Are You Writing Serious Fantasy? II

[Eowyn Skywalker]

I find it rather annoying to know exactly what the charactes are thinking, and so on, because, with the style of writing that I do, and like reading, it would give too much of the plot away. You really must think on that, to have the characters thoughts would give away plot lines, and then, later on, things wouldn't come as a surprise. Straying away from Lord of the Rings, I will comment on Star Wars here... if, for example, you had known what Darth Vader was thinking on Cloud City , the fact that he was Luke's father would've never came as a shock. (Couldn't think of a LotR example for my point). So, therefore, I dislike first person, and stories that really let you know what's inside the characters mind. I tend to feature around a group of characters, anyhow, so it would be pointless, and would reveal too much to let you know what's on inside their heads.

Just my two cents. Not that I have any sense, nor do I usually make any sense...

-Eowyn Skywalker

[Sirithheruwen]

Well, as you know, my story has four protags. The bulk of the story will be in one of the protag's POV (N.). The rest of the story, though, will be alternating chapters between the other three protags (V., E., and F.)

Well, Ms. Skywalker (too tired to type the whole thing), you say that if you get into the character's heads, you destroy plotlines. Well, that's true, you could destroy the plotlines you were thinking of, but you could also open up new plotlines as well. I could tell you an example from my story, but that would be telling.

Well, that's all folks...
(Well, don't blame me, Ms. Skywalker took the good ending! )

[Imladris]

Usually when you're inside a character's head, it's only one person usually. There are exceptions, of course, for stories with more than one character.

Edit: Yeah mark12_30 *points to mark's post below*, that's what I mean.

[mark12_30]

Immy, I think you mean stories with more than one POV character.

Consider LOTR: POV is Frodo for quite a while til the breaking of the fellowship; Pippin carries POV in Fangorn etc; POV for Paths of the dead etc is Gimli. Also at Breaking of the Fellowship, Frodo's POV lessens, and begins to slowly shift over to Sam, til Sam carries most of it by Cirith Ungol forward.

So we are really "inside" a few minds, not everyone's mind. We never get inside Gandalf's mind that I am aware. Nor Elrond, nor Galadriel... for those people we see and hear, but do not mind-read.

[Firefoot]

From my standpoint, it depends on the story whether you should show character's thoughts and feelings. For some stories, like Eowyn Skywalker pointed out, it destroys the plotline. For other stories it is very beneficial and sometimes even necessary so that the reader can understand what is going on.

Something I always have trouble with as a writer is coming up with names for my characters. I have a great plot in mind but I can't start writing because I can't think of names for the characters and as a result the story either a. doesn't get written or b. has names for characters that I'm not satisfied with. Any suggestions on this?

[Sirithheruwen]

I'm sorry, Firefoot, but I don't know what to say to you. My names come naturally to me, without any trouble at all. I could be sitting in the middle of chemestry or taking a shower, and a name will come to me. I'll scribble it down in my notebook or just say it over and over so I don't forget it. (Once I even wrote a couple names on the back of my algebra test. ) Usually when I think of one or two names, a lot more come after that. That's all I can really say. Sorry.

[Eowyn Skywalker]

(Ms. Skywalker is an ok nickname, do not worry)

Okay, about names... well, it depends on the character. With 'Earthling' characters, I usually give them real names, such as Ann-Marie... but, with fantasy characters, they usually just come to me. There's no trick to finding names, just pull out a name generator, or a name book, or something. For future type names, use the BD name gererator, and the Dwarven last names sometimes work... sometimes. For first names, something short, and zippy sounding works... like Zoe, or Luke... or a plant, or bird sometimes, as in Willow, or Raven... those also work nice for past names. With say Elf names, come up with something that sounds cool, as in Arawyn Telessa, and make up a meaning. Names have always been easy for me, I just make something up, and give it some cool meaning.

That's the best I can give on that idea, is those for tips. Hope I made sense, though I'd rather make dollars...

-Eowyn Skywalker