World Building!

Posted on by Mary

January 27, 2019 Facebook post

Oh the dangers of world building! Whether a fantastical magical setting, or a high-tech future in space — it’s so easy to become absorbed in the little details. And then, because you’ve spent so much time on it and are so enthralled with your creation, you have to share it all with the reader.
Zzzzz.
During a world-building workshop at the Willamette Writers Conference, author Fonda Lee revealed that she avoids the “rabbit hole” by delving into the minutia of her world only when needed for the story.
I’ve already done a lot of world building for individual stories and created maps for individual realms. I finally combined my research into a single document for my generic fantasy world (based on Patricia Wrede’s list) and drew a map of my fantasy hemisphere. Even so, I still do research specific to the current project.
How does one research a make believe setting? By studying existing locations and cultures (present and past). Tweak and combine them as needed for your setting. No need to ponder how humans adapted to a variety of geographic settings — research the cultures and societies from similar earth locations.
Past earthly adaptations can also guide the development of alien species. We’re also learning more and more about outer space and the habitable worlds out there. Not quite that hospitable a world? There’s always terraforming. As for the limitations of faster-than-light travel — SFF readers are willing to suspend disbelief if you devise a plausible means and tell a good yarn.
I’m still diverted by the project I’m calling “The Crystal Sword.” I’ve worked through “Save The Cat! Writes A Novel” for an idea of the beginning plot points (they can change as the story unfolds). Now I’m figuring out the world in which I’ve dumped my protagonist. Making it darker and more dangerous than originally contemplated.
Oooh! Conflict!

Off on a Tangent

Posted on by Mary

January 6, 2019 Facebook post

My latest young adult fantasy tangent is “The Crystal Sword.” Brainstorming characters and plot points.

Yay! I just picked up “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” by Jessica Brody based on Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat!” book on screenwriting, which I already have. Brainstorming with help.

Some time ago I had the brain burp that humans must be hardwired for stories from prehistoric times. Stories told around the campfire were the means to convey and preserve history and family lineages, teach children, and share the story about the wooly mammoth that got away.

Low and behold, Lisa Cron wrote “Wired for Story,” explaining that very thing. Since caveman days, we’ve developed an expectation of how stories will progress.

Which brings us to “Save the Cat!” in which Blake Snyder shares the beats (scenes/events) common to successful movies. A framework that makes stories work for our primitive minds. And Jessica Brody’s application of this to novel structure.

One of the best classes I’ve ever taken was Cynthia Whitcomb’s screenwriting course (which she had taught at UCLA). Works for novelists as well as screenwriters — and she plays scenes from various movies to display the lessons in action. Highly recommended for writers in the Portland area.

My homework is to read Brody’s book and keep “The Crystal Sword” in mind as I work through it.

My kind of fun for 2019

Lessons from NANOWRIMO

Posted on by Mary

December 15, 2018 Facebook post

NANOWRIMO taught me a lot about my preferred approach to writing…and it doesn’t include a daily word quota. I experienced the same stress of a timed test as if I was back in school. I also tend to circle back through the previous day’s work to fix things and get me back into the story before continuing. And, when I come up with ideas or corrections while away from the story I go back and fix those before writing new scenes.

Feeling a little burnt out after the November effort. I was going to edit the “NANO” story, then decided to set it aside.

However, the one-sentence blurb for a fantasy novel sparked my own ideas for how I’d write the story. I started pulling together research material and brainstorming from 2-3 unfinished projects. We’ll see where this takes me.

NANOWRIMO 2018

Posted on by Mary

November 30, 2018 Facebook post

NANOWRIMO ends at midnight, but I’m done — with 47,348 words written and the climactic scene completed. I continued to write while out of town for Thanksgiving, but couldn’t keep up with the daily count to meet the 50,000 word goal and never made it up. Time with good friends was more precious than the novel.

I doubt I’ll participate in NANOWRIMO next year, but one never knows. It’s a fun and enlightening effort.

NANOWRIMO 2018

Posted on by Mary

November 16, 2018 Facebook post

images-1

I’m pretty much keeping up with the daily word count for NANOWRIMO and somehow stumbling into scenes to add. Not sure if they move the plot forward as hoped, but I keep reminding myself it’s a first draft. They aren’t meant to be polished!

Photo inspiration for my protagonist. I’m using actors past and present, American and British, as visuals for my cast.

2018 NANOWRIMO

Posted on by Mary

October 27, 2018 Facebook post

Crest_NANOWRIMO

I’m setting aside my second novel about Mara (Ma’rama, Emperor’s Emissary) to participate in NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month). Creator Chris Baty pondered why so many writers never finish their novels. He decided what was needed was a deadline. Like a term paper. He finally settled on November and hoped writers could spend one month focused on their writing. Now thousands of participants around the world join in the attempt to write a 50,000 during November.

My project takes place in the far future when humans have colonized space. It’s titled “The Interpreter.” Raised by her merchant-trader grandfather, Ordahl, Kennis has mastered several languages in addition to the Universal Trade Tongue. This ability saves Kennis’ life when she is erroneously arrested as a smuggler. Or does it?

We’ll see how well I do. I’ve done some research and character selection, and I have a couple of plot points in mind. But much of the story is still a mystery to me.

World Building “Ma’rama, Daimyo’s Daughter”

Posted on by Mary

September 13, 2018 Facebook post

Map_CrestedEagle

World building usually involves a map of the fantasy world. Here’s the one I created for the island empire of Taykoku Koganay Ree’ukyu.

World building can become a trap. It’s so easy to become absorbed in every aspect of the geography and culture, and it’s really tempting to include every detail. To avoid boring “info dumps,” it’s best to insert information about the fantasy world or backstory only when needed.

Character Images: “Ma’rama, Daimyo’s Daughter”

Posted on by Mary

September 4, 2018 post on Facebook

Gowen

During the story arc protagonists are aided and supported through their trials and adventures by friends and companions. Mara has her twin sister, Hana, and they meet the brigand, Kai. However, their most loyal companion is Master of Arms Gowan, a former samurai knight who oversees the training of Iwi Norgaard’s men-at-arms.

Inspiration for Master Gowan was a picture of Orson Wells in the role of Falstaff.

Character Images For “Ma’rama, Daimyo’s Daughter”

Posted on by Mary

August 31, 2018 Facebook post

Shigeru Tamura

Every good story requires an antagonist who makes life difficult for the main character. Actor Ken Watanabe was the image I chose for Tamura Shigeru (last names come first the setting for my novel). Shigeru believes he’s acting in the best interests of the empire. When Mara and her twin Hana interfere with his plans, Shigeru attempts to eliminate them.