Fantasy Writing: Creative Writing Exercise Seven

Exercise Seven. Immediacy; bringing your reader into the action. Whenever you write, your aim is to keep the reader riveted, forcing them to turn the next page. So compare these sentences.

The cavern shook. Caleath fell and was blinded by the light. The smell was so bad he felt ill. Clutching the sword, he waited till the shock passed. The cavern shook. A pulse of energy knocked Caleath to the ground. Noise, so loud his ears bled, battered his senses. Intense light seared through eyelids though he covered his face with his arm. The smell of molten gold, of death and corruption made him want to vomit. With his hands clutching the sword, he cowered until the initial shock passed. We want to show the reader what happened, give them an idea of how our hero feels. Consider how in this second example the writer has offered us more insight into the hero’s actions. We have information about what he sees, hears, tastes, smells and feels. Can you see how this involves the reader by drawing them into the scene? This has changed the Point of View from omniscient to limited character. Try writing a scene from different POV and see how an author can distance or involve their readers using this device. Remember to consider different senses as you write. Descriptions need not be as long as this example. They can be included as part of dialogue tags. (remember dialogue tags are , he said, she said.) Rather than:

“Magic caused the storm?” Caleath whispered thoughtfully. “Yeah.” He said with a frown. “You might be right.”

“Always,” Raul laughed. “Besides my young friend, you have seen the signs. You must know who our hero is. Why do you question his integrity?”

“He’s the smith?” The boy nodded and then scowled. “What signs?”

To involve the reader and add descriptions of actions and emotion, we take the point of view of the character and offer the reader samples of what ‘he’ experiences.

“Magic caused the storm?” Caleath spoke in a whisper as he eased his weight onto one elbow and accepted a bowl of stew from the youth. “Yeah.” He searched his memory analyzing the feeling the strange tempest instilled in him. “You might be right.”

“Always,” Raul laughed. “Besides my young friend, you have seen the signs. You must know who Caleath is. Why do you question his integrity?”

“He’s the smith?” The youth wiped thick gravy from the spoon and licked his finger. Caleath could feel the boy’s gaze bore through him as he chewed on a chunk of venison and forced himself to breathe. “What signs?” Try to add a little information at each opportunity, rather than paragraphs dedicated to descriptions alone, but don’t over do it. Remember to drive the plot forward. Always keep reading. Watch how people behave, speak and move. Do they have habits you can use for your characters? This will help to make your characters real and let the reader feel more a part of your writing.

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Making a Video Book Trailer.

After spending dawn on the beach the other morning taking photos that might work with my Fantasy novel, I have been working with the movie making tool on my computer. My aim is to put together a book trailer for my forthcoming Fantasy novel.

In a few weeks I hope to have a morning photo shoot, with one of our local mediaeval group. I want to know what to ask for, what will work, what wont.

This week is just a trial run, but I have had so much fun putting a story board together. Timing and effects, fonts and words have all been juggled and finally I had something I could SAVE. It's not brilliant. BUT, I have actually created a short piece and posted it on Bebo.

Now I feel I can do justice to the effort of my mediaeval model, when he is available. This is so much fun.

Exiled: Autumn's Peril Character Interview

I wondered if an interview with Caleath, the hero of the forthcoming Fantasy ‘Exiled: Autumn’s Peril by Rosalie Skinner might be interesting.

The novel is set on the planet of where Caleath has been surviving in exile. This is a planet where nano-technology is considered magic, while magic is considered commonplace and doesn’t involve microchips or gene enhancement.

Unfortunately, Caleath is unavailable at this time. He is nothing if not reclusive. Perhaps later he will reconsider and talk to us. In the meantime, we have managed to make contact with Nasith, the female lead character from the novel.

Interviewer: Nasith, thank you for taking time to talk with us.

Nasith: Hello. Are you a disembodied spirit or another of Caleath’s alien artifacts? He’s no longer with us. South. He rode south. Alone.

