Are You Writing Serious Fantasy? II - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lhundulinwen · 05-18-2004, 05:43 PM

I too have never finished a larger work. Of course, I had never thrown myself in heart and soul into a project before now, except a few wonderful poems. I knew how to do a magnificent poem; find a strong emotion, memory or idea and open my mind and let my fingers type or write whatever came out. Editing comes so much later. Editing too soon always sucked the soul out of my poems.

Now I understand how to do larger works also. Its the same process except a lot longer, at least for me. Within the first pages five pages of my quietly growing novel, I got stuck. I had no idea how to move the plot along. I never ouline, (it makes my projects all seem so predictable), so I was staring at a roadblock. I was already in love with my characters, so I couldn't just throw them away.

I set the whole thing aside for about two weeks. I was outside running, (after a cow no less. Ah, the joys of agriculture) and it hit me. I knew who, where, what and when. It all fell into place. I learned a lot about my characters in that flash. A hidden past, a hidden talent, a few new gifts... it really was magic.

Which is why I LOVE to write. I don't understand where the inspiration comes from in most of my projects. It is really hard just to let yourself go, and not listen to your inner critic, but when you do, it is such a wonderful feeling. Its like dreaming while being conscious, directing your own personal movie or floating above the story you are creating. Sure, most of what you write will be edited out, but for me, this is the only way to get the meat of the story and those little details we all love in our stories.

Eowyn Skywalker · 05-18-2004, 10:29 PM

Quote:

I was already in love with my characters, so I couldn't just throw them away.

I set the whole thing aside for about two weeks. I was outside running, (after a cow no less. Ah, the joys of agriculture) and it hit me. I knew who, where, what and when. It all fell into place. I learned a lot about my characters in that flash. A hidden past, a hidden talent, a few new gifts... it really was magic.

Indeed, I truly know what you mean. I too have fallen into ruts with characters that I love, and would never throw away, they have too much to them, too much work put into their past. Aand then suddenly it came to me. I know my character for who THEY are, and not the people that they are based on. Suddenly, they had a past, and a future.

A hidden past began to grow up, and suddenly there was such a difference... suddenly the characters had something to them. A girl from earlier, suddenly she was known as the heir to the throne cougharagroncough. Suddenly, a half-elf became known to who he really was... They fell into place. An Agent... suddenly he was known as the Emperor, explaining sooo much of the plot. It was like magic, as suddenly the worlds began to show themselves, and create an actual world to them. And all it took was setting the story aside for a while... now I'm rewriting it, and the characters actually are characters. I'm writting a sequel for the story that explains so much of the plot.

I have never finished half my stories... to be exact, I have two finished ones... not to count my short short stories. But these were just fanfictions. I have yet to complete my fiction based tales, and I will too! When characters grow so easily, they cannot be easily lost again. Especially when they are not Mary-Sues, but actual people.

All characters have something to them, it just takes time for them to show through. But someday they will, so never give up on them. I'm glad that I never trashed mine... they are actually going somewhere... as soon as I got the idea for magic based technology, I knew I had something, and had to rewrite so much of it, but the work is worth it... this story has a chance at survival.

-Eowyn Skywalker

Sirithheruwen · 05-19-2004, 02:56 PM

Well, I started. Last night to be exact.

I was listening to the main theme for Requiem for a Dream when it came to me: the death scene of one of my characters I had been planning for the end of the book. Who knows if it'll even end like that, bu tit seemed a good start. If you happen to be listening to it at the exact same time you are reading this, you will realize it choreographs perfectly with the music. I'm so proud!

Well, I'm off to write!

Happy Writing!

Lhundulinwen · 05-19-2004, 07:44 PM

Congratulations Sirithheruwen! Starting can be really hard sometimes, even when you know basically where the story is going! Does anyone have a ritual or something they do especially when starting a project? I read about how one author always starts a new novel on January 8th every year. And how about music? I almost allways have some type of music going in the background. (Yes, I confess. It generally is FOTR or ROTK soundtrack, but hey they are really good music.)

Kitanna · 05-19-2004, 08:04 PM

I have a little ritual I do when I write. I almost always listen to music. Mostly the ROTK soundtrack, but sometimes the Gladiator soundtrack of Gustav Holz's The Planets. If music cannot be played I'm usually in German class blocking out my teacher's annoying voice. I don't know if that counts as a ritual, but it's how I do it.

Saraphim · 05-20-2004, 03:23 PM

Kitanna: I am also plagued by a German teacher with an annoying voice. You have my pity.

Anyway, I get some of my inspiration for stories and especially for fighting scenes from music. I listen to a lot of Tool, which is a great band and quite inspirational, for me at least. I recommend it, if you don't mind cursing.

When I'm writing a particularly profound scene, it often helps me to listen to a song that the scene relates to.

The way I see writing and writers is that they, (and people in general, actually) are genuinly affected by the things thay are exposed to.

My friend doesn't like to read or see movies, because he is afraid it will affect his writing and make it un-original. I keep telling him that whatever he does will affect his writing, but he doesn't listen. It could have something to do with the fact that I tell him to do stupid things with volatile chemicals as well, but oh well.

Imladris · 05-20-2004, 03:28 PM

Watching TV does numb your mind...but I think that that is more of the dumb comedy/soap operas that do that...I don't think movies do, though I, too, am becoming a bit paranoid and worry that I'm watching too much TV.

