Fantasy: March 06, 2019 Issue [#9410]
<< February 27, 2019Fantasy Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueMarch 13, 2019 >>




 This week: The Goblin
  Edited by: Annette Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter

Hello writers and readers of fantasy. I am Annette Author Icon and I will be your guest editor for this issue.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

The Goblin


As a writer of fantasy, you have the option and the obligation to immerse your readers in a wondrous world that is different from the reality of everyday life. No matter how close to reality you want to stay, in order to write fantasy, there has to be something in your story that is distinctly not something mundane.

One way to make your story into a fantasy story is to add creatures that are different from those we see every day.

An example of a creature that has come up across generations of stories, but that we haven't been able to discover in the scientific sense is the goblin. The roots of goblins in stories go roughly back to the European folklore of the middle ages. In those older stories, goblins are usually described as small, greedy, and evil spirited. This definitely puts a negative spin on the goblin species and you, as a writer, can tap into that general feeling of malaise a goblin provokes in a reader to give your story someone to fear.

Goblins and creatures similar to them are found in many cultures. In order to translate the folktales from Asia, many translators have used the word "goblin" to describe the creatures in those stories. While those translators didn't write the folktales, they shaped the way others read them by inserting goblin for the Asian monsters that haunt those tales.

Goblins are usually describes as small, but they can have any size. In a movie from 2002, a monster called "Green Goblin" is terrorizing a rich scientist until its Artificial Intelligence overtakes the scientist. In a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde style take over, the friendly scientist by day becomes a fearsome Green Goblin monster by night. This goblin is man-size and powered by an evil artificial intelligence. Instead of inventing a new word for this monster, the writers chose to use the word "goblin" to set the stage and let us know from the beginning that this thing is going to be evil. And they didn't care about the fact that a goblin should be small.

If you have ever heard or read the older versions of the Grimm's fairy tales, you will remember that they are very dark. Many things happen in those stories that aren't considered fit for children's stories by today's tastes. Just as those stories have been softened to be more palatable to modern adults, goblins have seen their evil taken away in order to make them cute and funny rather than disfigured and malicious. As a writer, you can choose to write a goblin any which way you like, it's your goblin after all.



Editor's Picks

 The butter churning dilemma Open in new Window. (E)
A tall tale of a young man making tough decisions.
#2175787 by Maerus Author IconMail Icon

 Bango Mating Season Open in new Window. (E)
Late again. 300 words, required phrase in bold.
#2140924 by Espinado Author IconMail Icon

 Witches and Goblins: Halloween Is Here Open in new Window. (E)
A poem about Halloween - enjoy!
#2136175 by Tim Chiu Author IconMail Icon

 All Hallows Eve Open in new Window. (E)
What happens when a goblin's trick goes bad.
#2119207 by Rhoswen - Relentless Victory Author IconMail Icon

 Goblin Problems Open in new Window. (XGC)
A female warrior discovers why you should never underestimate a goblin.
#2169604 by Serefin Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2093916 by Not Available.

Dance of the Fairies at Night Open in new Window. (E)
Dance of the fairies and goblins at night and how much I enjoyed it!
#1878768 by ~ Aqua ~ Author IconMail Icon

 
Image Protector
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Boo and Howl Open in new Window. (E)
Ghosts and goblins get ready.
#1896446 by Teargen Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
STATIC
The Goblins of Gab Open in new Window. (E)
a parody of an old song
#2097886 by Dave's trying to catch up Author IconMail Icon

 Witches Stew Open in new Window. (18+)
Prompt Words: witches, ghost, goblins, howling, moon, graveyard, cauldron, brew
#2096574 by Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

What makes a Good Horror Story?


Vote in this poll and help to decide what makes a good horror story. After you vote, see how the others here on the site want to get scared in a horror story.


Many of us love reading material of the macabre. We revel in the stories of the dead, the deranged, the freaky and the ferocious. But with so many styles out there, focusing on different aspects of the genre, it is often diffficult to find what you are actually looking for. The purpose of this poll, fellow horror-lovers, is to identify the elements you feel contribute most to a compelling horror story.

And as always, comments are highly recommended.

Happy Horrors!

Question: What element of a Horror Story do you look for most?
      Excessive Gore
      Dark, moody atmosphere
      Significant Character Developement
      Nudity/Sexual content
      psychological Horrors
      Other (E-mail me)


Before you ask, "Why is there a horror genre poll in a fantasy newsletter?"

*~*~*


Because I couldn't find a fantasy poll that involves goblins. Just goes to show you how scary they are. *Shock2*

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