This week: Animals in Fantasy Edited by: NaNoNette  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
| Hello writers and readers of all things out of the ordinary, I am NaNoNette and I will be your guest editor for today's episode. |
| ASIN: B07P4NVL51 |
Product Type: Toys & Games
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
|
|
Animals in Fantasy
Many fantasy stories happen in alternate universes, alternate time lines, or alternate planets. No matter where or when your fantasy happens, the characters usually have a need to travel and possibly to have some animal companion. Some will encounter dangerous animals.
Travel:
Excluding all types of mechanical travel, a startling number of fantasy characters travel by horse. If they don't have a horse, then they have a version of a horse.
Harry Potter uses Thestrals, essentially leathery horse skeletons with glowing eyes.
John Carter of Mars rides eight-legged Thoats. Some draw it to look like a horse with eight legs. Others see it more like a really large hairless bull with eight legs.
You can give your story an element of familiarity by having your fantasy character ride a horse. Or you can make your fantasy world even more fantastical by letting your character ride some creature that you can then describe at length.
Companion animal:
A companion animal will often be a dog, a cat, or a bird. That bird is most likely a raven for dark fantasy and a parrot for fun, colorful fantasy. Those companion animals can provide a lot of content to your story.
They can work as comedy relief.
Animals can be smart and go get help.
Animals can die and make us cry our eyes out.
Harry Potter had to be special and get a white owl. Because a raven is just not fancy enough for a wizard.
John Carter of Mars, again, has a thing called a Calot that behaves like a dog. Its name is Woola. Woola looks something like a hippopotamus, but more limber and a touch smaller. Although Woola is pretty large for a pet. Woola provides company, protection, and even goes and gets help.
In fantasy, you can take a common animal and give it fantastical qualities, like those owls that work as a postal delivery system in the Harry Potter books. Or you can take a fantasy animal that you create and give it the qualities of a common animal.
Dangerous animal:
There is virtually no limit as to what could be a dangerous animal.
Something that starts out cute and cuddly can turn deadly if you get it wet and feed it after midnight. (Gremlins)
A three-headed dog with three slobbering maws will roll on his back and go to sleep if you play him classical music. (Fluffy from Harry Potter)
And, because there is just so much of it, one more from Harry Potter. The Monster Book. It will snap at you, even turn itself into confetti if you aggravate it. Just pet the spine and it turns into the sweetest Monster Book you will ever meet. (Oh come on, it's an animal. Obviously.)
|
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2166903 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2171269 by Not Available. |
| | | Cavalier (18+)
Lily, a time-travelling assassin, defies The Society. Historical Fantasy.
#2159809 by A E Willcox  |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2135796 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2171806 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2056976 by Not Available. |
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: 0910355479 |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 13.99
|
|
I received the following replies to my last Fantasy newsletter "Define Your Fantasy" :
brom21  wrote: I started an epic fantasy over three years ago. I'm still perfecting it. If I could compare it to another story it would be LOTR. This is because there lots of subplots and things going on all over Middle-Earth in LOTR. With my story, I fear it may all be overwhelming. I really admire Tolkien for successfully accomplishing this feat. I've submitted my first chapter in case it gets included in the next NL. "Invalid Item"
Samberine Everose  wrote: Hi, Thank you for including my story in your newsletter. Most Fantasy story also reflects moral, or a lesson.
Thank you again and good day!💓
|
| ASIN: B07B63CTKX |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 6.99
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
Fantasy: October 17, 2018 Issue [#9169]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
