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I’m thrilled to announce that The Mythic Guide to Characters is here!
I began planning this book in the summer of 2012, after spending five years studying the workings of the unconscious mind. As a professional academic, I had become fascinated with how the unconscious drives so much of human behavior.
This gave me the idea of designing a new approach to writing characters, one that is based on the concept of “layers.”
This method starts with the unconscious mind, which is the first and deepest layer of each character, and moves outward. The end result is characters who are driven by longings and fears that they aren’t consciously aware of… just like real people.
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Labelled by TIME as “The Dean of Harry Potter Scholars,” John Granger is a pioneer.
When many were dismissing the significance of the Hogwarts Saga, or condemning the books for “promoting witchcraft,” John was the first literary critic to explain how they carry on the tradition of English fantasy literature. His book, How Harry Cast His Spell, shows readers how J.K. Rowling used classic literary techniques to weave a timeless story that connects with the hearts of readers.
I recently spoke with John about the popularity of fantasy literature, and the secrets of writing a great fantasy story.
What draws people to fantasy literature?
I think Mircea Eliade was right when he wrote that reading serves a mythic or religious function in a secular society, which is to say that we read fiction in general because it offers us an escape from or transcendence of our ego existence.
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While Mythic Scribes is geared towards fantasy writing, I’m a big believer in studying writing from many different angles. For that reason, I’m always on the lookout for great writing advice from authors in other genres.
Today I’m going to feature nine of the blogs that I turn to for inspiration. Each of these blogs offers great insight from experienced, talented authors. While there are many quality writing blogs out there, these are nine of the best.
In no particular order, here are 9 amazing blogs for writers:
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Writer and director Eric Luke has worked on films for Paramount, Disney, and Fox TV. He’s the writer of the science-fiction cult classic Explorers, which starred Ethan Hawke and the late River Phoenix.
I recently chatted with Eric about story development and narrative structure, as well as his latest project, the self-aware audiobook Interference.
How did you get into screenwriting?
I’ve wanted to make movies ever since I can remember. I picked up the family wind-up 16mm camera, started shooting, and very quickly found out I’d need a narrative to keep people interested. The first scripts were more like verbal storyboards, and I’ve always tried to hang onto that: just enough description to get an image into the reader’s head, then onto the next and the next: a really fast read.
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Aslan of Narnia
Is it wrong for Christians to write about magic, wizards and otherworldly beings?
Surprisingly, some people believe so.
Over a decade ago a fundamentalist church not far from my home made headlines by having a Harry Potter bonfire. Christians from the surrounding area were invited to bring their Harry Potter books to a public burning. The fact that this event conjured images of Nazi Germany didn’t deter the organizers, as they were determined to rid the world (or at least the greater Pittsburgh area) of the influence of J.K. Rowling and her supposed promotion of witchcraft.
Recently this question has arisen in our writing forums, and this has led to a thought-provoking discussion. One of our members eloquently expressed the crux of the issue:
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Sir Peter Jackson
Since the announcement that The Hobbit will be a trilogy, the Internet has been abuzz. The Tolkien fan base has been divided into two camps: those who are elated at the news, and those who believe that it’s a terrible idea.
Those who are apprehensive of the films becoming a trilogy have raised some valid concerns. For this post, I’ve identified three of the most repeated concerns, and will show why they should be dismissed.
This is About Money
It’s a recent trend to take the final book in a series, and divide it into two films. Famous examples of this are the finales of the Harry Potter series and the Twilight Saga. Whether or not this is positive, one thing is for certain: the studio will make more money from two guaranteed hits, as opposed to just one.
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Celebration Time!
In early February 2011, Mythic Scribes opened to the public. We began with a single article on our homepage and an empty forum. But we set forth a vision, and had faith that the right people would find us.
One year later, Mythic Scribes has exceeded our expectations. We set out to forge a community of new and experienced fantasy writers, and to provide a platform for authors. Thanks to the enthusiasm of our members and readers, word spread fast, and we have grown into something special.
Each day thousands of visitors come to Mythic Scribes to read and share our articles, and to participate in our writing forums. We have been cited on sites such as The Huffington Post and The Guardian. And most importantly of all, many wonderful, lasting friendships have been forged.
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James D. Macdonald is the award-winning author of over forty fantasy and science fiction novels, including his most recent work, Lincoln’s Sword. I recently chatted with Jim about his frequent collaborations with co-author Debra Doyle, as well as his work in educating writers about publishing scams.
You’ve had a pretty amazing career as a fantasy author. Can you tell us how you got started in the genre?
I got started in the genre by reading an awful lot of fantasy when I was young. Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, the Chronicles of Prydain, pretty much every word that Robert E. Howard ever wrote, Tolkien, and endless others. My father had been reading and collecting science fiction since the ‘thirties, so we had the house filled with fantasy and science fiction.
So, fast forward a few years. I was a young sailor, with a girlfriend in Philadelphia, a bookish young lady.
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Kindle Touch
I love books. I love the way that they feel in my hands. I love how they smell. To me, every book is a treasure.
Hence, when the eBook craze began I was a doubter. In fact, I was a fairly vocal critic of the movement. I couldn’t imagine why anyone would choose to download and read a digital manuscript when they had the option of reading a real book.
Slowly, my resistance has been melting away.
First, my sister-in-law showed me her NOOK eReader. At first glance, the screen looked like paper. I was amazed by the E Ink technology, and just how easy it is on my eyes.
Second, I’m running out of space in my home and office. Since my wife and I became parents, space has been at a premium. Our home bookshelves are filled with rows of books, one layer piled upon another. My office bookshelves are also at maximum capacity. I love to buy and read books, but I’m simply out of space.
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Highlander 2
We’ve previously discussed some of the best fantasy movies of all time. Now we’re going to look at the opposite side of the spectrum.
The following films are not necessarily the “worst” of their kind, but they are major disappointments. In other words, these are fantasy films that had the potential to be great, but went bad somewhere along the way. I went into each film expecting something wonderful, and was left with a feeling of having been cheated.
In no particular order, they are:
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