Fantasy – Page 5 – Mythic Scribes Test Site

Using Fantasy to Enhance a Story

Even when the characters’ adventures are fantastic, a good story should have an emotional core which is personal, drawing from common human experience to help readers connect with our characters. A story written in this way needs little imagination to prop it up. Which is why, in my efforts to write fantasy, I’ve been asked:

If a story is universal, why do you need the magic?

Magic comes with the price of a built-in distance between your events and your reader which can keep you from achieving the potential of your story. Guarding the passageway to an important official, I can hint at the terror of a pair of trolls, or I can connect readers directly to the fear of two condescending and semi-sadistic guards. I can wound my character with the blast of a fireball from a distant wizard, or I can bring my readers the terror of being knifed by a killer.

Welcome To My Worlds – One Author’s Approach to Building Fantasy Worlds

by Featured Author

This article is by S.G. Rogers.

I’m a fantasy author who enjoys building worlds. Perhaps my interest in world-building stems from the wonderment I feel in the presence of beauty. Magic exists in the waterfalls of Brevard County, North Carolina, the stunning views at Big Sur, and the Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. Magic radiates from the paintings of Michelangelo, the castles of Europe, and the sculptures of Bruno Torfs in Australia. When I experience this magic, I feel compelled to communicate my sense of awe in the stories that I write.

I’ve sold eight fantasy manuscripts so far on the strength of my world-building, with two sequels in the works. Although each project has its own unique challenges, my approach to world building involves a few common principals.

Bridging the Gap Between Author and Character

by Brian DeLeonard

When sitting down to plan a story, I focus my attention on developing memorable heroes and horrendous villains, constructing epic settings filled with ancient magic, and crafting plots with satisfying endings. But what’s lacking is anything connected to the piece of advice that I’ve heard repeatedly:

Write what you know.

These words, which I’ve been told again and again, have vanished from my arsenal of aphorisms. I write fantasy, which means that I write from my imagination. I write about lives and experiences that have never existed in history. My characters are impossible to know before I meet them on the page.

That’s the downside. In fantasy, we don’t intuitively know our characters the way authors of another genre might.

Mythic Scribes – Our First Birthday!

by Test Administrator

1st Birthday Cake | Image via Wikipedia — Celebration Time!

In early February 2011, Mythic Scribes opened to the public. We began with a single article on our homepage and an empty forum. But we set forth a vision, and had faith that the right people would find us.

One year later, Mythic Scribes has exceeded our expectations. We set out to forge a community of new and experienced fantasy writers, and to provide a platform for authors. Thanks to the enthusiasm of our members and readers, word spread fast, and we have grown into something special.

Each day thousands of visitors come to Mythic Scribes to read and share our articles, and to participate in our writing forums. We have been cited on sites such as The Huffington Post and The Guardian. And most importantly of all, many wonderful, lasting friendships have been forged.

The RPG Experience to Writing a Novel

by Featured Author

This article is by Terry W. Ervin II.

It is often said, “Write what you know.” This can be a stumbling block for some writers. How do you convincingly write a dastardly or evil character in a novel if you’ve never acted or done such things? That is where Role Playing Game (RPG) experience can benefit a writer.

Whether it’s space adventure (as in Traveller), sword and sorcery (as in AD&D) or even spy and espionage intrigue (as in Top Secret)—okay, you as the reader may be muttering, “Man, those games are old—no, near ancient.” But those are examples of games that I cut my RPG teeth on years ago, and those led to the foundation for some of my writing and storytelling ability. Even games like Diplomacy, Star Fleet Battles, King Maker, Axis & Allies, and yes, even Monopoly, can add a more strategic overview that may be of benefit to a writer.