I need your help with my story...

[Luvian]

Ok, As I said earlier, I decided to start writing again. I'm about to start, but first I'd like to get your opinions on those two questions:

1- Should I write my story in a world I created myself, or should I write about an already existing world? (Forgotten Realms, Middle Earth...). The advantage of writing in my own world is that I have complete conmtrol over it and can take all the creative liberty I want. As an example if I want to destroy two kingdoms and have my villain create an empire, I can. If I tried to do that in Middle Earth, I'd probably get death threats...

2- Should my main characters start out as clueless teen out of their parent's house, or should they already have a life and some background?
An example of clueless teens would be Rand and friends in the first Wheel of Time novel. An example of someone "with a life" would be one of the main characters of the Avatar trilogy of the Forgotten Realms setting novels.

So far, I'm more interested in writing about one of my own worlds, but the only stories hosting website I know is fanfiction.net, so I'll probably end up doing it somewhere in the Forgotten Realms, so that I can have a justification to post it there.

As for the type of heroes, it seem to me that the teenage heroes have been overused, but I don't really care either way. What do you like the most?

[ 08-19-2003, 04:36 AM: Message edited by: Luvian ]

[605]

I've debated that myself actually, and one factor that always came back to bug me is if you need permission or not to use an existing world. Then there's all the technicalities and people who know SOOOO much about any given world that they can pick every single flaw from your story if it's inconsistant with the world itself.

Personally, I'd go with creating your own world. The hard part is making it realistic, but if you take time and draw maps and make up stories for the regions and hidtories as you go, you tend to remember it better and almost get attatched to it and want to write more about it. Well, that's what happens with me anyway.

I'm struggling a little right now tho with 1) names for areas, cities, guilds, druidic/paladin/cleric/mage/anyclassyoucanimagine orders, moons, gods, boats, towns, bridges, valleys, people, rivers, lakes, just names in general. Secondly I'm havin trouble with trying to sort out what I made up in my head and what I am just remembering from someone else's writings. It's hard to know for sure if you made something up or not when you read so much... sometimes an idea will pop in my head, and I'll be like WOOHOO That rocks! Then, a few days later I'll mention it to someone and they'll say "Oh, you mean like in that one Ravenloft book?"

*shrug* But all in all, creating your own is a lot more personal and I think it helps a lot honestly. Borrow a little here and there and make it yours.


add: if you think the teen hero is overused, you can start a character that's kind of just emerging and learning the extent of their powers. A 1st level character is about as interesting as a 30th level one. They're either always getting their butt kicked, or always doing the kicking. Figure your main characters would start about 4-7th level and make some back stories about how they got that far already... who already knows about them from what deeds they've accomplished and what they're out to do.

Personally, I think the 'unlikely group of people come together to become heroes' thing is fairly overdone, but that's because it's still one of the most exciting. But if they're already on a mission of sorts, it becomes a little more realistic that they somehow get thrown on this huge adventure... as opposed to *AHEM* Luke Skywalker whiny farm boy being forced to leave home and becoming the most powerful Jedi Master ever in a matter of weeks even tho he had no prior fighting training *AHEM*

[ 08-19-2003, 05:21 AM: Message edited by: 605 ]

[Luvian]

Originally posted by 605: I've debated that myself actually, and one factor that always came back to bug me is if you need permission or not to use an existing world. Then there's all the technicalities and people who know SOOOO much about any given world that they can pick every single flaw from your story if it's inconsistant with the world itself.

Yes, I know what you mean. Honestly, I really dislike using other people's characters. I feel like I don't have enough knowledge about them to know how they would really act. That's one of the reasons I really disliked playing Dungeon Master in setting like Forgotten Realms. I feel like I don't know enough about Elminster and Drizzt to give them justice, for example. You also can't really make change to the world.

It really suck to be traped in someone else's story.

But this still take me back to my original problem. If I create an original story, where can I get it hosted? Of course I could host it at my isp's webspace, or on any free webhost like lycos, but it's not a good way to get my stories known.

Since we are talking about writer's problems. I really don't feel confortable with posting my original ideas on the net. I've got my own unique world done already, with it's gods, people, kingdoms... But I'm scared if I post it on the net someone will steal my ideas. I'd really hate to get my setting stolen, so I'm planing to either create a new one I don't really care about, or use Forgotten Realms. I wonder how other writers feel about posting their stories on the net.

