Is That a Spark of Magic? A New Fantasy Adventure is Almost Here.

Ever stare at a blank page, wishing a portal would just open up and drop a fully-formed world into your lap? We feel you. Every writer, from beginners to pros like Vanessa Finaughty, author of the new Wizard of Ends series, knows that struggle.

Sometimes, you need a little nudge to get the creative rivers flowing. And what better nudge than a moving, breathing, magical landscape?

To celebrate the release of her new fantasy adventure, we’ve teamed up with Vanessa to bring you seven video writing prompts. Let these clips of misty mountains, enchanted forests, and forgotten ruins be the spark for your next great story.

1. The Misty Valley Path
Watch this clip of a path disappearing into a deep, fog-filled valley. Prompt: Your protagonist finds this path, but the map shows it shouldn’t be here. What lies hidden in the mist, and what forgotten purpose does the path serve?

2. The Ancient Stone Archway
A crumbling stone archway stands alone in a field, vines snaking up its sides. Prompt: This isn’t just ruins; it’s a dormant gateway. What sound does it make when it suddenly reactivates tonight? Who—or what—steps through?

3. The Wizard’s Study
A cozy, cluttered room, filled with glowing orbs, ancient scrolls, and bubbling potions. Prompt: This is the sanctuary of a wizard like Kaelen from Wizard of Ends. He’s just discovered one of his precious spellbooks is a clever forgery. Who replaced it, and why?

Short Break, Enjoy this Story……

The Key, The Cat, and The Very Annoyed Wizard.

Let’s be real. You’ve never truly known frustration until you’re running late for work, your toast is burning, and your car keys have committed a spectacular disappearing act. In that moment of pure, unadulterated panic, you’ve definitely squinted at the couch cushions and tried to will those keys into your hand.

Don’t bother denying it.

Elara was having exactly that kind of morning. Her keys were gone. Her interview was in twenty minutes. And in a fit of desperation, she shook her fist at the universe and hissed, “By the seven winds, just bring them to me!”

A shimmering, purple tear ripped open in the middle of her living room.

Out tumbled her keys, followed by a spray of glitter, a single, confused-looking bluebird, and a man in slightly singed, deep-blue robes. He landed face-first on her IKEA rug with a dignified thump.

The man stood up, brushed glitter from his beard, and fixed her with a weary look. “Well,” he huffed, “the intonation was dreadful, and you completely botched the somatic component a fist shake, really? but the intent was surprisingly potent for a mortal. I’ll take that.”

He snatched the keys from her frozen hand.

“Hey!” Elara finally managed.

“Kaelen,” he said, as if that explained everything. He peered at her car key with academic interest. “Fascinating little metal lever. Is this what you use to summon your steel chariot?”

“You’re a wizard,” Elara stated dumbly.

“Astounding deduction.” Kaelen pocketed her keys. “And you, by accidentally yanking me out of a rather delicate negotiation with a very temperamental bridge troll, now owe me a debt. I require a… less conspicuous mode of transport.”

“A debt? Give me back my keys!”

“Or,” Kaelen said, his eyes twinkling with a mix of mischief and exhaustion, “you could drive me to the edge of the city. I have a world to save, you see. Well, to be accurate, I have to stop my former apprentice from unleashing a army of shadow-creatures that feed on chaos. And let me tell you, the traffic in this realm is a chaos-banquet he couldn’t even dream of.”

He gestured to her window, where the morning rush hour was in full, honking swing.

Elara stared at this magical disaster of a man who had just declared her morning commute a potential apocalypse. He was infuriating, possibly insane, and had a bluebird nesting in his hood.

She also knew, with every fiber of her being, that she was going to drive him.

Because what if that silly feeling, that hope for something more, was just the first page of a much, much bigger story?

Want to see how this magical mess turns out? This is the exact kind of wonder, humor, and suspense you’ll find in Vanessa Finaughty’s Wizard of Ends. The journey starts with a single, chaotic spell. Trust me, you’re going to want to see it through to the end.

Grab It Here

Break End….

4. The Forest of Giant Fungi
A forest where mushrooms tower like trees, glowing with soft, bioluminescent light. Prompt: Your characters must take shelter here for the night. The light is safe, but the darkness between the caps is not. What lives in the shadows?

5. The Floating Market
A bustling market on a series of interconnected boats and floating platforms. Prompt: Your hero isn’t here to buy supplies. They’re here to sell a magical artifact they don’t fully understand. Who is the mysterious buyer, and what do they really want with it?

6. The Sunken City
The ruins of a grand city, visible just beneath the crystal-clear water of a lake. Prompt: The water is receding for the first time in centuries, revealing the entrance to the royal vault. What cursed treasure or imprisoned entity was meant to stay locked away forever?

7. The Glacier Caves
A network of caves deep within a glacier, with ethereal blue light filtering through the ice. Prompt: This is the lair of a reclusive ice sage. Your party needs their help, but the sage’s price is a memory, your main character’s happiest one. Do you pay the price?

seriously dark creatures.