Are You Writing Serious Fantasy? II

[Nurumaiel]

I know how watching TV can numb your mind. I never watch TV unless there's a really good movie or such on. The worst movie I ever saw in my life was on TV, and if I hadn't kept on the defense while watching it, it might have infested my mind and affected my writing. To write better now I only watch movies that are good without a doubt.

It's the same way with the books I read. If I read books that are badly-written, etc. it influences my writing for the worst. Now I try to stick to only well-written books by trustworthy authors, such as Tolkien, Chesterton, Dickens, etc.

So, Imladris, when you say,

you should tell your friend to read tons of books, because books will increasue and develope the imagination.

I agree, but I suggest you mention to your friend to read good, well-written books unless he's able to resist the temptation of letting bad books influence his writing.

[Sirithheruwen]

Congratulations Sirithheruwen!

Why, thank you!

I don't really have a ritual. I do listen to music, however. I prefer music without any words, it helps me concentrate better. The ROTK soundtrack is really good, as is the Pirates of the Caribbean one. However, I love love LOVE the theme for Requiem for a Dream. I also got an idea for a battle scene from the exact same music I got my death scene from. I don't think it will go in this book though, because there won't be many battle scenes. It also helps to write when I'm in a particularly emotional mood. Mad, sad, happy, whatever. It just helps to get my creative juices flowing. When I wrote said death scene, I was frustrated with my sisters, so I just went upstairs, turned on my music, and wrote.

I try not to watch TV also, and I don't really. Not that I have time to watch TV anyways. Actually, one of my main characters came from a TV show -- don't laugh -- called Teen Titans. Hey, I told you not to laugh! The show wasn't particularly inspiring, but something triggered my creative juices. Ah well...

Happy Writings!

[Sirithheruwen]

Hmmm....I wonder if LMP knows this thread has been resurrected. I should like to know how his novel is coming...

[Lhundulinwen]

Nothing wrong with using a TV show like Teen Titans! I once wrote a 3 page journal entry on the first X-men movie. (Don't ask....I still like that movie!!)

Personally, I try not to read or watch television shows that are related to whatever subject I happen to be writting about, unless I'm writing nonfiction. (Which doesn't happen often.) But I read and watch a lot of TV & movies, but all of them must have an emotional strength to them, usually within the first 5 minutes, or I don't get into them.
Ex. The Mel Gibson movie The Patriot. I ended up crying during most of the film, just because it was so sad what all was sacraficed by this one man. So I watched it and obsorbed (sp) those feelings and threw them into a poem. That is the only reason to watch TV or a movie, at least for me.

[Imladris]

I believe that tv has it's place in the writing area. As with everything else, you need to watch it with moderation, and when you do watch it, watch something that is unique, etc. But I think that the main main thing is that a writer must read. Must read everything: the classics, Shakespeare, etc. The combination of reading and television will fill you with good ideas...a fertile imagination.

I listen to music to primarily get into the mood. I find that music such as Linkin Park and soundtracks such as Edward Scissorhands does the trick very well. I was listening to Edward and I came up with the most awesome death for an RPG character.

[Orual]

I think that being exposed to a wide variety of influences is a good thing. Of course, I think that when writing a book reading novels and short stories is the best thing to do...especially if you read a lot of different styles and authors. Reading plays can also be beneficial, and not only Shakespeare: Sheppard, Williams, or more modern authors like Jane Martin (Anton in Show Business).

And I agree with Imladris when she says that a combination of reading and watching television, as long as it's good television (no, "The Bachelor" does not count), will help you write. With the rise of 'reality TV', smart shows are getting more and more difficult to find, but there are still some. Some shows I watch to get my creative juices flowing are...

The West Wing. You've got to love a show that doesn't dumb itself down for its audience. If you don't get it, they don't care--the writers are relentlessly intelligent and witty. My favorite characters are the dry, sarcastic C.J., and the often unintentionally funny Josh.

Babylon 5. Another show that won't pander to the lowest denominator. Past the cool, cutting-edge-for-when-it-was-made FX, its web of characters and relationships takes five seasons to play out, and it pays off brilliantly in the end. Favorite character: Londo Mollari, clever and never without a retort.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I classify them together because they are from the same creator and they share many of their directors and writers. Some of the episodes are a little conceptual and disconnected, but they remain my two favorite shows because of the depth of the characters. Buffy (the character) is my number one inspiration for my heroines...she's a female warrior, but the fact that she's a girl who fights doesn't supercede her personality. Favorite characters: Spike, who evolves through the series more than almost any other character I've ever seen on a television show, and the naive, blunt Anya, who always says exactly what she means.

Sometimes I write fanfiction to get into the mood of writing. Mostly, though, I use television as a springboard for characters.

[Lathriel]

I have been writing before I ever read LOTR and LOTR wasn't my first fantasy book. I had a whole poetry phase but I gave up since i don't think my poems are that good however I still like it when the poetry unit comes along in english class.

I don't like writing fan fiction and I have only written one. I don't like fanfiction because I want to be original.
For me starting is easy, it is the finishing that is difficult because while I write I am afraid that I would bore whoever reads it. I have only finished my short stories. However now I have written two stories that are 40 pages or a little less and they are far from being done. (That might be about 60 pages in paperback. YEEEHHH!!)

Sometimes I write in class and people ask what i am doing. I tell them I am writing a story and when I tell them that it is 40 pages long they look at me in amazement. I don' think that it is that extroadinary but they seem to think so.

I like to just start writing with no plan so whenever we have to plan in english class for our short story I silently grind my teeth. My story just comes as I am writing, I can't plan ahead.

I don't know about you guys but ideas come to me in the dozen if i had written all my ideas down i would at least have 12 different stories at one time. AAAAAHHHHHHH!

As for T.V, as long as you read lots too I don't think it would affect you too much. Maybe what would help is to get involved in music, you know play an instrument or sing. I think that playing an instruiment gives the brain exercise and therefore you can think of lots of new stuff.

I'm starting to ramble now so i should probably stop.