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 |  This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC |
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This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario. An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"  Feel free to comment and interact. |
| Ending Without Ending I am a fan of Stephen King. I have every book of his (except 1, and except 2 collaborations), which is a lot of King! However, even I, as a huge fan, will say one thing â he can struggle with an ending. Sometimes they fall flat after everything that has happened before, sometimes they get way too convoluted, sometimes they are over too quick⊠itâs just not a strong point. Now, not every story has a bad ending â The Shiningâs ending is perfect, for example â but it is frequent enough to be noticeable. So, what? Have I just come here to bash my writing idol? No, I am here to discuss something else â what could have been done differently. And it is something King has used, in Christine and Pet Sematary, for example. This is the open ending. 1. What is an Open Ending? An open ending is when things are not tied up in a neat bow. The monster might still be out there, they might not have found the mystic item, the dark lord might still be alive, anything. The most common reason for doing this is because the writer already has a sequel in mind, or they are writing their trilogy or, heaven help us, decalogy. And then writers donât deliver on said sequels and readers are left frustrated. But what I want to focus on is the open ending that happens because not every story finishes happily for everyone. 2. Why use an Open Ending? Ignoring sequel bait, like I said, not every story is going to be able to be neatly tied up. Sometimes, it feels forced, like the ending has been placed there because there has to be an ending. It feels rushed and leaves the reader feeling a little let down. Other times, there is no way a closed ending can work without an epilogue or a time jump. And sometimes, an ending can be open in case the writer wants to do a sequel, but a sequel is not necessary as the story works very well on its own. Then there is the theory that readers are not stupid, and leaving an ending open can leave it up to their imagination. Do Dick and Jane stay together? Where did the adventurers go next after finding the Statue of McGuffin? What does the monster do now it has been injured and limped into the forest? Let the reader come up with what happens next! And sometimes what they come up with can be better than a forced sequel. 3. Disadvantages of an Open Ending I think the advantages speak for themselves, but the disadvantages should be taken into consideration: i) it can make a story feel incomplete; ii) it can feel like a cop-out because a proper ending couldnât be found; iii) some publishers do not like them (I have been through this with a couple of short stories); iv) it can make a reader await a sequel even though none was planned; & v) some readers do not understand them (nor critics or reviewers⊠with the open ending in Invasive Species copping me some flakâŠ). I do feel these disadvantages, though, are more inconveniences than anything else. Take them as you will. So thatâs open endings. Try it; never know, it might be just what your story needs to finish, |
| Romance Tropes I Like I am a relative new comer to the romance side of things, but I have already come to see some tropes I do not like⊠and some I know are going to mean a good story. Not only that, I have found some that work well when crossed over with other genres of writing! 1. Friends to lovers My favourite romance trope. They already know and like one another, and it becomes almost logical that, given the right circumstances, they would fall for one another. There can be hiccoughs, other friends can interfere or be jealous â it works so well. Hell, I used it in Invasive Species. 2. Forced together by circumstance, fall for one another We are not talking enemies to lovers (I have already mentioned previously how much that trope irks me), but people who might not know one another, or maybe might have a passing acquaintance, are suddenly thrust into the middle of a set of circumstances, realise one another is strong and worth fighting for, or something, and they fall for each other. Still works. 3. Forbidden romance Most famously portrayed in Romeo And Juliet, this still works as well. The lovers need to hide it and might get caught, or they flee, or they do something stupid (like R&J), but we still see today families trying to ban a coupling. In fact, in the subcontinent and those immigrant communities elsewhere, it has led to murder. This is one that just stays in the consciousness. This also encompasses things like âsecret romanceâ, âoffice romanceâ or âbest friendâs partnerâ romance. 4. Second chance romances I like these stories, but there is a caveat â the partner being given the second chance cannot have been a mammoth arsehole. If they administered DV of any sort on the partner, then a second chance story does not work for me. Otherwise, it does seem to be fine, and I enjoy some of these tales. Someone always says, âOnce a cheater, always a cheater,â if the story comes from there, but maybe not. It might be wishful thinking, but it is a trope I do enjoy. 