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"It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
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In the early days of August, I checked my email here on Writing.com and was surprised to see an email from Bob DeFrank  . I knew Bob from a fanfiction website where I had read and enjoyed several of his Star Wars pieces, so I was happy to see that he had joined our community here, and after glimpsing his portfolio, knew that he was destined to be featured in one of my fantasy newsletters.
Me: Tell a little about yourself.
Bob DeFrank : Male, mid-twenties, a Tolkien-junkie and proud of it. I spend my time as a mild-mannered journalist in order to feed my addiction and try to make ends meet. This basically means I make my living by poking my nose into other peoples' business. Usually my days are occupied with taking pictures of other people doing interesting things and asking them how they feel about it.
Me: When did you start writing?
Bob DeFrank : Compositions in my English class, the 'how did you spend your summer vacation?' variety. The teacher wanted true stories, but since my real life was too boring I decided to make stuff up. I turned my first visit to the dentist into a tale of horror. The bumbling magician at my fictional friend's fictional birthday party was another clever stroke. Eventually I went a little too far in my embellishments, though, and my teacher caught on. After that, my comps were subject to 'excitement-screenings,' but I still lied in my writing whenever possible.
From there I moved to fan fiction. I'm the type of person who can't resist thinking 'supposing THIS had happened,' or 'wouldn’t 'THAT have been more interesting,' while reading a book or watching a TV show. From there, it was a small step to writing original stuff.
When I think about it though, I suppose I've always been a storyteller. I remember telling 'Red Riding Hood' and the 'The Three Little Pigs' to my little sister. I would play all the parts, right down to the voices.
Me: How did you discover Writing.com?
Bob DeFrank : I saw the link on Erin's profile on fanfiction.net and clicked on it out of curiosity. You never know where you'll find a gemstone in the rough.
Me: What do you like to do outside of writing?
Bob DeFrank : These days it seems I'm always writing, fact or fiction. When I'm not writing I'm reading, when I'm not reading I'm listening to audio books. When I'm not doing any of that, I'm sleeping.
I like history, literature and art though. I'd like to start going to the theater again, and I plan to learn how to swim one of these days.
Me: What would you say is your biggest difficulty when writing?
Bob DeFrank : Getting started: I can take procrastination to a high art form. If I were half as inventive in writing as I am in thinking up excuses NOT to write, I'd put Neil Gaiman to shame.
Then there's plotting. I love a well-crafted storyline with plenty of twists and turns, but I tend to make it too elaborate. When that happens, you can see the author's hand too clearly in a story, which makes it artificial.
Ironically, I've found that the best advice for plotting a story is 'keep it simple,' but I have trouble following it myself.
On a side note, while I think character-driven stories are more engrossing than plot-driven ones, I've found some of my best characters have arisen out of plot necessity. The plot demands that something should happen, so I need to invent a character who would do such a thing. Afterward, I've got a new character lying around, and a whole lot of new options and ideas to go with him/her.
Me: Describe your writing process for the curious (and the nosy  )
Bob DeFrank : It starts in my head. I begin by figuring out what happens, this usually involves pacing and drinking coffee and running over scenarios in my mind. When I have it imagined in broad strokes, with an end in mind and an idea of how to get there, I start the actual writing. This is the refining process and the many interesting little details often pop up, often seemingly out of nowhere.
But first, I need an opening, usually either an image or some sort of activity. Both methods have their drawbacks, though. Starting with an image works well to set the scene, but it can easily lead to paragraph after paragraph of description if you're not careful. Action tends to hook the reader immediately, but it can also confuse the reader and it requires some backstory interspersed in the chapter.
It's also important that I know who's POV to show the scene from. Seen through the right pair of eyes, any activity can be suspenseful and exciting. When I write a scene, I try to make it sound as if it’s the POV character narrating things as they happen. This also helps me get to ‘know’ my characters.
Finally, I'm a bit of a performer. I always write with an eye to how my work will look to an audience. I think about what will elicit an emotional response, and how to parcel out story and information in such a way as to hold the reader's interest until the intended climax (and each chapter should be in itself a miniature story with its own climax) is reached.
Me: Who are your favorite authors or who has most inspired your writing?
