Recent content by staiger95

Two avenues of thought come to mind: First, you might have an ancient and now deceased civilization that was technologically superior which may have left remnants of their tech (in whatever manner). The repair and/or maintenance of these tech pieces, as well as their power sources, would be a...

Consider a book—a complete unabridged biography of someone's life. You can read that book from start to finish, or jump ahead and back, skipping around chapter to chapter, however you decide to read it, but you know for a fact that every time you turn to page 112, the story will always be the...

Writing is always going to be a balance between limitations and freedoms, and ultimately it is our job—our responsibility—as an author to use the language we have at our disposal to create a mental framework into which the reader willingly immerses his- or herself. Our choices of words and...

As mentioned, resources and technological advancement will have the greatest impact upon materials utilized for construction. Climate will determine the rest. As far as mud/brick and stone construction, they are very common in lower latitudes, so it is absolutely plausible. Do a little google...

If you plan to alter the genetic progression inherent in biological reproduction, then you should be cautious to consider how that would effect biological dimorphism within the society. You mention males being big and strong, but remember that males only became 'big and strong' to compete with...

I would suggest outlining a world map in the same fashion you outline a story plot--keep it flexible. Since the story and the world it exists within may be subject to repeated revision, keep it pliable until the final draft. Remember, the world, like the characters within it, exists for the...

The Macedonian era phalanx would be a much larger unit (upwards of 200 or 300 men), and as mentioned above, primarily uni-directional, with noted vulnerabilities along flanks and rear. Tactically they were used as movable barriers to help corral and shape the battlefield, while other infantry...

It sounds like you have a good plot projection already established, so you'll forgive me if I say, who the heck cares what you label it. Write the story as you see fit and tweak it as you go. Get some beta readers to give feedback. Fill in the dead spots and intensify the emotional hooks...

Since you recognize that you character can go in different directions, I suggesting thinking less about your character in terms of her individual biography and consider what it is that you as the author need from the character to advance the story. What works best? That is for you to decide...

You may take a moment to ask yourself, is this just a really cool conceptualization that I liked and want to emulate and possibly expand upon, or is this a functional component of the story I am trying to tell? If you want to make something your own, start with the story. The archetypes you...

A couple other posters answered wonderfully in my opinion, so not very much to add, but... I think it's important to note it is not the description of a sword and a whetstone that captures the reader, but more likely the thoughts of the character involved. In a broader viewpoint, it is still...

If an entirety of a section is superfluous, you need ask yourself why you wrote it in the first place. What develops here? What about my characters is revealed or reinforced? What aspect of the overall setting is introduced or expanded? What, if anything, may be redundantly expressed...

Short stories are the best for honing your narrative skills. They make you really think about what you are doing as a writer and why. Best of luck to you, sincerely.

The danger with prophesy and foreshadowing in general is that it runs the risk of ruining surprises and sapping the excitement out of things. Prophesies that are misleading are great, especially when they turn out to be entirely accurate if you had only looked at them from a different...

I will have to agree with Michael "Forget about gross, this is too self-inconsistent and gratuitous for my tastes." A writer must ask: What are the elements that are actually needed for the story, and why? Beyond that, some things are just superfluous nonsense. Target audience always...