Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Hey People!!! (HELP WANTED) Fantasy Writing

Author
Message
RadilosRunos
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Apr 2011
Location:
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 17:56
Link
I have a lot of great ideas that i would like to put together into a
story, however im not very good at writing and my grammer totally sucks.
I have a large amount of plot outlines and ideas that i have written
over the years, however i have trouble sorting them out and deciding
where in the story i would like them to fit. over time i hope to create
an never ending fantasy saga that i will one day place on the internet
so that anyone can contribute to the story as long as they stick to the
guide lines of the site....

if ur interested leave a comment....
Back to top
Profile PM
Daniel TGC
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Feb 2007
Location: TGC
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 19:27 Edited at: 26th Jun 2011 19:29
Link
My grammar and pellin scuks 2!

No, really it does! Just check some of the posts I've made on here. Despite this I've written a novel, and published several other articles by diligently going over the work repeatedly.

Practice, practice, practice!

It takes me approximately five rewrites of anything, before I consider it ready to be considered even a draft. At which point I spread it around my small group of minions who point out all the were and where's, there and theirs, who's and whom's.

For a project like this, you're going to need an overseeing editor. Someone who take take every ones collection of random works and produce something coherent. Projects on this website repeatedly demonstrate that if you're not willing to do this yourself, you're not likely to find anyone who's going to do it for you.

You will also need a way of organising this, random posts will be fine for a game (and by game, I mean a forum word game, not your actual game). But if you want to produce anything useful out of this it's going to take a lot of hard work, or a lot of money.

Good luck! I'll watch your attempt with interest.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
xplosys
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Jan 2006
Playing: FPSC Multiplayer Games
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 20:12
Link
I would love to finish something; anything. I'm a sporadic writer, and I can never seem to make myself sit down and do it on a regular basis. I get an idea and I'm off to the races, but half way round the track I see something shiny and...

Attached is something I wrote two nights ago so you can see my writing style. I promised myself I would get back to this this weekend but instead I find myself here, posting on the forum in-between episodes of American Gothic. I'm pathetic.

Brian.

Attachments

Login to view attachments
Back to top
Profile PM
Quik
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Jul 2008
Location: Equestria!
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 20:26
Link
Quote: "I would love to finish something; anything. I'm a sporadic writer, and I can never seem to make myself sit down and do it on a regular basis. I get an idea and I'm off to the races, but half way round the track I see something shiny and..."



hahahha iam the same but that applies to ANYTHING, and thats not too great when iam doing my hobby: modelling
iam done with the base model, about to do the UVmap and then POFF i see something else thats shiny!

can be quite frustrating sometimes, however when i really set my focus on something i can usually pull it off: for example when i made my pumpkin man for the 3d competition on the 3d board a while back: when i started texturing i had a ton of other ideas i wanted to do, but i still finished it, because i really wanted it to be finished.


maybe a bit offtopic...

on the topic however: listen to Daniel TGC: you cannot only rely on others, especially in a matter of this it can be very hard in fact to rely on others: the outcome might not be what you wanted it to be.

Its a lot better to practice. Not only will you learn a lot: but also will you know that YOU have accomplished something, and not someone else.

and for the record, I am a man.

Back to top
Profile PM
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 20:43
Link
I wrote a pony fanfic. I won't bother you with it though, I took a different route to what you'd probably want. (Small scale intimate writing vs epic fantasy saga.)

What is all the fuss about anyway?
Back to top
Profile PM Email
RadilosRunos
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Apr 2011
Location:
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 21:13
Link
Anysort of help is greatly appreciated i havent done anything like this before, i always found it hard to finish something myself.
this is one project i plan on seeing through no matter what...

here is a blog im busy working on hopefully it will explain more on what it is im trying to do. i will update it as soon as i get some free time. http://radilos-runos.blogspot.com/
Back to top
Profile PM
Daniel TGC
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Feb 2007
Location: TGC
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 21:31 Edited at: 26th Jun 2011 21:40
Link
Google docs may be your friend here. You can add a bunch of contributors, and maintain a read only copy for the final edit. Users who don't want to add anything creative, might well enjoy correcting spelling and gamma. I know a few users on this site who get annoyed at peoples bad spelling, perhaps you can let them at it

Also I recommend dividing the project into chapters, working on a book or story "as a whole" is daunting, plus your mind races to the end, middle and beginning all at once. Chapters are easy however, when focusing on 6000 - 10000 words at a time you're able to place yourself in the moment, rather than in the future.

