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Writing an Online Fantasy Series

The Haanta Series is the longest ongoing fantasy series on the internet. As of September 2011, the series covers twenty-nine books and over nine-hundred short stories. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with its author, Michelle Franklin, about the joys and challenges of writing an online series.

How did the Haanta series get its start?

It was 2010 and the winter holidays. The recession came around and I was laid off at Christmas. By that point, I had given up on a previous series I was writing and hadn’t published a short story or article in six months. When I was laid off, my friend and editor said to me, “You know, you haven’t written in a while because work has been killing you. Why don’t you take this time to write something new?” I felt that she was right.

Role-Play with Mythic Scribes

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Dice for various role-playing games — No dice required

During my teenage years I discovered the thrill of role-playing. My friends and I became enamored with White Wolf’s World of Darkness games, along with Middle-Earth Role Playing and Dungeons and Dragons. These games opened new worlds to us, and provided us with opportunities to explore the darker side of human nature.

As an aspiring writer, I particularly enjoyed the intricacies of designing and playing a character. The act of placing myself into a character’s mind, and responding as he would respond, helped me to write more realistic, three-dimensional characters. I would argue that role-playing is one of the best exercises for any writer who is interested in furthering their craft.

For this reason Mythic Scribes will be hosting a role-playing contest during the month of October.

5 Keys to Writing Craptastic Fantasy

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Jar Jar Binks, a Gungan — St. Jar Jar, Patron Saint of Crap

So you want to write a really bad fantasy novel, eh?

You’ve come to the right place. After years of practice, I’ve mastered five ancient techniques for writing shitty fantasy. These methods were pioneered by the elves of the Ethereal Empire during the reign of Xerxian Rhafstorr the Sword-Breaker (in the Twelfth Age), so you know they’re good.

Just read on, and you’ll be writing the Ishtar of fantasy novels in no time.

Novel Writing Software – Which Programs Are the Best?

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Some authors scoff at the idea of using software to help write a novel. As a technology geek, I take a contrary view. If software can make the writing process easier, why not use it?

I’ve been experimenting with novel writing software, and have found some success. What I’m wondering, though, is which programs are the best?

For my latest project I’ve been using three writing programs consistently. Here’s a rundown of what they do.

Humor in Fantasy Fiction

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Brian Wood’s first novel, Dreamworld, has been described as witty, clever and humorous. I recently chatted with Brian about his novel, as well as the challenge of balancing humor and drama in a fantasy story.

How did you become interested in writing fantasy?

In the sixth grade my brother Drew gave me a copy of The Eye of The World by Robert Jordan, and I was hooked for life. As for writing, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I became interested in possibly writing a fantasy novel of my own. After a few months and a couple of interesting reads, a truly unique idea literally dropped into my head while I was at a Mexican resort with my wife. After that, I had no choice but to write my series. Otherwise, the idea would have burnt a hole inside of me. It just happens that Dreamworld, my debut novel, was the first piece of writing (of any kind) that I ever wrote that was longer than ten pages.

How Lost Kept Me Hooked

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Hugo "Hurley" Reyes — Hugo “Hurley” Reyes

I was, and still am, a professed Lost devotee. Although I was less than thrilled with the series finale, the show remains one of my favorites.

At the end of each episode I experienced a strong, almost compulsive drive to know what happened next. No show made me hunger more for answers. And when an answer was given, it felt uncannily gratifying.

So how did the writers of Lost keep me, and millions of other viewers, addicted to their program through six seasons?

Writing Character-Driven Fantasy

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A key element of any successful novel is a cast of vivid, compelling characters. I recently discussed the topic of character development with author Frank LaVoie, whose debut novel Firesoul has been praised for its colorful characters. We also chatted about the special importance of characterization in the sub-genre of High Fantasy.

You are an unabashed fan of so-called “epic” or “high” fantasy. Can you elaborate on what sets this sub-genre apart from other forms of fantasy?

High Fantasy serves as the category’s best example in terms of defining the archetype. Typical structures might include the questing hero, a supportive band of allies, fantastical settings, magic as a vehicle for both good and evil, and a vast array of other fictional and far-fetched elements.

Getting Published in the Fantasy Genre

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For every first time author, finding the right publisher for your novel can seem like an impossible feat. I recently had the opportunity to chat with fantasy and science fiction author Terry W. Ervin II, whose debut novel Flank Hawk has received impressive reviews. Terry was kind enough to share his own journey to publication with us.

How did you first become interested in writing fantasy, and at what point did you decide to write a novel and see it through to completion?

I became interested in fantasy around the 7^th grade. My sister brought home The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. I read it twice and was hooked on fantasy. A second novel that impacted me was The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson. It captured my imagination and made me wonder if I could write something like that. It never went much further than that, although I continued reading and playing fantasy RPGs.