5. Holiday romance This is something that might surprise people, but I do like those tales of a holiday romance that is fated to never go any further. It is that weekend fling with a girl at Bali, despite both having partners, it is that week-long summer camp childhood sweethearts romance that is killed by friends in the real world. It is sitting next to someone on a tour bus and eventually sharing their bed. It is all manner of things. Sure, afterwards, one could seek out the other and lifelong romance could eventuate, but in general, a happy for now ending is the best one for these sorts of stories. And there we are, 5 romance tropes I do quite enjoy. |
| Weird Love Songs Another old list that has had the videos removed, so I shall post it here for⊠reasons. February. Valentine's Day. When crass commercialism is thrust into the public eye in the guise of romance. And yet, it is still when the minds of the romantically inclined turn to things of sweetness and light, while the more cynical and love-burnt of the rest of us dread days of roses, chocolates⊠and love songs. Oh, the dreaded love song. The same old tropes get dragged out year after year. "I love, do you love me?, please love me, we're in loveâŠ" Or, it could be that, to be 'subversive' some radio station might play a string of break-up songs of varying degrees . Look, there's no denying that love is one of the main staples of song-writing. The majority of songs are about relationships, in varying stages of build or decay. And that is just something we have to live with and, come February, tolerate more than usual. But love isn't all wine and roses. Love is scary. Love is a form of insanity when we let our inhibitions go and we try to allow some-one else to share ourselves. Love is scary, it is intimidating, it is painful, it is something too many crave like an addiction; but love is also wonderful, illuminating, enlightening and glorious. It can be dangerous; it can be a safety net. Love is a contradiction within one person. Love is indefinable. In general, love is really weird. With that in mind, sometimes an artist releases a love song that is not, well⊠usual. They are still proclaiming their love for another person, sure, but they might use language that is not quite loving (yes, that means they swear a lot), or have a situation that might otherwise preclude it from being a love song. Insanity, lust and satisfice all feature in them. There's emotion behind them, sure, and the song-writers must love the object of their desire, but⊠Holy unsubtle references, Batman! These are love songs that are strange or weird because of the above reasons, or even just the manner in which the love is portrayed. Rules are simple: no comedy songs (even the strangely awesome Sir Lancelot's 'Shame And Scandal In The Family'), they must be songs about love and not breaking up or losing love, or songs about unrequited love. I also decided against using any of the vast number of songs that could be construed as stalking songs (like 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police) or songs that are generally misused in one way or another. And songs that are just really uncomfortable ('Baby, It's Cold Outside' which is basically a guy almost forcing a reluctant girl to sleep with him does not feel right) are also not included. And Serge and (daughter) Charlotte Gainsbourg's 'Lemon Incest' is too creepy for words. The most important thing, however, is that I have to like the songs. There are some really strange love songs out there that I really don't like. Your mileage, as usual, will undoubtedly vary. WARNING: Lots of NSFW stuff follows! But, first, I want to mention ' Closer ' by Nine Inch Nails, written by Trent Reznor (1994). Its chorus ("I want to f**k you like an animal / I want to feel you from the insideâŠ") makes people think it's a sex/love song, but it is really about a guy using sex to overcome his own self-loathing. It's not so much a weird love song as a weird self-therapy song. It's just a weird song. I own the CD Single. I think Nine Inch Nails are vastly under-rated. And Trent Reznor did the music for one of my favourite video games, Quake. So the man is a legend. Okay, the list! 