Recent content by T.Allen.Smith

I used to feel that way all the time. As a beginning writer my ideas overshot my ability to execute by a wide margin. That, and a natural fear of my inability to write eloquently, made being a writer seem like a monumental task. Eventually though, I decided to do something about it. I read a...

The currently most popular fantasy series Game of Thrones is based on the historical War of the Roses, and it's barely recognizable in that regard. So, yes. You can mix as much, or as little actual factual history as you please.

1) We do not attack other members on this forum. If you are unclear regarding the rules of conduct at Mythic Scribes, you may read them here: https://mythicscribes.com/forums/news-and-announcements/9-forum-rules.html 2) There seems to be a lot of confusion on what you're trying to communicate...

Complete opposite experience here. I was underwhelmed, to say the least. It bored me to tears, to the point I was happy to get up for snacks and water for my kids halfway through the movie. In my opinion, the movie was predictable...corny...and uninteresting on almost every level. Such a...

Adding from another direction.... Yes, it's plausible, but I think unlikely within such a short time frame. If you're forced to kill, instinct may take control. Reason, and therefore the ability to feel guilt, may come later. For guilt to be almost immediate, I think there would have to be...

Flash forwards can be effective when used to subvert reader expectations. Imagine your character, in a flash forward, performing actions that would lead the reader to believe she is a highly skilled cat burglar. The main story body after the flash forward might back up that assertion, but...

Does it exceed the maximum character length? If so, you may have to break it down into smaller posts.

Agree with the others. Your chosen editor MUST know genre conventions. You can always ask for a list of clients to show who theyve worked with withing the fantasy genre.

In case anyone would find this useful, you can set MS Word to detect passive voice. It'll put a green squiggly line beneath, and for the most part it's accurate. On occasion though, it'll flag something that's simply a state of being because you used a word like was or were. I used this...

You've already received solid advice above that applies to all characters. Take the time to really understand every character you write (if they're repeating characters in your story). Sketch them out in detail. Let them rant stream-of-consciousness style. Interview them until they feel...

I understand what you're saying, & it begs clarification. In your second (passive) sentence, "The ball was kicked by John", John is actually no longer the subject. The ball is the subject, and it is being acted upon in the manner described by the verb. ACTIVE: John kicked the ball. Subject...

There is some good advice in many of the posts, but let's understand one thing... Just because you write a sentence with was, or were, or had, that doesn't make passive voice. As several members correctly pointed out, there is only one definition of passive voice, and that is when the subject...

As Russ said, POV choice is crucial to your storytelling. Take some time to consider which POVs add the most to your story. It may be that more than 1 POV detracts from your tale because a single POV will make your story feel more intimate for the reader. Perhaps 2 or more POVs are necessary...

First, I like the concept of half a planet being dark and a mystery, lots of opportunity there as a storyteller. But I meant, "Is coming up with a different way to call a character 9, or having foreign units of measurement necessary and relevant to your story?"

Does how your characters refer to time passage (or lack thereof) have any relevance to the story? If not, why bother? Just call her nine so it's easy for your reader to understand. A few texture details, like the names for light and dark periods, can add flavor and texture to your story world...