Recent content by RedRidingHood

I don't think fantasy is dying, but it does need to start rapidly evolving. You can only create so many worlds, with so many powers. The challenge when writing is to think to yourself "huh does this feel familiar?" If it does, examine it and see how you can make it fresh and new, strange and...

I always find myself wanting to use elements for other genres. For example, when working with quick dialogue, I'll format it as if I'm writing a play. Or, I'll have pages where the setting is formatted like I'm writing a separate poem. Does anyone else do this? Or do you think that mixing genres...

For some reason I use the word "that" when it so doesn't need to be used. It's small, but for some reason when I'm writing out a draft, "that" is everywhere. I also tend to put in jokes and things that I find funny, knowing others will not. I've learned to edit those out, for the most part.

I don't think you can help but use some real life elements for inspiration. I do that for my world and for my characters. It's not that my characters are based on one particular person. Instead, they are bits and pieces of people I know, put together in a strange, but familiar way. You can...

I always base my settings off of real places. But by the time I create the world around it, you'd never know that at the start, the town is based on Pittsburgh, set in a valley with tall mountains all around it. By doing that, I can get a feel for the size of things and what will work for my...

I didn't even know software like that existed! I just use index cards. I write the chapter at the top and then a brief description of the action. I also include the characters that are in the scene. Then I hang it on my wall so I can see what's going on where right as I'm writing. Post-its work...

When I do research, I always try to get a range of internet and book sources. After awhile, the internet searches all start to sound the same to me. Books, on the other hand, go back hundreds of years and often provide new insights. Let's say you are researching mythology, a good book to have on...

My first rejection letter had the title of my work misspelled. They must have really hated it! It's hard being rejected, but the more it happens, the more you get used to it. It's never personal and many times it doesn't even have to do with your work being good or bad. It's all a matter of...

Has anyone tried writing a fantasy play? I know there are some out there like Jennifer Haley's "Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom", which blends real life with a role playing fantasy game, but does anyone know of similar plays, or made their own playwright attempts?

The target audience is fairly simple to determine in most cases. Think about the language. Is it complex enough that no one under the age of 16 or so would be able to follow it? Is the content matter specific. It's not just fantasy, but follows a certain group or sub-genre. Finally, have a...

I love short stories. Things like Kelly Link or George Saunders are amazing. And they are a bit hyperreal and fantastical which is great. I also love reading World War II biographies. For all the time I spend in the fantasy world, sometimes it's nice to spend time with people who have done...

I think it's okay to outline, but it's best not to feel like you have to stick to the outline. If you know exactly where your novel or story is going as you write it, then it starts to feel robotic. You can't surprise yourself and that means you may not be surprising your readers. If you get...

Bullying is very on-topic with today's society, but I think you have to be careful about how it is included. Most heros are the underdog and generally not loved by anyone. There's always that jealousy issue looming about. I think what you have to decide is what bullying means not just to the...

How much research into myths or world creation do people do? Sometimes I feel like all I do is research, but then when I go to write, I feel like I'm just writing an essay, not fiction. How do you find a balance?

How do people deal with plot? Is it a big concern, or do you feel that readers will forgive some minor inconsistencies or loose ends?