Bob DeFrank : I read the classics and the newcomers. There's the aforementioned Tolkien, and George R.R. Martin, the current king of the fantasy genre who well-deserves his crown. Stephen King's writing has stayed fresh through the years and crosses almost every genre; Ray Bradbury's imagery and imagination is amazing. Then there's Stephen R. Donaldson; Gene Wolfe; Ursula LeGuin; Neil Gaiman; Robin McKinley; Roger Zelazny; Garth Nix; Richard Adams; Douglas Adams; L. Warren Douglas; Tad Williams; Greg Keyes; J. K. Rowling and Matthew Woodring Stover. Most recently I've discovered the works of Juliet Marillier and Jacqueline Carey, so far they come very highly recommended.
I learn from every book I read, even the lousy ones. Whenever I find myself utterly engrossed in a book I stop and ask myself: WHY do I like it? I do the same when I find a book I hate.
I'm always looking for new ways to challenge myself as a writer. A little while back I wrote a novella-length project in a first-person journal entry format, a first for me, but it's all written in my notebook and I haven't gotten around to typing it out yet.
Currently I'm trying to write a classic fantasy book almost entirely from the villains' POV, (sort of like Jacqueline Carey's 'Banewreaker' or the more comedic 'Villains by Necessity' by Eve Forward), hopfully making them sympathetic but still keeping them appropriately villainous. It's an interesting twist because since it's a tale in the traditional style the reader goes into the story knowing these characters will lose, hopefully giving it the flavor of a tragedy
I still haven't managed to incorporate the story-within-a-story-within-a-story technique, though it's one of my favorite devices. I'd also like to write an epic story that occurs over a decade or more.
More ambitions for the future include forays into the romance, young adult and science fiction genres. I'd also like to write a very well-researched historical fantasy, but I take things one at a time so I'll stick to my current project until it's finished. |
Excerpt: Afterward, the tracker decided he must have been asleep on his feet, for he reached his destination without being aware of it.
He did not wake even when the armswoman challenged him. He very nearly walked into her spearpoint in fact - and while this certainly would have roused him, his time awake would have been very confusing and regrettably short. Fortunately, the woman was quick and withdrew the spear, only to sweep his legs and dump his thin body to the grass an instant later.
And so, shocked to full awareness, he set eyes on the Temple of the Word for the first and only time in his life.
Excerpt: When she did open her eyes she saw the witch of Lichwood kneeling over her, and for the first time in a long time Lizzetha Charnel forgot the glow of the mirror-box when she saw what was in the tiny bundle cradled in her mother's arms.
"I thought you were getting a bit big for Toby Splinters," she said, holding the blanket-swaddled bundle out and uncovering the top.
It was a wolf-cub, new whelped, hairless and blind. Blue eyes squinted in the dim light. It whimpered and nuzzled deeper into the blanket, seeking warmth.
"You brought me a pet!"
The elder witch chuckled.
"A pet? Silly girl no, this is your new little brother."
Excerpt: The wolf sat on her haunches, eyes filled with momentary concentration, then the girl was kneeling on the ground and wrapped in a wolfskin cloak. She licked unfamiliar lips, looking almost shy. For a moment Deep Eyes thought that she might shift back, too afraid to try, but then her blue gazed turned up to the moon and stars. Their soft, powerful light filled her vision, and she began to sing.
Deep Eyes felt her heart catch at the sound, for its beauty surprised even her. It was wordless, a pure expression of emotion that seemed to hint of both ancient knowledge and the celebration of new life.
She felt a momentary stab of guilt at the thought of what must happen next, but she hardened her heart. There was no real choice.
Earth and sky, man and wolf, all must be made one. Their strength must be joined.
Only then could they hope to hold back the Abyss |
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From: nomlet 
This Limyaael person rocks! I get sick at the mere sight of the word "prophecy," for exactly the reasons Limyaael mentions. Heros should be heroic and not merely destined, and events should unfold for logical reasons, not merely because they were foretold. Use of prophecy = 'big turn off' for me.
Good work on the newsletter, Moira, er... Erin. Thanks!
nomlet
Thanks nomlet! I agree that sometimes the use of prophecy can be a turn off in a story... but when the author uses it skillfully enough (avoiding the pitfalls that Limyaael describes) than it can be a wonderful device.
From: John~Ashen 
Yeah, good rant by Limyahoweveryouspellit. Destiny and prophecy are such a weak plot device. If anything, they should be used to create false expectations, not foreshadowing.
Good point, John! "False expectations" are a great way to lure your reader in .
From: Asura 
Hey Erin, I would like to point out that Limyaael has overlooked something with all of these rants. Every story option anyone could ever think of has already happened before. It seems to me this is complaining more about inexperienced writing (how the tool of prophecy can be used for instance) rather than the subject itself.
