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Writing myself into the story |
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Writing is something I've always wished to be good at. And disciplined at. And I've not yet succeeded long term. A Facebook group, Brilliant and Amazing Writers and Mothers, has helped to motivate me in terms of my writing. This is my second blog, the first is by the same name on Wordpress. The Wordpress blog is rather more eclectic, whereas this one will be more focussed on developing my writing skills. |
| Some more information for the political situation for my rainforest people. I had had a civil war listed some 80-odd years prior to the current time, I might adjust this Ao that it reflects Amie's parents or grandparents generation (about 40-odd years in the past) and the second most recent change in ruler. This civil war lead to the rainforest folk splitting into two separate countries. Amie's country is very much a totalitarian, dictator type of king, who oppresses the lessor classes. Imperfection is likely to be a death sentence. The other country is one that involves more freedom. |
| Language of names. I've already got two first names and one surname in my world: Amie Varellian Lukas This suggests certain sounds that I can try to replicate in other names. Vowel sounds included: A E I O U Consonants included: H K L M N R S V Possible extra sounds if needed (to be determined): G P T Y |
| Amie Varellian, a gossamer beauty, is set to be married and fulfill the gossamer dream. She desires to be happy with her life, but quickly finds things are turning sour. She conceives and bears a child, who later grows and is sent to another family to be trained, this family contains an abuser. Amie must rescue her and escape with her child. |
| Who is my protagonist? Amie Varellian, an aristocrat of the rainforest people, related to the king, descended from the gods. She is a gossamer beauty in her early 20s. What is the situation at the beginning? Amie is preparing to marry and become truly a gossamer beauty. She is set to fulfill what she has been told is the dream for all aristocratic women. How will that situation be changed? Amie will marry and find out what life is really like. She will endure the abuse for a time before leaving with her child. What is the protagonists objective at the beginning? To marry and be happy with her life. She will need to curb many of her own desires to achieve this. What becomes her objective? Happiness and safety for herself and her child Who is the opponent? Husband Lukas What will be the disaster? Another gossamer beauty on Lukas's arm. Threat to send child to an abusive partner, long in the tooth. What is the conflict? Amie will refuse to allow child to go to old lecher. Lukas will cloister child, Amie will need to rescue child before escaping. |
| From “20 Master Plots”, I'm thinking about which master plot might be good for Amie's story. Wretched excess is one, escape or pursuit are two others. Transformation is a good one, with the domestic violence incident being the catalyst for change. |
| Given the sheer bulk of information that I managed to include yesterday, even with just one of my two races and only discussing the economy, I'm dividing day eight into about four days worth. Today, I discuss the politics of the rainforest folk. This society is a class based monarchy. At the top of the pecking order is the king and royal family. Descent is patrilineal. Taxes are collected from the aristocracy and lesser nobility, as well as guilds and landowners. These taxes help to fund the royal family, which is somewhat prone to excess. There has never been a queen except as the wife of the king. The king is believed to be descended from the gods. The aristocracy is the next level in this society, and is the level in which Amie (see Gossamer Beauty) finds herself. They are related, sometimes distantly, to the king, and it is from this group that the queen is chosen. There is an intense focus on perfection, particularly on perfect looks. As Amie's story shows, women are not expected to have much of a mind for anything except their own womanly beauty and the ordering of maids and such like, and are expected to stay within their role. They are cloistered during the times in which they are pregnant until they can pass the child to servants. Men are expected to be interested in philosophy and mathematica, though the head of the household is responsible for ensuring that their income sources remain intact. The lesser nobility is looked down upon by the aristocracy as having baser blood, ie not from the gods. They have wealth, often for several generations, but are more likely to work. Some sections attempt to imitate aristocracy in the hopes of increased status, but others are content with their wealth and more active pursuits. Guildsmen and landowners are approximately equal in status, if not actually nobility. The distinctions between this group and nobility is somewhat blurred as it tends to be how long the wealth has remained within the family that elevates one to noble status. The level within the guild, or the amount of land one owns, is what will determine rank amongst these people. Merchants, both shop owners and travelling merchants, are next in status. Status can depend on what it is they sell. There is significant overlap with the class above. Commoners make up the largest portion of the population. These people work for the classes above, and include servants, shop assistants, labourers, and the like. There is a still lower class below commoners. This group includes those who have been prisoners, or insane, or otherwise looked down upon. These people are often reduced to begging or stealing for a living. Some may find occasional day work, but this is not guaranteed. It is rumoured that one of the local beggars is a former member of the aristocracy, maybe even the brother of the king. |
