Recent content by ZealPropht

So, pretty much, as the author I should know the how and the why behind my landscapes, creatures, etc. but don't necessarily have to include all of that within the actual prose of the story, except where relevant. Sounds reasonable. Thanks. =)

How much does real-world accuracy matter when creating fantastical realms? For example, if I chose to create a swampy place that freezes in the winter and yet has humid, hot summers, would a reader scream at me because it doesn't jive with what they might know of real-world swamp locations...

Of course, it should go without saying that killing off characters willy-nilly makes it so that a reader fears to get attached to anyone because they might die at any second. As has already been said, character death should happen when appropriate and for good reason. An author shouldn't be...

I think part of the problem is a lot of authors believe in attempting to redefine the genre every time they set pen to paper. They think that if they follow one of the tried-and-true "formulas" it will somehow lessen their work because it's "not original." In the end, what's more important...

About the only thing I would consider cliche would be the whole "child of prophecy" thing, or the standard Luke Skywalker set-up: kid from a rural town is surprisingly adept when it comes to magic, swordplay, etc. and loses his adopted parents/guardians, then embarks on a quest of epic...

The Belgariad was the first fantasy series I read after The Hobbit, so it will always have a very special place in my heart. I hadn't been aware that David Eddings had passed away. I am a sad panda, now. =(

I read the first book in high school and...it was hard to keep up with. I didn't really enjoy it, but I kept reading because everyone kept raving about how good it was. Eventually, I gave up with the intention or retrying in the future. Then, I had the (dubious) pleasure of attending a writer's...

I came upon the Shannara series early in life; my mother was a fan. I tried to read the first book, but honestly, I found it to be kind of boring. I thought maybe I was too young to enjoy the complexities of it, so I recently tried to re-read it. I found that, no, my first assessment was...

I enjoy his books to a certain extent. He's partly hampered by the constraints of the world (Forgotten Realms) that he is forced to work in, which means that I often feel certain scenes or scenarios aren't developed as well as they could be. That being said, I'm not really fond of his non-Drizzt...

I found your community through a Facebook ad, and since I'm always interested in connecting with fellow authors, I decided to join. I've read through some of your posts already and have found them quite informative. I hope over time I can contribute some insight on the writing craft as well. :)