Writing Fantasy - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Meela · 05-06-2003, 03:26 PM

I'm currently writing a novel, but I am restricted due to the fact that I am a Tolkien fan, and I have seen the responses some crazy people give to other fantasy works that share elements of Tolkien's ideas. I know that these responses are not to be taken seriously, but it gets me worried.
I want to write fantasy, but I am worried of being accused of copying Tolkien, now that he is so popular. For instance (and this is purely example, not from my book) if I had a guy in my book who was eventually revealed to be some kind of greater guy, eg. a fantastic sorceror or lord rather than the simple peasant he appears as, would people turn around and yell "Aragorn! Plageriiiiism!!!" or would I get away with it, if I made it as disimilar as possible?
Does it really matter? Obviously at the moment it does to me, because it affects the way I think and write. I'm constantly holding back because everything seems similar to Lotr or related works.

[ May 06, 2003: Message edited by: Meela ]

05-06-2003, 03:26 PM	#1
Meela Denethor's True Love Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mirkwood. With Thranduil... swoon Posts: 2,049	Writing Fantasy I'm currently writing a novel, but I am restricted due to the fact that I am a Tolkien fan, and I have seen the responses some crazy people give to other fantasy works that share elements of Tolkien's ideas. I know that these responses are not to be taken seriously, but it gets me worried. I want to write fantasy, but I am worried of being accused of copying Tolkien, now that he is so popular. For instance (and this is purely example, not from my book) if I had a guy in my book who was eventually revealed to be some kind of greater guy, eg. a fantastic sorceror or lord rather than the simple peasant he appears as, would people turn around and yell "Aragorn! Plageriiiiism!!!" or would I get away with it, if I made it as disimilar as possible? Does it really matter? Obviously at the moment it does to me, because it affects the way I think and write. I'm constantly holding back because everything seems similar to Lotr or related works. [ May 06, 2003: Message edited by: Meela ] __________________ 'The Hobbit' 1st impressions: 1. Thorin is hot... Oh god, I fancy a dwarf. 2. Thranduil is hotter. 3. Is that... Figwit! 4. Does Elijah Wood never age? 2nd: It's all about Fili & Kili, really. 3rd: BARD! OMG, Bard.