks and Debbie discuss Victorian dinner society, family dynamics, and giving characters friends and family.

Henry only wants to go to dinner and convince his family that everything is perfect, preferably without being arrested by the intergalactic police. His compromised KIDNEY points, lost mirror and the child he's found are working against that. Later, Debbie and Beks discuss writing realistic children and the petty things that make us feel morally superior to strangers.

Meet Kala, a young girl from an island world who has the miserable luck of being an orphan. And then meet the world-hopping, time-travelling thief who accidentally kidnaps her. After the story, Beks and Debbie discuss their techniques for showing world-building, and look at what's the same and what's different for this season. If you're plotting to steal Beks' deleted scenes (and more!) world-hop over to our Patreon .

That's right, we're back! With a brand new world-hopping, family-finding story about a Victorian gentleman thief and his new wayward ward. Episodes one, two and three will release on February 27, 2026 (or a week earlier for our Patreon supporters!). Are you ready to enter the mirrors?

Daer and Evenn return to the manor where it all began, to reunite with their parents. Beks and Debbie wrap up loose ends, share their opinions on writing endings, and the panic-inducing amnesia of multitasking projects. (Season final.)

Tip and Evenn are working hard to bring Daer (and Ozan) home. And there’s a KISS. And Beks and Debbie discuss rise and fall in tension, and writing wholesome and selfless romantic epiphanies (when you’ve never had a romantic epiphany 🥲).