However, if he's still concerned about it, you should tell your friend to read tons of books, because books will increasue and develope the imagination.

Saraphim · 05-19-2004, 04:42 PM

Almost all of my characters are based, at least loosly, on people I know. The main group of people in my story is based on my group of friends. They may not look the same, or indeed be the same gender, but there they are.

It came to me as I was watching one of my idiot friends light his shoelaces on fire, and another idiot friend spray his Cologne onto the said shoe today.

No, not that I need new friends. That the idiotic, yet lovable characters in my story are based on the idiots I know and love myself.

An odd tale, I know.

05-18-2004, 05:43 PM	#1
Lhundulinwen Wight Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wishin' and hopin' in the Shire Posts: 139	I too have never finished a larger work. Of course, I had never thrown myself in heart and soul into a project before now, except a few wonderful poems. I knew how to do a magnificent poem; find a strong emotion, memory or idea and open my mind and let my fingers type or write whatever came out. Editing comes so much later. Editing too soon always sucked the soul out of my poems. Now I understand how to do larger works also. Its the same process except a lot longer, at least for me. Within the first pages five pages of my quietly growing novel, I got stuck. I had no idea how to move the plot along. I never ouline, (it makes my projects all seem so predictable), so I was staring at a roadblock. I was already in love with my characters, so I couldn't just throw them away. I set the whole thing aside for about two weeks. I was outside running, (after a cow no less. Ah, the joys of agriculture) and it hit me. I knew who, where, what and when. It all fell into place. I learned a lot about my characters in that flash. A hidden past, a hidden talent, a few new gifts... it really was magic. Which is why I LOVE to write. I don't understand where the inspiration comes from in most of my projects. It is really hard just to let yourself go, and not listen to your inner critic, but when you do, it is such a wonderful feeling. Its like dreaming while being conscious, directing your own personal movie or floating above the story you are creating. Sure, most of what you write will be edited out, but for me, this is the only way to get the meat of the story and those little details we all love in our stories. __________________ ~Just call on me, and I'm there. I'll always be your Sam~

05-19-2004, 02:56 PM	#3
Sirithheruwen Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2003 Location: Wind's Road Posts: 467	Well, I started. Last night to be exact. I was listening to the main theme for Requiem for a Dream when it came to me: the death scene of one of my characters I had been planning for the end of the book. Who knows if it'll even end like that, bu tit seemed a good start. If you happen to be listening to it at the exact same time you are reading this, you will realize it choreographs perfectly with the music. I'm so proud! Well, I'm off to write! Happy Writing! __________________ "My name is Mallard, but you can call me Duck." ~Random Saying, compliments of Sirith and her best friend, concerning a book.

05-19-2004, 07:44 PM	#4
Lhundulinwen Wight Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wishin' and hopin' in the Shire Posts: 139	Congratulations Sirithheruwen! Starting can be really hard sometimes, even when you know basically where the story is going! Does anyone have a ritual or something they do especially when starting a project? I read about how one author always starts a new novel on January 8th every year. And how about music? I almost allways have some type of music going in the background. (Yes, I confess. It generally is FOTR or ROTK soundtrack, but hey they are really good music.) __________________ ~Just call on me, and I'm there. I'll always be your Sam~

05-19-2004, 08:04 PM	#5
Kitanna Child of the West Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn Posts: 2,132	I have a little ritual I do when I write. I almost always listen to music. Mostly the ROTK soundtrack, but sometimes the Gladiator soundtrack of Gustav Holz's The Planets. If music cannot be played I'm usually in German class blocking out my teacher's annoying voice. I don't know if that counts as a ritual, but it's how I do it. __________________ "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

05-20-2004, 03:23 PM	#6
Saraphim Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The other side of freezing. Posts: 404	Kitanna: I am also plagued by a German teacher with an annoying voice. You have my pity. Anyway, I get some of my inspiration for stories and especially for fighting scenes from music. I listen to a lot of Tool, which is a great band and quite inspirational, for me at least. I recommend it, if you don't mind cursing. When I'm writing a particularly profound scene, it often helps me to listen to a song that the scene relates to. The way I see writing and writers is that they, (and people in general, actually) are genuinly affected by the things thay are exposed to. My friend doesn't like to read or see movies, because he is afraid it will affect his writing and make it un-original. I keep telling him that whatever he does will affect his writing, but he doesn't listen. It could have something to do with the fact that I tell him to do stupid things with volatile chemicals as well, but oh well. __________________ I drink Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters! ~ Always remember: pillage BEFORE you burn.

05-20-2004, 03:28 PM	#7
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	Watching TV does numb your mind...but I think that that is more of the dumb comedy/soap operas that do that...I don't think movies do, though I, too, am becoming a bit paranoid and worry that I'm watching too much TV. However, if he's still concerned about it, you should tell your friend to read tons of books, because books will increasue and develope the imagination.

05-19-2004, 04:42 PM	#8
Saraphim Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The other side of freezing. Posts: 404	Almost all of my characters are based, at least loosly, on people I know. The main group of people in my story is based on my group of friends. They may not look the same, or indeed be the same gender, but there they are. It came to me as I was watching one of my idiot friends light his shoelaces on fire, and another idiot friend spray his Cologne onto the said shoe today. No, not that I need new friends. That the idiotic, yet lovable characters in my story are based on the idiots I know and love myself. An odd tale, I know. __________________ I drink Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters! ~ Always remember: pillage BEFORE you burn.