I was looking for a fantasy novel that included gods as characters and happened upon N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. As someone who is always on the hunt for something different in the fantasy genre, I found this an intriguing novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Tag Archives: Fantasy Fiction
The End of a Ten-Year Journey
What’s Up, Doc?
Sometimes I wish I was as clever as Bugs Bunny. He was always three steps ahead of everybody and his plans always worked (Except when he took that left turn at Albuquerque. Hey, maps can be confusing!). Not to mention his sense of humor and cool attitude. I could use some of that mojo right now.
Or clone myself.
Back To Writing Again
Yes! I’m back to work on Ancient Magic again – and it feels faaaaantastic!
Previously, I had been writing and writing, getting some good scenes and some really awful ones, too, but writing quite a bit by the seat of my pants. I didn’t have a definite starting point. I figured that would work itself out later. Except it kept nagging at me that I didn’t know “The Beginning.” I ignored it and kept writing. Forcing myself sometimes and producing a lot of garbage, I think.
Now, after a break of three months (I didn’t realize it had been so long!), I wrote that first scene.
Correction, I NAILED it!
I introduced the protagonist and one of the major antagonists. I introduced the world, the magic system, and the major conflict. I also foreshadowed a possible ending to the series (if it works out that way).
I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere.
And it’s about damn time.
Book Review
I’ve been doing quite a bit of reading lately, so I have two book reviews: Rules of Ascension and Seeds of Betrayal, books 1 and 2 of the Winds of the Forelands tetralogy by David B. Coe. These promise to be the beginning of a very good epic fantasy.
Three Great Fantasy Novels
I’ve recently been rereading Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Curse of Chalion, The Paladin of Souls, and The Hallowed Hunt. Again and again, I’m reminded how easy it is to just fall right into her worlds and in love with her characters.
Even Published Writers Have Problems
It makes me feel a little less intimidated by the whole writing process to hear that writing isn’t a piece of cake to published writers, either.
Recently, Kate Elliot explained how her typical first draft progresses here .
David B. Coe at Magical Words has a post here about the challenges he’s facing in starting the second novel in his fourth series.
There was a lively discussion at Magical Words on a post by Diana Pharaoh Francis regarding pitfalls of worldbuilding here.
Do you have any links to add? I find it great inspiration on those days when a little motivation goes a long way!
Planning a Coup?
Fictional, that it. Whether for fantasy or historical fiction, I have an interesting resource for you.
WIP Update
My WIP writing goal for this year: Finish first draft and begin working on revision by the end of the year. Simple, huh? Yeah, right!
Over this past year, I’ve found that where writing is concerned, baby steps are the way to go. I’m not – NOT – a patient person, but in learning something new, I absolutely have to slow down to understand it all. So, writing this novel (my first) is a very slow, sometimes painful, sometimes amazing, journey. And a hell of a learning experience. Not only am I learning the writing process itself, but I’m learning about me - what I’m capable of, what motivates me, what I care about most in my life. Who knew?
Well, on with my update:
Magic in Fantasy Fiction
My focus lately for my work-in-progress is building an interesting and consistent magic system. When I first started planning my novel, I had a vague sense of what it would be and that it would tie in closely with the society’s religion. When I sat down to write how I wanted it all to work, I researched the topic first. Some writers shoot from the hip and it works for them. Not me. I guess I’m a researcher at heart. It’s just the way I operate. However, there’s quite a bit of information out there and I have to admit, I was overwhelmed at first. In an effort to make it easier for others, here’s a list of what I have found helpful.
- I have to begin any discussion of this sort with a reference to Holly Lisle’s incredible website. Her free advice and affordable e-books, clinics, and writing courses are the reason I got up the courage to begin writing and put myself out here. She’s a believer in scientific-based magic systems and explains the one she created for her series of novels set in her Matrin world. If you want your magic to have specific rules and act like a force of nature, you can find it here.
- On Writing-World.com, Lital Talmor has an article What’s the Magic Word:Defining the Sources, Effects, and Costs of Magic which pretty much explains it.
- Both Stephanie Cottrell Bryant and Elfwood have sections for developing magic systems as part of larger world building courses specifically for fantasy fiction.
- Breaking Out of Scientific Magic Systems was written for RPG designers, but it has some interesting things to say about the types of magic most often found in myth and folklore.
- Brandon Sanderson discusses his law of magic and the differences between what he calls “soft” and “hard” magic systems - great information!
- There are also books out there, but I have only read Orson Scott Card’s How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. While I highly recommend this book for his excellent advice on how to get and develop ideas, world building and story structure, it only has a small section on “The Rules of Magic.”
This is just a short list, but my hope is that it is a beginning place for those just starting out or maybe a source of fresh ideas for those farther along. And please comment if you want to share links you have found useful. Enjoy and good luck!
