Rants on Writing Fantasy

[AXJ]

Some really good food for thought here:

(linky) (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=limyaael&keyword=Limyaael%27s+Fantasy+Rants&filter=all)

I've been reading this all afternoon, alternating between laughing and nodding. And blushing a little, too. This is definately good reading for when you're setting up a premise for a novel, or for just before you begin editing. For me, at least, it's really help throw what I've screwed up into sharp relief.

It's geared towards fantasy, but a whoooole lot of the advice would just fine for other genres, too. Check it out.[/url]

[vindemiatrix]

Think of how many fantasy heroes or heroines come from a home where both their parents are alive.

That's right. Almost none.

And verily I say unto you: Why the fuck not?

:lol: Genius! I'm bookmarking these, they're wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

[snooze]

Bookmarked in my computer as well! I just skimmed most of them, but I recall one point where characters rebel against a fate they should have seen coming from a mile away, and bascially one needs to tell the characters to stop moaning about it and do something sooner rather than later.

[Sulis]

Those are fun! And I've seen a lot of those unfortunate flaws... Both in my own writing and out. :oops:

[Jenevieve]

Wow! These are brilliant. Bookmarked for me, too, now!

[snooze]

After reading most of this I hesitate to go look back at the one and only fantasy story I ever wrote. I thought it was original and awesome...evidently not, in most things. Some things were original-ish.

[Aimless]

The rants are entertaining and he brings up good points in each--esp. the point about Victorian England, jesus fantasy writers, could you BE more Eurocentric?!--but he lets his scathing comments get in the way of being really constructive. And he forgets that truth is often stranger than fiction 8) I disagree with many of his points about describing teenagers, too. My recommendation would be to read them all, enjoy them, take the good points to heart... but always maintain a level of healthy scepticism.

These are rants, remember? ;)

[snooze]

I thought it was a she...
I mean, I'm not judging anyone.
But...a unicorn avatar? That's girly by my standards even and right now I am a swirling vat of estrogen. (Don't ask.)

[Aimless]

I just use he when I'm speaking of someone with an unspecified or (to me) unknown gender :P

[Tundra]

hey this stuff is good! okay you can take parts of it with a pinch of salt as it's all opinion, but she makes some good points. Things to think about.

[snooze]

It all kind of reminds me of those lists of "If I Am Ever an Evil Overlord..." and other characters and such. Hits on many of the same points. I recall a site somewhere in my Favourites once with all the characters stereotypes...darn it looks like I deleted it.
Ah! After much googling the URL from memory, here we are: (deceptively simple web address, that.)
http://www.evilrulers.com/

[Tundra]

Old thread is old, but I think this needs occasional bumping!

[Sandafluffoid]

Oh dear, I wish I hadn't seen this. I had so much stuff I was going to do this afternoon, now I'm just going to be reading this...

[caraez]

Awesome, awesome articles. Deserved a bookmark for me :)

[Alice]

http://www.forresterlabs.com/limyaael/titlelistall

This is the master list. This one looks more organized for me at any rate. :)