“You can make anything by writing.”
~ C.S. Lewis
Let’s talk about it
Two Moons
This is a concept that I thought of for a story I have been working, YEARS, on… The only problem is that is has been done before. So many people find this a simple addition to a world that will make it ‘different’ from our own.
That is true, it is different. But why?
An additional moons (or moons) should not be in your story just because you want two moons. Okay, maybe that is a good reason to put them there, BUT there should be more then just that. What effect does having another mass in the sky play on your world, how does it affect your people, their cities, their very way of life.
It is the little bits of information that make you having two moons believable and enjoyable. I’ll gladly think up a city that is built on stilts because of the tide pushes farther inland every day. For trade purposes the city needs to remain close to the water, but they don’t feel like bailing water everyday either.
Outlining 2.0
I’m currently 2.5 weeks into my outlining exercise. An exercise I was GREATLY dreading to even try, and I must say it started very rocky. I’m a discovery writer by nature. I have a scene in my head and I HAVE to write it down… like now! But I see the value in an outline, especially when I hit transition scenes that I tend to get stuck on. Areas where my characters need to get from one scene in my head to the next. I often stop writing a story for a while when I hit these points, I’m stumped on how to continue.
Here is a basic road map of how I went about this adventure.
Outlining is Hard
I will be the first to admit that I hate outlining. It is not that I think it is unimportant, it is just that I do not enjoy it… Or, at least,I have not enjoyed that little bit I have attempted. I feel that if I have some time to set aside to focus on writing, I’d rather be actually submersed in the story and writing it out. Not putting on paper what I ‘plan’ to write.
I know I’m not alone in this. There are two pretty distinct classes of writer: the Outliner and the Discovery writer. I am very firmly the second and when researching about famous authors you’ll see that the line on this is pretty half and half. There are, of course, also writers who move along the scale between these two definitions, finding a comfortable position for themselves.
Anonymous quote
Quote“Originality is the art of concealing your source.”
~ ???
Listening to Podcasts
StandardA couple years ago I had a good friend and writing buddy suggest a podcast to me. Now, I have never listened to a podcast before, and really, I’m bad at keeping an eye on anything that is offered at a consistent basis. I tend to get a bug about something, watch/listen/research what I’m interested in immediately and then never think of it again.
But I gave this a shot, I was also poked at consistently to start listening to the podcast, so I gave into peer pressure. 🙂 I must say it is the single most useful resource I have come across in my writing career. My only wish is that there was more.
Japanese Kitsune
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I have forever been in awe of Japanese culture, writings, art and folklore. One of my favorites being the Kitsune.
Kitsune is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore. They are a type of yokai, or spiritual entity, and the word kitsune is often translated as fox spirit.
Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do.
The more tails a kitsune has—they may have as many as nine—the older, wiser, and more powerful it is.Some folktales say that a fox will only grow additional tails after it has lived 100 years. When a kitsune gains its ninth tail, its fur becomes white or gold.
Pink Tree
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Oh… Fanfiction
“Fanfiction (also abbreviated to fanfic) is fiction about characters or settings from an original work of fiction, created by fans of that work rather than by its creator. It is a popular form of fan labor, particularly since the advent of the internet.”
The best authors I know, admit they started writing in fanfiction. As much as some see it as some sort of taboo. Perhaps worried about not looking professional if they so much as hint it.
Beginning of it all
StandardEvery writers story begins with them telling their audience HOW they started writing. Oh, they were young! They have been writing for as long as they can remember! So much social time was given up in order to find a comfy corner and get down on paper what was swirling in their head.
My start was the same as the rest. Many hours, online groups, and never paying attention in classes. I think we all look back and see ourselves starting our writing adventure this way. We also look back and wish for the time that once was… We had so much more time to write back then.