Many authors, after reading this may throw out prophecy (or flashback, or so many other misused tools) as an approach. A bigger problem could be created within these new writers if their creative spectrum is so damaged. These are all options some require more care than others. This is the point that should be addressed, not how much one might hate the way a story reads.
I apologize if I stepped on any toes here, but that’s how I feel.
- Asura
Well, in the Bible King Solomon laments that "there is nothing new under the sun" so I think you are right. Her rants are geared more toward badly written use of plot devices that aren't, in themselves, horrible. Of course, some of them can become bad to use because they've been used so many times that it becomes cliche, but even then, a skillful author might be able to distract the reader enough that they don't notice  .
You make a good point though. Listen up all you readers who are throwing out prophecy, don't! If anything, Limyaael should have inspired you to use it in a different, more creative way  .
From: Bmao
Do you know what I think is the most flagrant example of what the newsletter has just shared. It is 'Eragon' by Christopher Paolini. It is just so...cliche. A farmboy who finds a destiny unwillingly thrown at him, his uncle dying, an old man 'showing him the path' before being done in himself. Then of course Eragon has to join the rebels!! And you will see that as the series progresses, that Eragon turns out to have 'royal blood' and his destiny to revive the dragonriders had been slated from day 1. I haven't even read Elder yet but I assure you that's what's going to happen.
Heh. I agree wholeheartedly. I picked up "Eragon" expecting a great read and was disappointed. I think that because of the Harry Potter phenomena publishers are eager to throw out something that will make them as much money and thus hype up some books that otherwise might have fallen quietly to the side of selling a respectable amount without drawing the notice of everyone eager for a Harry Potter clone.
From: scribbler
wow, the ranting were great and I must say many of them are personal pet peeves of mine too. And I see this newsletter as a god sent because I am in the process of rewriting a fantasy novel of mine that I wrote a couple years ago when I was 12. Now I see how easily I fell into those little fantasy cliches and such. I have begun to revise and expect that this news letter will help me not to repeat previous mistakes.
I know what you mean. I have an unfinished young adult fantasy novel that I kept thinking of when I read her rant. Revision is definitely called for
From: Chewie Kittie
I am thankful that someone said what needed to be said about prophecy. It is probably one of the most misused/overused tools in the box right now on the market. The angst especially. "Don't cry for me, Argentina, there's a prophecy about me!" Although, some of the blame has to go to the publishing companies for turning out the same-old, same-old all of the time. Hit us with some new stuff! Quit weeding out the rest to go with this just because some of it worked! Sorry, I'm done now.
ChewieKittie
Couldn't have said it better myself .
From: Strange Wulf
Heh. This lady knows her rants. Prophecy is a dangerous thing to handle, both in the worlds of fantasy and real life. We're talking about the future here, and to be frank, the less known about it, the better.
Those who know the future inevitably react in one of two ways:
1. They try to change it, which either results in success or failure. Success is not always a good thing; sometimes changing the future brings about worse consequences. And if they fail, it's usually because their efforts to change it bring about the situation needed for the prophecy to come true. Darned if you don't, danged if you do.
2. They accept it as unchangable fate and go into despair, convinced there is no way to change the future and prevent the horrible consequences. So it happens anyway.
Small, short and vague. That's how they should be. Gives you and your characters wiggle room. Otherwise it's just annoying.
Exactly. Ever read Oedipus Rex by Sophocles? That's what I thought of when I read your #1 point. So not only does the prophecy happen anyway, you've angered the Powers that Be in trying to avoid it. Not fun.
From: Ron
Hi,
I'm a fan of Terry Goodkind and I'm quite interested in prophecy. I write a little myself here and there, and at times I try to add prophecy into my story.
After reading this, I have to say that I kind of agree with you. But do you have any positive thigns to say about prophecy? Like how it can be used effectively in fantasy stories?
Positive ways to use prophecy? Hmm. Stay tuned. Sounds like a good topic for a future newsletter .
From: billwilcox
Erin,
Limyaael is the best authority on writing Fantasy that I've ever seen. I love the gripes and the straighforward approach to doing it right. Write On!
Thanks Bill! Limyaael's like a breath of fresh air sometimes .
From: ipsofacto
I like everyone else am writing a sequence of five books, based on a prohecy. But my prophecy is very hard to read as it is written in pictureglyphs that have to be figured out by the humans that find it. Without its understand all humanity may become inslaved or fodder.
Pictureglyphs? Now that's an interesting idea. What good is a prophecy if you can't read it? |
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Fantasy: September 21, 2005 Issue [#618]
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