Anyone do any fantasy writing? - Page 8

Lief Erikson · 03-16-2003, 04:37 PM

Are you working on all three parts simultaneously? And if not, have you finished any of them yet?

Also what's your estimate as to the final length of these parts?

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 04:40 PM

I did some work on the third part, but unfortunately that got lost.

I've done some 20 pages on the first part, but it got rather screwed up in a format-to-format transaction, and I have yet to go through and finish fixing it. Also it doesn't seem to be having the flavour I want, and I really need to go through and write the whole thing. I was thinking that maybe they'd be 250-300 pages each, but I really don't know.

But once I get around to re-writing and de-scrambling what I have of the first part, I'm probably not going to do much with this for a while. I have another trilogy which I'm probably gonna do first.

Lief Erikson · 03-16-2003, 04:45 PM

Sci-fi, or fantasy?

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 04:53 PM

Fantasy. ALL of my stuff is fantasy. Though I've dabbled with a few ideas which are less traditional; i.e. modern fantasy, and a kind of re-awakening of fantasy in a sci-fi age.

Lief Erikson · 03-16-2003, 04:59 PM

Well the risk, I expect you know, is that you won't end up finishing your first idea. If you launch into something else that's big it's a great likelihood that you won't end up finishing your earlier idea. I personally take the approach that none of my stories longer than thirty pages that I have planned will get done except for the big one I'm writing now. By the time I'm done with this big one, I'll already have newer, better plans for what to do next. I expect you have experience with how old ideas become obsolete over time.

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 05:03 PM

I do, a bit. But the other trilogy I have I think is my best (and possibly most original) idea for a story. A lot is, erhem, heavily influenced by other stuff. As I was just telling about the one story, I was struck by how remarkably similar it was to the Hobbit.

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by #1AragornLover
My fantasy stories are about Aragorn! I love Aragorn! Yeah! I love Aragorn!

My goodness! I didn't notice that before! What does this have to do with fantasy writing?

Lief Erikson · 03-16-2003, 05:07 PM

He's writing short stories about Aragorn. That's in the fantasy genre, is it not

.

What are some of the key differences between these two trilogies? Is it in the types of magic, races or what?

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 05:19 PM

No, all (or at least almost all) of my planned stories take place in Lisman. That's why I consider it's development to be so important. The main differences would be the story lines.

Lief Erikson · 03-16-2003, 05:25 PM

Oh, all right. That makes more sense then. My book was originally created for the same purpose, to bring history to life and enhance things. However, I ended up getting rid of its sequels because they weren't good enough

.

Okay then, so now what shall we discuss? Characters, again? Good and bad characters

?

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 05:27 PM

I don't have any prefences.

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 05:34 PM

Mayhap ideas and such for stories?

***Earniel*** · 03-16-2003, 06:26 PM

I do have a question for the two gentlemen who seem to have written books already: How far do you go in your world building? Do your countries all have long histories? Did you make maps rigth down to miles and exact borders? Or is it all more vague and on the background, more hinted than actually existing? Just wondering.

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 06:33 PM

Written books already? You can't be talking to me.

I've never gotten more than c. 50 pages on a book.

**crickhollow** · 03-16-2003, 09:10 PM

Well, you're 46 pages ahead of me, so in my book, unless anyone has done better, you're the resident expert.

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 09:42 PM

But the 50 pages was pure crap.

Anywho, I suppose I may as well answer the question as well as I may.

I highly doubt I would ever have maps with precisely correct miles and such. I'm not smart enough for that.

And as for the countries, I have thought about that a goodly amount, though of course I need to come up with countries before I can come up with histories for them.

I have a very basic history for three regions; Canrath (or Kanrath, I'm debating on the spelling) is the oldest and greatest human kingdom, centered on the White City of Gondel, built by the Elves and Dwarves before Mankind was created; Gondel is centered around the divinely built Temple of Eltarn. The Swamps of Death is the name given to the region where the Dark-Elves live; when they broke off from the other Elves in rebellion to Eltarn, they fled there, and their darkness flooded and poisoned the region, turning it into a vile swamp. And Oldarul was founded by the High-Elves to guard the gap in the Shield Mountains which separate the Swamps of Death from the rest of the world.

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 09:44 PM

BTW, just wanted to officially add that I'm open to any suggestions any-one might have, and that if they want to see any of my stuff, to PM me, and I'll be more than happy to show it to them.

Elvellyn · 03-16-2003, 09:48 PM

I have a question too. Do you guys ever have trouble writing from a woman's perspective?

Gwaimir Windgem · 03-16-2003, 09:57 PM

As I've never tried it, I can honestly say I don't.

Lief Erikson · 03-17-2003, 12:13 AM

I have written from women's perspective many times, but never found it difficult. They're just characters one invents, the same as men are. I've not analyzed differences between my women and my men, though I can assure you they're definitely not as distinct as Robert Jordan's

.

My history isn't that deep. I've done some as far as the history, but most of it is just current ideas and opinions, not set in concrete. My farthest back history is set in a few things, and then I have a few other major events. There are many generations which I haven't written anything about, and there's a lot of history yet for me to invent. Most of the history that is done is very close to the time of my book's events, because I needed it as a base. So to answer your question, Eärniel (If it was directed partly toward me), I have probably not done nearly as much history yet as Gwaimir has. Even though I'm nearly 400 pages into my book.

I haven't gotten into working out all the distances in terms of miles, though I generally do gage about how long a trip will take before they take it. My world Erinosad isn't near as big as planet Earth is

.

