2446
Books / Re: What are you reading mark II
« on: March 20, 2005, 02:53:35 PM »
Ah, Megan! I remember you. It's been a while.
(Thanks Archon)
(Thanks Archon)
News:
"Magic is what makes fantasy fantastic," someone says, "you can't apply rules to them or else it loses wonder!" I respond, "Sure, but if you want to write them you will certainly want to know how they work." Writing is all about execution, and I find applying some basic laws of physics to magic systems make them more understandable and realistic. Here, I'm going to outline my basic method for developing a magic system.
Column by Chaos2651
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2447
Writing Group / Re: Abridge Speculists Meeting Coordination
« on: March 20, 2005, 02:26:45 PM »
I've never actually used IRC before. I'm using Gaim, which I think might be able to handle IRC. How would I go about doing this? Any kind soul want to get on AIM and explain the process to me?
Errr, okay. So when do you "actually have a meeting"?
Errr, okay. So when do you "actually have a meeting"?
2448
Books / Re: What are you reading mark II
« on: March 20, 2005, 02:23:58 PM »
Hmm. I know you, Fuzzy? What's your name?
2449
Books / Re: Mainstream Fantasy
« on: March 20, 2005, 02:13:10 PM »
Well, see, here's my problem. I've the intention of sticking largely with just one Fantasy world. I've spent years developing it, and I'd love to spend years more working on it. I'm just wondering if I will be shunned because I follow on the Tolkienesque tradition.
I'm already beginning to think that my writing will have to be of an "exception that proves the rule" style - focusing on the less "orthodox" aspects of the world in order to remove myself from the D&D steriotype.
I'm already beginning to think that my writing will have to be of an "exception that proves the rule" style - focusing on the less "orthodox" aspects of the world in order to remove myself from the D&D steriotype.
2450
Books / Re: What are you reading mark II
« on: March 20, 2005, 04:26:39 AM »
Currently working through the Wheel of Time. I'm on book 3 now.
I'm currently in the mindset of "will it ever end?"
I dunno. Anyone else have problems with world that seem made just for the novels? It's like, I can't imagine a [WoT world] outside of the Wheel of Time series, prophecies and "historical" references aside.
I'm currently in the mindset of "will it ever end?"
I dunno. Anyone else have problems with world that seem made just for the novels? It's like, I can't imagine a [WoT world] outside of the Wheel of Time series, prophecies and "historical" references aside.
2451
Writing Group / Re: Ruined World
« on: March 20, 2005, 04:17:31 AM »
Mind taking a look at my story and giving me an idea what level publication to submit to? All I know is that it didn't win WotF...
(Hmm. Forum doesn't like ANSI diaereses)
(Hmm. Forum doesn't like ANSI diaereses)
2452
Writing Group / Re: Abridge Speculists Meeting Coordination
« on: March 20, 2005, 04:08:49 AM »
Seeing as I'm (generally) new, I'm going to ask a few stupid questions:
1. Is this group one that meets in person (presumably in UT), or one that meets online?
2. If online, how do I join up?
3. What is the ultimate question?
Thank you for tolerating my rampant outburst of newbiety.
1. Is this group one that meets in person (presumably in UT), or one that meets online?
2. If online, how do I join up?
3. What is the ultimate question?
Thank you for tolerating my rampant outburst of newbiety.
2453
Site News / Re: Introduce yourself - right on!
« on: March 20, 2005, 03:51:39 AM »
Well, I don't think I've posted here, so I guess I might as well.
I'm Michael-Forest. Forest is not my last name. It confuses people. I generally go by "Jade" or "The Jade Knight" online. I get called "Jadey" affectionately, regardless of where I go. People always figure it out. I would use "The Jade Knight" as a pen name if I thought I could ever get away with it. I don't.
I've read some Fantasy, though less than I ought. I've read some of everything. I'm only finally getting around with to reading the Wheel of Time, which I'm not overly impressed with (not that I think it's bad either).