'You're In Love With A Psycho' by Kasabian (2017); written by Sergio Pizzorno This is a song about two people who love each other. What a rarity in modern song writing! So what if one of them is a little⊠demented? It's still love, right? The lyrics are awesome, with pop culture references and strange lines. It is one of my favourite recent songs. However, the reason it is first on my list is that there is also a hint that maybe the singer only thinks the girl is in love with him ("You walk⊠so quickâŠ"), but to him this is love all the way. He even wants to share his chips with her. You can't get much more romantic than that. Lyric example: "We've been waiting far too long/ We'll play it out again/ This is just my serenade/ You're in love with a psychoâŠ" 'Wannabe' by The Spice Girls (1996); written by Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, Matthew Paul Rowbottom & Richard Stannard I'm allowed to like a Spice Girls song! No, really, I am! This is about a fledgling relationship. Girl has met guy and is laying down the rules for their relationship. But maybe the choice of words could have been better? Because the whole song seems like if the guy wants to be with the girl, he has to also be with the girl's friends and that's just really creepy and disgusting and yet, in some people's minds, probably a fantasy come to life. I'm not sure that's what the song means, but it's certainly how nearly everyone I've spoken to hears it. Hell, Geri even name-checks the rest of the band and what they like! I have a friend who would consider this awesome but⊠Sorry. No. Lyric example: "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever, friendship never endsâŠâ 'I Wanna Be Your Dogâ by The Stooges (1969); written by Dave Alexander, Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton & Scott Asheton This is a song about a guy who is willing to do anything for his loved one. Literally anything. He is the submissive partner. I've even read an actual paper stating that it is the first song about BDSM. Not sure about that⊠but it is Iggy Pop, so you never know. It is a short song, but the concept of a man willing to be another's pet is⊠yep, weird. Lyric example: "And now I'm ready to feel your hand/ And lose my heart on the burning sands/ And now I want to be your dogâŠ" 'iFly' by Ball Park Music (2010); written by Samuel David Cromack A strange song about a guy who hooks up with a girl at a party and then professes his love for her. They subsequently meet up again and kiss, this time without alcohol, and all is right with the world. Ah, what a sweet song â alcohol-induced love. This song could have been me a few times back in the 1980s. Yes, some themes are horribly timeless. But what tips this song into the weird category, as far as love songs go, is the chorus: "I f**king love you, I think you're pretty/ I f**king love you, all of the timeâŠ" Now, I'm no romance or love expert, but that seems to be one of the least romantic declarations of love ever put onto tape. Lyric example "Well, I remember the first time that I got to kiss you sober/ I remember the first time as if it is right now/ I was just myself, maybe I was lessâŠ" 'Drain You' by Nirvana (1991); written by Kurt Cobain Pretty sure this song was never released as a single, but the Nevermind album was one of those pieces of pop culture that changed things in music. And this song sits there as an album highlight. This is a love song about co-dependency. Ah, how sweet! The medical imagery, though, is odd and some of the lines go from "we need each other" territory to down-right "eww" territory. Still, it is a really good song and the love sentiment behind it is very clear and all-too stark. Lyric example: "Chew my meat for you/ Pass it back and forth in a passionate kiss/ From my mouth to yours/ I like youâŠ" 'Punk Rock Girl' by The Dead Milkmen (1989); written by David Schulthise, Dean Sabatino, Joseph Genaro & Rodney Linderman This is a straight-up love song: a guy is talking about what he and the girl he loves are going to do together. Nothing wrong there. It's just that she's a punk and their choice of activities⊠well, it's made for quite an interesting song, that's for sure! They eat food â detailed â look for Mojo Nixon albums and do all sorts of other things around Philadelphia. Oh, and she's from a rich family while he's not. Strange. But catchy as all hell. Lyric example: "She took me to her parents for a Sunday meal/ Her father took one look at me and he began to squealâŠ" 'Blank Space' by Taylor Swift (2014); written by Martin Max, Shellback & Taylor Swift [[Embed over limit (5).]] Yes, I'm allowed to like a Taylor Swift song. Or songs. Or albums. So sue me. Anyway, Swift claimed in GQ in 2015 that this song was a satirical response to people who felt she was crazy when it came to her love life. But the lyrics tell the story of a girl who is with a guy at the start of a relationship, declaring that she is high maintenance. She gives a good and bad case scenario throughout ("It'll leave you breathless/ Or with a nasty scarâŠ") which is fair warning. But the fact she does that makes this a weird sort of love song. Really good song, but really weird. And not a little scary. Lyric example: "'Cause we're young and we're reckless/ We'll take this way too far/ Got a long list of ex-lovers/ They'll tell you I'm insaneâŠ" 'Shut Up / Kiss Me' by Paul McDermott and Fiona Horne (1998); written by Paul McDermott [[Embed over limit (5).]] I personally think this is one of the best slower songs produced in the Australian canon. But it is a song of satisfice â the whole "you'll do" concept of taking a partner. The lyrics are beautiful with stunning metaphors and similes, but the whole underlying theme is that these two people are the only ones left and so hook up because, well, why not? Hardly the most auspicious of love stories, and yet it is a love song. Weird