Wyrdwritere

Fantasy, horror, and historical fiction writer ‘Daughters of the Sun and Moon’ - writing ‘Black Fire’ - planning ‘The Puppeteers Children’ - planning Ask box always open ✨

[90377]

Mist on the Old-Growth by wild trees

[crowandmoonwriting]

I’ve had an idea for a little while, and I’m not entirely sure if it’s a good one. I call it footnotes fantasy. 

I am a historian, and I’ve written several papers with explanatory footnotes and other annotations as a necessary and sometimes engaging part of the body itself. When you read a large amount of academic papers, it becomes second nature to see that little superscript number and glance down really quickly at the citation or annotation, and quickly read it to colour your understanding of the argument. 

And maybe I’ve been an academic too long, but I wondered how enjoyable it would be for others to experience this format in the context of a high fantasy fiction narrative. 

The narrative would go on, and I might reference something like so: 

I’ve always liked the inclusion of appendices in fantasy novels, but this would make the navigation of them, reference of them, while one reads the narrative itself, easier. 

Reply with thoughts?

[wyrdwritere]

Jay Kristoff does this as well. I found it really useful for having an ‘optional’ fleshing out of the world that didn’t obliterate the pace of the story

[frostklamm]

soft goodbye

[mercyandcruelty]

RB if you have lesbians in your WIP

[wyrdwritere]

Me: I’m not that gay

Also me: *reads about any woman in a tail coat*

[wyrdwritere]

ouch

[hdvaris-photography]

A sunny spot,  2014

[ellatholmes]

oh so you think you’re a writer, do ya? think you can just slap a couple words together?? make coherent sentences?? think you can do that whenever you want?? well i think the sheriff’s got something to say about that!!

[erin-writes-stuff]

how do i decide if i want to write in first or third person 

[theouterdark]

First Person

Advantages:

You get to know one character quickly and effectively

Builds attachment

Simpler

Let’s you cheat at info dumps

Epistolary stories are an option (journal style like The Martian or Dracula where everything takes place in letters or blogs)

Limitations:

Tougher to distinguish between viewpoint characters with each one you add

Untrustworthy narrator

Hard to be epic in scope

Gives away that the protagonist lives

If your audience doesn’t like the voice of your main character it will be a horrible experience for them

You don’t get the advantages of third person

Third Person

Advantages:

Large casts work better than in First Person

Sometimes better for scene/setting of immediate nature

Epic scope

Best for hiding things from the reader (except for omniscient)

More viewpoint freedom

Easier to off characters

Shows inherent discord (conflicted thoughts and dialogue)

More immersive (for some)

Easier to forgive characters of their mistakes

Limitations:

Can’t cheat on info dumps

Don’t get the advantages of First Person

These are from my notes on Brandon Sanderson’s lectures. I highly recommend them to anyone interested, I believe he is posting the most recent semester on his YouTube once a week.

[writingonesdreams]

This is an excellent break down. Thank you! Makes it much clearer to decide what the story needs.

[wyrdwritere]

Also, try writing different chapters in different persons? Especially between 1st person and limited 3rd. I found 1st person really helped me get closer to the character, but I’m now writing my second draft in limited 3rd using the things I learnt writing in 1st

[rabbitinthemeadow]

And the sun will once more warm your shoulders // Part 13

[michaelnordeman]

The Word for World Is Forest.

[wyrdwritere]

[wyrdwritere]

Me: I am writing an adult, someone’s mother. Adults aren’t this nasty over nothing. Maybe this is too petty

*checks any mildly controversial twitter thread*

Me: nope, this is fine

[90377]

Mt. Furo（不老山） by ranggapb

[zeitz0ne]

Nebel

[wyrdwritere]

It’s spitting with rain, there’s sparks in the sky, it’s my first thunderstorm of 2020! ⚡️

When I was little, I was so frightened of lightning (not thunder though) and now I love it

[wyrdwritere]