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Recent content by Hagan

  1. Hagan

    What's the funniest research you've ever had to do for your fantasy novel?

    Old languages and lettering. I was trying (and failing) to describe dead languages scrawled onto walls of a tomb being walked by a character who had never seen things like Sanskrit or Pictographic storytelling before and ended up making a mess of the section. I used my own ignorance to help...
  2. Hagan

    Malaysian Flight 370

    I'll admit ever since I learnt that the plane may still be intact and have landed somewhere, my mind went into overdrive thinking 'Why?'. Why steal a plane? Why kidnap the passengers? Why leave devices like the GPS trackers off switch in easy reach of a hijacker? Why wasn't there a back-up...
  3. Hagan

    Dwarves of your Worlds.

    For me, I'm an old Dragonlance player, I like my Dwarfs very much and in that world only one clan would do, The Theiwar. Unlike the rest of their brethren they can be magic users, and are pure evil without the need for a god to prompt them. I love them immensely. As for in my writing, I've...
  4. Hagan

    My Male Chauvinistic writing style

    Writing strong female characters is not so difficult, once you work out a few details first. Like male characters, female characters need to be driven, focused and well rounded in your mind before writing. They need merits and flaws both mental and physical, a distinct voice of their own and a...
  5. Hagan

    The dreaded "waking up" scene...

    Having talked with you previously about this story, I think I understand what your asking for. First thing you need to get clear before writing the scene is 'how the world looks and reacts' to the mortal form and mind. Is the world 'dreamlike' in a way, does gravity not seem as strong despite...
  6. Hagan

    Have you ever...

    Oh god yes, all the time. Half way through the first draft, you should have a lot of tarnish, rough edges, problem parts and yes, some boring bits. Keep writing, finish the draft, then go back and re-read. This is where the interesting work can begin. You have the beginning, middle and end...
  7. Hagan

    Narrative mode + content

    I try to do something new each time I sit to write, sometimes first, sometimes third, but the decision to do so comes in the first paragraph. I write naturally in the third person, its my 'default mode' but on occasion I'll write the first three sentences of a story and stop to reread it and...
  8. Hagan

    Do you listen to music for ideas?

    I do listen to music when I need a little push to write particular scene of theme, sometimes I just need that little stimuli to get the mind working. But its got to be relevant to what I'm writing. A little Alice Cooper when I want some characters or stories that seem rather bitter or moody...
  9. Hagan

    Range for Slings

    The answer is about 100-300 feet depending on the proficiency of the user, the length of the leather thong (typically between 10 and 18 inches) wind conditions etc, and the design of the 'bullet' (rough stone vs smoothed) and so on. This is largely based on the accuracy of the user as well...
  10. Hagan

    Trying to figure out the cost of Magic

    If its a direct transference of music like the crystal ball for example be like stealing the tune from a composers mind be of any help, psychic theft of thoughts etc. Hinders them by making sure the works that would have benefited the culture would never have happened? The back and forth cost...
  11. Hagan

    Social mobility in ancient Rome

    Rising to a prominent position in Rome was open to everyone who was willing to put in the effort, its one of the things about Ancient Rome that allowed it to become a republic despite having its own trade in slaves. Slaves earned wages, used to pay their masters for the food, shelter, and the...
  12. Hagan

    UK terminology

    Pretty much as you describe it, being 'Grounded' and privileges being revoked (80's to 90's kid).
  13. Hagan

    New Mediums?

    I'm writing a fan-story for Star Citizen on my blog and posting each update every week on the RSI site, and so far its seems to be working out alright. I use it largely for writing practice, something to kick me into touch and get something written each week (around 1500 words) though I have...
  14. Hagan

    Has your story ever mutated?

    Does my writing mutate? Yes. Mutate and grow. Oh yes, and I wish it wouldn't. Long works are not a problem, they are meant to change and grow organically as you get to a subject, section, or situation and really give it some thought. Smaller works in my mind, should not. But they do. All...
  15. Hagan

    Scrivener Software: to use or not?

    I've been using the Windows version of the Scrivener program for over a year now (fact check, my receipt says November 2011.. wow, that long) and I can't go back to using MS Word now. I'm hooked. I'll only use Word to check formatting etc on files compiled in Scrivener, but other than that it...
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