and probably depressing, but a love song. Lyric example: "I was caught by your smile under a blushing moon/ You were the only one left there/ Words poured like wine over an open wound/ You were the only one left thereâŠ" 'Where the Wild Roses Grow' by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds with Kylie Minogue; written by Nick Cave [[Embed over limit (5).]] In my opinion, this is the best song Kylie Minogue has ever appeared on. In. My. Opinion. This is a song about two young lovers going for a walk. So far, so twee. They go to see the roses growing. How sweet. And then he kills her with a rock. So⊠hang on â what? Yeah⊠this song goes to weird. But when it comes from an album called Murder Ballads what do you expect? It is an awesome song, even if dark and creepy. But the lyrics are excellent â this is the sort of writing I wish I could pull out. Nick Cave is an Australian genius. Lyric example: "And the last thing I heard was a muttered word/ As he stood smiling above me with a rock in his fistâŠ" 'Kiss With A Fist' by Florence and the Machine (2009) [[Embed over limit (5).]] There is nothing that can be said about this song. From the word go, you know what it's about. This is about a woman staying in an abusive relationship because it's better than being alone. Not good! However, on the other hand, she gives as good as she gets, and beats the living snot out of the guy as well. So that makes it better⊠right? This song is really weird⊠But it is possibly one of the best songs about a dysfunctional, abusive, shocking relationship out there. That's a musical genre, right? Lyric example: "I broke your jaw once before/ I spilled your blood upon the floor/ You broke my leg in return/ So sit back and watch the bed burnâŠ" So, ten, shall we say, unconventional love songs. Any I've missed? Any I've got wrong? What are your favourite "weird" love songs? As always, comments, questions, etc. are most welcome. |
| Science Fiction Tropes I Like So, after dumping on science fiction tropes recently, I am now going to talk about the genreâs tropes I like, ones that I feel can still work, whether played straight or if subverted. Iâve done this with horror, and now itâs science fictionâs turn. As before, all of these have been used for many, many years, and yet they can still be utilised today without an issue, I feel. 1. The world becomes a dystopia The reason I like this one is that is seems all so real. I can imagine our current world falling into a dystopia, for example. And many writers are showing this dystopia in increasingly intriguing and different ways. I think there is always going to be some way to include this in writing. As for utopias, though⊠well⊠Dystopias include things like increased government surveillance, everything being forced to happen online, post-nuclear wastelands, hyper police states, and all other manner of the world having gone to shit. Let your imagination run free. 2. Enhanced humans This is when we attach bits of hardware to a human to make them more than human. Or maybe less than human? Is there such a thing as body cyber-dismorphia? See, these are the sorts of things that can still make the cyborg feel fresh. Writers are going into the psychology of this, and when does one cease to be human? 3. AI and/or robots taking over This was becoming a tired trope, but with modern scientific advancements now spurring on even more creativity, it is once again a source of something science fiction does well â warn us. Some writers have even looked at it through a positive lens. There is so much scope now that we have a clearer idea of where it is heading in reality. 4. Alternate universes/ Weâre in a simulation This is something I am interested in, and can lead to alternate history tales ("20240912 Alternate History" ), moving through worlds tales (The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter) or even philosophical stories. I donât think the well has run dry yet, although Marvel and DC and their multiverses became tedious in the comics last century, and are now tedious on the screen, so you may need to be careful if using that concept.I included the âwe are in a simulationâ here (see The Matrix) because this has not yet been beaten to death. It is really hard to write, though, so that might be why. 5. Travelling long distances Be that through faster than light travel (FTL) (which is technically possible, but only if you can jump over the speed of light itself), wormholes, cryo-sleep capsules, whatever, the possibilities for travelling vast distances of space have not gone out of fashion because they are needed for science fiction to actually work. And as technology shows us more and more what is possible or potentially possible, this means of travelling is growing increasingly sophisticated. So, there you are, 5 simple science fiction tropes that are as good now as they ever were. Hope something sparks your imagination! |