[605]

It's understandable, and I don't take offence to you not sharing ideas. That's kind of why I offered somewhat generic advice. But any help I can offer I'd be glad to, I'm just not sure if I'd be saying anything you don't already know or not. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Kakero]

You ought to create your own world with your own version of story. in this way you story is new and may entice readers to continue reading your story and not make them feel that your story is just another "clone" .

also, I know you have read/watch many animes or even play eastern games. why not combine both western world with eastern world? I have yet to see such things exist ( correct me if I'm wrong ). you might be the first one.

[Legolas]

Once upon a paper would be a fine place to get ideas, advice and feedback on anything you write.

If you can't think of a way on how to do your world, or if you have an idea but need some more advice, this might help.
Creating your Own Perfect World
1. Use features from other places: If you really like Baldurs Gate and the Sword Coast, create a rugged untamed land with few towns, resembling the Sword Coast. Love certain mountain ranges or unique features, put em into your world, just change it around a bit.
2. Figure out a setting and time: Is your book going to be sci-fi, where spaceships are in the world, and there are guns and electricity. Or is it still medieval/fantasy setting, or prehistoric times. Then, your environment might be based on that. If you have a Sci-Fi setting, expect less forests, more pollution and more civilization. However, you could have a lucious world where everything is thriving in a Sci-Fi setting, but you it'd be good to include an explanation. If it is a medieval setting, you will have less pollution, and civilization is all bunched together, there probably won't be many loners out there. If it is prehistoric/bronze age, remember armor will be hard to find along with weapons, and hunting for animals is the main source for food, so people can expect to see lots of bones... Just an idea.
3. Amaze your readers: Every single book/ made up world has one claim to fame. You probably have something marvelous invisioned, but every world generally has one spectacular sight, such as a huge majestic mountain with beautiful marble ruins of an ancient civilization, a huge scorched barren plain, where in the center lava rivers flow, and a fortress of obsidian where demons lay is watching over the rivers.
4. Think of what is your paradise: You could make your world part of one of your dream locations, such as floating city, a huge sunny island where it is cool, and breezes are frequent, where waves are calm, or steady.

Creating a Story-Based World
I noticed you were discussing about if your story was in middle earth and your whole dilemma thing. Well, show the readers Middle Earth before Sauron came to power in the First War, or after that. I'm sure J.R.R. Tolkien didn't create tomes on what happened before and after, so show the readers what happened. That way, you can kind of control them, but put in a fear factor, people will most likely dwell on what happened, think it will happen again.

Another way, make a terrible event happen, that change peoples lives forever. Tell this one piece of history that hasn't been told, like your narrating, then you can shape the people how you want too.

One Last Thing
Luvian, go with whatever you want. If you already created your world and such, and are afraid that ideas might get stolen, don't post em. And if you want to implement other things in, go ahead, and when your writing, give little hints on the world and stuff, so readers get enticed and no one steals your idea, and if they try to, they will most likely F**k up

[spydar]

Elfwood is great site that'll allow amatuer authors (and artists) to post their work. but it is a pain in the arse to join (I've been trying for awhile the place is just oo damn popular). I had tried to put a link up, but I guess it just ain't workin. try searching for Elfwood Fantasy Art.

and as for the original world: totally go for it! that's what I"m doing right now but I think I've gotten a little carried away cause I have barely written anything on the story but have spent a year on the timeline, gods, countries, races, etc... it's like an addiction.
and I think characters that already have a bit of a background are more interesting cause you can slowly bring out pieces of their past in the story and the reader can feel like they're learning more about them. plus if you're ever stumped you can just have some villian or something pop up from their mysterious past

[ 08-19-2003, 01:54 PM: Message edited by: spydar ]

[TyranyuS]

Excuse me, but are you going to publish a book or something ? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Luvian]

Originally posted by Legolas: Once upon a paper would be a fine place to get ideas, advice and feedback on anything you write.

Yes... I know about that website, and I'm registered, but it seem a little slow right now. How many people are visiting it daily?

Originally posted by spydar: Elfwood is great site that'll allow amateur authors (and artists) to post their work... ...try searching for Elfwood Fantasy Art.

Ok, i'll search around for Elfwood. As a mather of fact, I think I might have it in my huge bookmark collection... I'd probably have more luck searching for it on google.

Originally posted by TyranyuS: Excuse me, but are you going to publish a book or something ? [img]smile.gif[/img]

That's my plan, eventally I want to write a novel happening in my own wrld I spent 6 years creating. That's why I don't feel confortable about posting in on the net. I don't want it to get stolen.


I've mostly decided I want to use characters that already have a life. I'll probably make it happen in a world I'll create, and then post it on fanfiction.net in the D&D section.