| Economy and politics are the order of the day. I will need to plan this for both races, which are still being named for their general climate. Economy - Rainforest folk Food: local farms throughout the land, very fertile, both horticulture and agriculture. Seafood is also an option, the northern city has a better harbour for fishing, so seafood is more common in the north. Dried fish is exported from the north, as is dried or cured meats. The south also produces meat, though doesn't export as much. Grains and root crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots, are grown more in this area. Green veges are grown throughout, turnips are a northern crop. Berry bushes are abundant. Alcohol is mainly produced from grains. Beer is the most abundant and cheap alcohol available. A form of beer produced from potatoes is also available. Cider is the next most common. Elderberry wine is a local northern delicacy. Wine from grapes is imported from drier regions. Specialty foods, such as spices, are imported from the semi-arids. Any crop that requires a dry climate will be imported. Water is abundant. Salt is imported to the south. The northern folk tend to get enough for personal use through seafood consumption, but imports salt for curing meats. This salt comes from the semi-arids region. Timber is abundant, with forestry a key industry, particularly inland from the big lake. Most buildings are timber, though stonework does make for longer lasting buildings. Stone for building. A number of quarries exist near main settlements, mainly limestone. Granite is found to the northern part of the alpine region, where a couple of volcanoes remain active, as well as a number of extinct ones. The southern alpine region contains marble, which is simply limestone that has been pressurised and undergone metamorphosis, there is one major marble quarry. Schist and slate quarries are also found here. Greywacke is used in poorer quality buildings. Gold is found in the hills, and dredging is common upstream. It is not hugely abundant, but enough is present for the gold digger to make a living if he sticks at it. There is also enough alcohol for profits to be quickly drunk. Jade is exported to the semi-arids, but is not considered valuable locally (except as a export commodity). A number of different fabric types exist. Cotton is abundant, the high water requirements are satisfied by the high rainfall. Flax for linen is imported. Wool and leather are abundant as a by-product of agriculture. A specialty fabric is sourced from a mountain spider. This spider produces a very strong gauzy thread and is extremely expensive due to the difficult process of manufacturing. Those working in this industry have their own guild and guild secrets. Weavers, tanners, skinners, leather workers, shoemakers, and tailors are all readily available in the city. Tanneries (and slaughter houses) are relegated to the poorer outskirts of the city due to stink, and skinners tend to work in this area as their resources are here too. Pottery is imported, and is a major trade good for the semi-arids. Lesser quality pottery is produced locally, but the good stuff is all imported. Metal work includes iron smithing and smelting, and the smithing and smelting of precious metals. Pins, needles, and wires are some of the smaller items produced. Blacksmiths are highly sought after, both weapon/armour specialists, household specialists (chefs knives and the like), and farm specialists (including horse shoes). Glass is rare and is imported. |
| 100 years of history for the rainforest folk. Still needs further details. 2384. Present day. Eclipse and earthquake. 2383 2382 2881 2380. Skirmish with semi-arids . Resolved through marriage of rulers daughter to the son of their chief 2379 2378 2377 2376 2375 2374 2373 2372 2371 2370 2369. Major flood 2368 2367. Current ruler 2366 2365 2364 2363 2362 2361 2360 2359 2358 2357 2356 2355 2354 2353. Major flood 2352 2351 2350. Major flood 2349 2348 2347 2346 2345 2344 2343 2342 2341 2340 2339 2338 2337 2336. Change in ruler 2335 2334 2333 2332. Discovery: gossamer thread used in fabric 2331 2330 2329. Volcano, end of war with semi-arids 2328 2327. War with semi-arids 2326 2325 2324 2323 2322 2321 2320 2319 2318 2317 2316 2315 2314 2313 2312 2311 2310 2309 2308. Ruler change. End of civil war 2307. Flood 2306 2305 2304 2303 2302. Revolution, start of civil war 2301. Ruler change 2300 2299. Ruler change 2298 2297 2296 2295 2294. Flood 2293 2292. Major quake 2291 2290 2289 2288 2287 2286 2285 2284 |
I've created a short story within my world. It is set amongst the aristocratic rainforest folk (I really must name them). I've written it for The Writers Cramp contest, today's theme being a piece about the creation of a particularly challenging piece of art.
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| Today involves describing the races in the world I am building. Two main races, based on the map I've drawn, are present locally. There is the potential for others to come from over the ocean. Rainforest folk These people have skin colour in the warm bronze to tawny beige range. The rural folk will tan to a darker colour than the city folk. Eyes are generally topaz brown. The nose is narrow, suggesting the population originated from a colder climate. Hair is straight and chestnut brown. In the city, the aristocratic fashion is for flowy, impractical garments. Hair is elaborately beaded and braided in both genders. Beards, in men, are very well groomed; if present, they are at most a goatee. The moustache has gone out of style in recent decades. There is a strong philosophical, mathematical bent amongst the aristocracy. In the lower classes, and in rural areas, more practical attire is worn. Rurally, fitted garments are most practical, especially with the amount of forest work that is undertaken. The exact garment is designed for the particular job. Beads and braids are often, though not always, present; and hair and beards are less well groomed. Semi-arid folk These folk endure a hotter, drier climate. As such, noses are wider and shorter than their rainforest peers. Other words to describe include ample, broad, and round. Hair is black and curly. Ringlets and spirals are evident when the hair is seen. However, men tend towards short hair with head coverings to protect from the sun. Women are veiled and have head coverings also. Skin colour is a terracotta brown, similar to that of the refined but unfired clay produced in the region, although those who work the clay are tanned to a significantly darker shade. Eyes are brown through to black. Clothing style is appropriate to the climate, with breathable fabrics in a loose, flows style. It is, however, a more practical style than that of the aristocratic rainforest folk. As already noted, women are veiled. Silver metal is often used as adornment, particularly on special occasions, of which there are many. Interactions between the two races The rainforest aristocracy tends to look down upon the semi-arid folk as a lesser race. They also, however, tend to look down on their own lower classes as being lesser as well. Interactions at the lower class level is pragmatic, and more merit based. There is still, however, a sense of superiority of class, though some debate as to how the classes match up between the two races. This leads to occasions where two people from different races both looking down upon each other as inferior. |
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