| Science Fiction Tropes I Dislike Letâs go back (briefly) to tropes I want to dump on. I think some of these might have come up in other places, but I am looking here specifically at those tropes from science fiction that just annoy me no end. But it doesnât matter, because they are going to continue regardless⊠1. What aliens look like It might be a bit much, but unless played for comedy, I have grown to truly dislike aliens that are just humans in a skin with knobbly bits. Star Trek and Star Wars might be great bits of science fiction space opera, but they follow the Abrahamic ideal of humanity and the human form being the ultimate in creation. What a load of crap. In fact, some scientists seem to think the octopoid form might be the best one, not humanoid. 2. Anachronistic civilisations I guess this sort of follows on from the first one, but when the members of a space crew come across a civilisation and it is stupidly close to a history period of Earth. So, with all the infinite possibilities out there, a burgeoning civilisation would somehow mirror Earth? Why? That makes no sense! In so many cases, one little change in history and our world would be different. If William the Conqueror hadnât taken England, it would still have been Anglo-Saxon and Viking, it is estimated the USA would have been colonised around 500 years earlier, and who knows what English would sound like! And yet this newly found planet somehow has a âwild westâ, a âmiddle agesâ or a âworld war 2â? Give me a break! 3. Aliens being the invaders/ bad guys I think humanity has proven in the past 5000 years that we are the most unstable, angriest, most violent and most obnoxious species on Earth, and I dare say that would be translated to when we discover extra-terrestrial species. We will be the bad guys, the enslavers, the conquerors, the aggressors, of that I have no doubt whatsoever. 4. Teleportation Look, I know science is amazing, and we are doing and learning more and more all the time. But teleportation just seems to me to take it to a level that is, well, insane. The body has to be turned into something that can be teleported. At a quantum level, some small forms of matter can do something akin to teleportation, but only across a small distance. As a science, it makes no sense. Iâd also like to mention backwards time travel here, but Iâve read some good stories with that trope. 5. Humans becoming super-powered With the past few decades of super-hero stories coming to the popular culture away from the comic book aficionados of the past, the amount of stories about regular humans getting superpowers is growing. Look, I was a comics reader, but I liked Batman and Superman. Yes, Superman completely goes against the first item in this list, but he was fun. Spiderman, bitten by a radioactive spider; the Fantastic Four, hit by space rays; the Flash, lab explosion; and so on⊠but really? Having biomech transplants and becoming cyborgs, sure; genetic modification⊠maybe? Mother bitten by a hyper-dangerous spider in the Amazon jungle while giving birth and subsequently dying (Madame Web, in case you think Iâm having a joke)⊠no. Just, no. And there are 5 science fiction tropes that we can do without. Weâre better than this; letâs use our imaginations! In. My. Opinion. |
| Horror Tropes I Like I have done a bit of dumping on tropes in some recent posts, so here, to go the other way, are some tropes that I feel can work in the horror genre, whether played straight or subverted. All of these have been used for many, many years, and yet they can still be utilised today without an issue, I feel. 1. The old tome of doom It could be a book in a hidden room in an old university, it could be the ramblings of an old relative in a diary, it could be the runes carved into the skull of a long-dead sacrifice, or (nowadays) a strange website with a â.deathâ domain name, but finding something that when read unleashes a nastiness upon the reader is never going to get old, especially as the ways we read changes all the time. It could be a demon coming, a curse inflicted, or insanity produced, but the reading that causes it is still there. 2. Summoning an evil Going from that last one is the deliberate summoning rite or ritual. Hell, my book Sins Of The Fathers is based on that very conceit! Finding the old book or the transcription online, and then using it to summon and attempt to control a demon, and then that demon being out of control until the words of the book are used to rein it in is something that is always fun to experiment with. 3. The strange neighbour, new or old Urban horror is always a good go-to because it is the mundane, the normal, our own lives, being turned upside down. And having the creepy, weird neighbour is a good way of doing that. It could be the old guy whoâs always lived at number 23, or the new young woman with no apparent boyfriends who moved into the house next to Mr Wilkins. They might even end up being a force for good, but that stranger in our midst trope works so well. This can be extended to the new kid at school, the new work-mate, the new resident in the aged care facility, anything. Always a stranger, always weird. 