Anyone here write?

[DragonBlaze]

So I decided to take a break from game development to try my hand at writing. I feel like bringing a story to life via a game is really rewarding, but there is also a lot of overhead in creating resources, programming systems, and creating levels that make the whole process really slow. Because of that, I thought it would be fun to start writing a story/novel and bypass all that other stuff.

So I gotta ask, is anyone here an author or is big into writing?

Personally, I have not written anything but technical documents and school essays in the last 10 years, so I have no idea what I'm doing. Sure, I think the first two pages of "Chapter 1: Questions of the Abyss" are bad ass, it's probably all in my head. Not that I plan to ever be an amazing author, but does anyone know of any good sites where you can post fantasy chapters or stories and get feedback from novice/armature writers?

[drenrin2120]

I've tried my hand at writing many times but never actually finished anything. I've posted stuff before on deviantart and writing.com, even allpoetry.com though they are more poetry oriented they're not bad for short stories.

[Prpl_Mage]

Lots of difference sites out there with lots of different people with different opinions and values about writing.

Gary posted his thing here on charas some month back: http://www.charas-project.net/forum/index.php?topic=28910.0

And yes I know you feeling, I got this 200 pages fantasy thing written in English from 2007, and I can't read it now because it would shatter my illusion of how good it was. It's probably the least grammatical crap ever.

Also, reddit, you can find anything there: http://www.reddit.com/r/fantasywriters

[Moosetroop11]

I love writing. I'm most-way through a sizeable fantasy book, though it's kinda taken a back seat... But yeah, I love it when I get time.

[DragonBlaze]

I've tried my hand at writing many times but never actually finished anything. I've posted stuff before on deviantart and writing.com, even allpoetry.com though they are more poetry oriented they're not bad for short stories.

I've actually looked at writing.com before because I was interested in reading some armature stories (for free), but the site doesn't seem that well kept up or active.

Lots of difference sites out there with lots of different people with different opinions and values about writing.

Gary posted his thing here on charas some month back: http://www.charas-project.net/forum/index.php?topic=28910.0

And yes I know you feeling, I got this 200 pages fantasy thing written in English from 2007, and I can't read it now because it would shatter my illusion of how good it was. It's probably the least grammatical crap ever.

Also, reddit, you can find anything there: http://www.reddit.com/r/fantasywriters

Oh snap, I never check out 'Creative Arts' on charas, that's flippin awesome he was able to complete a novel. Gonna be honest, I only read the first page, but I'll probably continue reading it in the near future.

Also, I need to check out that reddit page in the near future.

I love writing. I'm most-way through a sizeable fantasy book, though it's kinda taken a back seat... But yeah, I love it when I get time.

How long did it take you to get that far in the book?

[Meiscool]

I'm absolutely awful at writing. It's most def my week point when it comes to game making. I'm quite envious of people here when I check out the short stories they write for creative arts and contests.

[DragonBlaze]

I'm absolutely awful at writing. It's most def my week point when it comes to game making. I'm quite envious of people here when I check out the short stories they write for creative arts and contests.

Well wait until I post the first few chapters of my novel here. It'll probably make your writing seem good in comparison :p

[drenrin2120]

I'm always mad at myself when I look at my incomplete stories. I never fuckin finish anything, nevermind novels. xD

[Prpl_Mage]

I'm the exact opposite of Meis I like to think that I'm actually good at writing, both stories and in games. Up till the point where other people actually read and comment it.

Also, another suggestion would be to engorge yourself in some fantasy literature. Just don't read anything from Tolkien, that dude always get stuck at explaining every little detail about his world. Sure, this is a writing style but y'know. Opinions.

Well wait until I post the first few chapters of my novel here. It'll probably make your writing seem good in comparison :p

Please do

[drenrin2120]

Also, another suggestion would be to engorge yourself in some fantasy literature.

This is actually probably the best advice. Reading as much as you can will give you a base to start from. Best advice I ever got for anything was to never be afraid of your influences, let them show through in your work and you will craft your own style out of it. Just be conscience you aren't straight up ripping people off.

http://jacobdunn.com/2011/02/25/writing-a-fantasy-novel-magic-systems/

That's also a great guideline. Obviously, they're just guidelines and also an opinion, but I personally agree with this critique and find it makes for better story telling in a fantasy novel if you are aware of these problems that can occur in a world with magic. You could probably apply this to other areas of writing, I just can't think of any off the top of my head.

Oh, one more thing. Character development, character development, character development. I used to think the story was the most important part of the story, but it's not. If you're characters can't bring the story to life than nothing will. Beware of character tropes, mary sues, cliches, and all other manner of traps writers often fall into. I've spent hours writing back story that may or may not make it into the novel (the novel I'll never write). Nonetheless, when I do write anything, it helps me to better shape a character's actions, body language, choices, speech, everything.