03-16-2003, 04:40 PM	#142
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	I did some work on the third part, but unfortunately that got lost. I've done some 20 pages on the first part, but it got rather screwed up in a format-to-format transaction, and I have yet to go through and finish fixing it. Also it doesn't seem to be having the flavour I want, and I really need to go through and write the whole thing. I was thinking that maybe they'd be 250-300 pages each, but I really don't know. But once I get around to re-writing and de-scrambling what I have of the first part, I'm probably not going to do much with this for a while. I have another trilogy which I'm probably gonna do first. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 04:53 PM	#144
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Fantasy. ALL of my stuff is fantasy. Though I've dabbled with a few ideas which are less traditional; i.e. modern fantasy, and a kind of re-awakening of fantasy in a sci-fi age. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 05:03 PM	#146
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	I do, a bit. But the other trilogy I have I think is my best (and possibly most original) idea for a story. A lot is, erhem, heavily influenced by other stuff. As I was just telling about the one story, I was struck by how remarkably similar it was to the Hobbit. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 05:19 PM	#149
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	No, all (or at least almost all) of my planned stories take place in Lisman. That's why I consider it's development to be so important. The main differences would be the story lines. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 05:27 PM	#151
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	I don't have any prefences. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 04:37 PM	#141
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	Are you working on all three parts simultaneously? And if not, have you finished any of them yet? Also what's your estimate as to the final length of these parts?

03-16-2003, 04:45 PM	#143
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	Sci-fi, or fantasy?

03-16-2003, 04:59 PM	#145
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	Well the risk, I expect you know, is that you won't end up finishing your first idea. If you launch into something else that's big it's a great likelihood that you won't end up finishing your earlier idea. I personally take the approach that none of my stories longer than thirty pages that I have planned will get done except for the big one I'm writing now. By the time I'm done with this big one, I'll already have newer, better plans for what to do next. I expect you have experience with how old ideas become obsolete over time.

03-16-2003, 05:07 PM	#148
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	He's writing short stories about Aragorn. That's in the fantasy genre, is it not . What are some of the key differences between these two trilogies? Is it in the types of magic, races or what?

03-16-2003, 05:25 PM	#150
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	Oh, all right. That makes more sense then. My book was originally created for the same purpose, to bring history to life and enhance things. However, I ended up getting rid of its sequels because they weren't good enough . Okay then, so now what shall we discuss? Characters, again? Good and bad characters ?

03-16-2003, 05:34 PM	#152
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Mayhap ideas and such for stories? __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 06:26 PM	#153
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	I do have a question for the two gentlemen who seem to have written books already: How far do you go in your world building? Do your countries all have long histories? Did you make maps rigth down to miles and exact borders? Or is it all more vague and on the background, more hinted than actually existing? Just wondering. __________________ We are not things.

03-16-2003, 06:33 PM	#154
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Written books already? You can't be talking to me. I've never gotten more than c. 50 pages on a book. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 09:10 PM	#155
crickhollow The Buckleberry Fairy/Captain Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Washington State again (I miss Texas). Posts: 1,345	Well, you're 46 pages ahead of me, so in my book, unless anyone has done better, you're the resident expert. __________________ A day will come at last when I Shall take the hidden paths that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun.

03-16-2003, 09:42 PM	#156
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	But the 50 pages was pure crap. Anywho, I suppose I may as well answer the question as well as I may. I highly doubt I would ever have maps with precisely correct miles and such. I'm not smart enough for that. And as for the countries, I have thought about that a goodly amount, though of course I need to come up with countries before I can come up with histories for them. I have a very basic history for three regions; Canrath (or Kanrath, I'm debating on the spelling) is the oldest and greatest human kingdom, centered on the White City of Gondel, built by the Elves and Dwarves before Mankind was created; Gondel is centered around the divinely built Temple of Eltarn. The Swamps of Death is the name given to the region where the Dark-Elves live; when they broke off from the other Elves in rebellion to Eltarn, they fled there, and their darkness flooded and poisoned the region, turning it into a vile swamp. And Oldarul was founded by the High-Elves to guard the gap in the Shield Mountains which separate the Swamps of Death from the rest of the world. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 09:44 PM	#157
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	BTW, just wanted to officially add that I'm open to any suggestions any-one might have, and that if they want to see any of my stuff, to PM me, and I'll be more than happy to show it to them. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-16-2003, 09:48 PM	#158
Elvellyn The Redneck Elf Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In a house Posts: 539	I have a question too. Do you guys ever have trouble writing from a woman's perspective? __________________ Oliphants make great pets.

03-16-2003, 09:57 PM	#159
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	As I've never tried it, I can honestly say I don't. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

03-17-2003, 12:13 AM	#160
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	I have written from women's perspective many times, but never found it difficult. They're just characters one invents, the same as men are. I've not analyzed differences between my women and my men, though I can assure you they're definitely not as distinct as Robert Jordan's . My history isn't that deep. I've done some as far as the history, but most of it is just current ideas and opinions, not set in concrete. My farthest back history is set in a few things, and then I have a few other major events. There are many generations which I haven't written anything about, and there's a lot of history yet for me to invent. Most of the history that is done is very close to the time of my book's events, because I needed it as a base. So to answer your question, Eärniel (If it was directed partly toward me), I have probably not done nearly as much history yet as Gwaimir has. Even though I'm nearly 400 pages into my book. I haven't gotten into working out all the distances in terms of miles, though I generally do gage about how long a trip will take before they take it. My world Erinosad isn't near as big as planet Earth is .

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