I think that the difficulty level of coming up with content for my filler pieces is a good indicator as to how much time I'm dedicating to specific tasks.
For example, trouble coming up with tough words for the Vocabulary Quiz indicates that I'm not doing enough reading, or I'm not making a note of the words I don't know.
Similarly, trouble finding a guest blogger might suggest that I'm not doing enough networking.
You will see that this weeks Saturday Sink only has one entry.
No prizes for guessing what I haven't been doing enough of this week.
* * * *
From Figpress
Laws of Magic in a Fantasy World
This post explores some things to bear in mind when you are writing about a world that incorporates magic.
It discusses how creating boundaries and limitations as to how things work can be much richer than simply having weird and wonderful stuff going on whenever.
We are given some examples of what these limitations might be.
I found it enlightening. I'm not a huge fan of the Fantasy Genre. Three times I've tried to read The Lord of The Rings in my lifetime, and not once have I made it out of the Shire.
I previously thought magic was a kind of lazy way to have a plot work itself out. Say a man is captured by cannibals and about to be made into lunch. How does he escape?
"Any last words before we have you for dinner?"
"Abracadabra!"
With that, his shackles come loose. The stones on the ground transform into sets of false teeth, that grow legs, come alive, and start to bite at the ankles of the cannibals, distracting them.
"Abracadabra"
The bonfire becomes a helicopter in which our hero makes good his escape. The helicopter had a refrigerated compartment full of ice cream. All very well but there are no chocolate sprinkles..
...no matter...."Abracadabra!"
The above is plainly nonsense, and I had written off the entire fantasy genre as being so.
It is a mark of the skill of the author over at Figpress that they have begun to change this long held opinion of mine.
I may well pick up the next paperback I see that has an illustration of a dragon or something on the cover.
Whether I like it or not remains to be seen. One thing is for sure though, I will definitely be back to Figpress.
6 comments:
Wow, thank you so much for featuring my article! I'm really honored you took the time to read and review my work. And I'm even more honored to know that I could help shed a different light on the fantasy genre for you.
You're right in your thoughts that sadly, magic can be a crutch to fantasy authors if they're not careful. Even fantasy needs to have some basis in reality or it really can get out of hand.
Anyhow! Thank you again! We will continue to do our best to offer content that might help change your mind. ^_~
Hey Tam, hope you don't mind, but I added you to my blogroll. Since I read you every day, I figure you deserved that prized spot :)
Aywren, no problem at all.
You keep writing it and I'll keep reading it.
@jessica, thanks very much. Always happy to get into someone's blogroll.
Thomas,
Pick up Magician by Raymond Feist, and see how a simple fantasy idea can grow into so much more - you might even find out who Nakor is!
Feist is the best example of keeping it simple to achieve the most wonderful and colourfull results.
Nak
Heya Nakor, good to hear from you.
Been looking at your blog, I do so enjoy all those fail pictures.
(the women diver stoating her head off that board is my favourite)
Oh, yeah, and cheers for the book recommendation.
I'll see if I can pick it up on pay day.
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