This week: What if? Edited by: Leger~  
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This week's Action / Adventure Editor
Leger~
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What if?
I often start my thought process by beginning a story idea with that question. I've been cleaning up hurricane mess and see many little anoles running around. It reminded me of the story "Everywhere" I wrote in March for a 48-hour Media Prompt challenge "Note:
48-HOUR CHALLENGE : Media Prompt
Deadl..." where my 'dragon' could shape-shift and change size.
This also reminded me of a phrase to "Action/Adventure Newsletter (September 25, 2024)" by s  the whole of which is shown in the replies below. What stuck with me was "Ignoring magic, things need to make sense in the world as we know them." Unless there is a metric ton of worldbuilding and character description, how could it make sense?
Another question to ponder is whether we rely on previous tropes to form our characters. In horror / scary month, if we say a green block-headed monster, do we immediately imagine Frankenstein or a Roblox dude? It all depends on your previous experiences. A little kid would think Roblox.
When writing, if you have a target audience (including judges), what are their experiences? Young or old? Hermit or world traveler? So when editing/reviewing, try to understand how the reader relates to the story based on their experiences. What if your young adult readers have never (I hope) experienced violence or trauma, wouldn't you have to spell out things a bit more?
Just a few thoughts to keep in mind while we write...and as always, Write On!
This month's question: Does your inspiration often come from the question: What if?
Answer below  Editors love feedback! 
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The task is simple: Write a short story using the image prompt as inspiration!
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Excerpt: I listened to the footsteps approaching my cell in the so-called Science Center. The man who claimed to be my dad was coming for me. More tests, more mind probing. More experimental drugs. I cringed at the sensation of spiders climbing up my spine. My father was a brainwashed Controller. How much more could I withstand? My brain should have melted by now.
| | Burnt Skerry (18+)
A pirate on a quest for a Fire Microlith finds it a more dangerous task than he imagined.
#2268171 by A E Willcox  |
Excerpt: Skulnard Tord helped his coxswain anchor the pinnace. “Tell me, Vidman, why is it women will only part with a dangerous plaything if it is swapped for a lethal one?”
Excerpt: It leered at him, spittle dotting its maw, eyes glimmering with the thrill of the hunt. It growled and barked - a hoarse sound that sent a shudder through his chest. He stepped back, the shotgun quivering slightly in his grasp. The hellhound paced towards him and barked again, drool hanging from its grey, muscular jaw, droplets of its frothy spit staining dark ellipses on the snow-covered ground.
Excerpt: "It is time for the awakening of the biggest, oldest, and most powerful dragon. He rises every one thousand years. He is also your great-great-great-great-grandfather. There may be more greats in there because he has lived for a long, long time."
Excerpt: "S'that you Gray?" Shelia called as she heard the door opening.
"Yeah it's me Sweetie Pie. You alright?" Graham came into the room. "Oh! Hi Gail."
"Hiya Graham." Gail smiled at him.
"Don't call me Sweetie Pie, I'm not a bloody budgie."
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This month's question: Does your inspiration often come from the question: What if?
Last month's "Action/Adventure Newsletter (September 25, 2024)" question: Do you feel research on your story's era helps or hinders your creativity?
Falling Potato Flake  : I think that there has to be a balance. Does knowing the level of technology and social morays of an era help? Yes, it lends to the realism of a story. Is it necessary to know what color of shoes were available? Well, thats a bit of a grey area.
Beholden  : All research must surely assist in any writing project. There's nothing so galling as being called out for inaccuracies in your work.
Monty  : Research is always through anothers eyes which is a good idea.
s : Do you feel research on your story's era helps or hinders your creativity? It helps. A lot. Especially in this day, the reader will know if you're making things up that don't make sense. Ignoring magic, things need to make sense in the world as we know them. Having a designer of the pyramids with an iPad might be fine for an "aliens built them" fantasy, but not for a "my Egyptian character lived at that time" story based on reality. There is suspending disbelief and then there is breaking reality. In action/ adventure, I guess the biggest error I see is how fast and far a horse can travel. For better or worse, we have Google now. It doesn't take that long to use it!
In Newsfeed: Doesn't hinder, that's for sure. Helps not my creativity as such, but helps steer my creativity down a line that makes more logical sense, and so the story is improved. I am one all for historical research... so long as you avoid Wikipedia (or any other user-curated system).
oldgreywolf on wheels : If done properly, research helps keep the mind active, aiding in creativity.
TheBusmanPoet  : I don't usually write about anything historical but if needed, I would do the research. I think it could be either or depending on the creativity issue.
PCGuyIV : Research is always helpful. Even if you are writing something that isn't specifically a period piece, if you're writing a fantasy that draws heavily on medieval framing, being knowledgeable about that era will help add realism to your story.
With the story I'm currently writing, I put it in the future, so I can make the world's governing bodies and legal systems how I want them rather than having to conform to how things are now, but I still researched legal proceedings, governmental structures, as well as past and present NASA programs, as well as proposed NASA programs to improve the odds that I am at least creating a world that hopefully feels like it could be a possible future.
Humble Poet PNG  : Some years back, I started a novel. Some of the key points revolved around historical facts which my research disproved. I eventually abandoned the novel, but I'm considering picking it back up and just allow the anachronisms.
Carycomic  : A little of both.
Blessed Christmouse  : I think research is essential for historical writing because let's face it, we don't know really what we are talking about otherwise. I do agree with PCGuyIV though, that research is always helpful.
Massive Friendly Derg  : None of my settings are real so I don't have to worry about that aspect. That said, historical fiction is perhaps my favorite genre to read.
Tannus : If I am working on Historical Fiction, I find that research is needed.
jackson : It helps, authenticity within a given locale is a must . . .
Dad : I co-wrote a pirate story several years ago. I like historical novels that include real historical people. I wrote Blackbeard into the story, something I couldn't've done without research.
In Newsfeed: Research may neither hinder or help your creativity in historical writing, but the lack of research might cause you a great embarrassment.
Kile Johnson : My stories are somewhat based around the 30-70s so I feel like doing research on those time periods helps a lot.
HollisFrances : It helps make the story more credible. Here is one example from my book, Visit of the Wise Men:
In the book Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus, Page 27, during festivals, there could be an additional 125,000 pilgrims, page 83 states that it is about a 3-day walk from Nazareth to Jerusalem.
Because of the poor conditions of the roads in the area at this time, wagons were only used for short distances.
This is important historical information, for many detractors today write that Mary would not have ridden on a donkey while pregnant; she surely would have ridden in a wagon.
MayDay : Depends, though I know it helps the story.
keyisfake : Helps to find your foundation.
Thanks to everyone for your fabulous responses! L~ |
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Action/Adventure: October 23, 2024 Issue [#12807]
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