I like the idea of using a character bible. I forget my character's names all the time and as a result ended up changing their names on the spot. I have in consistency with clothing, age, and timing due to losing the notebook I am using for my draft and having to get another one and having two different types of clothing for the same person and situation. I really should consider that so I don't forget.
1 2015-05-15 04:05:51
Re: Novel writing process? (6 replies, posted in Writing Tips & Site Help)
2 2015-04-12 04:20:29
Re: Motivation (4 replies, posted in Fantasy World Builders)
I just want to be done. Also because I have finally gotten an idea of what the story was about and I can finally explain the world.
3 2015-04-12 04:17:37
Re: Ever happen to anyone else? (4 replies, posted in Fantasy World Builders)
I have done that multiple times. I used to try to write it linear from beginning to end. Even when I got an idea that I knew would be better later I kept it from the beginning. After awhile and constantly getting stuck and starting over I just decided to write a rough draft of scenes, dialogues, scenes etc. Eventually I had a enough for a complete chapter or segment and before I knew it I had enough to create a rough outline of the order. Even then chapter one would become chapter two. A Chapter became a prologue and than a chapter again. Most recently chapter four became part of chapter one and chapter five became chapter four. Now I have to create another chapter five and I'm stuck. What timing too I was on role. The one draw back to creating random scenes is that although they were on the same flash drive I still got confused with which was what. I finally went through it all and de-cluttered. I had even combined some chapters which although won't be used till later it is still helpful that I had done so. Even if later I decide to delete a section or add more or split it up again for the time being I have pre-made chapter or two.
4 2015-04-10 03:29:02
Re: Using Music (8 replies, posted in Writing Tips & Site Help)
I use both methods. When I just want to write I listen to music. Sometimes lyrics distract me, but it depends on the music type like rock. Turning down the volume helps unless I'm listening to music for the purpose of drowning out outside noise. Sometimes when I want to work on an individual character in both writing and drawing I listen to a specific type of song or type of music. Depends on what is available. I have a variety of music on Itunes which is useful when my internet is slow, but youtube give me a larger variety to songs.
When I was drawing the royal fairy family, which is something I do to help visualize the character, I listened to 'Let me be Your Wings'. It is because it is the song form Thumbelina which has fairies in it. Plus the light tone goes well with them especially the Fairy King who is a romantic towards his Queen.
I had listened to this video I found that had the reprise of 'Part of Your World' with different languages when doing the mermaids. "The Little Mermaid" is obvious, but the reason for that video is simply because it is really long so I don't have to look for another one every five minutes
I listened to 'For the first time in Forever' from "Frozen" while writing my short story 'The Youngest Monarch." The Elf Queen has some similarities to Queen Elsa. Not with the who ice power thing, but that the Elf Queen has a lot to prove to the other kingdoms. I just relate those two characters.
Etc.
It is not always easy to find a specific song so I settle with a specific genre that would go with the character or if I'm working on a chapter I deal with a genre that would suit the chapter instead. At times I'm not always picky about the music, but I almost always have t have music and if nothing else just the tv in the background.
I actually got emotional while writing a short story that was sad at times because It was about a lost character and I was also listening to "Street Rat" from 'Aladdin' which is reallly moviing.
5 2015-04-09 01:40:23
Re: World Building (13 replies, posted in Fantasy World Builders)
My world had expanded drastically within a five year period. It was just in the last couple of years though that I have put a lot of effort into it. It wasn't even until last year that I have learned how much I have left out. I really don't plan on fleshing out every detail. I agree with the above statements concerning how parts of the story writes it self and there fore the development of the world. It is something I have believed in for a long time. Plus my writing style relies a lot on my subconscious. Because of work I can't always spend time solely on sitting down and brain storming. Luckily I had a lot of great idea while working because my mind is occupied with my job. Unfortunately only half had been written down eventually. Also my subconscious is good form of deciding what to keep. No matter the original inspiration over time I will forget about it and if it comes back pretty much the same or slightly changed I consider it a keeper. Granted for the sake of time I also make conscious decisions about changes and what to keep or take out. I have debated several time of whether or not to keep or leave out certain characters.
