Would like opinion on my elven cultures

[JamesTFHS]

so i have been reading about how some readers hate the over use of elves and i was just thinking about how hard i have worked on my elven cultures over the years and would like some opinions on what people think. I am not going to go into deep detail just a basic over view to get feed back.

So my elves were created by their elven god who gave them their own continent to live upon. My elves are immortal to the point where time does not touch them but can be killed by the sword. As being immortal beings they have a different perception of what is important in life giving them a wiser feel but not exactly true wisdom greater than the other beings. I have also given my elves the ability to will themselves to die if they grow tired of the world. They basically can stop their body from living without having to commit suicide. The great spirits saw fit to teach the elves all their wisdom for they favored the elves. Though this caused a rift in the elven culture as they tried to impose certain ideas on others claiming their way of life was better. The elves broke apart into 5 separate nations with the original slowly dying out. One nation of elves hates another so much as to the point they refuse to help the heroes when they align with them and actually set out to kill the heroes and all the other elf nations as they join them.

it is rare for elves to value love as they have pretty much however long they want to find it. It is even rarer for any elf to love a human. I have no elf/human romance in my current novel. Just would really like some feed back there is a lot more.

[Wormtongue]

Cultures are a matter of author's preference. As long as you are self-consistent you can make your cultures any way you like.

Just be creative, and remember the world and the cultures in it are only a framework for the story. So don't get so weird with your cultures that it distracts from the story.

And you may want to break your posts up into paragraphs with some white space so they're easier to read.

[Spring-Gem]

You can't please everyone. Yes, there are people who don't want to read about elves, but there are also people who like elves. Write the kind of story you want to read, and if it's written well enough it will have an audience.

[Codey Amprim]

Elves are getting to that "eh" point. We all (at least from my understanding) have that Tolkien template of elves stuck in our heads, and they're almost expected to be like that. In my opinion, I love the Tolkien elves, and I think that version of them is a great depiction. Yours does contain almost all of the same elements, but I wouldn't quite worry about the culture itself, unless you're writing a novel strictly to depict the culture. Sure, your elements are important, but as Wormtongue said, don't get too anal about the reader understanding your elves, just move along with the story.

Honestly, my elves (actually in the inner debate process of being completely removed or kept) are very seclusive. They don't want to bother with the outside world, all they care about is maintaining their sacred grounds as their race slowly dies from the face of the world.

Do whatever you want.

[James Chandler]

Things I don't like: the name "elves." That's not a personal thing. I workshopped a chapter of my WIP earlier this year and that was the first negative comment. "Ugh, elves." There are plenty of fans and readers who still love elves, but other writers and editors seem to be really jaded about them. I have read several novels with a race/species that is basically elves by another name. So, you should consider changing the name, even if you and the readers still think of them as elves.

Also, your description makes them sound too much like Tolkien/D&D elves. There needs to be some level of differentiation to interest the reader and pull him into the story.

Things I like: The idea that what is important to elves is not what's important to humans and vice versa. This may make communication between humans and elves difficult. But, it also means they may or may not have many conflicts. I think there is a lot to explore there - just don't get distracted from the story.

Similarly, I like the idea that "wisdom" for an elf is not necessarily "wisdom" for a human.

Have fun.

[Jess A]

I see no issue in writing what you wish to write. If you wish to write about elves, then so be it.

If you see an issue in this, however, then perhaps create your own species. You have already created that species - just give them a different name, perhaps (as James Chandler has noted), and your readers may see a parallel, but they will enjoy having made that parallel whilst reading.

[Xanados]

Elves, I feel, have been sorely overused. The only elves I appreciate are Night Elves from the Warcraft franchise, wherein elves are darker. Heck, I just prefer a Drow.

[JamesTFHS]

A lot of interesting points thanks guys. One thing i would like to point out is that culture is very important because the culture shows the values and beliefs of the people and those are reflected by the characters actions within the story both the single character as well as the collective. but also i more of discussed their history over their culture so that is a little confusing. My new question is where are the similarities with tolkien's elves based on the info above.

[Telcontar]

The chief similarity I see is the immortality-but-not-invincibility. As you put it, "immortal to the point where time does not touch them but can be killed by the sword."

Really, not that big of a deal. This is one of those tropes that in my opinion is very easy to adapt between different fantasy worlds. Your chance for a unique take on this (though I've seen it in other fantasy, it hasn't appeared in the true mainstream yet) is the 'can voluntarily give up life' thing. It's not suicide, it's deciding when to die. Explore that facet of their society. When is it right to 'give up life?' When is is considered wrong? What effects does it have on the loved ones of those elves that do decide to surrender their life?

[Alex]

I think that the way you have "designed" your elven race is certainly intriguing. Originality is definitely in there. However, as stated above, it is a lot like Tolkein's depiction as well as D&D. Again, it is a great depiction and I am sure it will filter and refine as you write. Have at it friend!