[DragonBlaze]

Also, another suggestion would be to engorge yourself in some fantasy literature. Just don't read anything from Tolkien, that dude always get stuck at explaining every little detail about his world. Sure, this is a writing style but y'know. Opinions.

I've been trying to recently. I've actually read more books the past 6 months than I have the past 6 years haha. I like to think I have a strong grasp on proper syntax, grammar, and structure, but weaving words together that epic/compelling to make the reader engaged is another story. I need to read a bit more, but of the books I've been reading recently, all the authors have completely different styles, so it's been hard to pick out good tends in styles. I'm gonna keep working at it though!

http://jacobdunn.com/2011/02/25/writing-a-fantasy-novel-magic-systems/

That's also a great guideline. Obviously, they're just guidelines and also an opinion, but I personally agree with this critique and find it makes for better story telling in a fantasy novel if you are aware of these problems that can occur in a world with magic. You could probably apply this to other areas of writing, I just can't think of any off the top of my head.

I skimmed through that, and it seemed like some great stuff. Did that guy write any more articles on writing fantasy novels?

In games I love elaborate magic systems because being able to level up magic and decimate the battle field is pretty bad ***. With stories however I usually hate the use of magic, as a lot of times magic is used as an unexpected escape route. The author of the article made a lot of good points about magic in novels, but I think my approach will be to not use it very often. Some characters in my novel will have magical abilities, but it'll only be one ability that starts off very subtlety such as being able to sometimes predict cards in gambling to finally having vague premonitions of the future. The only character that might have 'strong' abilities is one of the antagonists, but I'm okay with this as it's central to the story and it'll cause prediciments for the main characters instead of a magical escape route. Finally, I really really want to avoid things such as teleportation or elemental spells.

Oh, one more thing. Character development, character development, character development. I used to think the story was the most important part of the story, but it's not. If you're characters can't bring the story to life than nothing will. Beware of character tropes, mary sues, cliches, and all other manner of traps writers often fall into. I've spent hours writing back story that may or may not make it into the novel (the novel I'll never write). Nonetheless, when I do write anything, it helps me to better shape a character's actions, body language, choices, speech, everything.

Great point! I've thought a lot about developing the main character and making many points about society as he explores the world, but I haven't put too much thought in the other characters back stories yet. It's something I'll need to think about before I introduce them.

[drenrin2120]

Teleportation spells suuuuuuuck. It reminds me of Star Trek. Their tri-quarters and transporters always save the day!

[Prpl_Mage]

I've read quite the number of published works were tropes such as last minute telportation or overall mary sue-ness applies. Makes you feel like watching an American action movie where the hero will be alive at the end no matter what, it kills suspense. I prefer writers such as Stephen Deas who isn't afraid to make twists and kill people off. Lots of writers get too attached to their characters.

Also yes, magic in video games are about blowing **** up with cool animations, but it's the pokemon syndrome. What kind of adventure would there really be if you can summon earthquakes, thunderstorms or anything that's in the description of those moves? So aim for a more high-fantasy setting, where magic requires reagents, or some 20 years of mastering or like power words or hand gestures - anything. Also, give some faux explanation of how magic is in fact invoked. The Tales of- games are really good at that with every game they release. 'cuz they always change the name of magic and how it works.

Also, gonna attach one of the things I've written in the past. It was supposed to be some sort of short introduction to a novel in the form of a travel journal but I screwed it up from there.
https://app.box.com/s/ldf34uui9j1ig5jddotp

[Dr. Ace]

I've been writing as a hobby for a while but due to college I never had the chance to fully develop my setting and stories. Now that I'm almost done I'm expecting to get something done the coming year.

[Fisherson]

I'm a amateur writter. I do some stuff on my DA, mostly stuff about my non-Charasian OCs, but I had been thinking of doing some Charasian based writing  about Dave's adventures to go with all the games I have planned. Since even though they are big...They aren't that big. ^^; There's leagues of stories about Dave I could tell not to mention all the stuff based on RPs I've had with people here and on MSN and even Skype! I've also made it one of my summer projects to try and write out one novel length book to refine over the winter and to submit next summer. Cause I don't want to always do small but well loved, things like the Dentverse. Oh and I did try to be a writer for a web comic recently...but I had to let my artist go. T-T Shame I had a good plan for how to host it on DA till I could find some ad space or more permanent site.

Oh my tip for good writing? Forget everyone else's advise and stick to what you know! Oh and add in some humor. You honestly can't go wrong with humor. Satiric and semi-dark without beign a totall psycho tend to work AWESOME in fantasy works. Heck two of my favorite series to come back to? Xanth and Discworld.