Fantasy Creation

[I, Brian]

Nothing wrong with using the Romans for inspiration. For my sci-fi in progress, it's effectively "Rome in Space" - certainly politically, anyway, though it also has extremely strong Orwellian overtones.

[Esioul]

Rome is just so interesting, isn't it? I get loads of ideas for it. That said, I heard on the radio this morning some bloke fm Oxford who was basically saying that state school people shouldn't be allowed to read classics because they don't know enough Latin and Greek. Iv'e been killing myself this year trying to cope with Latin, so **** you, you little Oxford snob.

[I, Brian]

I would have loved to have learned Latin, and Greek, and Arabic - like a Victorian public school education. Maybe a relief I didn't, though.

[Esioul]

Why? I think it'd be really fun to learn all those languages... aaargh why am I saying that? I have a Cicero unseen tomorrow and I haven't revised...

[I, Brian]

Again! Lol!

[Esioul]

Yep. My teachers just love giving me unseens. I managed to scrape a C by one mark on the last one, but I'm satisfied with that soI'm not going to kill myself over it. I will eventually revise... the exam is in a month aaarghh...

[aftermath]

What the hell is an unseen?

The Light vs Dark is a great theme. I like to make a character completely devoid of either, and have him good through the events I've laid before him and watch (Yes, I watch my writing. I don't have a damn clue what I'm going to write before I sit down and make it all up on the spot.) who events unfold. It can prove to be very amusing.

Also, when wrting, what are your views of swearing? Me, I'll throw every curse I know into my writing, because that is they way I think. If something were to go wrong, I swear inwardly.

[Hypes]

Oh, my characters come from all ends of the spectrum, so it's only natural some of them swear quite a bit. Language should be directly tied with the character's persona (defined by all the variables of social layer, education, general attitude, heritage, nationality, etc.)

I personally find the entire clearly set Good vs. Evil dull, but that's probably why I find it difficult to enjoy classic fantasy. Nothing is ever black & white, unfortunately, and thusly, I don't like it being portrayed as such in most works of fiction. Then again, there are some exceptions to the rule, but it takes quite a bit to make up for such a classic plot motivation. One such exeption would be (all strictly in my opinion, of course ) David Eddings. His series are all clear-cut classic fantasy, but they are still enjoyable to read, nonetheless. (edit: sorry, this came off as a bit snobbish - not my intent. It all boils down to personal likes and dislikes.)

That's usually how I go about writing as well, though I always have a rough plotline in mind to follow, but individual events are usually simply created in the spur of the moment.

As for languages, I'm working on quite a few myself. Got norwegian bokmål, and norwegian nynorsk (two entirely different languages, actually - they're a pain), german, rudimentary french and fluent english down. Next up is latin, soon followed by arabic. Always wanted to do russian, though. Intriguing language.

[Esioul]

Yes- I like my characters to be grey, or just realistic, really. I spend a great deal of time just watching how my friends behave to give me hints. The thing is, people aren't very nice or good at all, generally, and I try to show this.

I make up swearwords. This means I don't have to write real ones down, but my characters still get to swear if they need too.

An Unseen is a timed test where you don't get to prepare it before hand... nasty things. The only language I know apart from English is Latin, and a tiny bit of French. Not very impressive I know! Are you a linguist or something?!

[Hypes]

Not at all, though I suppose I will have an interim occupation as a translator through the two year draft.

People's actions are difficult to judge as they might seem/or be intended as kind by the person but actually turn out to be a simple bear hug.

So what cusswords have you produced, I'm intrigued.

[polymorphikos]

Two year draft? I am ignorant and slow. Please instruct me.

[Lacedaemonian]

Magic is very dangerous ground. Gods? Well they just ruin the book from the start. Not many decent fantasy books have gods in them in the physical sense. I mean most fantasy novels mention some god or other but they don't make an appearance. Eddings did it with some success and with abject failure. The introduction of magic and/or gods often makes a fantasy work childish, and requires too much suspension of belief. Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves etc etc etc. The best fantasy writers use the super natural, the miraculous, the achievement of possibility, the supreme human spirit etc etc to achieve a feel of magic. A fricken mage is just laughable!!

[Hypes]

Yes, two years of obligatory military service.

I must say I am inclined to disagree with you, Lacedaemonian; well implemented magic can be very believeable if it suits the context of the book. Magic is very common in ancient mythology - and I'd be hardpressed to call it all childish.

[I, Brian]

I think that's a point being made. After all, it can really undermine a plotline if the hero can ultimately deal with all adversity with a mere twitch of his little magic nose - but doesn't so as to not ruin the story.

[Dead Riverdragon]

Ah, but Brian-in that sense magic is no different from any other potential plot element, in that bad magic is a bad thing, while magic implemented with skill will not result in that problem. After all, most fantasy (good or bad) has a magical element in it, but magic doesn't necessarily equal unlimited power (this is a topic of hot conversation over at the www.hatrack.com forums). What I find completely untenable is the idea that 'miracle' is a superior plot device: given that it is little removed from magic except that it suffers from a more profound divorce from the human agent, so is no more than the rightly condemned deus-ex-machina, miracle (unless Lacedaemonian refers to something I'm completely missing) is in no way less 'laughable' than magic, which at least retains a level of humanity.