Writing is like programming. You plan it, or you live it. Sometimes both, bullet pointing your tasks per chapter is a good idea too. When I have trouble writing and focusing, I bullet point instead.

* Opening scene, character in in pain, laying on the ground.
* Asks himself questions, why is he here, what happened, etc.
* Atmospheric description, the smell of smoke, the roughness of the tar mac, etc.
* Brief Flash back, conversation with lover, before sudden loud noise.
* Event! Forced from memory, main character gets up hurriedly as a car, it's horn honking barrels towards him.
* Horror of recognition
* End chapter, his lover is dead at the car's wheel. What happened to her and why can't he remember!

Once you're in the mood you can convert something like that into a few thousand words easily, and you've got yourself a chapter!

Repeat this 12 - 30 times and you'll have a novel. Writing is just like programming, one step at a time.

P.S. I practically live on google docs these days
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 21:45
Link
My problem is I can never plan my stories, they feel unnatural if they're pre-mediatated. I simply start the idea off in my head, then write what I imagine is happening.

If you're really interested in seeing it, Radilos, my story is here:
http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/06/story-i-wont-see-you-tonight.html

What is all the fuss about anyway?
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Daniel TGC
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Feb 2007
Location: TGC
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 22:40
Link
Stories are always planned and premeditated. The good ones, anyway.

The reason I'm able to complete whole novels (second one in final draft now). Is because, I knew the ending. I know how each of my works is going to end, and I know this all the way up to book 6 in the series. When you have an ending you can see the pieces fall together in your mind. After all, you wouldn't attempt to do a jigsaw without the reference image would you? And you wouldn't attempt to make a game without a general idea of what the game will be like. Writing is no different, you fix the ending, you start at the beginning. Personally, though people have said "beginning, middle, end" to me a lot. I find if you have the beginning and the end, you create the ever flowing middle as you write.

But at the end of the day, there's no point playing a game, if there's no end in sight.
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
CoffeeGrunt
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Oct 2007
Location: England
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 22:43
Link
Oh I have a beginning, middle and end, etc in my head. I just like to develop the story between each as I write...I dunno how to explain it, it just feels so much more...natural to me.

What is all the fuss about anyway?
Back to top
Profile PM Email
RadilosRunos
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Apr 2011
Location:
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 22:50
Link
fantasy legends is a fantasy story that takes place on a world called kalogeria which is mystically connected to other planets in the solar system. each planet has it's own heroes, legends and myths but each is connected in some way.
the theme of the story is time, each story will take place either in the past, present, future or on another planet.

this was the original conept for my idea, with each person and myself writing a different story either in a different time or on another planet entirely however the stories must remain connected.
Back to top
Profile PM
RadilosRunos
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Apr 2011
Location:
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 22:54
Link
im busy putting some of my notes on google docs so you can take a look and let me know what you think... these are just notes though so i havent really bothered with grammer or spelling at the minute. ill post the link as soon as im finished
Back to top
Profile PM
Seppuku Arts
Moderator
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 23:43
Link
On my novel I'm working on, I wrote the draft first, planned second. At least this way you've written your material, you've got an idea of where it should go and how it should work and then you can fix the end result. After all you can be inspired by an idea and just write, write, write to see where that idea goes. But I would not show my first draft to anybody, if you can call it a draft, it's awful. But the ideas were there, they were developed and I had the mold I needed in order to shape my novel. It's still being edited, but it's getting there.