4. The old abandoned building Most places have one. It might be a house no-one has lived in for decades, a shop that hasnât been used for years, a mall that was left to wrack and ruin, a used car yard, a motel, a pub, a wheat dispersement office and silo (where I live), anything. And anything could be in there â dangerous animals, dangerous people, dangerous supernatural entities. And there are so many different buildings that can be abandoned â and so many more are being let go as the worldâs economy tanks â that the writer (film-maker, whatever) can have a ball making these new places and their unique nooks and crannies worthy of a horror tale. 5. The monster on the loose The mythical creature come to life (see my own book Invasive Species), the force of nature attacking (see Jaws), the horrific mutation going full-on Nicholas Cage (see Piranha 2: Flying Killers), or the man-made monster doing man-made monster things (see Frankenstein) have all been used to great effect over the years. Well, we now have a new twist â the genetic mutation created in a laboratory. A wolverine crossed with a sheep to make it hardier and more readily able to defeat predators? Scientists after money (no longer âmadâ, just âgreedyâ â see the Indominus Rex from Jurassic World) will do anything⊠and your imagination is the only barrier. So, there we are, 5 horror tropes that have been used for years, and yet still have a lot of gas in the tank. Happy writing! |
| Monster Dictionary Upate So, a few people have asked me how the Monster Dictionary that I have been working on for more than 15 years is going. Well, it is still going. I have just finished going through the last books in the stateâs library system, and, well⊠Hereâs my page and word count from September 2024:  (If it's too small, 463 pages, 278457 words) And here is the page and word count from the start of February, 2025:  (If it's too small, 481 pages, 288145 words) And as for numbers, here is the number of names from September, 2024:  - 6977And hereâs where it stands as of the start of February, 2025:  - 7534Yes, more than 7500 names and more than 288,000 words (without the index) Is it finished? Is it? No idea⊠but, God, I hope so⊠EDIT! After posting this, I found another one! Yep... another 100 words or so and another creature added... |
| External Writerings Jan 2025 Not as many this month. Itâs just been one of those months! But some of these are really fine collections⊠My favourite 10 Wrestling PPVs from the second half of 2024. These wrestling lists are getting me some hate mail because I donât put every WWE show on them. Wrestling tribalism is insane⊠and totally unwarranted. Some wrestling fans are just douchebags.My favourite original songs of 2024. Boy, I got more hate for who I put on than who I left off!My favourite cover songs of 2024! And the hate here came from my focus on Australian artists and the fact Taylor Swift covers appear everywhere. Whingers, grow up!Songs about sweat. Well, it has been insanely hot here in Australia.Some songs with âAustraliaâ in the title. My mandatory Australia Day song list.A dozen of my favourite songs by Marianne Faithfull. This was to commemorate her passing.And thatâs this monthâs writerings! Remember, a click on each one pays me, so youâre supporting me by listening to some great music or reading some weird opinions. The way it works is: one click per article per ISP, no ad blockers. I get a very small amount, but it is an amount. Of course, donât feel obligated. Just if you want to listen to music. |
| Mythological Or Legendary Creatures As ClichĂ© So, regular readers will know that I have been writing a book for many, many, many years, a book that will apparently never be finished, listing and giving some account of every single legendary creature in the world. Not those from fiction, but from belief. Anyway, this rather weird obsession that I have developed has meant I look at many stories that involve these creatures with a slightly more critical eye. So, what I will do is look at some of the most commonly used creatures here and offer some alternatives. But 2 creatures will not be here. First is vampires, as popular culture has so diluted and changed the original legends that Meyerâs sparkling vampires are just the end of a long list of changes made for books and film that are just there. Second is therianthropes â people who can turn into animals. Popular culture has diluted the stories, and many ancient legends have been completely corrupted by Christianity and its adherents. So, with these creatures, have at them. You canât do worse than whatâs already been done. On the other hand, hereâs six that I feel can be replaced by some other more interesting beings, before they become clichĂ©s themselves. 