I'm an aspiring Fantasy writer. I've finished one short story to date (with the help of EUOL) which got rejected by WotF. I'm considering sending it to TLE instead. I'm pre-writing a novel, and working on another short. I've done extensive world-building (no one here uses the term "conworlding", eh?) and some conlanging.
I used to wargame constantly. I know the Warhammer world intimately, for the GW fans out there. I haven't touched 6th. Much.
My most recent RP experience was Riddle of Steel. I actually took Welsh at BYU with Norwood (anyone else here know Jake?)
I've generally lived in Reno, NV, and Utah most of my life. I spent 2 years (ish) at BYU. I'm currently in Montréal trying to convince my girlfriend to marry me and also to figure out how to write well. One day I'll get my degrees in English and History.
My interests are diverse. There are the obvious, and then there are other weird things. For example, I am an avid Thai cook. I find my electric wok indispensable, and one of my concerns about being in Montréal is finding a suitable store to obtain ingredients from. I harbour secret desires to make Electronic music (via Reason) and learn Calligraphy.
Oh, I'm almost 23. And I've worked in both Education AND Library Sciences. These experiences have left me bitter and jaded. =þ
And I'll go ahead and add here that I'm a huge fan of EUOL, but, strangely, not because of his writing (I've not had the chance to read very much of it). Rather, it's because I've seen his editing. Amazing stuff, having him tear apart my story like that.
Okay, I think that's a long enough entry for you people.
One last thing: my major writing weakness is plot. I really, really struggle with coming up with one. I feel like I'm getting better, but it's slow progress.
I'm Michael-Forest. Forest is not my last name. It confuses people. I generally go by "Jade" or "The Jade Knight" online. I get called "Jadey" affectionately, regardless of where I go. People always figure it out. I would use "The Jade Knight" as a pen name if I thought I could ever get away with it. I don't.
I've read some Fantasy, though less than I ought. I've read some of everything. I'm only finally getting around with to reading the Wheel of Time, which I'm not overly impressed with (not that I think it's bad either).
I'm an aspiring Fantasy writer. I've finished one short story to date (with the help of EUOL) which got rejected by WotF. I'm considering sending it to TLE instead. I'm pre-writing a novel, and working on another short. I've done extensive world-building (no one here uses the term "conworlding", eh?) and some conlanging.
I used to wargame constantly. I know the Warhammer world intimately, for the GW fans out there. I haven't touched 6th. Much.
My most recent RP experience was Riddle of Steel. I actually took Welsh at BYU with Norwood (anyone else here know Jake?)
I've generally lived in Reno, NV, and Utah most of my life. I spent 2 years (ish) at BYU. I'm currently in Montréal trying to convince my girlfriend to marry me and also to figure out how to write well. One day I'll get my degrees in English and History.
My interests are diverse. There are the obvious, and then there are other weird things. For example, I am an avid Thai cook. I find my electric wok indispensable, and one of my concerns about being in Montréal is finding a suitable store to obtain ingredients from. I harbour secret desires to make Electronic music (via Reason) and learn Calligraphy.
Oh, I'm almost 23. And I've worked in both Education AND Library Sciences. These experiences have left me bitter and jaded. =þ
And I'll go ahead and add here that I'm a huge fan of EUOL, but, strangely, not because of his writing (I've not had the chance to read very much of it). Rather, it's because I've seen his editing. Amazing stuff, having him tear apart my story like that.
Okay, I think that's a long enough entry for you people.
One last thing: my major writing weakness is plot. I really, really struggle with coming up with one. I feel like I'm getting better, but it's slow progress.
2454
Books / Re: Mainstream Fantasy
« on: March 19, 2005, 08:44:00 PM »
Hmmm.
I've spent a lot of time World-Building, and only finally getting around to writing (in any "real" publication-hopeful sense of the word), I've been toying around a lot with trying to come up with a plot. As a new and budding writer, Plot terrifies me. I still struggle to come up with interesting stories that are filled with "need" and "suspense" in an interesting not overdone fashion.