If I sit down and plan how everything goes first, it feels unnatural to me too, I can start with an idea, but it might no necessarily go in the direction I intended at the start because once you get the feel of your plot you might feel another direction is actually better. In fact, people like my writing better when I do it this way. E.G. My 'Alva' and 'Love Story' pieces were pre-planned because the first was a, "I want to write real-life fiction a magazine is likely to publish" and the second was a, "I need to write something happy with a happy ending with a love interest." Neither felt natural and neither worked. My 'Father and Son' story on the other hand, it was when I was challenged to write something happy, it naturally went in a completely different direction. I got a lot better response from it.

I think a level of planning is essential, but I don't think it's necessarily the first step. People will write in the manner they feel comfortable.


Also...I've not got an ending yet - I know where the end is, just not what it's going to be, even though my first draft has one. Some writers find themselves starting at the end, others somewhere in the middle or at the beginning.

Back to top
Profile PM Website
Wolf
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Nov 2007
Location: Luxemburg
Posted: 26th Jun 2011 23:45
Link
Quote: "I would love to finish something; anything. I'm a sporadic writer, and I can never seem to make myself sit down and do it on a regular basis. I get an idea and I'm off to the races, but half way round the track I see something shiny and..."


Same here, unfortunately

Well...I'm sagittarius



-Wolf

I make serious coffee - so strong it wakes up the neighbors.
http://serygalacaffeine.deviantart.com/
Twitter:@Serygala
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Daniel TGC
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Feb 2007
Location: TGC
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 00:15
Link
I love being Capricorn

Before you can build castles in the sky, you must have your feet on rock.

-- Loose quotation by Terry Pratchett. Don't ask me which novel, he's written more than 40 by now!
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Cormorant5
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Jan 2010
Location: Gotham City
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 04:40
Link
I have one tons of awards within the past 3 years for my writing, but it's in school so you can judge how important that is. I love writing but like 5 people here I can never stay interested in my topics. I run out of ideas. I would be glad to work with you. I will be on the road until July 4th but after that I will be bored to death.

It would be my pleasure, seriously, to work with you.

Back to top
Profile PM Email
RadilosRunos
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Apr 2011
Location:
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 10:16
Link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ch0S6g40op1rqNSR_75Jy-d4r9TV_AGTCELPOnm9d7Y/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CPO17IcI

Take a look and let me know what you think, it looks a mess and needs lots of work but bear with it...
Back to top
Profile PM
Cormorant5
15
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Jan 2010
Location: Gotham City
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 15:12 Edited at: 27th Jun 2011 15:14
Link
This is fantastic. I have to say this is better then most my ideas. I would love to make it a story, and I must say you did misspell a few words. I have one question though. Will Ry'Gar (or Ry'gar, I don't know) is running in 'the beginning' do you mean a prologue of sorts?

Give me the word and I'll start. I love the concept, some how it's not cliche.

And also, I'm a little confused about the editing process. Does one person write then others give input about what the next part should be, things that should be changed, etc?

Back to top
Profile PM Email
RadilosRunos
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Apr 2011
Location:
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 17:46
Link
Once the prologue story has been decided and written the concept is that you can either continue with the story taking it in a new direction if you prefer or you can expand on something already mentioned in the story... say there was a person, war or battle mentioned you can choose one or the other and write about it, thus expanding the story and branching it out making it possible for other stories.

if you write a story and say mention a war or an item of some importance but dont wana go into to much detail you can let someone else write about that war

Hope that explains it
Back to top
Profile PM
Libervurto
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 21:14 Edited at: 27th Jun 2011 21:16
Link
woops clone post!

Back to top
Profile PM Email
Libervurto
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 21:15
Link
I have gone ahead and written the start of the story based on your prologue.

Quote: "
Legend tells of a mysterious stranger who appeared one night in the forests of Partegia. He was found unconcious and naked, by a group of local hunters. The hunters took the man back to their village, gave him shelter and food. Once he had been revived, the villagers asked the stranger his name, but he was unable to answer; he had lost all memory of his former life. With no name to call him by, the villagers gave the stranger the name Arlon Runos; Arlon meaning "child of the forest", Runos being the name of Tyrus Runos, the man who had found the stranger and taken him into his home.