1) Dragon Letâs start with the grand-daddy, a creature that has ancient stories on every continent except Australia (though that is an argument I am currently having with an anthropologist). Starting as just huge, winged lizards, they developed intelligence and gold-lust and fire-breath, and then certain weaknesses through the years so that the creature evolved⊠and yet the one we often picture nowadays has not changed much since the medieval period. However, it is something of a clichĂ© now. Dragon-riders, dragon-tamers, telepathic dragons⊠all been there, done that for years. Alternate?How about a wyvern? They are not as intelligent, and actually make more sense scientifically, being tetrapods (hind legs and forelimbs are wings). Most tales do not mention fire, but extremely tough hides. Some even have a scorpion tail, so they have that as well. In fact, this ended up being the creature I used in Invasive Species . Spoiler!2) Unicorn The unicorn is depicted nowadays as a white horse with a single long horn on its forehead, a paragon of virtue. Of course, it started as a nasty creature that did avoid humans, who hunted it for its cure-all horn. In the Middle Ages, it was incorporated into the Noahâs Ark myth and the added story was that a beautiful female virgin could seduce one. Last unicorns are a common trope of human hubris. Alternate?Maricorn. This is a unicorn that lives in the water, with the lower body of a fish or dolphin, like a horned Hippocampus. There is also the Almaricorn, which was a Maricorn with the wings of an eagle. Having the added element of water could make for some interesting tales. 3) Griffon The griffon, the eagle-lion hybrid creature, was a guardian of gold to the ancient Greeks, and became the symbol of strength and bravery to medieval people. My own family crest features a griffon (also spelt griffin, gryphon or gryps). Normally depicted as steadfast guardians nowadays, they have not changed much in centuries. Alternate? Heliodromos could be interesting. Picture a griffon, but with the bird parts those of a vulture, and with the tendency to scavenge and hoard, like a vulture, and you have this medieval creature. There is more scope for a nasty creature here, and the legends about it are scant, so adding to the story is simple and wonât step on toes. 4) Giant These larger than normal humans are just that â larger than normal humans. How large is larger than normal? Depends on the culture. These creatures do appear on all continents. Australian and North American giants tend towards mountain-sized; European ones twice the height of a human, South American and African giants tend to be simply larger than humans, but not by a lot, while Asian giants run the gamut from a little larger to mountain-sized. They are a simple thing, and appear as generally stupid beings, no matter the culture (Norse being quite the outlier here). They have changed very little over the centuries. Alternate? Danish Trolls. Trolls from Norse legend were a form of ugly, really nasty giant, but those from Denmark lived underground and had cities that were very similar to human habitations. They were not stupid, but were nasty and were often depicted as wanting to eat humans. The fact the tribes could not get along kept their numbers down, as troll battles would kill many. They were said to be ugly by human standards, and used simple weapons as swords were too expensive for them to create, and dwarves would not give them metal. Could be a greater threat if they can work together. 5) Centaur A centaur is a man to the waist, then a horse from there down. In ancient Greece, they were seen as drunken louts who ravished human women (or men) and fought battles, with the only exception being Chiron, who was the teacher of many Greek heroes. Over time, centaurs have come to be seen as more guardians of nature, though this is a post-Middle Ages interpretation of the myth. Alternate? Hereâs one â Uridimmus. From ancient Mesopotamia, particularly Sumer and Akkad (where he was called Samas), he was a man to the waist, and a lion from there down â a lion-centaur. Depicted as a guardian creature, he was very loyal and strong, and as fierce as any lion. That is all that is really known about it, so is another creature that could well be adapted and adopted without really intruding on the original myth or legend. 6) Mermaid The mermaid of nowadays is an interesting legendary creature. They were depicted as people to the waist, and fish from there down. In Europe, they come from the Greek god Triton; in Australia and the Pacific, they tended towards more shark-like; in Japan, there was a definite dolphin-like quality. In the Americas, they seem to have been introduced with Europeans. In some cultures in Europe, they took over the original creatures, who were more like Sirens. It is a muddled and confused history, made worse by the fact that sailors thought they were real, mistaking (it is believed) manatees for women. You had to be at sea for a long time, in my opinion, for that to happen! But they have become a clichĂ©, made more confused by Walt Disney and the house of Mouseâs corrupting influence on popular culture. Alternate? Why not go for the siren? This ancient Greek creature that spread across Europe )where it was called Sirin, Syren, etc.) was another water-based being. They were birds with the faces and breasts of women. They were also the ones who were first renowned for singing; original mermaid myths had no singing, but the two were joined together in medieval times. In some tellings of the myth, the women were old and ugly, in others they were young and beautiful. The young depiction does appear to be later, but both are still from ancient Greek legend. Still, a woman-animal hybrid living on or near the water, with a beautiful singing voice, and already showing signs of having been changed by ancient cultures. Sounds perfect. So, there we are, 6 mythological or legendary creatures that have been over-used in modern pop culture and an alternative for each that could still make your story an interesting one, and giving some love to lesser known creatures of yore. It is worth thinking about doing. Why stick with the old? Why not extend yourself and give something else a go? And, of course, if it doesnât work, go back to the clichĂ©d creature. No-oneâs stopping you. This is just a suggestion, after all. |