Interviewer: Easiest answer would be ‘an artifact’. Nasith, you sound disappointed that Caleath left, yet he took you as a hostage. Would you tell us a little about your experience?

Nasith: I have time on my hands. For once, we are warm and reasonably safe. What would you like to know?

Interviewer: First impressions are always interesting. What did you make of being abducted on your way to Sharyac’s Tor?

Nasith: (sighs) Seems like a lifetime ago. So much has changed since then.

Interviewer: The same peril still threatens the south.

Nasith: I guess I mean the way I feel about Caleath. That night I tried to kill him. He’s not easy to kill but I wonder now if my heart was in it. One of the men I traveled with was trying to kill him. I was not.

Interviewer: You tried to kill him? That’s not surprising given the circumstances.

Nasith: Before he grabbed me and threw me across the shoulder of his horse I had no dealings with Caleath, but I knew of his plight. If asked at the time I would have said I felt pity for the man. The men who hunted him were driven by dark magic. I had no reason to want to see him hurt, until he used me as a human shield. He bruised my ego, rumpled my pride, nothing else. Now I realize I overreacted, but then it was a dark and desperate night. I felt justified in my actions. Later I came to regret them.

I am rambling. Being clean and able to relax, it’s such a pleasure. What was the question?

Interviewer: We are interested in your first impressions of Caleath. Wanting to hurt him seems natural, since he abducted you.

Nasith: The assassin hunting Caleath gave him little scope for niceties. He took a hostage, me, rather than having to kill the man. I didn’t know that at the time. Then I was afraid. He seemed so angry, frighteningly confident despite being hurt, and somehow vulnerable at the same time. He’s still confusing, but he doesn’t frighten me anymore.

Interviewer: When did your impression begin to change?

Nasith: It was only later, when I managed to get him to talk that I discovered more about him. He actually took good care of me. Despite the hurt I caused. When we faced danger he would protect me, leaving himself vulnerable rather than risk my safety. I was his hostage for only a short time. When he discovered who I was, I believe he saw my presence as a burden but he accepted responsibility even though he says he doesn’t belong on this world.

Interviewer: You knew from the start that he was from another world?

Nasith: The assassin spoke freely about his origins. Only Caleath seemed to find his past a painful topic. Revenge drove him, and the need to escape from this planet. The things he has done, to survive, to escape. I find myself wondering if I know him at all. He confuses me, even now. I miss him and long for his touch one moment and want him out of my life the next. How odd is that!

Interviewer: What does the future hold?

Nasith: Our immediate future is blighted by the looming threat from the south. Here in Sharyac’s Tor we hope to arrange an alliance to combat this unnatural menace. Or do you mean a future that involves Caleath?

Interviewer: I was thinking more along the lines of a relationship between you and Caleath.

Nasith: Some moments I dream of nothing else. As I said, in his arms I feel safe. Looking into his eyes, they are as changeable as the ocean, I am afraid of drowning. I have spent too many hours watching him wondering what makes him do the things he does. The way he moves, it’s almost poetry. A lethal sort of poetry, it’s like watching a predatory cat and it is as compelling. And yet, he has the ability to make me feel extraordinarily special and more sensual than I believed possible. He is considerate, strong, has a depth of compassion I have never seen before. His touch is electric. (sighs) Then I find myself despising him and the lengths he has gone to, the long-term threat of invasion he has created, and I tell myself I am glad he is a dead man walking.

Interviewer: Dead man walking? That’s an odd term for someone who is hard to kill?

Nasith: He took me hostage. My people will see that there is retribution. It does not matter that he took care of me, or that I chose to accompany him in the end. My abduction is unforgivable. He will pay with his life. I cannot let myself become involved. Do you think me heartless?

Interviewer: It is not for me to judge.

Nasith: There, now you sound like him. I think we have spoken long enough. Good night.

(transmission ends)

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