Arlon was grateful to his saviours; he worked their fields, tended their animals and helped to build houses, and in return he was permitted to stay in the village.
He was happy in his new life, but at night Arlon would suffer the most terrifying nightmares. Upon waking he could not recall his dreams but for the image of a single face. He did not recognise the face, but somehow he knew it was a memory from his past. It was during these tormented nights that Arlon would slip away from the village and into the forest, in hope that he might regain any memory of his past and what had happened that night which had changed his life forever. He wondered whether he had family who would be missing him, maybe he had a child. Arlon visited the nearby villages and towns in hope of finding some trace of his existence, but alas, wherever he went he remained unrecognised by all. Over time Arlon let go of his past, and learned to live the new life he had been given in peace and happiness.

The people of the village were more than happy for Arlon to stay, he worked harder than any man in the village and was just as honourable. The villagers had always seen something special in Arlon, but his true calling was discovered when Tyrus introduced his fostered son to combat training. From the uptake, Arlon displayed astonishing skills with both blade and bow. So natural was he with the blade, that the children of the village would test his skill by throwing vegetables at him to halve in mid-air.
His prowess also drew more serious attention, the village was visited by many travelling knights who had heard of Arlon's abilities. Some challenged him to duel, and it was their last. Other warriors wished to train with the marvel, and paid a fine price to Tyrus for the honour. Arlon no longer worked the fields, nor tended the animals..."


Back to top
Profile PM Email
RadilosRunos
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Apr 2011
Location:
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 22:36
Link
Nice work i have another plot idea that may fit into what you have written ill try and upload it soon and maybe we can find a way to fit it in
Back to top
Profile PM
RadilosRunos
14
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 18th Apr 2011
Location:
Posted: 27th Jun 2011 23:39 Edited at: 28th Jun 2011 01:07
Link
[quote]Each year the surrounding villages of kull participate in the annual hunt, an event that has been tradition for 75 years. each year one village is chosen to host the annual event.

a goup of creatures is set loose by the village and a group of hunters has to hunt them down and kill them each bringing back proof of the kill.

Each creature varies in hight and strength and is tagged with a number.

each creature is worth points the bigger and stronger the creature the more points it is worth.

though it was meant traditionaly for highly trained hunters the rules have become slightly altered over the years, so now any one that can prove themselves in a series of tests can participate.

the tests are there to make sure that only them who prove themselves of skill with a weapon can sign up for the event.

many of the creatures are dangerous and should not be tackled by the untrained.

the hunt starts when the chosen village sets loose the creatures at each corner of the surrounding countryside.

before the creatures are released each hunter is giving a starting location and must remain there until the bell rings five and the creatures are released.

once the creatures are released the hunters are giving one week to track down and kill as many of the creatures as possible and return to the village on the eve of the seventh nite.

klorel a local farm hand had been dreaming all his life of participating in the hunt, however each year he was either told he was to young or he was needed at the farm to gather the harvest...
on his sixteenth year klorel enlisted at the kull school of marksmanship, where he trained and studied in the hope of one day becoming a professional hunter just like his father before him.
though klorel has never met his father he is told that his father was the greatest hunter of all and a fine warrior.
Back to top
Profile PM
Nickydude
Retired Moderator
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Nov 2006
Location: Look outside...
Posted: 28th Jun 2011 02:11 Edited at: 28th Jun 2011 02:14
Link
I would recommend the following software without hesitation: WriteItNow. It's what I'm using for my trilogy of fantasy novels. I used to put everything in Word but it got too much trying to keep track of characters, events, relationships and the like but this software does it all for you.

Good luck.

I reject your reality and substitute my own...
Back to top
Profile PM
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2025-05-21 06:04:40
Your offset time is: 2025-05-21 06:04:40