Back to world building. Although I have focused more on the world beyond just the people in it I still prefer to keep some blanks not just for the sake of allowing more room to grow later, but also because I'm writing a book series so there is no need for me to involve every expect of the world. I had how ever had added more characters. In fact I had added four characters within a 24 hour period after a review of a short story I did based on my book/world for a class workshop assignment. The story would explore this completely original character/creature as well as his 'origins'. (there is a reason why origins is in quotes). There was not an antagonist that could have been useful. That suggestion started a domino affect that led to a Vampire bounty hunter. To clarify a vampire that is the bounty hunter not a bounty hunter that hunts vampires. That led to the vampire Emperor and his two nieces.
I had however created a few brief family trees. Made rough drafts of a map of my world, Avaboya. I finally decided on allies and enemies or just neutral kingdoms. A brief history of a few kingdoms etc. I add a creature here and there. Maybe I just focused on what would be focused on my first book. I already have a few vague ideas of new characters. creatures that live in the human world. Dragon hunting/collecting etc. and a few ideas of bad guys in the second book.
There have been multiple small ideas that have form connections over time. From the beginning I had an idea of having a flower from avaboya which is blue and cold to the touch. A red flower that is hot and can even set things on fire. Early on I had the elf queen to have a crown that changed based on who wore it or touched it. It was meant to match their personality. It wouldn't be until later and after creating the Melona flower, which when touched formed a 'reflection' of one's true soul, that with magic can be used as material such as making a crown. That flower is used throughout Avaboya, but for differeng purposes. It can be used as a part of an engagement party for an arranged marriage in the Goblin kingdom. It is going to be one of the things mentioned throughout the series.
6 2015-04-07 01:40:54
Re: Climax and Denouement when writing the first novel of series of novels (8 replies, posted in Writing Tips & Site Help)
Well series vs. trilogy. With a trilogy you have a limited amount of time. The same can be said for a five book series, but a bit longer. Harry Potter is the first thing I thought of. I haven't read the books and I know the movies aren't the same thing. The movies are a general idea of the book so stay with me on this. Okay the whole ordeal throughout that whole series was that Harry was the boy who lived, Voldermort is the wizard who should never be name, That is the overall story arc of the series. Each separate book dealt with that story arc, but each one had their own separate arc. In the first it concentrates on Harry finding out about his origins, going to school, and dealing with the Sorcerer's stone. Then there was the Prisoner of Azkabahn (I have no idea how to spell it). The order of the Phoenix etc. With each movie/book it give you one step closer to the final battle as well as dealing with an individual problem(s) that happens to become a part of the over all plot. Hermione and Ron's relationship, Harry's friendship gets strained, deaths, the games, etc. Obviously with each problems resolve and questions answered more questions were formed. What I'm saying here and I'm hoping it makes sense is that each book is separate, but at the same time all of the books are connected. You have to resolve something in one book, but the answers found will lead to new questions and they have to lead to the next book. The problem is figuring out what to resolve and that is not easy to answer.
Now to make more sense of this I'm giving my two cents based on what I'm working on. I have finally started the final draft of my book. It is a fantasy novel where human world and magic world collide, but not with the whole human is really a witch or whatever the humans are humans. Anyways I have no idea exactly how long my series will be or if it will just be a trilogy. I had already decided on the issues with the first two books. The first book is more of an introduction of the world, characters, and situation. The main situation is keeping the world a secret. There are also going to be minor issues. Due to portals opening a human gets trapped there and that is the main issue of the first book. Next issue will involve dragons being stolen from the secret world into the human world. Humans and magical creatures are accidently coming into contact with each other and eventually having to interact for one reason or another. The overall issue will involve the political issues of the secret world etc. I really don't want to reveal too much because I fee like I'm getting off topic.
Basically in order for this to work I will have to leave some plot holes open at the end of the first book. Overall it is a good idea to have a few sub plots because I had read quite a few book series with sub-plots that eventually gotten entwined with the main one. Even when they weren't fully resolved there was still a hint of a possibility of a resolve. I had read a book series a few years ago atleast the first three books. I would have read more if it weren't for the fact that I haven't gotten the time to read long books at the time. I swear that is my reason for not continuing. The third had a cliff hanger and someone above mentioned how a cliff hanger at the end of a book deterred them, but because there wasn't any encouragement to want to find out. This cliff hanger of the book I read had it where a character dies and he was one of the main ones. After his death one of his collegues and girlfriend was talking to his tenant and she said something how he is out there still or it isn't over or something. I have actually forgotten about the book untill now.
A cliff hanger isn't a bad idea because in order for a continuation than there still has to be something to resolve. With an individual book everything has to be resolved.