| Songs For Year Of The Snake So, itâs the Year of the Snake in the Chinese New Year. Many years ago, I did a column on it, but the videos have all been removed, so hereâs the column with songs! (All are in my personal music collection, by the way.) âThe Viperâ by Freddie And The Dreamers (1963) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUCeLxLCY58 A novelty song, a B-side from a four-track single, this is a weird song, so unlike most of the other songs recorded by this band. I have always liked it, though, probably because it is so odd. âSnake In The Grassâ by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich (1969) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie_9VvF2DFY A song I only have on a greatest hits album, and one I have not heard away from said disc, this is a fun little track that, while not their best, is certainly a decent song about some-one acting like the proverbial snake in the grass. âCrawling King Snakeâ by The Doors (1971) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV0buYqrRo4 From my favourite Doors album L.A. Woman, this cover version of an old blues track is really made by the music behind Jim Morrisonâs vocals. In an album of great tracks, this song stands out as different and wonderful. âThe Serpent Is Risingâ by Styx (1973) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r49u63AgjfI The title track from this album is very prog rock sounding, with lyrics about some cosmic serpentine entity rising up. The album is a weird one, but this is one of the better tracks from it. âSnake Charmerâ by Rainbow (1975) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coZVchUjb64 From Rainbowâs first album, the guitar playing is superb and the lyrics are odd, but this is a great rock track from the greatest era of classic rock. An album cut that not many actually know about, which is a shame. âTube Snake Boogieâ by ZZ Top (1981) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5_lpQqfiy8 From the El Loco album, when they first started to experiment with some electronic sounds in their music, this is the definite highlight of that still quite good record. ZZ Top had a great way with the 12-bar boogie blues rock style, and that is on show here so strongly. âUnion Of The Snakeâ by Duran Duran (1983) [[Embed over limit (5).]] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6p5Q6_JBes Though, even now, almost 40 years later, I am not completely sure what the lyrics are about, this song from the really strong Seven And The Ragged Tiger album is still a good one. Itâs just that perfect mix of rock and pop that Duran Duran straddled so well at this point in their careers. âBig Snakeâ by Lloyd Cole And the Commotions (1987) [[Embed over limit (5).]] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ishqYL4Jos8 Slow and punctuated by some fine guitar work and Coleâs always impressive voice, this song is almost threatening in tone, but is still a glorious piece of music. âSnakebiteâ by Alice Cooper (1991) [[Embed over limit (5).]] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agC3lIfPuQU Alice Cooper has continuously released great music for decades, and this song from the under-rated Hey, Stoopid album is amongst the wonderful. I was under the impression it had been released as a single, but Iâm not sure. Still, I remember hearing this at the time and it was great then as it is now. âViperâ by Mike Oldfield (2002) [[Embed over limit (5).]] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1ICitSTFNA A beautiful instrumental from one of Oldfieldâs lesser-known recent albums, but one which I really quite liked, Tres Lunas. Itâs a little more electronic than most of his earlier stuff, but I think that difference was what made this album stand out to me. âSnakes And Laddersâ by Kim Wilde (2010) [[Embed over limit (5).]] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0zEE53B170 Regular readers will know of my love for Ms Wilde and her music, and this song about the eponymous game (so probably pushing the limits of the theme here) is a great song that I have as a CD Single extra track. It deserves more than that, though, as it is a great little pop song. So, to celebrate a new Chinese year, some songs about snakes! The original list had 15 songs, but this only allows me 10 embedded videos, so I cut 5. Sorry. |
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Not directed at you. But it's mind-boggling how many strangers still call it 'brave' or ask 'why did you do that?'