A Conversation for creating a fantasy world
The "typical" theme
I.V. BeerDwarf Started conversation May 17, 2001
Much as yourself, I have also been interested in the Heroic Fantasy from a young age.
However, I read the genre far less these days. I think the themes are becoming far to similar across the spectrum. For the following reasons,
- As you mentioned, the same races are being overused. New races simply don't appear; if they do, then they are just variations on the old ones.
- Some of the more popular authors develop their main characters so far (across many novels even) that they become super powerful and can simply end the plot by waving their hands and magicking the "enemies" away in a few sentences; when it had taken 600 pages to develop the plot.
- The Epic struggle of Good vs Evil is becoming tired! We need fresh Blood!
Please keep up the article, as I would like to try my hand at writing myself.
The "typical" theme
Burmston Posted Jun 6, 2001
I had the problem that all was going well: I had my map, world history (creation and major events), things of interest, races, some characters etc. But when it came to actually developing a story style thing (ie over a short time span) I came unstuck. I wanted to avoid the usual good vs evil but wasn't quite certain how to. And eventually the whole thing just fell flat and I lost interest.
Reading this article I feel compelled to start again from scratch but have the overwhelming fear that it will go in the same direction and that the world will be created but nothing will ever happen in it.
Any hints/tips/advice?
The "typical" theme
I.V. BeerDwarf Posted Jun 18, 2001
Did it fall flat in the construction of a storyline? Or in the actual writing itself?
The "typical" theme
Burmston Posted Jun 19, 2001
It kind of fell over in the construction, I wanted to avoid good/evil battle etc as has been done so many times but couldn't quite get my head around what to do instead. Otherwise you seem to get characters wandering around looking bored. Do you think maybe good vs evil still works?
The "typical" theme
I.V. BeerDwarf Posted Jun 22, 2001
I guess it's tried and tested, that's why so many authors keep returning to it.
Does it work? It doesn't for me! As much as I enjoy the genre, I read far fewer of these books of late.
So it sounds like you have everything in order - and nowhere to take it!
What were the ideas that you came up with? Did you find that you kept falling back into Good vs Evil or were there any other factors involved?
In my opinion whoever can come up with something more tangible - such as the nature of evil, and how it effects and is a part of all beings; is on a huge winner.
That said, and going off on a tangent; I guess Fantasy is going to see a huge re-surgance after the Lord of the Rings movie hits in December!
Just an idea
189042/LeonRR Posted Feb 4, 2002
As a novice to the guide and Fantasy writing I don't have to many ideas, but has anyone tried bad verse bad, or inventing characters as short bulbuss headed critters with tentacles and smooth dark red skin or something.
Just an idea
189042/LeonRR Posted Jun 30, 2002
What about characters tricked into doing bad when they think they are doing something good or putting them in, say a war between cities where bad and good are reletive.
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The "typical" theme
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