But apart from all this, after reading this thread, I've come upon a sort of difficulty—I have a fairly elaborate world which is specifically Tolkienesque Fantasy (Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, Dragons, yup). Granted, it's a completely new creation, with several twists of its own (and some completely new races/creatures, etc.), but escaping the "Tolkien stereotype" is impossible with this world.
Will it and should it be held against me or my writing? I admit that it's not the most ultimately Creative—Tolkien did something incredible with his Fantasy. He took common English mythology (lore/stories/superstition, in addition to actual mythology), and transformed it into something new and wonderful. Now, for an American (particularly raised as I was), this is all but impossible. Tolkien was raised with those stories as a boy. I was raised with Tolkien, Heman, and X-men as a boy. I have done a deal of studying mythology on my own, as well, and the Tolkienesque interpretation of Elves and Dwarves appeals to me. Using orcs may be unoriginal, but I find Joran's "Trollocs" at least as unoriginal (that's a particular bone I have to pick with Jordan—names such as Artur Pendraeg, Bel Tine, Shai'tan, Dha'vol, etc., are all much more bothersome for their real-world similarity than interesting. I would have preferred he kept "Arthur Pendragon", "Beltane", "Satan", "Devil", etc., than twisting the name just so—as if they were his own).
I cannot do for myself what Tolkien did for himself and be completely "original". Perhaps an Asian person could, or an African, or a Native American. But I cannot. So I do not attempt to. I world-build, and in great detail, but I build off Tolkien's work, changing it where I feel, adding to it, taking away from it… using it, in other words, somewhat as he used the mythologies that came before.
Anyway, back to my point: Should it be considered to be "unoriginal" or somehow inferior to world-build a new world which is still quite Tolkienesque? Or must every Fantasy writer who wants to avoid being tossed in with D&D or Warhammer novels have a completely different arsenal of races and monsters, etc.?
I've spent a lot of time World-Building, and only finally getting around to writing (in any "real" publication-hopeful sense of the word), I've been toying around a lot with trying to come up with a plot. As a new and budding writer, Plot terrifies me. I still struggle to come up with interesting stories that are filled with "need" and "suspense" in an interesting not overdone fashion.
But apart from all this, after reading this thread, I've come upon a sort of difficulty—I have a fairly elaborate world which is specifically Tolkienesque Fantasy (Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, Dragons, yup). Granted, it's a completely new creation, with several twists of its own (and some completely new races/creatures, etc.), but escaping the "Tolkien stereotype" is impossible with this world.
Will it and should it be held against me or my writing? I admit that it's not the most ultimately Creative—Tolkien did something incredible with his Fantasy. He took common English mythology (lore/stories/superstition, in addition to actual mythology), and transformed it into something new and wonderful. Now, for an American (particularly raised as I was), this is all but impossible. Tolkien was raised with those stories as a boy. I was raised with Tolkien, Heman, and X-men as a boy. I have done a deal of studying mythology on my own, as well, and the Tolkienesque interpretation of Elves and Dwarves appeals to me. Using orcs may be unoriginal, but I find Joran's "Trollocs" at least as unoriginal (that's a particular bone I have to pick with Jordan—names such as Artur Pendraeg, Bel Tine, Shai'tan, Dha'vol, etc., are all much more bothersome for their real-world similarity than interesting. I would have preferred he kept "Arthur Pendragon", "Beltane", "Satan", "Devil", etc., than twisting the name just so—as if they were his own).
I cannot do for myself what Tolkien did for himself and be completely "original". Perhaps an Asian person could, or an African, or a Native American. But I cannot. So I do not attempt to. I world-build, and in great detail, but I build off Tolkien's work, changing it where I feel, adding to it, taking away from it… using it, in other words, somewhat as he used the mythologies that came before.
Anyway, back to my point: Should it be considered to be "unoriginal" or somehow inferior to world-build a new world which is still quite Tolkienesque? Or must every Fantasy writer who wants to avoid being tossed in with D&D or Warhammer novels have a completely different arsenal of races and monsters, etc.?
2455
Everything Else / Re: BYU tries to cancel SF/F 318
« on: October 19, 2004, 03:46:37 PM »
I sent an email saying I'd like to take the course.